Sayyid wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,

“The real task is to abstain from all sins!

“Most of the people select and perform the easy stuff. They initiate a relationship with a Shaykh, develop a routine of praying predawn prayers (tahajjud), perform excessive remembrance (dhikr), and recite Quran daily. However, they do not leave the sinful activities.

Remember this clearly, abundance of supererogatory (nafil) actions is of no advantage without abstaining from sinful activities. Whereas, persistence on the obligatory (fardh) and necessary (wajib) actions are quite enough without any extra (nafil) thing if one stays away from sins completely.”

Waaz, post ‘Asr, Masjid Baitul Mukkaram, Jummah, 30 November ’90, 11 Jamadi us sani 1411