Explanation of Riyadh as-Saliheen Chapter on Moderation In Acts of Obedience & Preserving Deeds By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saleh al-Uthaymeen

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are small." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6464, Sahih Muslim 783) The middle path between excessive zeal and total neglect is what the scholars call moderation — and it is one of the most important and most misunderstood principles of Islamic practice.

Explanation of Riyadh as-Saliheen: Chapter on Moderation in Acts of Obedience and Preserving Deeds by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin presents a detailed commentary on this chapter from Imam al-Nawawi's collection — unpacking the hadiths with the depth and practical clarity that characterises his commentary throughout.

What This Book Covers

What Moderation Actually Means in Worship

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin explains that moderation in worship is not laziness dressed up in religious language — it is the prophetically prescribed approach of doing what a person can sustain consistently rather than burning out through excess. The Prophet himself modeled this: he prayed at night and slept, fasted some days and broke his fast, and married. His Sunnah is a middle path between extreme asceticism and total neglect.

Why Consistency Matters More Than Quantity

The hadiths in this chapter consistently emphasize consistency over volume — the small deed done regularly is more beloved to Allah than the large deed done once and abandoned. Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin draws out this principle and explains its implications for how a Muslim should structure their daily worship.

Not Burdening Oneself Beyond Capacity

The Shaykh addresses the cases where some Companions pledged extreme acts of devotion and the Prophet corrected them — explaining why Islam forbids burdening oneself beyond one's capacity and what this means practically for a Muslim trying to improve their worship.

About the Authors

The original collection, Riyad as-Saliheen, was compiled by Imam an-Nawawi (631–676 AH). This commentary is by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin (1347–1421 AH / 1929–2001 CE), who studied under Shaykh Abdur-Rahman as-Sa'di, taught for decades in the Grand Mosque of Unayzah and at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, and served on the Senior Scholars Council of Saudi Arabia. His explanations of Riyad as-Saliheen are widely used by English-speaking students. Translated by Abu Sulayman Muhammad Abdul-Azim. Published by Maktabatul-Irshad Publications.

Who This Book Is For

Muslims who struggle with consistency in their worship, those who go through cycles of intense devotion followed by complete neglect, and anyone who wants to understand the prophetically prescribed approach to sustaining worship over a lifetime. Also excellent as a chapter-by-chapter study of Riyad-us-Saliheen.

Continue Reading

This is one chapter explained in depth. The complete collection is Riyad-us-Saliheen with Commentary by Imam an-Nawawi, and we carry companion volumes on the chapter on humility and the chapter on truthfulness. Browse more works by Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin, or see our guide to the best books on purifying the soul (tazkiyah).