What Are the Best Deeds to Improve One’s Life After Abandoning Sins and Avoid Returning to Them?
Question: What are the best actions to take in order to change your life for the better after leaving sin, wanting to improve, and to avoid relapsing in sin?
Summary:
Whoever wishes to change their life for the better after abandoning sins should begin with sincere repentance to Allah, maintaining the five daily prayers, regularly engaging with the Noble Quran, seeking Islamic knowledge, keeping the company of righteous people, and staying away from bad companions and the causes of sins, while frequently engaging in remembrance of Allah, seeking forgiveness, making supplication, and consistently performing righteous deeds. Allah, the Exalted, says: “Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:222] Aishah, the Mother of the Believers, رضي الله عنها, narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are done consistently, even if they are few.” Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Answer:
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his Companions, and those who follow him. To proceed:
Indeed, a Muslim's desire to abandon sins and reform themselves is among the signs of goodness. It is from Allah's granting of success to His servant that He opens for him the door of repentance and steadfastness.
In order for a Muslim to remain firm upon repentance and not return to sins, he should observe the following matters:
First: Sincere repentance to Allah, the Exalted.
This means that he must abandon the sin, regret having committed it, and make a sincere and firm resolve never to return to it. If the sin involves the rights of other people, he must restore their rights to them or seek their forgiveness.
From the Qur'an:
- [Surah At-Tahrim 66:8]
“O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance.”
From the Sunnah:
- Narrated by Ibn Majah and graded Hasan by Al-Albani رحمه الله.Abdullah bin Masud رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The one who repents from a sin is like one who has no sin.”
Second: Maintaining the five daily prayers. Prayer is among the greatest means of rectifying the heart and keeping the limbs upright in obedience. It is the connection between the servant and his Lord.
From the Qur'an:
- [Surah Al-Ankabut 29:45]
“Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing.”
Therefore, a Muslim should maintain the prayers at their prescribed times, strive to attain humility and attentiveness in them, and perform them in congregation at the mosque for men who are able to do so.
Third: Regularly engaging with the Noble Quran. A Muslim should establish a daily portion of the Noble Quran for himself, which he reads, reflects upon its meanings, and acts upon what it contains.
From the Qur'an:
- [Surah Al-Isra 17:9]
“Indeed, this Quran guides to that which is most suitable.”
Fourth: Keeping the company of righteous people and staying away from bad companions. A companion influences his companion and may be a cause of his steadfastness or his deviation.
From the Sunnah:
- Narrated by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi, and graded Hasan by Al-Albani رحمه اللهAbu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“A person follows the religion of his close friend, so let each of you look at whom he takes as a close friend.”
Fifth: Staying away from the causes of sins. A Muslim should stay away from everything that leads him to sins, including prohibited places, corrupt websites, bad company, and other causes of temptation.
From the Qur'an:
- [Surah Al-Isra 17:32]
“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.”
Thus, Allah prohibited even approaching unlawful sexual intercourse, which includes avoiding the means that lead to it.
Sixth: Increasing righteous deeds. Such as giving charity, fasting, remembering Allah, seeking forgiveness, being dutiful to one's parents, and maintaining family ties, for good deeds are among the means of expiating bad deeds.
From the Qur'an:
- [Surah Hud 11:114]
“Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds.”
From the Sunnah:
- Narrated by At-Tirmidhi, who said, “A Hasan Sahih hadith,” and authenticated by Shaykh Al-Albani رحمه الله.Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“And follow up a bad deed with a good deed, for it will erase it.”
Seventh: Seeking Islamic knowledge. A Muslim should strive to learn the correct Aqeedah, the rulings of prayer, purification, and the other acts of worship, and to know what is halal and haram, so that he worships Allah upon insight.
From the Sunnah:
- Al-Bukhari and Muslim.Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever Allah intends good for, He grants him understanding of the religion.” Agreed Upon.
Eighth: Consistency in acts of obedience. A Muslim should not burden himself with deeds beyond his ability. Rather, he should begin with what he is capable of and then gradually increase, while maintaining the obligatory duties.
From the Sunnah:
- Al-Bukhari and MuslimAishah, the Mother of the Believers, رضي الله عنها narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are done consistently, even if they are few.” Agreed Upon
Ninth: Frequently supplicating and asking Allah for steadfastness. For the servant cannot do without Allah's granting of success and guidance.
From the Sunnah:
- Narrated by At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Shaykh Al-Albani رحمه الله.It was narrated from the Mother of the Believers رضي الله عنها that among the supplications of the Prophet ﷺ was:
“O Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.”
يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ، ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
Tenth: Not despairing if one falls into sin. If a person is overcome by his desires and falls into disobedience, he must hasten to repent, not despair of Allah's mercy, and not allow the sin to become a reason for abandoning acts of obedience.
From the Qur'an:
- [Surah Az-Zumar 39:53]
“Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
Statements of the Scholars:
From the Scholars:
- Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz رحمه الله said, when explaining the means of remaining steadfast upon guidance:
“The ways are to fear Allah, to remain mindful that Allah is watching, to frequently remember Allah, to acquire understanding of the religion, to frequently recite the Quran with reflection and contemplation, to keep the company of good and righteous people, and to stay away from the company of evil people.”
- He رحمه الله also said, when explaining the means of remaining steadfast upon the religion:
“The greatest means are to ask Allah and humbly beseech Him, seeking steadfastness upon the truth and remaining upright upon it.”
Conclusion: A Muslim must be sincere in his repentance, maintain the obligations imposed by Allah, strive in acts of obedience, stay away from the causes of sins, keep the company of righteous people, frequently supplicate and seek forgiveness, and ask Allah for steadfastness and a good ending. He should know that steadfastness requires patience and striving against one's own soul, and that among the greatest means of remaining steadfast is to constantly remain mindful that Allah is watching, both in private and in public. Allah, the Exalted, says: “And those who strive for Us — We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” [Surah Al-Ankabut 29:69] We ask Allah, the Exalted, to grant the questioner success in sincere repentance, rectify his heart and deeds, and keep him steadfast upon the truth until he meets Him. And Allah knows best. May Allah send peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his family, and all his Companions.
And Allah knows best.
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