Abū Hurairah relates that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said: “Allah the Exalted says: I declare war against one who bears enmity towards a friend of Mine. When a servant of Mine comes closer to Me, with a thing which I love, out of things which I have prescribed; and when he seeks My favour through optional prayers (Nawafil), I start loving him, I become his ear with which he hears, and his eyes with which he sees, and his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks, and when he requests Me for anything, I grant him and when he seeks protection, I give him protection.”
(Sahih Bukhari)
The hadīth highlights the importance of optional prayers (Nawafil). Here the Holy Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) says that Allah loves optional prayers. It is so because man performs these optional prayers besides the obligatory ones. Just to seek the pleasure of Allah the believer spares at least some time from his busy schedule to remember Allah the way He loves. When he does so, Allah begins to love him. That Allah becomes his ears means he likes to hear only what Allah permits and shuns all that He forbids; he sees only what is permissible and keeps from what is forbidden; he uses the hands and feet only in accordance with Allah’s and His Messenger’s teachings. When such a person asks Allah for anything, He grants him his prayer. And when he seeks protection, Allah gives him protection.