Aslam

Praise be to Allah.These feelings that you mention in your question stem from good motives, in sha Allaah, and result from your

feelings that you are falling short and want to purify yourself and raise your

level of spiritually. But it is important

not to let them lead you to despair; they should motivate you to improve

yourself. Make the most of these feelings of shortcoming to push you to strive;

don’t let them make you sink to a lower level or be content with the status quo

and not try to change.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah

be upon him) used to seek refuge with Allaah in his du’aa’s (supplications) from feeling helpless

and laziness, and he taught us to strive to do things which will benefit us in

this world and in the Hereafter. He told us: “Strive to do that which will

benefit you, and seek the help of Allaah, and do not

feel helpless.” (Narrated by Muslim, no. 4816). Always

be conscious of Allaah, because Allaah

says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Fear Allaah (by doing all that He has

ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be

feared. (Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always,) and die

not except in a state of Islam [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allaah)].” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:102]

Remember His promise and warning, for He has promised His righteous

close friends forgiveness and a great reward:

“Allaah has promised those who believe (in the

Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism) and do deeds

of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness and a great reward (i.e.

Paradise)” [al-Maa’idah 5:9 – interpretation of the

meaning]

And He has issued a warning to those who stray from the straight path

and who disobey His commands:

“Allaah has promised the hypocrites — men and

women — and the disbelievers, the fire of Hell” [al-Tawbah

9:68 – interpretation of the meaning].

This is so that people will always remain in a state between fear and

hope, and so that they will know that the promise of Allaah

is true and they will not get carried away with this life, but will prepare

themselves for the Meeting with Him.

“O mankind! Verily, the Promise of Allaah is

true. So let not this present life deceive you, and

let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allaah”

[Faatir 35:5 – interpretation of the meaning]

Remember Allaah much, for this will bring

peace of mind and grant rest to the heart.

“Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah —

Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allaah verily, in the remembrance of Allaah

do hearts find rest” [al-Ra’d 13:28 – interpretation

of the meaning]

You must seek forgiveness for the commandments of Allaah

that you have failed to obey, for Allaah has made the

gate of repentance open to every sinner. Muslim narrated in al-Saheeh that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah

spreads out His hand at night to accept the repentance of those who have sinned

during the day, and He spreads out His hand during the day to accept the

repentance of those who sinned at night, (and this will continue) until the sun

rises from the west.” (Saheeh Muslim, 4954)

It was also reported that he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah

says, ‘O son of Adam, so long as you call on Me and put your hope in Me, I will

forgive whatever you have done, and I will not mind. O son of Adam, even if

your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky, then you were to seek My forgiveness, I would forgive you and I will not mind. O

son of Adam, if you were to come to me with an earthful

of sins, and you were to meet Me not associating anything in worship with Me, I

will come to you with an earthful of forgiveness.’” (narrated by al-Tirmidhi with a hasan isnaad (sound chain).

Sunan al-Tirmidhi, no. 3463). If a Muslim strives to obey Allaah, Allaah will make for him

a way out from every difficulty. Allaah says

(interpretation of the meaning):

“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to

Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will

provide him from (sources) he never could imagine” [al-Talaaq

65:2-3]

Always  adhere to the obligatory duties and

keep away from haram (impermissible)

things, then turn your attention to things that are mustahabb

(desirable)

and strive to do more of them, little by little, so that you will

not feel put off or bored.

Finally, beware of procrastination, for it will prevent you from doing

good deeds. If you start to do something, then hasten to do it and do not slow

down or neglect it. Hastening to do such things is a praiseworthy action:

“And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord…” [Aal ‘Imraan

3:133 – interpretation of the meaning]. If you start to do something,

then stick to it, even if it is only a little, for the most beloved of deeds to

Allaah are those that are continuous, even if they

are little.

And Allaah is the Source of strength.