ON hearing the word "first" what should immediately spring to mind is the obvious: basic, primary, obligatory.

But why should we think basic when we consider ourselves advanced? The reason is that nothing grows and flowers unless it is planted well and nourished with the right conditions. Right?

Our Attitude

The first thing to do is have a proper attitude. In Islam, "deeds" mean actions and spoken words, and that includes attitudes. Passing thoughts are not accountable.

But an established attitude needs to be examined as it is defined in the dictionary to be: a settled way of thinking or feeling, and it influences a person’s choices and actions when taking up challenges, recognizing truths, seeking rewards, etc.

So how can we change negative attitudes into positive ones? The second ayah of the Qur’an speaks volumes:

Al-hamdulillah – Believers are directed to praise Allah. All praise and gratitude is due to Allah from His servants at every moment of the day; our acute awareness of His favours known and unknown.

And then Rabb al-aalameen – the owner, controller, provider, caretaker of all His creation.

He is the Rabb, so why worry and distress ourselves?

This concept when properly realised brings about a change in attitude. We need to live our lives aware of His care under His ruboobiyyah.

Worship is due to the Creator alone with ikhlaas:

Learn the conditions for the acceptance of a deed, which are:

1- Sincerity, i.e., it must be done only for Allah, and

2- Correctness, i.e., it must be done according to the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Ibn Taymiyyah said,

“Without doubt, ikhlaas removes the cause for entering the Hellfire. So anyone who enters the Fire from those who said, 'Lā ilāha ill-Allah' proves that he had not implemented the sincerity of lā ilāha ill-Allah, which would have protected him from the Fire.” (Majmū' al-Fatāwā, 10/261).

Some of these obligations are: Salah, Saum, Zakah, Hajj (if one is able), and abstention from everything forbidden.

Imam an-Nawawi went on to explain that it is unfortunate to observe habitual fasting and praying by night, along with careless disregard of such basic obligations as justice, truthfulness, kindness to parents and giving rights.

Understand Ourselves

The next step is to understand ourselves. As humans we are a higher species than animals; beings that can think, feel and make choices.

Allah created man in the best of forms, pleasing in appearance, and endowed with abilities, qualities, and intellect. It essentially implies that these favours have been given for a reason.

From them stems responsibility and accountability. The adjective form of human is "humane," which means kind, gentle, compassionate, understanding, tolerant and good natured. It is important to be humane first. But are we? If not a re-haul of our attitude is necessary.

We Must Keep Our Body Fit

We must eat from halaal food and not from food that was earned in an unlawful way, for it harms the very foundation required to purify the soul.

We need to eat, dress, clothe and behave while keeping in mind our purpose in life and the limits as outlinedٌ for us by our Creator.

Ibn Jareer said: "This means that Allah is Forgiving when you fail to thank Him properly, on the condition that you repent and turn to Him in obedience, and strive to do that which pleases Him. He is Merciful to you and does not punish you when you turn to Him and repent."

We Must Build Character

This means no lying, no cheating, using polite language, humility, respect for elders, and sensitivity to humans, animals, plants – i.e., all living beings.

It requires a value system based on Islam, not self-aggrandisement and pride in terms of lineage or the power, position, wealth, status, etc. that the world offers on a platter.

Allah hْas told us:

Abu Dharr al-Ghifari reported that the Prophet ﷺ said that his Lord said,

It was related on the authority of Abu Sa'id, Sa'd bin Malik bin Sinan al- Khudri that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

This hadith is the basis of many fatawa. Harm is prohibited in every form, both to the self and to others, and avoidance of all that is harmful. To take someone’s right unlawfully is a major harm and should not to be ignored, as is damage to reputations and injury to feelings.

Break Through The Difficult Pass

  Allah has said:

This world is not a place of comfort and ease for man. He strives to survive, get his needs, and achieve his goals. His life is a process of continued exerting that never ends until he meets his Lord.

Keep Worry And Fear Under Control

It means whoever suffered an affliction, knew that it occurred by Allah's wisdom and decree, and then patiently awaits Allah's reward – Allah will guide his heart and will compensate him for his loss in this life by granting him certainty in faith.

Allah will replace whatever he lost for His sake with the same or what is better. Ibn Abbas said this means he will know that what reached him could not have missed him and what has missed him could not have reached him.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Amazing is the affair of a believer. There is no decree that Allah writes for him, but is better for him. If an affliction strikes him, he is patient and this is better for him. If a favour is granted to him, he is thankful and this is better for him. And this is only for the believer." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Take Care Of Your Family

Teach your family the religion and good behaviour. As Allah said:

It is an obligation for the Muslim to teach the family members of his household and his male and female servants what Allah has made obligatory and what Allah has forbidden.

Gain Knowledge

The first word revealed to man was "Iqra" which means "recite" or "read.”

The Prophet ﷺ, and through him mankind, is ordered to read, i.e., to seek knowledge in the name of Allah from the Book of Allah. Then later he is told to ponder, to reflect on the verses being read or recited and to comprehend its concepts.

This leads to faith based on clarity and understanding. The Prophet ﷺ said,

Proper learning requires dedication, perseverance and purpose. To progress from sharing bits and pieces of unauthentic or a mixed hash of information from the internet to a proper study from authentic books and sources. Qur’an and Sunnah must come first.

Just as water sustains the body, knowledge gives life to the heart.

Grasp The Essence

Abu Bakr is said to be the best of the companions because of his strong imaan. Abu Bakr bin Iyaash said,

The secret of our striving in this life is to find out what our Rabb wants from us at every moment and stage of our lives and then do it. And we should work towards the same for all people.

Anas bin Malik reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:

Only a single minded focus to change the present lethargic, casual, selfish, everything goes type of attitude to an attitude of: "I want to know the Truth, all of it, endeavour to live it, keep it as top priority, and then remain steadfast on it and spread it" will heal the cancer of doubt, biased thinking, lack of basic knowledge and consequently, selective obedience.