There are many means which will create steadfastness upon Islaam. Among this is sincerity for Allaah, Most Exalted, and being truthful to Him, and accompanying the righteous. Allaah says in the Qur’aan,
(وَٱصۡبِرۡ نَفۡسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلۡعَشِي)
“… and keep yourself patient by being with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening.” (Al-Kahf 28)
To be far from negligence, avoid unnecessarily socialising, and call upon Allaah asking Him for steadfastness, like the Prophet ﷺ used to ask,
“Turner of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your Religion.” (Tirmithy 2140)
Abstain from entertaining temptation, and these temptations are so many in current times. Regardless, these are things which are read, seen or heard, available in all places and all spaces. Even people within the heart of their homes are not safe from these temptations. Hence, a person must sever anything which distracts him and preoccupy him from the worship of Allaah. In addition, the person must engage in the Remembrance of Allaah such as reciting the Qur’aan correctly, because these are the things which will help him to remain firm upon the Religion of Allaah. A person must try to do as many voluntary acts of worship as possible,
“My slave will continue to get closer to Me with voluntary acts of worship until I love him. Once I love him, I become his ears by which he hears, his eyes by which he sees, his hands by which he holds and his feet by which he walks. If he asks of me anything I would give it him and if he seeks my Refuge, I would grant it him.” (Bukhaary 6502)
He should spend time thinking about death and reduce as much as possible pointless talk, socialising, extra food, extra sleep, and should make supplication that Allaah keeps him firm upon Islaam. He should increase the amount of Remembrance of Allaah, such as reciting the Qur’aan, staying away from people who are negligent, and avoid gossip and all other acts which have no benefit. He should seek to keep good companionship and focus on private moments of worshipping Allaah. He should also try to stay in the mosque for longer, before and after prayers. It is recorded in a hadeeth,
“Once a person has prayed the angels continue to supplicate for him as long as he is in his area of prayer. The angels say, ‘Allaah! Send peace upon him! Allaah! Grant him’ Mercy! Also, a person is considered to be in prayer as long as he is waiting for another prayer.” (Bukhaary 647)
These are some of the means which a person can adopt and he should adopt anything which benefits him and helps him to fulfil the purpose for which he was created, the worship of Allaah. He should focus on the most important Remembrance of Allaah, the morning and evening type, the type at the time of sleep, at the time of entering or leaving a place, and he should continue to engage in the Remembrance of Allaah, the type no one is negligent of except the deprived. This is so because nothing is difficult for him and reward for it is great. It is recorded that the Prophet ﷺ said,
“The mufarradoon have proceeed ahead!”
The companions said, ‘Who are the mufarradoon, Messenger of Allaah?’ He replied,
“The ones who remember Allaah much!” (Muslim 2676)
Remembrance of Allaah is not difficult like other acts of worshipping Allaah, because those require other requisites to make it valid, but Remembrance of Allaah has no requisites,
“Make your tongue moist through the Remembrance of Allaah!” (Tirmithy 3375)
The growing of Allaah’s Garden is done by saying, Subhaana-llaah, alhamdu li-llaah, Praise be to Allaah!, laa ilaaha illa-llaah, Thee is none worthy of worship but Allaah!, and Allaahu akbar! Allaah is greatest! It is recorded in the hadeeth that the Prophet Ibraaheem said to Muhammad ﷺ at the Night of Ascension,
“Give my Peace greetings to your followers from me and tell them that Allaah’s Garden has pure soil and sweet water and that it is a treeless plain, and it is grown by reciting, Subhaana-llaah, alhamdu lillaah, laa ilaaha illa-llaah and Allaahu akbar!” (Tirmithy 3462)
This means that when you say Subhaana-llaah in a second, a tree is planted for you. When people plant a tree in this life, they work so hard to grow it. They look after it and water it and all this takes a very long time. The tree may bring fruits, or it may not, but saying Subhaana-llaah once guarantees you a tree in Allaah’s Garden.
It is related in a narration,
“Whoever says, Laa ilaaha illa-llaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kully shay’in qadeer!, ‘There is none worthy of worship but Allaah, alone, without any associate. To Him belongs all dominion and all Praise is to Him, and He is able to do anything!’ 10 times, he will be rewarded the same as a person would be rewarded for freeing four people from the sons of Ismaa’eel.” (Muslim 2693)
In another narration it says,
“Whoever says, Subhaana-llaahy wa bi-hamdihy!, ‘Praise be to Allaah!,’ 100 times a day, his sins will be wiped out even if they are as much as the froth of the sea.’ (Bukhaary 6405)
It is amazing that this can be achieved in just a few minutes. This is how easy things are and all Praise be to Allaah, gates of goodness are open, yet many people are negligent of it. Rather, they preoccupy themselves with idle gossip and words which will harm them and not benefit them.