Answer: My advice to you, dear brother, who seeks to practice the religion sincerely and remain steadfast, is as follows:
1) Make the Quran and Sunnah Your Foundation:
Place the Quran of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ at the forefront of your life. Let them be your primary sources of guidance in all matters. Always ensure that you understand the Quran and Sunnah in the way the early pious predecessors (Salaf) understood them—such as Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali (may Allah be pleased with them), and the other companions of the Prophet ﷺ, as well as those who followed them in virtue.
2) Follow Their Understanding of Tawheed:
Ensure that you follow the companions in their understanding of Tawheed (the oneness of Allah, the Exalted).
3) Learn and implement the Sunnah as they did—how they learned it, upheld it, and practiced it.
4) Follow Their Path of Obedience:
Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, says in the Quran:
"And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and do not follow other paths, for they will separate you from His path." (Quran 6:153)
This verse emphasizes the importance of adhering to the straight path of Allah and avoiding deviations.
Allah also says:
"And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows a path other than that of the believers, We will turn him to what he has chosen and burn him in Hell—what an evil destination!" (Quran 4:115)
This serves as a stern warning against straying from the path of the believers.
5) Fear Allah in Your Actions and Knowledge:
Be conscious of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, in both your actions and the knowledge you acquire. Fear Him privately and publicly. Allah says about the people of knowledge:
"Indeed, only those fear Allah among His servants who have knowledge." (Quran 35:28)
The scholars are those who fear Allah the most and are deeply conscious of Him.
6) Hasten Toward Good Deeds:
Strive to perform every act of goodness and hasten toward it. Allah says:
"So race to goodness." (Quran 2:148)
"And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord." (Quran 3:133)
Allah also describes the righteous as those who:
"Hasten to good deeds and are the first to achieve them." (Quran 23:61)
Allah, the Exalted, says:
“Indeed, those who are in awe of their Lord are fearful, and those who believe in the signs of their Lord, and those who do not associate anything with their Lord, and those who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord. It is they who hasten to good deeds, and they are the foremost in them.” (Quran: 23:57-61)
7) Be Gentle and Patient:
Many people, when they begin seeking knowledge, become harsh, tough, or rough with their family members and others around them. Instead, be gentle and patient.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Gentleness is not present in anything except that it beautifies it." (Muslim: 3590)
Approach others with kindness and softness in both speech and actions.
Allah says:
"And speak to people in a good manner." (Quran 2:83)
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
"Patience is a light." (Muslim:223)
Through patience, Allah will open doors for you and guide you to what is best.
8) Stand with the Truth Wherever It Is:
Do not restrict the truth to specific people or groups. Instead, seek the truth and align yourself with it.
Learn its principles and follow them diligently.
Anything I have said that is correct is from Allah, and anything incorrect is from myself and Shaytan.
— Answered by Ustadh Abdulrahman Hassan
