How to Become a Strong Muslim

All praises be to Allah Story who with His grace and mercy glorifies faithful servants with the guidance of the Qur’an and the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. One of the great virtues that God has bestowed is the ability of a servant to grow, strengthen, and become a mature person spiritually, morally, and responsibly. Every Muslim is commanded to do good deeds, maximize oneself, and take the right path to maturity in the faith.

In an era that is full of convenience but also mentally weakening, many young Muslims are looking for ways to become strong, tough and mature individuals relatively quickly. Not just physically strong, but strong in his faith, worship, character and way of thinking.

There are several important principles that can speed up the process of strengthening the soul and morals of a Muslim. These principles are rooted in the guidance of the Shari’a and the example of the Prophet ﷺ in building the character of the best generation. Among these principles are the courage to take risks by relying on Allah, studying with upright and experienced teachers, and taking a trip (safar) as a means of mental training.

Take a risk by trusting in God

First, a Muslim must dare to take risks in life as long as he is in obedience to Allah. Risk here is the courage to take a step even though the results are still unknown and uncertain. Allah Story said,

And whoever relies on Allah, Allah is sufficient for him.

“And whoever puts his trust in Allah, Allah will surely give him sustenance.” (QS. Ath-Thalaq: 3)

My brothers, uncertainty is not a reason to stop moving. A Muslim is actually tested when he does not know the final result. In the life of the Prophet ﷺ, there were many moments when he ﷺ acted before knowing the results, such as when he emigrated, preached openly, and faced various threats. Everything is done with trust, not waiting for certain results.

Fear of the unknown often keeps some people trapped analysis paralysis. They procrastinate, consider too long, and end up not moving at all. Even though the Prophet ﷺ said,

If you ask, then ask Allah, and if you ask for help, then seek help from Allah

“If you ask for anything, ask God. If you ask for help, ask God.” (HR. At-Tirmidhi no. 2561, authentic hasan)

This hadith shows that a servant’s courage is born from belief in Allah, not from worldly certainty. Walking while praying and trying is a form of worship.

Apart from that, risks often lead someone to failure. However, failure is part of fate that brings wisdom. Allah says,

And maybe you hate something, even though it is good for you, and maybe you like something, even though it is bad for you, even though Allah knows, but you don’t, you know.

“It may be that you hate something, even though it is good for you; and it may be that you like something, even though it is bad for you. Allah knows, while you do not know.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 216)

Therefore, it is important for us to remind ourselves that failure should not destroy faith, but instead strengthen a Muslim’s trust and humility.

Also read: Hadith: Strong Believers

The importance of having a teacher

Second, every Muslim who wants to grow quickly needs a teacher or mentor. Learning from knowledgeable people is a basic principle that never changes. Allah Story said,

So ask a Zikr expert if you don’t know yet.

“Then ask the scholars if you don’t know.” (QS. An-Nahl: 43)

A mentor is not someone who is just eloquent, but someone who has experience, wisdom and istikamah. One of the advantages of studying with teachers/ulama is that they show the application according to the understanding of the Salaf. This is what some scholars mean: knowledge is inherited, not just learned from books.

Classical and contemporary scholars emphasize the importance of sitting with the teacher because the blessings of knowledge come through divorce (direct learning).

This light cannot be obtained just by reading, but by the guidance of a teacher who teaches lessons. Experience from preacher who had studied in cities of knowledge such as Medina and Mecca showed how a Sheikh with strong memorization and noble morals could help his students understand religion more precisely and faster.

Apart from that, it is also important to have a mentor who understands local context. Religious knowledge is one, but its application has details according to place and conditions. A teacher who understands the social and cultural realities of his students, he will be able to provide advice that is relevant, not just theoretical. From here a Muslim grows more mature in understanding the affairs of his life.

Madrasah of life that forms maturity

Third, safar (travel) is one of the best means to accelerate mental maturity. The Prophet ﷺ said,

Traveling is a torture. This causes one of you to lose food, drink and sleep, so when he has satisfied his hunger, let him hurry to his family.

“Safar is part of the punishment (torture). When traveling, one of you will find it difficult to eat, drink and sleep. When his business is finished, hurry back to his family.” (HR. Bukhari no. 1804 and Muslim no. 1927)

Difficulty is what makes you mature. Safar teaches someone to be patient, trust, manage stress, interact with new cultures, and face unexpected circumstances. Every trip opens up the insight that the world is wide and people are diverse.

Every moment on a journey — losing things, getting lost, facing extreme weather, or meeting people with different characters — is a life lesson. These difficulties make a person humbler, stronger, and more grateful to Allah Tax.

One of the most beneficial forms of traveling is the Hajj and Umrah. Apart from being an obligatory/main act of worship, this trip trains sincerity, patience, leadership, and the ability to protect the family or group. A Muslim man will be tested in maintaining manners, managing fatigue, and solving problems without many facilities.

Safar also makes a person understand that the world does not revolve around him. When he sees people who live without electricity or clean water but are still happy, a Muslim will realize how many blessings he has not been grateful for.

Combine all three to become a strong Muslim

Taking risks, learning from a mentor, and going on a journey are three components that form a soul that complement each other. Risks train courage and trust. Mentors provide direction so you don’t get lost. Safar strengthens the mind and broadens horizons.

The Prophet ﷺ said,

A strong believer is better and more loved by Allah than a weak believer, and in everything there is goodness.

“A strong believer is better and more loved by Allah than a weak believer, but there is goodness in both.” (HR. Muslim no. 2664)

The strength referred to by the ulama is the strength of faith, firmness of character, resilience in facing trials, and the will to walk the path of goodness. With these three steps, a Muslim can reach spiritual maturity more quickly than simply waiting for life experiences to come by themselves.

Ultimately, all these processes must be framed with sincere intentions. There is no point in being strong mentally or physically if it is not directed towards worshiping Allah. These steps must also be taken with prayer, reflection, and a commitment to maintaining basic practices: prayer, recitation, remembrance in the morning and evening, and avoiding immorality.

May God make us strong, reliable and useful servants for the people. Amen.

Also read: Strong Heart, You Are Safe!

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Writer: Fauzan Hidayat

Article Muslim.or.id