Become a Better Muslim Male

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.

Steps

  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, but try to read a chapter a day if you have time . 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. Always respect them, and as you get older, help to care for them.
    • Do not backbite at all.
    • If you know you're not qualified, then DO NOT preach Islam, but more or so live it. Preaching is only up to the authentic Imams, if you have a question, ask them, but other than that, just follow the requirements and Sunnah as given.
    • Keep your cool, and treat people gently. Anger undoes faith.
    • Remember that modesty is the true nature of Islam according to the authenticated hadith. Avoid wearing tight or flashy clothing, such as skinny jeans. Remember that your awrah (nakedness) is from your navel to your knees, and this area should not be described by the tightness of your clothing. In other words, don't make it difficult for sisters lowering their gaze.
    • Try to keep your indulgent instincts suppressed and find a Halal outlet for your urges. Remember that masturbation is forbidden in Islam. You will never satisfy your desires anyway. 'If man is given a valley of gold, he will desire another'.
    • Find a Sport That's Right for You As well as keeping fit, you gain mental fortitude and willpower.
    • Learn about the limits of acceptable interaction between men and women in Islam and make sure you observe them.
    • Do sunnah Rasulullah Shallallahu 'Alaihi Wassalam
    • Read the Hikayatus Shahabah and learn their attitude
    • 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 "ربي زدني علما" "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 the following hadith, narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
    "Allah the Almighty says: '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 better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.' "
    عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
    يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي، وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي، فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ، ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي، وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلَإٍ، ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُمْ، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ بِشِبْرٍ، تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ ذِرَاعًا، تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا وَإِنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي، أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً
    (Find Out If a Hadeeth Is Authentic or Not Qudsi; Narrated by Bukhari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

Tips

  • Seek knowledge of Islam in your local community or by downloading lectures, books and reading articles.
  • 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.
  • Try to listen to Hadith and Qur'an to have a better view of our beautiful religion so you become more passionate about it and more drawn to it.
  • 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.

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