Safeguarding and Perpetuating Good Habits

باب المحافظة على ما اعتاده من الخير

This short chapter turns on a single, steadying idea: once you take up an act of worship, hold onto it. The Arabic title speaks of al-muhafazah, guarding and keeping watch over the good you have made habitual. The danger here is not failing to start, but quietly letting go of what you once began.

Notice how the warning is framed as a person, not a rule. The lesson is meant to land on the heart: better to keep a small, steady practice alive than to light a flame brightly and then let it go out.

Hadith 691

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما قال‏:‏ قال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ يا عبد الله ، لا تكن مثل فلان، كان يقوم الليل فترك قيام الليل ‏!‏‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me, "O 'Abdullah! Do not be like so-and-so; he used to get up at night for optional prayer but abandoned it later." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

The Prophet warned a Companion not to be like a man who used to pray at night but then gave it up. Once you take up a good practice, hold on to it rather than letting it lapse.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 691 In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 12