How to become a good Muslim

The Masjid is a place that has been built to make the Ibaadat of Allah Ta’ala in the form of Salah, Tilawat-ul-Qur'an, Zikrullah, etc. But a person must remain in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala everywhere and not only in the Masjid. He must remain in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala all the time and not only in the month of Ramadan because Allah Ta’ala is our Rabb everywhere and forever.

Just as he must behave like a good Muslim in the Masjid, he must also behave in the same way outside the Masjid, in the bazaar and on the beach because he is a believer everywhere. Just as he behaves like a good Muslim in front of people, he must also behave in the same way in a place where no one sees him or where no one knows him.

A person who behaves like a good Muslim everywhere, is a person who has the quality which Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) called Ihsaan. Ihsaan is a state of mind that makes a person perceive the presence of Allah Ta’ala. In such a state, a person will hesitate to do something that Allah Ta’ala does not like and he will also hesitate to neglect his duty towards his Rabb.

Thus, to become a good Muslim, a person must develop the quality of Ihsaan. But this cannot be inculcated by reading books only. One must be in the companionship of those who have acquired it, for a considerable amount of time. Without this, practically it is very difficult.

This gives us an idea of how important it is to learn Deen from the Deendaar while being in their company. This is the only natural means to learn Deen and to become Deendaar. Learning Deen through books without being in the company of the Deendaar, is like drinking bottle milk. Definitely, such a child cannot become like that child who is breast fed. 

[English version of "Couma vine ene bon musulman" – Al Jamiat – Vol.4 No.15]