What Should I Do If I Don’t Notice a Positive Change in Myself after Spending Time with Religious Friends?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I want to say I’m extremely thankful to you for your kind answers. Everything’s explained in such kind words that I’m overwhelmed by this, but also I feel bad because, in most cases, my questions are the same. I do this to remove my doubt. I think it’ll take some time. I always heard that one should be in the company of good people, the religious ones also. But I never ever found it right. Because my best friend prays five times a day, but I don’t feel any of her religious and other impacts on me, not because I’m not interested, but because there are some other factors. But the way you answer the questions makes me feel closer to Allah. Thank you so much!

Answer

Thank you for your question.  May Allah guide you in making your worship easy and simple.

If you feel that your religious friends are not impacting you in a positive way, ask Allah to send you the religious company that suits you and benefits you. Verily you will know who is good for you by checking if your behavior improves around them or if they help you remember Allah.

May Allah give you tawfiq and give you a tremendous reward for trying to learn what is correct in your fiqh.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.