Islam: Muslim Youth - How To Become A Better Muslim

Narrated by 'Umar bin Al-Khattab

I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."

Narrated by Al-Bara'

A man was reciting Surat Al-Kahf and his horse was tied with two ropes beside him. A cloud came down and spread over that man, and it kept on coming closer and closer to him till his horse started jumping (as if afraid of something). When it was morning, the man came to the Prophet, and told him of that experience. The Prophet said, "That was As-Sakina (tranquility) which descended because of (the recitation of) the Qur'an."

(Both Hadeeth from Sahih al Bukhari)

I had a shocking reality check recently when i started speaking to a young cousin of mine.

I asked the 18 year old recently what the name of the holy prophet (pbuh) is. He replied the words below:

'Sallallahu alyhi wasallam... erm Muhammad'.

I straight away replied 'you were very hesitant and unsure by the sound of your voice and the speed at which you replied. Also you had to think.'

He felt ashamed but looked interested to learn more about the prophet Muhammad (pbuh). I mentioned that after we muslims die and as soon as we enter the grave, we will be asked 3 questions of which one of them will be 'what is the name of your prophet?'. It will be our hearts that we answer this question with, not our mouth or thinking about it in our head first then answering correctly.

Our heart is the most important part of our body and it is very important to keep remembering Allah at all times by praying the compulsory 5 daily prayers and also doing Dhikr. By doing Dhikr of Allah our heart and mind becomes pure which helps us to abstain from sinning and having bad thoughts in our minds.

It is obvious that with the technology available in our time today, things like gossip, music, films, adult content and many other media and personal information is available at the touch of a button on a mobile phone, tablet device, television or computer/laptop. These are only a small number of devices listed which provide quick and simple way of accessing some of the material listed above.

Satan works his powers to distract people from prayer, fasting, recitation of the holy Quran, earning a halal income, religious gatherings, doing good deeds, promoting Islam with dawah, treating parents with respect. It is very difficult to not to be distracted by satan because of the society we are living in across the UK and other countries. These influences distract muslims from obeying Allah's will and striving to become a better muslim.

Some people may not be able to become perfect muslims, but they should adhere to the five pillars of Islam:

• Shahadah (testifying that there is no God but one God and Muhammad (pbuh) is His messenger)
• Salah (five daily prayers consisiting of Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha'a)
• Sawm (fasting in the month of Ramadan)
• Zakat (giving alms to the poor)
• Hajj (pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah)

Salah and Sawm (fasting in the month of Ramadan) are the two main pillars of Islam which some muslim youths do not follow or obligate to. Parents should be trying to help their children implement salah and sawm on a regular basis before they reach the age of puberty.

What normally happens is children start going to the mosque at a young age and learn how to read the holy Quran. When they have completed reading the whole Quran in most cases just ONCE, they consider themselves in some way to have graduated from the mosque and not continue to read the holy book. Another reason is sometimes some youths feel ashamed to be still going to the mosque with other very young children, as if they feel they are past the age of reading Allah's Book and do not have to go to the masjid anymore.

The holy Quran is not just to be read once, it is there to be read as much as possible as this book is a miracle in itself and has many benefits with duas and is a road map on how to live a perfect Islamic life which will inshallah lead to Jannatul Firdaus (Paradise). If we can learn and understand it, then we can act upon it and inshallah be loved by Allah more and become a better person for our families, friends and the society/community we live in.

We should always strive to become a better person as a muslim so that we can escape the punishment of the grave and Jahannam (Hell fire) and go to Paradise.

Who's responsibility is it to make sure that young children are taught and adhere to the five pillars of Islam? It is the parents. If the parents do not carry out their obligatory 5 times a day prayer, then how will the children be influenced? If the parents bring up their children with bad influences around them then who is at fault and how will the parents then answer to Allah when asked about the Islamic upbringing of their child? Why be responsible for your children's sins after you die due to your ignorance of the glorious Quran and Sunnah?

We realise that it is not just the youths who are not following the basic Islamic way of life, but it is the adults as well. Every generation and all ages in some way have been led astray by satan due to our surroundings, people we call friends, our families and sometimes even ourselves. I know in some families children do not get to see their father who work in the evenings and in the day the children are in school. The fathers do not give enough time to their children so do not build up a good relationship hence are not able to bring their children up in a good islamic manner.

Living an Islamic life and teaching your children and also carrying out Dawat is an essential part of Islamic life so that when you are no longer alive, your children will pray for you and your forgiveness to Allah. Anyone you may influence by Dawat and when they do their prayers, you will automatically be part of their prayers because you influenced them. Allah knows best.

Why not sit back and look at the way you live your life? Below are just a few things that may help to improve ones self to become a better muslim.

• Pray Salat 5 times a day - It is very simple to do salat on a regular basis if you put the effort in. Try to change your daily routine from e.g. playing your video games, watching tv, going out with friends and instead find out what the prayer times are and go to the nearest Masjid to pray.
• Gain knowledge - Gaining knowledge is a very important part of our life. In truth, human beings always keep learning new things until the day they die. It is very important to gain Islamic knowledge to help yourself and share with others. One of the best ways to learn is reading books on Islamic topics like: Asma ul Husna, Book of Hadeeth (Sahih al Bukhari is the most authentic), Life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), How to perform ablution (Wudu) and salah properly etc...
• Spend more time inside the Masjid - If you are free in the evenings, try to spend more time in the Masjid. While not praying, try to read the Glorious Quran, do Dhikr or sit in a small group and talk about the Deen. You could spend time in the Masjid from Maghrib prayer to Isha and in between spend the time wisely. This will inshallah bring you closer to Allah (swt). Why not go with your dad or another family member? Why not take your friends with you? You could make the masjid your new meeting place where you can pray and still get to socialise/see one another.
• Spend more time with your family at home rather than friends on the streets - Spending time with your family is more important than spending time with your friends around street corners, cinemas or even in restaurants and cafes. In some Asian communities i know that a father and son do not sit together in the same room and have a general chat. This is probably because of the studying and work commitments on both of their parts. If you can make some time, at least 5 minutes just to sit together and have a general chat or even sit together and have dinner once a day, this will inshallah increase the love within the family and the positive influences will be shared also.

It is reported by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said: "Whenever any obedient son looks to his parents with a kind look Allah writes for him (the credit equal to) one accepted Pilgrimage for every look." - Baihaqi

^{La Ilaha Ilallahu Muhammadur Rasul Ullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam}

Work Righteousness: But those who believe and work righteousness, and humble themselves before their Lord, they will be companions of the gardens, to dwell therein for aye! - Qur'an, The Prophet Hud, Surah 11:23

^{La Ilaha Ilallahu Muhammadur Rasul Ullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam}

Fear Him Who Created You: And withhold not things justly due to men, nor do evil in the land, working mischief. And fear Him Who created you and (who created) the generations before (you). - Qur'an, Ash-Shu'ara, Surah 26:183-184

^{LaIlaha Ilallahu Muhammadur Rasul Ullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam}

Establish Regular Prayer: "Verily, I am Allah. There is no god but I: So serve thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise. Verily the Hour is coming--My design is to keep it hidden--for every soul to receive its reward by the measure of its Endeavour." - Qur'an, Ta Ha, Surah 20:14-15

^{LaIlaha Ilallahu Muhammadur Rasul Ullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam}

Enrich from His Own Abundance: God will reward those who have faith and do good; he will enrich them from his own abundance. As for those who are disdainful and proud, he will severely punish them; and they will find that no one besides God can protect or help them. - Qu'ran, An-Nisa, Surah 4:173

^{LaIlaha Ilallahu Muhamadur Rasul Ullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam}

The Prophet said "None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind."

^{LaIlaha Ilallahu Muhammadur Rasul Ullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam}

(Aisha the wife of the Prophet) I had seen my parents following Islam since I attained the age of puberty. Not a day passed but the Prophet visited us, both in the mornings and evenings. My father Abii Bakr thought of building a mosque in the courtyard of his house and he did so. He used to pray and recite the Qur'an in it. The pagan women and their children used to stand by him and look at him with surprise. Abu Bakr was a Softhearted person and could not help weeping while reciting the Quran. The chiefs of the Quraish pagans became afraid of that (i.e. that their children and women might be affected by the recitation of Quran)."

^{LaIlaha Ilallahu Muhammadur Rasul Ullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam}

May Allah give us the taufiq to become better muslims.

Allah says: “And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: ‘If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My Blessings); but if you are thankless, verily, My punishment is indeed severe’” [Ibraaheem 14:7]