Diving into Pleasure

Question :

As a young man who practices Islam, I have noticed as of late that my faith has become weak: I commit certain sins, I sometimes miss or delay the prayer. I listen to evil speech, and I am often absorbed in enjoyment and pleasure. I have made an attempt to save myself from the predicament I find myself to be in, but to no avail. Please show me the right way to follow, which will keep me protected from the evil of my own self?

Answer:

I ask Allah Almighty to guide us. The way you have asked about is to be diligent in reciting the Qur'an and reflecting upon its meanings, for Allâh said about the Qur'an:
"O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord, and a healing for that in your breasts a guidance and a mercy for the believers."

Next, you refer as much as you can to the biography of the Prophet, and to his Sunnah, for it is indeed a torch lighting the path for whoever wants to reach Allâh Almighty.

Third, be diligent in accompanying the righteous and pious people among the scholars and true believers.

Fourth, you should avoid evil gatherings as much as you can, for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The parable of the evil gathering is that of the blacksmith; either he will burn you or your clothes or you will get a bad smell."

Don't hesitate to reproach yourself if you change to a worse condition, so that perhaps you may return to a better one. Fifth, don't sit back and admire your good deeds, for self-admiration may nullify them; Allâh Almighty says:
"They regard as favor upon you that they have embraced Islam. Say: "Count not your Islam as a favor upon me. Nay, but Allah has conferred a favor upon you, that He has guided you to the faith, if you indeed are true."

So look at your good deeds as if they are deficient, an outlook that might compel you to seek forgiveness and repent to Allâh Almighty, while thinking well about Allâh. When a person admires his deeds, feeling that he deserves many favors from Allah Almighty, he is in a very dangerous situation: his deeds may become nullified. We ask Allâh to protect and pardon us.