Benefits of the Hadith: Which deed was most beloved to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?

The Shaykh : In this hadith, there is evidence for the recommendation of persistence in righteous deeds, because that indicates a person’s desire to work. As for the person who does not persist, that indicates his laziness and sluggishness. However, if he moves from one deed to another because he sees it to be better, that is considered persistence. For example, if it was his habit to fast one day after another, but something occurred that required him to break his fast on that day for a legitimate religious reason, he is not said to have abandoned persistence. Why? Because he moved to a deed better than the one he left. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself, who loved to persist in deeds, would sometimes fast until people said he would not break his fast, and break his fast until people said he would not fast. Likewise, in standing in night prayer, he would stand until people said he would not sleep, and sleep until people said he would not stand, and so on. This means he follows what is best. Do not think that the meaning of persistence is to persist in the exact same deed. That is correct; it is a type of persistence. But if you leave that specific deed for another like it or better than it, you are considered to be persistent.