Praise be to Allah Almighty, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the most honorable of Prophets and Messengers.

The seasons of goodness are great opportunities for seeking provision for the Hereafter and doing the deeds that bring one closer to Allah Almighty:

1 – To make much more of voluntary deeds: it is one of the best acts of worship; in the Qudsi Hadeeth : “…and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing voluntary deeds till I love him…” [Al-Bukhari]

2 – To fast the day of ‘Arafah: fasting the day of ‘Arafah is highly recommended for non-pilgrims; as he said about fasting of ‘Arafah: “I seek from Allah that it expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year.” [Muslim]

3 – To acknowledge the virtue of the day of sacrifice (the day of ‘Eed, 10th of Thul-Hijjah): many Muslims are heedless of its virtue, though some scholars believe that it is the best day of the year, even better than the day of ‘Arafah. Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “The best of days before Allah is the Day of Sacrifice, which is the great day of Hajj.” The Prophet said: “The greatest of days before Allah is the Day of Sacrifice, then the day of Qarr.” [Sunan Abu Daawood]. The day of Qarr is the day of resting in Mina, which is the eleventh of Thul-Hijjah.

It is argued whether the day of ‘Arafah is better than it, because fasting the day of ‘Arafah expiates the sins of two years; moreover, there is no day on which Allah Frees more slaves than on the day of ‘Arafah, and because He comes close and Boasts to the Angels, saying, "What do these people want?"

The correct opinion is the first one; because the Hadeeth indicates it with no contradiction. Whether the best day is the day of Sacrifice or the day of ‘Arafah, the Muslim – whether being a pilgrim or not – should try his best to attain its bounty and seize this chance.

4 – To be dutiful to one's parents and kinship: Allah Almighty Says (what means): {And your Lord has Ordained that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.} [Quran17:23]

Honoring one's parents is one of the best and greatest acts of worship. ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood, may Allah Be Pleased with him, said:

I asked the Messenger of Allah "Which deed is the dearest to Allah?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at their stated fixed times." I asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To be dutiful to your parents." I again asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To participate in Jihaad in Allah's cause." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that a man came to the Prophet asking his permission to take part in Jihaad. The Prophet asked him, "Are your parents alive?" He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet said, "Then exert yourself in their service.” [Al-Bukhari]

Dutifulness to one`s parents includes: cheerfulness, serving them, bringing happiness to them, enduring their roughness, and helping them as much as possible.

There are also ways to honor them after their death: A man came to the Messenger of Allah and asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Is there any kindness or dutifulness that I can show to my parents after their death?" He replied: "Yes. Supplicate for them, seek Allah's forgiveness for them, fulfill their will and pledges after their death, keep on good terms with those who are not connected with you but through them, and show reverence to their friends." [Ahmad]

Furthermore, there are many verses and Hadeeths urging the individual to maintain ties of kinship. The Prophet said:

The womb is attached to the Throne, saying, "whosoever keeps good relations with me, Allah will keep good relations with him, and whosoever will sever it (i.e. severs his bonds of kith and kin) Allah too will sever His relations with him." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

One of the greatest acts of maintaining the ties of kinship is by guiding them to the ways of goodness, enjoining them to do what is good, forbidding them from what is evil, checking their conditions, and fulfilling their needs.

5 – Praying at night, even a few Rak‘ahs: Allah praised the people of Paradise for doing certain deeds, one of them is voluntary night prayer; Allah Almighty Says (What means): { They used to sleep but little of the night.} [Quran 51:17] It is an act of worship that connects the heart with its Lord and enables it to overcome the temptations of life by resisting the urge to rest and sleep at that time of the day which is the time when The Lord Almighty descends to the worldly heaven.

The night prayer is a confirmed Sunnah urged by the Prophet who said:

Be keen to perform night prayer, because it was the practice of the righteous people before you. It is a means of obtaining closeness to Allah, The Exalted, it erases sins, it prevents wrongdoings, and it drives away sicknesses from the body. [Ahmad]

If you know that you would be able to get up and pray in the last third of the night, then it is the best time to pray, otherwise, pray the night prayer and Witr (single Rak‘ah) before you go to sleep.

O Allah, help us to satisfy You through whatever You like, and make us of those whom You granted doing the good deeds and abstaining from the evil ones. May the blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and Companions.