Someone Raised Without Religious Values, How Should They Behave and Develop Themselves to Approach Allah?
Question: What steps should a person who has been raised without religious values since childhood take to develop themselves at this age? What are the necessary steps to get closer to Allah and live their religion better and more accurately?
Answer: Whether someone is trying to learn and adopt religion later in life or has already embraced religious values but has fallen into negligence, if a person wants to recover, they should follow the following in accordance with the order of importance mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah:
1-) Be in the company of righteous individuals:(1) A person's understanding of religion and true piety cannot significantly differ from those in their surroundings.(2) Humans are susceptible to the influence of their environment. Without establishing a circle of people who understand and live their religion correctly, a person cannot be considered to have truly repented or be sincerely committed to living Islam.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Amongst the men of Bani Israel there was a man who had murdered ninety-nine persons. Then he set out asking (whether his repentance could be accepted or not). He came upon a monk and asked him if his repentance could be accepted. The monk replied in the negative and so the man killed him. He kept on asking till a man advised to go to such and such village. (So he left for it) but death overtook him on the way. While dying, he turned his chest towards that village (where he had hoped his repentance would be accepted), and so the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment quarrelled amongst themselves regarding him. Allah ordered the village (towards which he was going) to come closer to him, and ordered the village (whence he had come), to go far away, and then He ordered the angels to measure the distances between his body and the two villages. So he was found to be one span closer to the village (he was going to). So he was forgiven."(3)
2-) Engage in the path of Allah, regardless of personal circumstances: (4) Regardless of a person's knowledge, material and spiritual level, age, education, etc., they must be on the path of Allah. Even if the person is indulged in sins, they should still be on this path. This involves making efforts for the name of Allah to be spread and helping people recognize Allah and His religion. While individual efforts are commendable, group efforts are more effective and fruitful.(5) Those who fulfill the first step will not find it difficult to find people to walk with in spreading Allah's religion.
A person should never think, "First, let me get myself together. Then, I will make an effort to convey Allah's religion." In every era, especially in today's world, a person who does not engage in preaching people will find it challenging to get themselves together. On the contrary, even if a person is addicted to activities such as drinking, gambling, or adultery, being involved in the activity of preaching has led to the salvation of many from these sins.
Emotions and thoughts shape actions, and what a person does shapes their heart and mind. Moreover, individuals engaged in conveying Allah's religion receive Allah's help, preventing them from slipping, protecting them from Satan's whispers,(6) and addressing the weaknesses within themselves.
3-) Participate in a circle of conversation, even if it's online: Just as a person needs to eat a few times a day and clean themselves a few times a week, they also need to hear certain truths repeatedly.(7) Hadiths express that Allah will bestow great blessings upon those who gather to remember Him.(8) Additionally, it is necessary to have elders who can answer our questions and share our concerns.
4-) Continue seeking forgiveness (Istighfar): Istighfar, which means "seeking forgiveness", does not require a definite intention to abandon the sin. Even if a person cannot immediately abandon a sin or correct their mistakes, they should continue seeking forgiveness. This can be done in person's own language or Arabic, using personal words or supplications from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or virtuous individuals. (9)
5-) Allocate time for Allah: Besides seeking forgiveness, a person should have times dedicated to Allah. Engaging in prayers, supplications and remembrance, reading the Quran, learning about the religion, and deepening one's understanding of faith are essential activities.
1-) O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true. (Surah At-Tawbah - 119)
2-) "A person is on the religion of his companion, so let each one of you consider whom he befriends." (Abu Dawood, Adab, 19, Tirmidhi, Zuhd, 45)
3-) https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3470
4-) Allah says, "O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind." (Tirmidhi, Book 9, Hadith 110)
5-) Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a [single] structure joined firmly. (Surah As-Saff - 4)
6-) O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet. (Surah Muhammad - 7)
7-) Let there be a community among you who invite to what is good, enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong. They are the ones to attain felicity. (Surah Al-Imran - 104)
8-) Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Verily, there are angels roaming the roads seeking those who remember Allah. When they find a group remembering Allah, they surround them in layers until the first heaven. When they disperse, they rise up to the heaven and Allah asks, although He is more aware of them than they are: What are my servants saying? They say: They glorify you, they declare your greatness, and they praise you. He says: Have they seen me? They say: No, by Allah, they did not see you. He says: How would it be if they saw me? They say: If they saw you, they would worship you more intensely and magnify you more deeply, and they would glorify you more sincerely. He says: What are they asking me for? They say: They ask you for your paradise. He says: Have they seen it? They say: No, by Allah, O Lord, they have not seen it. He says: How would it be if they saw it? They say: If they saw it, they would be even more eager for it and they would beseech you more earnestly. He says: What are they seeking refuge from? They say: They seek refuge from the Hellfire. He says: Have they seen it? They say: No, by Allah, O Lord, they have not seen it. He says: How would it be if they saw it? They say: If they saw it, they would flee from it with the utmost fleeing and they would be in the greatest dread of it. Then He says: I testify that I have forgiven them." (Sahih Muslim 2692)
9-) Do they not know that it is Allah who accepts repentance from His servants and receives charities and that it is Allah who is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful? (Surah At-Tawbah - 104)