How to become good
Fatwa No: 85277

Question

Can you help me become a good Muslim? Everyday I think I will not do any mistake today, but at the end of the day when I calculate my acts I find out that bad acts are more in number than the good acts. I know everything, even though I don't know what I will do?

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

First, thank Allah for giving you this good characteristic which is to bring yourself to account on daily basis. This is a Blessing bestowed on you by Allah and we ask Allah to guide you to that which pleases Him. Know that the Muslim falls in that which angers Allah only when his faith becomes weaker. This is why the Muslim resorts to strengthening his Iman (belief) whenever he happens to commit a sin. Here are some of the ways that can help one strengthen his belief:
1) Attending Dhikr and admonition gatherings as well as sitting with pious people and accompanying them. al-Hassan al-Basri said: 'Our friends are more valuable than our family members because our friends remind us of The Hereafter while our family members remind us of Dunya (this world)' .
2) Abandoning all bad gatherings and not befriending people who attend them, as such gatherings make the heart harsh and make the person accept sins as normal acts. That, in turn, leads him to fall in sin easily. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "The man is on the religion of the person he befriends. So, each one of you should choose a good company" .
3) Immoderation or even excessiveness in lawful things such as eating, drinking, and intermixing with people without a legal reason. In fact, being immoderate in such things leads to the harshening of heart and to not having time for acts of worship. This, in turn, induces in committing sins.
But, before all this, seek the help from the One who changes the hearts' manners and inclinations as He wishes. Seek the help of Allah. Ask Him to help you dominate your own self thus all your acts. Ask Him to help you worship Him in the way He wishes. It is reported in the Hadith that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) used to say: "Allahumma Rahmataka Arju, Fala Takilni Ila Nafsi Tarfata 'Ain, Wa Aslah Li Sha'ni Kullahu, La Ilaha Illa Anta (O Allah, I hope for Your mercy, so give me not over to my self even for as little as wink of an eye, and set right all my affairs, there is no god but You)" [ Abu Dawood ].
He also used to say: "O Allah, aid me in Your remembrance, Your thanks, and in perfecting Your worship" [Related by Ahmad ].
Allah knows best.

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