The obligatory acts of worship are more beloved to Allah than the recommended acts.

The Shaykh : Rather, I say that the obligatory acts are more beloved to Allah the Exalted than the recommended acts, because it is established in the authentic Qudsi Hadith that Allah Mighty and Majestic says: This is the opposite of what some people understand; they think that voluntary acts are better than obligatory ones. If you spend a dirham from your zakah, that is better and more beloved to Allah than if you spent a dirham from voluntary charity. Likewise, if you pray a rak'ah of the obligatory prayers, it is more beloved to Allah and better than if you prayed a rak'ah of the voluntary prayers. You would be amazed that some people, when they are praying a voluntary prayer, have in them a degree of humility, presence of heart, and turning to Allah that they do not have when they pray the obligatory prayer. I do not know if this is from Shaytan, or if it is because the obligatory prayer is something the person has become accustomed to, as it is repeated upon him five times every day. It has been said: "When touch becomes frequent, sensation diminishes". However, it is obligatory for you, O Muslim brother, to know that drawing near to Allah with what He has made obligatory upon you is more important, more beloved to Allah, and better than drawing near to Him with what is voluntary, because the obligatory acts are the foundation and the voluntary acts are the addition. For this reason, it came in the hadith that the voluntary acts complete the obligatory acts on the Day of Resurrection.