Q: I am a twenty-one-year old student. Since Allah has blessed me with the gift of Iman (faith), I have decided to expiate for my previous sins and lead an ascetic life seeking Allah’s forgiveness. What is the best course of action you can suggest for me to adopt? May Allah reward you best!
Answer (Shaikh Ibn Baaz):
We advise you to perform Tawbah (repentance) to Allah from all your previous sins, to regret having committed those sins, to remain steadfast in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and determine not to return to sin again. We also advise you to recite the Qur’an regularly, reflect on its meanings, and to memorize as many Hadiths as you can. In this respect, you may refer to such useful books as Bulugh Al-Maram written by Ibn Hajar, `Umdat Al-Hadith written by Al-Hafiz `Abdul-Ghany Al-Maqdisy, Al-Arba`in Al-Nawawiyah and its supplement by Ibn Rajab. You may also refer to other books such as Al-Tawhid written by Sheikh Muhammad Ibn `Abdul-Wahhab, Al-`Aqidah Al-Wasitiyyah by Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Kashf Al-Shubuhat by Sheikh Muhammad Ibn `Abdul-Wahhab (may Allah be merciful to him).
We also advise you to refer to the greatly beneficial book entitled Zad Al-Ma`ad Fi Hady Khayr Al-`Ibad by Ibn Al-Qayyim and the book Fath Al-Majid Sharh Kitab Al-Tawhid by Sheikh `Abdul-Rahman Ibn Hasan.
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