What are the specific factors that help one remain steadfast in good?
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Question:
A young man lives through periods of his life maintaining acts of obedience and staying away from sins, but he does not remain so for long; he becomes lazy and weak. What are the factors that help one remain steadfast in good, listed as points so that I do not forget them?
Answer:
This happens to many people, and it has causes, among which are:
His negligence in learning and understanding the religion, and in seeking more knowledge. Because of this, he becomes weak in patience and steadfastness due to his lack of knowledge and his lack of effort in acquiring it.
And among them is that he is tested with one or more of the wicked, who lead him to evil and discourage him from good. The harm of a bad companion is great and his danger is serious, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 2628, and likewise the other hadith: Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 33:79. So among the important matters is the company of the righteous and good companions.
And among them is that he is tested with travel to bad lands—abroad. He may be upright, but then he is tested with travel to lands of disbelief: England, France, America, or the like. He falls into the traps of Satan and the callers to falsehood, leaving what he was upon before, and falling into major sins, intoxicants, and unlawful sexual intercourse; thus he is destroyed, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah!
As for the one who is patient with his initial state, remains upright upon it, strives in the company of the righteous, and continues in seeking knowledge and understanding the religion; he will, in most cases, remain in his state and be safe from the schemes of Satan and the schemes of the enemies.
So my advice to the student of knowledge, to myself, and to every Muslim is:
That he should adhere to the truth, remain upright upon it, and continue in seeking knowledge, understanding the religion, and the company of the righteous, and be cautious of traveling to the lands of the disbelievers.
So these three points are among the most important matters:
Continuing in knowledge, striving for more knowledge, and being patient with the religion he is upon.
Along with striving for the company of the righteous and remaining upright upon what they are upon.
Along with being cautious of traveling to foreign lands where evil is widespread, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah.
A young man lives through periods of his life maintaining acts of obedience and staying away from sins, but he does not remain so for long; he becomes lazy and weak. What are the factors that help one remain steadfast in good, listed as points so that I do not forget them?
Answer:
This happens to many people, and it has causes, among which are:
His negligence in learning and understanding the religion, and in seeking more knowledge. Because of this, he becomes weak in patience and steadfastness due to his lack of knowledge and his lack of effort in acquiring it.
And among them is that he is tested with one or more of the wicked, who lead him to evil and discourage him from good. The harm of a bad companion is great and his danger is serious, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one (iron-smith) blowing bellows, and the owner of musk would either offer you free of charge or you would buy it from him or you would. smell its pleasant odour, and so far as one who blows the. bellows is concerned, he would either burn your clothes or you shall have to smell its repugnant smell.
مثل الجليس الصالح والجليس السُّوء كحامل المسك ونافخ الكير، فحامل المسك إمَّا أن يُحذيك –يعني: يُعطيك شيئًا منه- وإما أن تبتاع منه، وإما أن تجد منه ريحًا طيبةً، ونافخ الكير إمَّا أن يحرق ثيابك، وإما أن تجد منه ريحًا خبيثةًA man is upon the religion of his close friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends
المرء على دين خليله، فلينظر أحدُكم مَن يُخاللAnd among them is that he is tested with travel to bad lands—abroad. He may be upright, but then he is tested with travel to lands of disbelief: England, France, America, or the like. He falls into the traps of Satan and the callers to falsehood, leaving what he was upon before, and falling into major sins, intoxicants, and unlawful sexual intercourse; thus he is destroyed, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah!
As for the one who is patient with his initial state, remains upright upon it, strives in the company of the righteous, and continues in seeking knowledge and understanding the religion; he will, in most cases, remain in his state and be safe from the schemes of Satan and the schemes of the enemies.
So my advice to the student of knowledge, to myself, and to every Muslim is:
That he should adhere to the truth, remain upright upon it, and continue in seeking knowledge, understanding the religion, and the company of the righteous, and be cautious of traveling to the lands of the disbelievers.
So these three points are among the most important matters:
Continuing in knowledge, striving for more knowledge, and being patient with the religion he is upon.
Along with striving for the company of the righteous and remaining upright upon what they are upon.
Along with being cautious of traveling to foreign lands where evil is widespread, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.