To avoid sins, the most important thing is to have the fear of Allah in the heart and a constant feeling of turning back to Him. For this, make sincere repentance, firmly resolve to abandon sins, and try to please Allah through good deeds such as prayer, charity, and recitation of the Qur’an. Ask Allah for help in avoiding sins and improve your company by staying close to righteous people.
Practical Steps to Avoid Sins:
- Seek Help from Allah:
Pray to Allah to protect you from sins and grant you the ability to dislike them. - Repentance and Regret:
Whenever you commit a sin, feel sincere remorse in your heart, ask Allah for forgiveness, and make a firm intention not to repeat it. - Regular Good Deeds:
Good deeds erase sins. Pray regularly, give charity, and recite the Qur’an. - Avoid Bad Company:
Stay with righteous people who help you stay away from sins. - Seek Knowledge of Religion:
Gaining knowledge increases awareness of Allah’s pleasure and develops consciousness about avoiding sins. - Stay Away from Sources of Sin:
Avoid all the ways and means that lead to sin. - Remember the Hereafter:
Whenever the thought of sin arises, remember the Hereafter and that you will be held accountable before Allah. This helps in staying away from sin. - Recite Istighfar Frequently:
Frequently seek forgiveness, especially with the supplication in which Allah is called Al-Hayy (the Ever-Living) and Al-Qayyum (the Sustainer):
“Astaghfirullāh al-ladhī lā ilāha illā Huwa, al-Ḥayyul-Qayyūm, wa atūbu ilayh.”
(“I seek forgiveness from Allah, besides Whom there is no deity, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him.”)