By Muhammad A. Adedokun

If only we would pay closer attention to natural phenomena and learn from them, we would grasp many realities without needing bulky explanations. To make a significant change, do you need a one-time big effort or a moderate consistent effort? This article sheds further light on the matter.

Let’s start by using the muscle as a case study. For muscles to grow, they don’t do so by a single intense workout, but grow through repeated, measured exercise. Do you have anyone who’s intentional about building their mass around? Ask them, and they should understand this better. Scientific studies demonstrate that muscle hypertrophy (growth) results primarily from repeated, regular resistance training over extended periods, not from one‑time efforts. This supports the idea that consistency, not occasional intensity, leads to real development.

Look back at those times you’ve made a big intense effort towards a course, let’s say a business or probably learning a new skill or language, but you stopped putting effort for a long period of time, then compare it with when you’re putting a moderate but consistent effort, towards something, either the areas mentioned earlier or probably your personal care; in which of them do you experience a significant improvement? Feel free to share the answer in the comment section.

Ramadan is in a few days—may Allah preserve our lives till then and beyond. Many have started drafting their Ibaadaat plans, including variants of them from charity, long hours of standing at night, to completing the Qur’an a couple of times. However, only a few, if any, added how they’ll be consistent with these to their plans. You may also have experienced this in your previous Ramadan, one or two of them, in which you started with a mind filled with mountainous expectations, an unending list of plans, only to have them unexecuted. It may be because you overburdened yourself with tasks you can’t keep up with.

Let’s pay close attention to this Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
“The religion is easy, and no one overburdens himself in the religion except that it will overwhelm him. So be moderate (be upright) and seek what is near to it, and receive the glad tidings, and seek help by worshipping at the early part of the morning (al-ghadwah), the afternoon (ar-rawḥah), and part of the night (duʾljah).” Sahih al-Bukhari – Hadith No. 39

It can be deduced from the above-stated Hadith that it’s not until you overburden yourself with loads of acts that you’ll earn more reward, but it’s about moderate acts being done consistently. A plant watered once heavily and then neglected will wither, while one watered lightly but regularly flourishes. This is similar to one who overburdened himself till he becomes overwhelmed, and one who is moderate in his actions and consistent.

The Prophet ﷺ would advise his companions to be consistent.
Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘as (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: 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 conclusion, don’t always overburden yourself till you become overwhelmed, rather be moderate—neither extreme nor deficient—in your actions and be consistent. Always keep this Hadith of the Prophet in mind: when the Prophet ﷺ was asked about deeds that please Allah, he said:
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if they are small.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)
So, be moderate and stay consistent!