Mentioning one of the means that help in repentance and steadfastness upon it

Question:
Shaykh Salih, as you know from us, there are certain factors that help in repentance. I recall that you mentioned among them the place where a person lives, the society a person interacts with. Do you have a word on this topic? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Yes, among the things that help in repentance, after the success of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), is to avoid the company of the wicked who drag one into sin, and to mix with the righteous and sit with the good, and to stay away from the wicked who may be the cause of one falling into this sin from which one repents, and then returning to it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) compared the good companion to a carrier of musk: either he gives you some, or you buy some from him, or you find a pleasant scent from him. He warned against the bad companion and compared him to a bellows operator: either he burns your clothes, or you find a foul smell from him while you are sitting with him. Also, among the causes is staying away from a corrupt environment and moving to a good environment, meaning moving from a country where there are sins and many secrets and temptations to a good country, that is, good in its people and good in its society. Therefore, migration from the lands of disbelief to the lands of Islam was legislated, so migration is moving from a hostile environment to a righteous environment, because that helps in obeying Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).