Brothers & sisters, how do we stop ourselves from falling into sins? There are many ways, but I want to share these 3 steps:
.
🔵 Number 1: Avoid putting ourselves in a position to sin. For example, a person knows that if he hangs around with certain friends, he’ll end up backbiting & gossiping. So this person needs to avoid such gatherings. Consider this ayah, where Allah says:
❝And come not near to zina…❞ [Al-Isra 17:32]
Allah didn’t say ‘do not do zina’, rather ‘do not even go near it’. Because if a person goes near, the chances of him sinning is even greater. And this is the same for all other types of sins.
.
🔵 Number 2: We need to believe that what Allah has made haram for us is something that we CAN stay away from.
❝Allah burdens not a person beyond his capability…❞ [Al-Baqarah 2:286]
Some people say “I can’t imagine my life without doing this (sin).” Brothers & sisters, have certainty that we’re capable of abandoning those sins, because Allah has promised that He does not assign us something that we cannot withstand.
.
🔵 Number 3: When we’re coming face-to-face with an act of disobedience, do these 3 things that Prophet Yusuf alayhis-salaam did when he was facing a great fitnah by the wife of the minister who sought to seduce him.
Allah says that Prophet Yusuf said: ❝I seek refuge in Allah! It is (not right to betray) my master, who has taken good care of me. Verily, the wrongdoer will never be successful.❞ [Yusuf 12:23]
.
Those 3 things are:
1 – When we’re almost about to fall into a sin, immediately seek Allah’s Protection. Say a’udzubillah!
2 – Remember Allah’s blessings when we’re about to use them to disobey Allah. For example, our eyes & sight are blessings from Allah, so how could we use these blessings to look at haram matters & disobey Him?
3 – Remember Allah’s punishment & the consequences of doing that sin. For example, if I watch this haram thing, Allah may ruin my sight & iman, or I might be exposed & be embarrassed in front of all of my loved ones. When we do this, we will fear Allah’s punishment.
.
May Allah protect us from all fitan – the ones that are clear & the ones that are hidden. Ameen.
