The Cause of Lethargy in Worship and Its Remedy

Question:
Sister Umm Salama, an Egyptian resident of Jeddah, says: What is the cause of the lethargy that overtakes a woman regarding acts of worship, the regular voluntary prayers (rawatib), and doing good deeds, and what is the cure, O Shaykh?

Answer:
Lethargy affects both men and women. Its cause is Shaytan and the self that commands evil. It may also be due to keeping the company of bad companions and associating with the wicked. It may be caused by consuming forbidden earnings. There are many reasons for laziness in obedience and being weighed down by it. Therefore, the Muslim must avoid the causes that hinder him from worship, and he must not surrender to laziness or to the desires of the self. Rather, he must strive against his self and persist in obedience. By the permission of Allah, the laziness will disappear, his self will become accustomed to worship, and it will be trained for it, becoming familiar to him. Yes.