Islamic Thoughts

• ANALYSES
• 1 Behavior code of Muslims toward non-Muslims
• 2 September 11 (2001) attacks on America not compatible with Islam
• 3 Ways To Defuse Religious Tensions
• 4 The Value Of The Ten Commandments
• 5 Bright Spot Of The Us Constitution: Religious Freedom
• 6 Lessons from the prophet's hudaibiah treaty.
• 7 Rulers' roles in promotion of christianity.
• 8 Exploring a model definition of 'religion'
• 9 Where islam stands as a civilized religion?
• 10 Proving god's existence through experimental science.
• 11 Roles of man as necessary & God as sufficient condition.
• 12 Human kindness is a shadow of god's kindness.
• 13 Why islam is the best choice for the Africans?
• 14 In Old Age, All Roads Lead To Death.
• 15 No Creations Are Without Purposes & Uses.
• 16 Prayer Prevents People From Bad Actions.
• 17 When Haram May Be Excusable: Five-Step Conditions.
• 18 Islamization Of Some Un-Islamic Cultures.
• 19 Greater The Faith, Tougher The Test.
• 20 How Science Can Make A Difference For Muslims?
• 21 The Time Gap Reality Between Sin & Punishment.
• 22 Good & Bad Days Alternate In Cyclic Order.
• 23 Let Moon-Sighting Unite & Not Divide The Muslims.
• 24 Faith Crisis Among Some Intellectuals.
• 25 Islamic Policy Toward Animals.
• 26 Improving The Muslim Performance (Aamal) Standard.
• ARGUMENTS
• 27 How Middle Course Better Than Conservative And Liberal Extremes?
• 28 Why God Is The Best One To Be Worshipped?
• 29 Costs And Benefits Of Belief In The Afterlife
• 30 Bible Is Similar To Hadith But Different From Quran
• 31 Defaming Islam: Freedom Of Speech Or Violation Of Rights?
• 32 How Islam Compares With Democracy?
• 33 Who Is Responsible For '0' Small Pox Since 1980?
• 34 Timeliness Is The Leading Condition For Prayer.
• 35 Ten Arguments For Women's Education.
• 36 Why Physical Fitness Matters For The Muslims?
• 37 Homosexuality Vs Adultery: Which Is Worse And How?
• 38 Countering Abortionist Argument
• 39 Which Is Better: Open Or Secret Prayer?
• 40 Small Or Large Recitation: Which Is Better In Prayer?
• 41 Personal Or Social Suffering: Which Is More Painful & Why?
• 42 Cultural Slavery Vs Cultural Diffusion.
• 43 Why Should America Ban Religious Defamation?
• ASSORTMENTS
• 44 Visible Action Of Invisible God: From Author's Diary.
• 45 Optional Good Deeds Are Like Bodyguards For Compulsory Ones.
• 46 The Gravitation Law Of Performance (Not One Of Newton).
• 47 The Theory Of Relativity (Not That Of Einstein).
• 48 In Good Deeds
• 49 "Rob Peter to pay Paul" is not for islam
• 50 Muslims Cannot Be "Penny Wise And Pound Foolish".
• 51 Islam Endorses Salad Bowl & Not Melting Pot Theory.
• 52 100% Homosexuality Means Prospect Of 'O' World Population.
• 53 Sinning In Teens To 40's & Suffering From 50's To Death.
• 54 Revenge May Be Lower But Not Greater Than Harm.
• 55 Why Karl Marx Is Irrelevant Forever?
• 56 Is God The Same One For All Religions?
• 57 How God Controls Economy And Livelihood?
• 58 How Muslim Repression In Myanmar Violates Buddhist Principles?
• MISCELLANEOUS
• 59 Grim Reality of Death: Unfailing Lesson for Everyone
• 60 Religion Vs Reason: Which is More Important?

45 : OPTIONAL GOOD DEEDS ARE LIKE BODYGUARDS FOR COMPULSORY ONES

Optional deeds may play a valuable role by supporting your compulsory deeds. The following discussion will make the point clear.

(i) The Prophet recommended that whatever 'nafl' prayer you do, do it on a regular basis. This means it is within your option to decide the kind and amount of 'nafl' you would like to perform. However, once you make up your mind (say about reciting Quran every night for 10 minutes or offering 2 units of 'nafl' prayer after 'maghrib' prayer, you should perform that as a matter of routine, on steady basis. This is to make sure that you do not play in the hands of Satan, by doing the 'nafl' off and on at your sweet will inspired by Satan. You may however reduce 'nafl' if there are religiously valid reasons like sickness, traveling etc. You may also pre-decide yourself basing on the reasons for which you will make changes in nafl such as during work time you will forgo 'nafl' prayer at the end of 'juhr' (early afternoon) prayer and so on. That means you yourself keep the decision to do or skip a 'nafl' prayer in your hand, by avoiding the potential trick of 'Satan'. The Prophet also deliberately sometimes gave up his habitual nafl fearing that such continued practice of nafl might result in its upgrading to 'fard' (compulsion).

(ii) Nafl is a means to the nearness of God. It is comparable to an extra credit for gaining higher score in exam grade while 'fard' qualifies you to obtain vital pass mark.

(iii) Yet in another important role, 'nafl' acts as a first line of defense for 'fard' prayers. For example, you got into the habit of performing 4 units of optional 'sunnah' in addition to 4 units of 'fard' during 'asr' (late afternoon) prayer time. In that case if you any time feel reluctance to perform 'asr' prayer time out of laziness or sickness, you could save the situation by clearing 'fard' obligation only while forgoing optional part of prayer. This role of 'nafl' is similar to that of a bodyguard who protects a government leader from an assassin by sacrificing his own life. If otherwise, you routine yourself only to perform 'fard', by avoiding so-called "body guard" 'nafl' during 'asr' time, your most important 'fard' may be the first casualty in case you have problems like extreme tiredness or sickness.