How Can I Stay Steadfast and Upright amid Today’s Challenges?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

How can I remain steadfast and upright on the truth amid the challenges of our time?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

Steadfastness

Steadfastness means walking the straight path and adhering to the teachings of the true religion without deviation. It involves both the outward and inward conduct of a person by performing the commanded acts, avoiding the prohibited ones, and maintaining this until death.

Steadfastness on the truth is the foundation of all obligations and the pillar of transactions. It encompasses the essence of the entire religion. Its meaning is to stand before Allah (Most High) with true sincerity and fulfill the covenant, relating to words, actions, and intentions, and being steadfast in them for the sake of Allah, by Allah, and according to the command of Allah (Most High).

Allah (Most High) says about it:

“Surely those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them, (saying,) ‘Do not fear, nor grieve. Rather, rejoice in the good news of Paradise, which you have been promised.’” [Quran, 41:30]

And He says:

“Indeed, that is My Path—perfectly straight. So follow it and do not follow other ways, for they will lead you away from His Way. This is what He has commanded you, so perhaps you will be conscious (of Allah).” [Quran, 6:153].

As for how to remain steadfast on the truth, there are many reasons, but I will summarize them for you in two main ones: righteous companionship and awareness of Allah (Most High).

Righteous Companionship and Its Effect on Steadfastness

Righteous companionship helps you adhere to the path of steadfastness. A good friend acts as a reminder for his companion, constantly encouraging him towards good deeds and guiding him to them. He helps his friend perform acts of worship in the best possible manner and reminds him of the reward and bliss that Allah (Most High) has prepared for those who follow this path.

As for adhering to righteous companionship, it is in response to Allah’s command:

“O  believers! Be mindful of Allah and be with the truthful.” [Quran, 9:119]

It is said about companionship:

Choose to accompany those who obey
For natures are prone to influence each other.

Righteous companionship gives its owner strong motivation and drive to change for the better and remain steadfast because associating with a person of sound character teaches one to adopt those traits.

Righteous companionship also instills the love of good and the desire for healthy competition. Naturally, people love to emulate those better than themselves. When someone associates with a person who is steadfast in their principles, morals, actions, and overall behavior, they, too, become steadfast. Thus, righteous companionship becomes a reason for remaining firm on the truth. As the poet Omar Yafi said:

Do not ask about a person, but ask about his companion
For every companion emulates his friend by nature.

It is no wonder that similar natures influence each other
Every companion follows the lead of his friend.

If you associate with people, choose the best of them
So you may don the robe of completeness.

Avoid the company of the evil, O my friend
Do not accompany the worst, lest you fall with them.

Awareness of Allah (Most High) and Its Effect on Steadfastness

Awareness of Allah (Most High) means the heart’s knowledge of the nearness of the Lord, as Allah says:

“We are closer to them than (their) jugular vein.” [Quran, 50:16]

This is why the rank of Ihsan (excellence) is the highest rank in religion and its pillars. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) defined it as:

“To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, He sees you.” [Bukhari]

The station of mindfulness is a single pillar, which is to worship Allah as if you see Him. If you do not see Him, He sees you. This means to be a worshipper of Allah in the manner commanded by Allah (Most High) and His Messenger. Know that Allah (Most High) is aware of you, knows your condition, sees and hears what you do and say, knows your overt and hidden actions, and is aware of the movements of your limbs and organs. As Allah (Most High) says:

“There is no activity you may be engaged in (O Prophet) or portion of the Quran you may be reciting, nor any deed you (all) may be doing except that We are a Witness over you while doing it. Not (even) an atom’s weight is hidden from your Lord on earth or in heaven; nor anything smaller or larger than that, but is (written) in a perfect Record.” [Quran, 10:61]

Allah (Most High) also says:

“They try to hide (their deception) from people, but they can never hide it from Allah—in Whose presence they plot by night what is displeasing to Him. And Allah is Fully Aware of what they do.” [Quran, 4:108]

Therefore, whoever is mindful of his Lord will remain steadfast in all his affairs.

Finally, steadfastness is the correct path to salvation. It is the path one must walk to reach one’s destination. Reaching the goal has no value if a person is crooked and their path is like theirs. Allah (Most High) does not approve of crookedness. Our religion is a religion of uprightness, moderation, and excellence.

Remember that steadfastness is the path of the successful and saved. Do not deviate from it. The path to glory is reached by those who walk it straight and confidently. Be steadfast for your own sake first, for there is no benefit in crookedness except pain. Remember that everyone recognizes a straight person by their steps because they walk with confidence. May Allah grant us a straight path from which we never go astray.

May Allah bless you and us with righteous companionship that helps us remain steadfast. May Allah make us among those who are mindful of Him and fear Him, and among those who are mindful of their Lord and remain steadfast in His commands and prohibitions. Amin.

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa

Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.

He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.

He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.

Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.