Steps in physical and mental actions to become a better Muslim. The mental preparation is more important than the action. Reflect and contemplate on each item. These tips should benefit you in all aspects of your life, and make you a more competent person.
Step 1
The action of foremost importance is prayer. See it as an introspective action, and attempt to derive tranquility from it. Concentrate. Rather than offering prayer reluctantly, find peace from it, as a break from your busy life.
- Make sure that you read the Quran every day no matter how little. This is the speech of Allah, a guidance to you and all that exists. Have a relationship with the Quran. You can even read just a few lines and the translation before you go to sleep.
- Who are your friends? Are they Muslims? Spending more time with knowledgeable and sincere people is a step in the right direction.
- Be good to your parents.
- Keep your cool, and treat people gently. Anger undoes faith.
- Try to keep your indulgent instincts suppressed and find a Halal outlet for your urges. You cannot satisfy your desires anyway. 'If man is given a valley of gold, he will desire another'.
- Sustain a sport. As well as keeping fit, you gain mental fortitude and willpower.
- Be clean. Purity is half of faith. Know how to do ghusl and wudu properly.
- When people ask you about Islam, dispel the media-myths. Clarify how Jesus (peace be upon him) is regarded in Islam. Smile.
- Never miss a Friday prayer and try to pray at the masjid as much as possible.
- Try to improve yourself in regards to Islam all the time. Make a goal, write it down and tell a friend.
- Pray "rabbi zidni 'ilma" (my Lord increase my knowledge) and other du'as for improvement and guidance. Ask your sheikh to teach you a good du'a for you from the Sunnah.
- See a good deed? Have a good idea? Do it! Now. Even picking up the trash around the masjid has reward in it.
- Remember: “I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly even better than that. And if he takes one step towards me, I take ten steps towards him. And if he comes walking to Me , I go running towards him.” (Hadith Qudsi)
Tips
- These steps are primarily mental preparation. The deeds will come naturally insha Allah if you continue this.
- Remember your zakat. A recent study showed if there was a redistribution of 2.5% of wealth of the multi-millionaires of the world, there would be no poverty.
- "All mankind will enter paradise except those who refuse to".
- Seek knowledge of Islam in your local community or by downloading lectures, books and reading articles.
- Learning more about the best man, Rasul Allah (peace and blessings of Allah upon him), will only improve you. A popular biography to read is The Sealed Nectar by Mubarakpuri.
Warnings
- You can set Islam by example to your peers more powerfully than what you say, still beware if you are weak you may adopt their haraam ways.
