How can one balance seeking religious knowledge and performing acts of worship and supererogatory prayers with studying, which requires a great deal of time and effort? And is abandoning supererogatory acts to save time for studying considered one of the excuses for which a Muslim receives the reward of what he used to do?

Every endeavor has a period of zeal and activity followed by a period of decline. A Muslim should strive to make up for any shortcomings due to this decline. There is no harm in reducing some supererogatory acts of worship (nawafil) to dedicate time to studying, especially if the mother requests it, because obedience to parents takes precedence in this situation. It is hoped that Allah the Almighty will record the reward of the nawafil for whoever ceased performing them due to studying, by analogy with the sick and the traveler for whom the reward of what they used to do while healthy and resident is recorded. As for Allah's enabling of the Companions and the Imams, its cause is steadfastness upon Allah's command. Delaying the requirements of repentance due to being preoccupied with studying may be permissible if the intention and determination not to return to sin are sincere, while being keen to rectify it as soon as possible.