Then why do we see otherwise in ourselves?
That is, in spite of performing religious actions ( e.g. salah, tilawat, dhikr, etc) for so many years the same mistakes are repeated, the outward beauty and inward concentration does not increase. Perfection remains a mirage.
Shah Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘An action has to be done properly to be beneficial in this world and in hereafter.’
Majmua’ talefat e Mulih al-Ummat ra, volume 2, Sa’adet e haqiqi, page 323,
Foremost , what is going to be practiced must be established properly. The method must be correct.
It is futile to expect perfection when the thing initiated is done incorrectly and then repeated similarly manifolds. The obvious result of this mistake would be perfection in repeating the the mistake itself.
It for this reason our shuyukh stress on learning the basic religious (fiqhi) text (Bashishti Zewar/Thamar) thoroughly upfront on the path of sulook.
Arif billah Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Read the book: Uswa e Rasool e Akram (sallalaho aleh e wasalam). It is a manual for your daily life.’
Sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) reinforces this in his instruction to the spiritual seekers.