Balancing obligatory and optional acts in fluctuating devotion

Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 312

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 3, Chapter 312

Balancing obligatory and optional acts in fluctuating devotion
1 Ḥadīth
Ḥadīth 385

٣١٢. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): إِنَّ لِلْقُلُوبِ إِقْبَالًا وَإِدْبَاراً فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَتْ فَاحْمِلُوهَا عَلَى النَّوَافِلِ، وَإذَا أَدْبَرَتْ فَاقْتَصِرُوا بِهَا عَلَى الْفَرَائِضِ.

312. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Sometimes the hearts move forward and sometimes they move backward. When they move forward get them to perform the optionals (as well), but when they move backward keep them confined to obligatories only.