People find a deep sense of spiritual peace in this lifetime, and in the eternal afterlife when they humbly submit to their Creator.
And, when we study the Quran and Muhammad’s Sunnah in detail, we will have a complete blueprint for life. Spiritually, physically, and socially, this blueprint impacts and benefits a person.
Here, let us examine how Islam affects the person and makes him a better person by bringing out the positive in him.
1. Discipline through prayer (Salah)
Salah is a regular means of purifying both body and soul. The ablution with fresh water before the prayer acts as a refresher and cleanser. If performed properly, salah purifies the soul of arrogance and hypocrisy.
The Prophet (PBUH) likened a person who regularly performed salah to a person who washes regularly in a stream of clean running water five times a day.
Salat in itself is a tool of training in cleanliness, purity, and punctuality bringing the blessed believer mental satisfaction and emotional fulfillment.

2. Sacrifice
Sacrifice is a key theme in the practice of Islam and there are many ‘mini-sacrifices’ the practicing Muslim undertakes the sacrifice of sleep and time, accommodating daily prayers, sacrificing our desires in line with what is permissible, refraining from eating when fasting during Ramadan and the sacrifice of wealth by fulfilling our charitable obligations.
The routine discipline and sacrifices of Muslims are in place to develop character and to prepare us for the inevitable challenges in life.
‘Giving up’ something now, to reap a reward later, not only emphasizes the importance of preparation in the pursuit of success and attainment. It also builds our resilience in the process.
The teachings of Islam in its practice encourage making sacrifices for what you want, so that what you want, doesn’t become the ultimate sacrifice.
In a world where distractions are common, thinking about what I will ‘give up’ to make space for what I want helps me focus my mind. This makes prioritizing and organizing my time easier.
3. Perseverance (Sabr)
People translate saber as patience, which is an approximate meaning. Patience is not a very good translation because it comes from a Latin origin that means suffering. People understand patience as a passive type of suffering.
The term saber comes from the verb sabara which means to tie or bind. In other words, it means to be tied down by uncontrolled fears, weakness, and human passion. There is no specific English word that expresses this meaning.
However, some close words are perseverance, resolution, fortitude, self-discipline, and control.’ This quality is not passive but more active determined and dynamic.
The term saber (perseverance) in Islam has so many applications that are not limited to perseverance in cases of calamity or disaster.
It does include fighting for justice or freedom, and demolition of human tyranny unlike the negative passive term, patience.

4. Everything is temporary (Dunya).
Always remember that everything in this world is temporary. People come & go. Feelings change constantly. Places don’t last. Here today, gone tomorrow.
Attach your heart to the One who gives everlasting peace! Only the Almighty is constant in this temporary life.
Allah (SWT) says ﴿يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّمَا هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ وَإِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ هِيَ دَارُ الْقَرَارِ﴾
(Interpretation of the meaning) “O my people, this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment, and indeed, the Hereafter – which is the home of [permanent] settlement”
5. Gratitude
Being grateful for what we have benefits us in so many ways than we can imagine. And the data prove it. Research studies have demonstrated how a sense of gratitude is associated with increased well-being physical health, and a reduced desire for material gains.
When used in an Islamic context, the meaning of shukr extends well beyond general notions of gratitude and thankfulness as used in contemporary society.
Embodying shukr in its fullest sense is, in fact, a way of life that cultivates endless worldly and otherworldly rewards. The Quran and the Sunnah are replete with reminders to express shukr.
Ibn al-Qayyim said that half of our entire belief (īmān) rests on practicing it.5 In this paper, we explore how the Quran, in particular, encourages us to be grateful by looking at the various contexts in which the concept of shukr arises.
In doing so, we hope that you will not only walk away with divinely-rooted motivation to express shukr in your own life but also reflect on how the Quran offers us truly comprehensive guidance in living our most satisfying lives.
6. Be helpful
Every one of us will at some point in our lives experience some type of hardship or pain that hurts us. It is, therefore, important to explore the importance of helping others in an Islamic context.
Helping each other is a way to overcome the grief that we may experience, and it can empower us in our worship of Allah.
One of the greatest human beings to walk the earth and who was also the best example of compassion and kindness in human form was the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He (PBUH) said:
“Whoever relieves a believer’s distress of the distressful aspects of this world, Allah will rescue him from a difficulty of the difficulties of the Hereafter.
AND Whoever alleviates [the situation of] one in dire straits who cannot repay his debt, Allah will alleviate his lot in both this world and in the Hereafter.
Whoever conceals [the faults of] a Muslim, Allah will conceal [his faults] in this life and the Hereafter.
(Muslim)

7. Be honest and direct
Honesty is a blanket term that covers a wide range of traits. It covers telling the truth, sincerity in work, carrying out duties, fulfilling one’s promises, objective judgments, and objective decisions.
Honesty is the opposite of lying, the opposite of bluffing, the opposite of hypocrisy, the opposite of favoritism, and the opposite of deceit.
The reward of external honesty comes from Allah, from people, and from the psychological satisfaction, the honest person feels.
When you are honest, Allah and the people you deal with like you. Your honesty gives you the social approval you need, and here comes the social value of honesty.
8. Give to others
It is a well-known fact that giving to others makes you feel good about yourself.
That feeling of self-satisfaction that comes from being in a privileged enough position to help someone else and change their life is an endlessly gratifying one.
Nothing comes close to that feeling of fulfillment you get from changing someone’s life for the better.
Volunteering your time and helping others is a great way to build consistent relationships with other like-minded people who all share one common goal with you; serving others selflessly.
Being around people who share the same goals can help you focus and inspire others to do the same. Being in a group can also help you to combine all your key skills and utilize your strengths to the best of your ability.
