The most disgraceful act that can be done is that a person attacks the body of a dead person, and it is especially bad if the deceased happens to be his own brother, and even more so if his method of attack is that he begins to eat from his flesh! This action is so despised and wicked that very few people would ever do such a thing. Speaking bad words about a person behind his back and causing harm to his character or disrespecting him is equivalent to eating his flesh. Allah says:
وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
“Let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened and many of them were defiantly disobedient.” (Surah Al-Hadeed 57:16)
Lifting the curtains that cover the sins and transgressions of the people would result in them performing these disgraceful actions in the future openly since others’ respect and dignity normally prevent one from committing sins. Worship is an element that always strengthens man to resist his soul and power that weakens the soul. Allah says:
فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا فَآتَيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
“But they did not observe it with due observance, so We gave the ones who believed among them their reward, but many of them were defiantly disobedient.” (Surah Al-Hadeed 57:27)
Speaking badly behind a person’s back is something that ignites the fire of hatred and enmity. The person who has been spoken bad about and has had his secrets spread out for everyone to know and has had his respect and dignity taken away will be extremely upset and will obviously resort to taking revenge. Allah says:
يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لَا تَكُنْ مِثْلَ فُلَانٍ كَانَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ
“O Abdullah, do not be like a man who would stand for prayer at night but later abandoned the night prayer.” (Sahih Bukhari 1101)
Gaining motivation and strength to fight undesired habits is not easy. What we repeatedly do in our daily life routine is known as habits. Our daily lives are usually a set of habits that we do throughout the day. Everyone wants to be a better version of themselves every other day.
Everyone has habits, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with them:
- Stay away from things that trigger a bad habit
- Putting the intention of leaving the bad habit
- Make sure daily prayers are offered on-time
- Move beyond discussion hoping to achieve
- Build a solution to eventually overcoming
- Handle and try your best to figure out
- Understanding the nature of change
- Build accountability in a good way
- Thinking about one’s Creator
- Build the habit up of reading
- Be patient with yourself
- Be prepared to struggle
- Have a plan in advance
- Think differently of yourself
- Reading the Qur’an regularly
- Make friends with good people
- Identify the cause of bad habits
- Help yourself in staying disciplined
- Understanding the concept of Taqwa
- Having the right intentions for change
- Reinforce yourself each step of the way
- Strengthen the relationship with Allah SWT
- Expressing intention to avoid the bad habit
- Appreciating that although Allah is forgiving
- Promising oneself never involve the bad habit
- Involve yourself in helping break any bad habit
Plan to change your bad habits. It should include your reasons for changing; obstacles you will face and also support which will help to achieve your planning to get rid of bad habits. One of the most effective ways to do so is by changing many undesired habits to good ones. Speaking of which, it’s very difficult to be done. Changing habits can be challenging so that everyone who makes it would truly be better. Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ
“Verily, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11)
The relief from bad habits is to gain religious knowledge and to practice Islam. Few things are more difficult than getting rid of bad habits since they are part of our daily routine and personality. It takes days of patience and practice to break old habits because it’s not going to end quickly. The relief from bad habits is to gain religious knowledge and to practice Islam. Allah says:
وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّتِي نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنكَاثًا
“Do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:92)
Our daily lives are usually a set of habits that we do throughout the day. We have all kinds of habits some are good and some are bad. We don’t realize earlier about bad habits when we realized about them it’s been too late to leave them. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) warned us against bad habits and asked us to do good deeds if we want to get rid of bad habits.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- ”The believers must (eventually) win through.” (Surah Al-Muminun, 1)
- ”Those who humble themselves in their prayers.” (Surah Al-Muminun, 2)
- “When they hear pointless talk, they turn away from it.” (Surat Al-Qaşaş 28:55)
- “A fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey God in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.” (Quran 66:6)
- ”But those who believe and work righteousness, and humble themselves before their Lord,- They will be companions of the gardens, to dwell therein for aye!” (Surah Hud, 23)
- ”(All) faces shall be humbled before (Him) – the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal: hopeless indeed will be the man that carries iniquity (on his back).” (Surah Ta-Ha, 111)
- ”Until We open on them a gate leading to a severe Punishment: then Lo! they will be plunged in despair therein!” (Surah Al-Muminun, 77)
- “Successful are the believers, who are humble in their prayers, and who turn away from the pointless talk.” (Quran 23:1-3)
- “Those who do not bear witness to what is false, but when they pass by pointless talk, pass by with dignity.” (Quran 25:72)
- “O My slaves who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of God. Indeed, God forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Quran 39:53)
The best thing to start with is to seek help from Allah. Allah is the Turner of hearts. Ask Him to turn yours and guide you aright, on a path that is pleasing to Him. Be constant with your du’aa’. Know that He won’t necessarily answer your prayers immediately. You need to be patient and persevere with your du’aa’s. Be confident that Allah will come to your aid and help you through. Think about yourself as a different person. Tell yourself that you can do better simply motivate yourself which will definitely be going to help you in this manner.
وَكَانَ أَحَبَّ الدِّينِ إِلَيْهِ مَا دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ
“The most beloved religion to Allah is one which is performed regularly.” (Sahih Muslim 786)
False smiles, hypocritical words, and shallow relationships have made a man fall down to the degree of spiritless creatures. However, we should not be deceived by the fact that they have fun and drink together. They are acts that aim to make use of one another in order to get rid of the boredom in them; that is, they are acts that are based on personal interests. Allah says:
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ
“O children of Adam, take your adornment at every place of prayer. Eat and drink, but not to excess. Verily, He does not love those who commit excess.” (Surah al-A’raf 7:31)
Many times giving something addictive up forever or breaking a bad habit can be difficult. We convince ourselves that staying days, weeks or years away from that addiction will be impossible. So never panic if it becomes hard for you to break that bad habit. According to research, it takes almost 30 days to break the habit and no time is more convenient than Ramadan to do so as it is just long enough to get rid of your addiction. So try to take it one day at a time. Get through the first day, the second and third and so on. In addition, before you know it, your bad habit or addiction will be gone.
