Factors of Steadfastness in Islam

The means that help one to remain steadfast in adhering to religion, especially at times of temptation, are of two types:

1. The first type: means that increase one in faith and certainty . They encourage one to obey Allah and do righteous deeds, and through them one will taste the sweetness of faith.

• They also include seeking guidance to the straight path of Allah. In every prayer, the Muslim must inevitably offer the supplication: “Guide us to the Straight Way.” [Al-Fatihah 1:6]

At-Tabarani narrated in al-Kabir (7135) that Shaddad ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to me: “O Shaddad ibn Aws, if you see the people keen to accumulate gold and silver, then be keen to accumulate these words: ‘Allahumma inni as-aluka ath-thabata fi’l-amri wa’l-‘azimata ‘ala ar-rushd, wa as-aluka mujibati rahmatika wa ‘azaima maghfiratika… (O Allah, verily I ask You for steadfastness in this matter (religion) , and I ask You for the resolve to adhere to the path of guidance, and I ask You for the means of Your Mercy and forgiveness…). Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Sahihah, 3228)

Other means include the following:

• Adherence to the religion of Allah , may He be exalted, and not being heedless with regard to any aspect of it. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” [Al-An'am 6:153]

“Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allah Alone and none else), and in the Hereafter.” [Ibrahim 14:27]

Qatadah said: 

“With regard to this world, He will make them steadfast in goodness and doing righteous deeds, “and in the Hereafter” in the grave.” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 4/502)

• Adherence to the Sunnah .

It was narrated from al-‘Irbad ibn Sariyah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “you must adhere to my Sunnah and the way of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. Hold on to it and cling fast to it. And beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going astray.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud (4607); classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud.)

• Remembering Allah a great deal .

Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Shaytan lies in wait on the heart of the son of Adam; if he becomes heedless and careless, he whispers to him, but when he remembers Allah, he withdraws. (See: Tafsir at-Tabari, 24/709-710)

1. The second type: means of protecting oneself from falling into temptation.

They include the following:

• Patience in adhering to the command of Allah .

Abu Dawud (4341) narrated from Abu Tha‘labah al-Khushani (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Ahead of you there are days of patience when patience will be like grasping live coals, and the one who does good deeds will have the reward of fifty men who do deeds like his.” Someone else added: He said: O Messenger of Allah, the reward of fifty of them? He said: “The reward of fifty of you.” (Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud)

• Seeking refuge with Allah from temptations both visible and invisible.

In the hadith of Zayd ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) that was narrated by Muslim (2867) it says that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to his Companions one day: “Seek refuge with Allah from temptations, both visible and invisible.”  We said: We seek refuge with Allah from temptations, both visible and invisible.

• Remembering that Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is always watching and being mindful of Him

At-Tirmidhi (2516) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Be mindful of Allah; He will take care of you. Be mindful of Allah; you will find Him with you.” (Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih at-Tirmidhi)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin said:

“Be mindful of Allah; He will take care of you” is a phrase which indicates that every time a person is mindful of the religion of Allah, Allah will take care of him.

But take care of him in what way? He will take care of him in terms of his physical well-being, and He will take care of him in terms of his wealth, his family and his religious commitment, which is the most important of all things. This means that He will keep you safe from deviation and misguidance, because the more a person follows guidance, the more Allah will increase him in guidance. “While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance, and bestows on them their piety” [Muhammad 47:17]. The more he goes astray – Allah forbid – the more He will increase him in misguidance.” (Sharh Riyadh as-Salihin, p. 70)

• Keeping company with righteous believers, and avoiding keeping company with others whom temptation has caused to go astray

Abu Dawud (4918) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The believer is the mirror of his fellow-believer, and the believer is the brother of his fellow-believer. He protects him against ruin and looks after him.” (Classed as hasan by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud)

“He protects him against ruin” means he protects him against loss. “And looks after him” means he takes care of him and defends him.

He also narrated (4833) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “A man will follow the way of his close friend, so let one of you look at who he takes as a close friend.” (Classed as hasan by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud)

• One of the most significant and beneficial factors in remaining steadfast in religion is not exposing oneself to temptation, and striving to protect oneself by keeping far away from temptation and its causes, so that his heart will be in a state of peace and he will taste the sweetness of faith. 

In the hadith about the Dajjal, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever hears of the Dajjal, let him go far away from him, for by Allah a man will come to him thinking that he is a believer, and he will follow him because of the specious arguments that he offers, or because of the specious arguments with which he is sent.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud (4319); classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud)

We ask Allah to make us and our Muslim brothers steadfast in His religion, and to protect us from temptation, both visible and invisible.

And Allah knows best.