By Fadia Bint Ismail

What do you think the most important aspects of being a good Muslim should be?

I know many wonder what more they can do, how much more Islamic knowledge they can gain etc. But sometimes we fail to realize the most important fundamentals of Islam which will pave our way towards gaining closeness to Allah (SWT).

Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) had many unique qualities and characteristics which should be our guide in being the best Muslim that we can be. Inshallah.

Sincerity: Actions are judged my intentions

“Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated.”

[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

But just following this simple hadith it can lead us into a better path Inshallah. Everyone will be rewarded or punished according to his aim and intention.

Our intentions should be in striving and fighting in the way of Allah. Our intentions and spirit of Jihad should always be present in our hearts and thus we shall then be rewarded. For example even if you made the intention to do good, to give some sort of charity but then failed to do so when that intention forms in our heart out of sincerity in striving in the way of Allah we will also be rewarded for it.

Being sincere and having good intentions are very important aspects in every human beings lives.

Repentance: Speaking the truth

It is always necessary when we commit any sort of sin even if it is as much as the foam in the sea, as high as the mountains if we sincerely repent and turn back to Allah He will then open the gates of Tawbah for us. A Muslim should always speak the truth even if he has to face troubles. So if we have sinned speak your heart out to Allah, He knows and sees everything but confess only to Allah and do not display and expose your sins. Speak the truth and repent sincerely because the pleasure of Allah lies in the truth.

Allah exalted says “O you who believe, be afraid of Allah and be with those who are true (in their words and deeds), the men and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds) then if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better” Quran (47.21)

Patience and Perseverance

Many of us find it difficult to remain patient in times of anger or even difficult times. We all fall prey to this nobody is perfect but if we try and persevere and strive in the way of Allah we can overcome anything. I believe we should try to maintain uprightness and steadfastness. Having these two qualities and persevering and having patience is the true mark of faith.

A tree which does not bear any fruit has no value; similarly faith becomes meaningless without practice.

Allah exalted says “O you, who believe, endure and be patient, and certainly we shall test you with some fear, hunger, and loss of wealth, lives and fruits but give glad tidings to As Sabirun (The patient) Quran (2.155)

I think that if we incorporate these three important aspects into our lives into our character, instill it within our hearts I am sure we will be able to reach a level in our Emaan which will be pleasing to Allah.

Our beloved Prophet (SAW) was truly sincere; he even repented to Allah 70 times a day. He was not arrogant and believed that just because He (SAW) was a Prophet that he did not have to repent. He persevered and remained patient through the worst of tribulations which we will never be able to comprehend.

This should be a reminder firstly to myself and then to others. Inshallah

May we all take heed in seeking to strive in the way of ALLAH. Ameen