All praise is due to Allah—abundant, pure, and blessed praise. You have embraced Islam, and light has entered your heart. Truly, you have been born again. Emerging from darkness into light is a new birth in the life of every human being.

There is no doubt that the joy brought about by this life-altering transformation is, first and foremost, the result of achieving true monotheism and faith—the greatest blessings in this life.

Yet, preserving this joy on the journey toward Allah requires a certain equation—rights and responsibilities. Whoever upholds them will earn the virtues of faith and Ma‘iyyah (divine company). But whoever neglects them will find coldness creeping into his heart. His heart will harden, and he will be deprived of insight and tranquility.

Our journey to Allah is fraught with obstacles—bandits on the path and deceptive adornments along the way. Yet, the signs of truth are ever present, guiding us to continue with steadfastness and certainty, until we reach the ranks of the sincere.

Below is a summary of some key recommendations—for a path illuminated by the light of Allah, blessed with truth and patience—so the new believer may enjoy the virtues of Islam, faith, and excellence. May his heart grow stronger as he moves forward, increasing in love for his Lord, in gratitude and devotion.

1. Faith Increases and Decreases

When the light of faith enters the heart, it brings with it love, happiness, and a commitment to the path of the believers. But this does not mean one is guaranteed safety or that the journey ends here. We must protect this light and safeguard our hearts. The devil is locked in battle with the believer. He never tires or gives up, always trying to drag him back into darkness, tarnish his pure heart with sin and injustice, or deprive him of higher ranks in Paradise.

A new Muslim—just like one born into Islam—must fortify his heart and seal every gap through which weakness can slip in. The first of these gaps to close is the one that weakens faith, breeding doubt and uncertainty. True happiness lies in firm belief and unshakable certainty.

To reach this high level of faith, a Muslim must understand a crucial truth: faith increases with obedience and decreases with sin. This principle is firmly established in the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Ibn Abbas and other early scholars said: “Faith increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience.”

Allah says:

"And whenever a surah is revealed, some of them say, ‘Which of you has this increased in faith?’ As for those who have attained faith—it increases them in faith and they anticipate glad tidings.”

(Surat At-Tawbah 9:124)

And He says:

“Those to whom the people said, ‘The people have assembled against you, so fear them’—but this only increased them in faith.”

(Surat Aali ‘Imran 3:173)

And He, Most Glorious, says:

“It is He who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers, to add faith to their faith.”

(Surat Al-Fath 48:4)

And He says:

“And We have not appointed except angels to be wardens of the Fire and have made their number nothing but a means of trial for the deniers—so that the those given the Scripture may attain certitude, and those who have attained belief may increase in faith.”

(Surat Al-Muddathir 74:31)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Faith wears out (grows old) in your hearts just as clothes wear out, so ask Allah to renew faith in your hearts.”

[Reported by Al-Hakim]

And the Prophet ﷺ taught the people, saying:

“I command you to believe in Allah alone. Do you know what it means to believe in Allah alone? It means to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to give zakah, to fast Ramadan, and to give one-fifth of the spoils (of war).”

[Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Prophet ﷺ defined faith by both outward and inward actions, indicating that it is tied to truthful words and deeds—and therefore, it increases and decreases.

He ﷺ also said:

“A person will be brought out of the Fire who said, ‘There is no god but Allah,’ and in whose heart was goodness equal to the weight of a grain of barley… then a mustard seed… then an atom.”

[Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim]

This shows that faith varies from one heart to another—greater in some, smaller in others. In this let the competitors compete.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Modesty is a branch of faith.”

[Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim]

And since faith consists of multiple branches, their increase or decrease affects the completeness of faith.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is unable, then with his tongue. And if he is unable, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.”

[Reported by Muslim]

This shows that enjoining good and forbidding evil is done according to one’s level of faith and ability.

The noble companion Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“Certainty is the whole of faith. Faith increases and decreases.”

So, Muslim, you must realize that doing righteous deeds and responding to Allah’s commands increases the strength of faith in your heart—especially as you distance yourself from sin, injustice, and all forms of polytheism.

The opposite is also true: whenever you take sin lightly, insist on wrongdoing, or plunge into the swamps of disbelief and injustice, you will lose blessings and virtues of faith in proportion to the harm you have brought upon yourself.

Faith increases through obedience and righteous deeds, and it decreases through sin and neglecting acts of worship. This is perfect justice. Whoever desires to enjoy the blessings of faith, divine openings, inner peace, the companionship of Allah, and countless other forms of goodness and grace must live in uprightness as Allah has commanded—genuinely and sincerely. Then he will be granted all of that while prostrating, praising, and thanking his Lord.

But if one neglects this foundational pillar of preserving faith, he has no one to blame but himself. Doubt and confusion will begin to creep into his heart, his commitment to religion will fade, and he will lose the love of Allah!

O Muslim, know that faith is a statement of the tongue, actions of the limbs, and belief in the heart. It increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience.

Thus, the first step to steadfastness and true happiness is to protect your faith and avoid anything that could damage or destroy it. According to your sincerity, you will receive divine openings.

The more you respond to Allah sincerely, the higher you will ascend—degree after degree. And every degree comes with its own rewards of divine love, companionship, and blessings of faith.

This also means staying far away from the doors of doubt and suspicion. If the whispers of skepticism enter your heart, they will deprive you of the clarity and firmness of faith. There is no better journey than one traveled with certainty, allowing you to fully enjoy the sweetness and blessings of faith.

But if you constantly fall into doubts, chase questionable issues, and stir up suspicions, you will corrupt your clarity of vision, weaken your actions, lose Allah’s companionship, and be left to your own self—only to be defeated and broken. You will no longer taste happiness, let alone reach the highest levels of spiritual elevation.

The more sincere your commitment and uprightness, the more blessings, virtues, and divine support you will receive.

2. Seeking Knowledge

Islam is a magnificent, integrated way of life. The greatest threat to your commitment is ignorance. To fight ignorance, you must seek knowledge—knowledge that helps you walk your path illuminated by the light of Allah, in obedience to what He and His Messenger ﷺ commanded.

Learning the basic duties of Islam is a personal obligation upon you. Maintaining a relationship with the Qur’an and regularly studying its meanings is essential to deep understanding and immense virtue. The Qur’an is the gateway to spiritual openings, knowledge, blessings, and is one of the most powerful sources of inner strength and steadfastness.

Everything you learn, apply it. Knowledge is meant to be lived. Never be ashamed to ask, to research, or to read. You don’t need to dedicate all your time—just 15 to 20 minutes daily can bring about a profound change in your life.

As you do this, try to get to know righteous scholars and inspiring writers. Their words distill the essence of joy, steadfastness, and the blessings of faith, and their experiences offer you deep insight and guidance.

Allah Almighty says:

“Allah elevates by degrees those of you who have attained faith and those given knowledge. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”

(Surat Al-Mujādilah 58:11)

And He says:

“Say: Are those who know and those who do not know equal? Indeed, only those endowed with understanding remind themselves.”

(Surat Az-Zumar 39:9)

3. Righteous Companionship and the Environment

Allah Almighty says:

“And keepsg yourself patient in the company of those who pray to their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Countenance , and do not turn your eyes away from them, seeking the adornment of the Earlier Life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance so that he has followed his own whim and his affairs have become confused.”

(Surat Al-Kahf 18:28)

So be cautious—do not deprive yourself of goodness by surrounding yourself with companions who beautify sin and disbelief or distract you from racing toward Allah and loving Him.

Place yourself in an environment where your soul is uplifted—a space filled with knowledge, good manners, worship, and uprightness. Look for a mosque, for striving Muslims. And if you cannot find such people in your local area, you will surely find them online or in Islamic dawah centers that follow the path of the Prophet ﷺ.

Attend Islamic classes, listen to beneficial lectures, and choose friends who strengthen you rather than weaken your resolve or drag you away from the path of Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“A person is upon the religion of his close friend, so let one of you look carefully at whom he befriends.”

(Reported by al-Tirmidhi)

Nature is contagious, and companions leave an imprint. You will lose much of your spiritual beauty if you stay close to those with weak faith, and you will pick up undesirable traits from those who don’t know the purpose of their existence—those who take sin lightly and lag behind in the race toward Allah.

Righteous and inspiring companionship can transform your life for the better—so don’t risk your progress, and never underestimate the influence of bad company.

Allah says:

“On that day, close friends will be enemies to one other, except for the ones who were mindful (of God).”

(Surat Az-Zukhruf 43:67)

4. Block the Path of Whispered Doubts

You may find yourself faced with questions—or even doubts—due to the relentless campaigns of those who seek to malign and attack Islam. Or perhaps your own self may weaken due to desires, cravings, or uncertainties, leading you to question foundational truths. At such moments, your first response must be to seek out knowledgeable and trustworthy scholars to address those questions immediately—before they grow.

Never turn to deviant websites, enemies of Islam, or dubious sources for answers. Doing so will only rob you of truth, mislead your path, and expose you to deception. Instead, turn to the sound sources of Islam and its sincere preachers, where you will find clear, sufficient answers.

Know that Islam is a religion of reason and light. Everything within it can be understood through reflection and patience. It is a religion of proof and clarity, free from contradiction or falsehood. If you ponder the Qur’an and the legacy of the Prophet ﷺ, you’ll learn much and eventually be able to answer doubts yourself. With a little wisdom and rational reflection, the shadows of doubt will be dispelled.

In our times, obsessive doubts may also arise in the form of religious Waswasah (whispers from the Shaytan)—whether about beliefs, purity, or similar issues. This is a psychological issue that is treated through behavioral therapy. Whenever a confusing or unsettling thought creeps into your heart, repel it and say: “This is just a whisper (waswas).” The more you ignore such whispers, the more they will fade with time.

5. Keep Your Connection with Your Lord Pure

The greatest asset of your life is your relationship with your Creator. The more sincere and responsive you are in that connection, the more joy you will taste through the sweetness of faith and the mercy it brings.

So never deprive yourself of duā (supplication), of confiding your sorrow, weakness, and pain to Allah. Don’t let yourself miss out on gazing toward the heavens or reading His Book. Train your heart to reflect on the wonders of His creation and on His revealed signs. Fill your heart with the causes of love for Allah—you’ll find them abundantly in His verses.

The love of Allah enriches you beyond all worldly possessions. Whoever finds sufficiency in Allah will never be weakened, defeated, or stopped by anything!

“And those who have attained faith and have done righteous deeds–We will settle them in the Garden (of Paradise) in Chambers under which rivers flow, abiding therein; how good is the reward of the workers.” “Those who endured patiently and in their Lord they place their trust.”

(Surat Al-‘Ankabūt 29:58–59)

6. Train Yourself to Be Patient

Life is not a pleasure tour. You will face challenges, trials, and tests through which Allah examines the sincerity of your faith. If you remain firm and overcome them with faith, you will rise in rank—again and again.

But if you fail to be patient and do not adopt the manners of humble supplication to your Lord, you will only harm yourself and suffer loss.

True success lies in remaining steadfast as a Muslim, a believer, a doer of good—even if you are poor or face hardships in life.

Success is in repenting after sin, in making up for mistakes, in racing toward Allah with relentless energy.

Let the remembrance of death motivate your patience and reflection on the honor of a good ending. Patience is one of the strongest causes for achieving the most beautiful conclusions and the highest spiritual ranks.

“Indeed, those who said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ and then led a righteous life–the angels descend upon them, [saying], ‘Do not fear and do not grieve, but have glad tidings of the Garden (of Paradise) which you were promised.’”

(Surat Fuṣṣilat 41:30)

7. Find Your Footing in Life

“Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer and my rites and my way of living and my way of dying are for Allah, Lord of all realms.’”

(Surat Al-An‘ām 6:162)

If your heart is not filled with truth, falsehood will take its place. If your energy is not occupied with noble pursuits, it will be drawn to trivial ones.

So set goals for your life in service of Islam and Muslims. Don’t remain passive—give in charity, call others to Allah, spread goodness, plant a seed of hope that continues to grow after you’re gone. Strive to build a lasting legacy of good deeds that erase your sins.

Prioritize secret deeds, private worship, and consistent acts of kindness—never belittle a single grain of good, for Allah sees everything. He looks at your heart, your deeds, your sincerity, your longing, your love, and your intention.

Let Islam shine in your life as a system of beauty, goodness, and positive impact.

“And say, “Work, for Allah will see your work, as will His Messenger and the believers, and then you will be returned to the Knower of the hidden realm and the manifest, and He will inform you of what you used to do.”

(Surat At-Tawbah 9:105)

Final Words

We are weak without Allah’s aid and support. So strive to attain His nearness—and rejoice in the abundant goodness it brings. His healing of hearts is unlike any other, and His companionship surpasses all else. Whoever has Allah as his Protector will never go astray, never be miserable, and never fear anything.

You have submitted to Allah and became Muslim—so remain firm, be patient, struggle, and move forward with conviction. You will taste a happiness that never fades and a strength that never collapses. This world, in the sight of Allah, is not even worth the wing of a mosquito. Winning His love and companionship is the greatest treasure your heart can attain.

Never trade the path of the believers for any path of deviation,  bid’ah (religious innovation), or temptation. No road of doubt will ever overcome the path of truth and certainty. Do not deprive yourself for a fleeting desire or a perishing world. Accept nothing less than the honorable rank of the true believers.

For what is with Allah is better, and everlasting.

Welcome to the path of those who have followed the first forerunners in goodness (pioneer Sahaba)—a path that brings nothing but good. Whenever you feel the need to learn more, to seek light and inspiration, return to them: to their lives, their stories, and draw strength from their determination in the journey of faith. Your ultimate role model is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ—with a heart filled with longing, love, and certainty.

And keep repeating:

“There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the messengerof Allah (Lā ilāha illā Allah, Muḥammadun Rasūlu Allah.) There is no true life except the life of the Hereafter. O Allah, join me with the Anṣār and the Muhājirīn.”

“And those who strove for Us—We will surely guide them in Our ways, for Allah is most surely with those who excel in doing good.”

(Surat Al-‘Ankabūt 29:69)

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the noblest of Messengers, and upon his family, his companions, and all those who follow his guidance and uphold his Sunnah until the Day of Judgment.

✒️ Dr. Layla Hamdan