We all need to become better Muslims and continue learning and practising all the things that make us better Muslims. To be a good Muslim and to truly please Allah takes work and effort. In order to be a true Muslim, a person has to put Islam to practice and follow the instructions religiously. The lines below discuss are such vital tips that can help you become a better and true Muslim. Allah says:
وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَىٰ ٱلأَرْضِ هَوْناً وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الجَاهِلُونَ قَالُواْ سَلاَماً
“And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace.” (Surah Al-Furqan 25:63)
Islam is the religion that covers more than just faith in One Lord. Islam is a way of life. It is a pathway that has been laid by Allah Almighty around the ages of human history. You will start to feel a connection to Allah (SWT) and you will become used to Islam as a religion and way of life. Allah says:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ * ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلاَتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ * وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ ٱللَّغْوِ مُّعْرِضُونَ
“The believers must (eventually) win through, Those who humble themselves in their prayers, Who avoid vain talk.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:1-3)
Allah won’t change you unless you decide to change. That’s why you need to be willing to change and actually put some thought and effort into the idea because when there’s a will there’s a way Insha’Allah. Being Muslim is the greatest blessing of Allah Almighty. We should try to become better Muslims with the passage of time. We should know that being a better version of ourselves will help us to be more successful in this life and Hereafter too.
Here are some ways to be a better Muslim:
- A believer needs to be inclined towards goodness
- Don’t criticize the small contributions of others
- A Muslim should develop in his character
- A Muslim must try to control his temper
- A Muslim should breed in his character
- Read the Quran as often as you can
- Don’t claim yourselves to be pure
- Be thankful and appreciative
- Respect your parents
- Strengthening your Faith
- Join or start an affinity group
- Control your anger and jealousy
- Rejoice in the light of God’s love
- Donate time and money to the needy
- Affirm In your heart that God loves you
- Establish an Islamic culture in the home
- Keep away from debates and arguments
- Take ownership and stop the blame game
Being a Muslim is a huge part of your identity now. That doesn’t mean you can’t barbeque with your friends or watch football on Sundays. If there are things in your culture that do not directly contradict the basic Islamic creed, then you are welcome to keep those things in your life. You do not need to start wearing Arab or Indian clothing. As long as your clothes cover what they are supposed to cover, you are in the clear. Allah says:
قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ
“Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most-Forbearing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:263)
Many converts are also exposed to really weird food that is overly spicy or funny tasting. This might lead us to think that eating curry is sunnah or something righteous. We can still have our own culture and tastes in food: pot roast and beans are still halal. Allah says:
وَلَا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَامًا وَارْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَاكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُوا لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا
“And (do) not give the foolish your wealth which Allah made for you a means of support (but) provide (for) them with it and clothe them and speak to them words (of) kindness.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:5)
There are many other examples of things that you will be exposed to that are from foreign cultures and do not necessarily have anything to do with Islam. Our goal as new Muslims is to worship Allah (SWT), not to add a Pakistani or Arab identity to our persona.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “God does not love corruption.” (Surat al-Baqara, 205)
- “Do not shout. Speak politely keeping your voice low.” (Quran 31:19)
- “Be lenient to those under you, and consult them in matters.” (Quran 3:159)
- “Don’t sit with those who mock religion until they change the subject.” (Quran 4:140)
- “Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran that you might understand.” ( Quran, 12:2)
- “Do not verge upon any immodesty or lewdness whether surreptitious or overt.” (Quran 6:151)
- “Differences in colour & language are signs of Allah, not means of superiority.” (Quran 49:13)
- “Choose the best words to speak and say them in the best possible way.” (Quran 17:53, 2:83)
- “Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.” (Quran, 12:2)
- “Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good.” (Quran 3:1340)
- “We have not sent you (O Muhammad) but to all mankind as a giver of good news and as a warner, but most people do not know.” (Quran 34:28)
- “Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter, he will be one of the losers.” (Quran 3:85)
- “He Who created all things in the best way and He began the creation of man from clay.” (Surat Al-Sajdah:32:7)
Coming to Islam will sometimes put you in a situation where you are overwhelmed with opinions that are hard to follow. As an example, one might be told that you have to wash your feet every time you make wudhu (ablution) unless you wipe over leather socks that have been worn from your previous wudhu. For most Americans, the idea of wearing leather socks is something that we find extremely unusual. Allah says:
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“Do not devour the wealth and property of others unjustly, nor bribe the officials or the judges to deprive others of their possessions.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:188)
We all need to become better Muslims and continue learning and practising all the things that make us better Muslims. To be a good Muslim and to truly please Allah takes work and effort. In order to be a true Muslim, a person has to put Islam to practice and follow the instructions religiously. The lines below discuss are such vital tips that can help you become a better and true Muslim. Allah says:
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“Devote thyself single-mindedly to the faith, and thus follow the nature designed by Allah, the nature according to which He has fashioned mankind; there is no altering the creation of Allah.” (Surat Al-Rum:30:30)
Allah (SWT) guided you to Islam, you searched for the answer and you found it. Be happy and constantly remind yourself of the blessings in your life. There are a lot of good things that will happen to you and you are on the straight road to Jannah(paradise). Rejoice in being Muslim. Remember the Sahabah(companions) were all converts to Islam and they were human beings that came from Adam and Eve just like you! Be strong and find comfort in your prayers and worship Allah. Allah says:
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him; and that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them, but address them in terms of honour.” (Surah Al-Isra` 17:23)
Muslims have to strive towards being a better Muslim so that with the passage of time he or she becomes better Muslim and on the Day of Judgment rises among the blessed ones. In order to become a good Muslim, you will have to go for a holistic approach and gradually start adopting Islamic instructions in your life in all its aspects. May Allah help us to become better Muslims! Ameen