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. The way a person act defines their personality. An act of goodness is much dear to Allah Almighty than one’s wealth and richness. Allah says:
وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“Hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous, who spend during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people; and Allah loves the doers of good.” (Surat Al Imran 3:134)
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 and you will become used to Islam as a religion and way of life. Allah loves those who possess these great qualities. Good manners and a sense of morality can prevent us from falling into sins. 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)
Every Muslim is aware of the fact that parents are one of the greatest gifts of Allah Almighty and they play a great role while parenting kids. Parents deserve the utmost gratitude and the highest level of respect that a human can deserve. Islam stresses the importance of noble character among all members of the family. Islam stresses the importance of observing noble character which serves to put an end to such practices. 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 not a religion that hampers an individual movement in a social setup. We have to acknowledge that all places East or West are very tolerant of religious freedom and Muslim behaviour plays an important factor in how non-Muslims view Islam. In addition, Islam is the only religion prevailing over all other religions.
Here are some blessed importance of becoming a Good Muslim in Islam:
- A believer should read the Qur’an as often as he can
- A believer never ask too many favours from people
- A believer needs to be inclined towards goodness
- A believer makes his social life more pleasant
- A believer always consists of spreading peace
- A believer never hatred cause you to be unjust
- A believer has a remembrance of Allah (Dhikr)
- A believer never claim yourselves to be pure
- A believer never ask unnecessary questions
- A believer forgive others for their mistakes
- A believer should develop in his character
- A believer always learn and practice Islam
- A believer must try to control his temper
- A believer should breed in his character
- A believer never call others bad names
- A believer takes importance in religion
- A believer wants to achieve success
- A believer has a way good behaviour
- A believer avoid falling into sins
- A believer firmly believe in Allah
- A believer be Kind to others
- A believer forgive Others
- A believer Istighfar to himself
- A believer respect his parents
- A believer establish daily Prayer
- A believer stay away from extremism
- A believer should be more self-aware
- A believer always has a good character
- A believer never delay doing good deeds
- A believer control his anger and jealousy
- A believer practice Islam as much as he can
- A believer rejoices in the light of God’s Love
- A believer donate time and money to the needy
- A believer sit in the company of a good Muslim
- A believer keep away from debates and arguments
- A believer establish an Islamic culture in the society
- A believer in respecting elders and being kind to kids
- A believer finds Muslim friends and avoids severing ties
- A believer never criticize the small contributions of others
- A believer has freedom of thought and religion is paramount
Every society has its needs and demands to be able to move forward, and among many of those necessities, are showing gratitude towards seniors, and showing benevolence to the juniors. Elders are a great source of inspiration, as they have already seen the world closely, and one can learn from their experiences. A true Muslim should always keep a good balance between behaving towards the young ones and the older ones. Allah says:
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَهُ قُرْءَنًا عَرَبِيًّۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
“We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran so that you might understand it.” (Surah Yusuf 12:2)
Quran is the source to cure our character because the Quran is for all humanity and for all purposes of life. Dhikr of Allah Almighty is the thing to improve character. So we have to do sincere dhikr of Allah Almighty and such light will enter into our heart that people will say what good character this person has. Allah says:
وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
“And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious.” (Surah Al ‘Imran 3:133)
Beyond any shadow of a doubt, people judge others by their behaviour not by their faith. If anyone has a real desire to be a Muslim and has full conviction and a strong belief that Islam is the true religion ordained by Allah for all human beings, then, one should pronounce the “Shahada”, the testimony of faith, without further delay. 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)
Most of the Islamic teachings are concerned with an individual’s behaviour toward society, his parents, children, spouse, the environment, the needy and so on. Ideally being Muslim is all about being nice to others. Our blessed Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Religion is the way you treat others.”
Islam, according to the Quran, teaches love and compassion for every human being:
- “Indeed, you are of lofty character.” (Qalam: 4)
- “God does not love corruption.” (Surat al-Baqara, 205)
- “..If you are thankful, I will give you more ..” (Quran 14:7)
- “Be kind as Allah has been kind to you…” (Quran 28: 77)
- “The Religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.” (Qur’an 3:19)
- “And indeed, you are of a great moral character.” (Quran, 68:4)
- “And Allah does not guide the wrongdoers.” (Ali Imran verse 86)
- “Waste not by excess: for Allah loveth not the wasters.” (Quran 6:141)
- “Begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors.” (Quran 2: 190)
- “Exult not, for Allah loveth not those who exult (in riches).” (Quraan 28:76)
- “Take not your oaths, to practise deception between yourselves.” (Quran 16:94)
- “Treat not the orphan with harshness, nor repulse him who asks.” (Quran 93:9-10)
- “O you, who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.” (Quran, 9: 119)
Regardless of whether a person is a born Muslim or has accepted Islam in a later part of life, the one thing that they both need to do with consistency is become a better Muslim and continue on learning and practising all the things that make them a better Muslim. Hence, being a better or stronger Muslim does not have anything to do with being a Muslim by birth or later acceptance of Islam, rather it is imperative for every 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)
Muslims have to strive towards being a good Muslim so that with the passage of time he or she becomes a good 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. One’s good character and good Akhlaq are the reasons that take him closer to Allah Almighty which ultimately takes him closer to Jannah. May Allah help us to become better Muslims! Ameen
