How Can One Strengthen Resolve and Intention in Performing Good Deeds?


Answered by Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib

Question

How can one strengthen resolve and intention in performing good deeds and practicing piety?

Answer

In the name of Allah, and all praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, his Family, his Companions, and those who follow him.

Righteous deeds and adhering to piety are among the most emphasized aspects in Islam, encouraged by the Quran and Sunna in numerous verses and hadith. Allah (Most High) says:

“Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness.” [Quran, 5:2]

However, due to human nature, the soul may become lazy in maintaining consistent good deeds, leaning towards idleness and comfort. Therefore, Muslims who are eager to strengthen their faith and increase their devotion should seek help from Allah and find ways to overcome laziness, boosting their motivation for righteous actions.

Ways to Strengthen Resolve and Intention

Some of the most important ways to strengthen resolve and intention include:

Remembering Death and the Shortness of Life

This is one of the most powerful motivators to increase one’s desire to perform righteous deeds, as it reminds a person of their limited time and the importance of preparing for the Hereafter.

Reciting the Quran and Reflecting Deeply on Its Verses

Engaging with the Quran through reflection and attentiveness is a cure for all ailments, especially the illness of heedlessness.

Increasing Supplication, Seeking Forgiveness, and Sending Salawat upon the Prophet

These acts bring a person closer to Allah and help maintain a conscious heart, which is essential for staying consistent in good deeds.

Contemplating the Rewards and Blessings That Allah Has Promised

Reflecting on the immense rewards Allah has prepared for righteous deeds, as well as the glad tidings the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) gave in the Sunna, helps to motivate a person towards continuous effort in good works.

Keeping Good Company

Allah (Most High) says:

“And patiently stick with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure. Do not let your eyes look beyond them.” [Quran, 18:28]

Good company encourages a person to persist in acts of worship and piety.

Reading Beneficial and Inspiring Books

Especially reading books like “Riyad al-Salihin” (by Imam Nawawi), which is a treasure trove for every Muslim. It contains authentic hadith and serves as a remedy for those who feel slack in their obedience.

We ask Allah to grant us the ability to use our lives in ways that please Him.

Allah is the Guide to the straight path.

[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib

Shaykh Dr Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib is a prominent Islamic scholar from Yemen born in Shibam, Hadhramaut, in 1976. He received his degree in Shari‘a from Al-Ahqaf University, a master’s degree from the Islamic University of Beirut, and a PhD in Usul al-Din from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).He studied under great scholars such as Shaykh al-Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad, Shaykh Fadl Ba‘ fadl, Habib Salim al-Shatiri, Habib Ali Mashhur bin Hafeez, and others. He has served as the Director of Publications at Dar al-Fiqh, the former Deputy Director of Cultural Relations at Al-Ahqaf University, a former Assistant for Employee Affairs at Atiyah Iron Company, a researcher at the Sunna Center affiliated with the Dallah al-Baraka Foundation, and a researcher at Al-Furqan Foundation’s Makka al-Mukarrama and Madina al-Munawwara Encyclopedia branch.Currently, he is a researcher at Al-Furqan Foundation’s Makka al-Mukarrama and Madina al-Munawwara Encyclopedia branch, teaches traditionally through the Ijaza system at Dar al-Fuqaha in Turkey, supervises the Arabic department at Nur al-Huda International Institute (SeekersGuidance), and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Manuscript House in Istanbul.His works include “The Efforts of Hadhramaut Jurists in Serving the Shafi‘i School,” “Contributions of Hadhramaut Scholars in Spreading Islam and its Sciences in India,” “Hada’iq al-Na‘im in Shafi‘i Fiqh,” in addition to verifying several books in Fiqh, history, the art of biographies, and Asanid (chains of narration).