How to Remain Religious
1- The main path toward becoming religious is being in the company of real religious persons. Unfortunately, practical role models for religiosity have become rare. We have many books about mystics and great religious figures but we do not see one among ourselves. Seeing religious behaviors by real religious persons is much more effective than reading about them. However, because we have no access to men of God, we have to refer to works written about them and use those works as much as we can. In reading about the life of men of God, what we should seek is learning from their virtues.
2- The second way is getting acquainted with the sources of religion, like studying the translations of the Quran, reading supplications such as Sahifeh Sajjadiyeh, etc. One should not consider being religious as a difficult task. Being religious is very simple. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said he was appointed to prophethood to promote a simple and easy religion. There is no need to go to difficult books and various Quran interpretations in the early stages of being religious. Reading and contemplating the verses of Quran and Hadiths would be enough.
3- The third way is to have logical and moderate expectations from religion. We should realize that failing to act upon some religious rules or having questions about some religious issues do no mean lack of religiosity. It is not necessary to be perfect in our religiosity in the early stages. In verse 14 of Surah Al-Hujurat, we read: “The bedouin Arabs have said, "We are believers." Tell them, "You are not believers, but you should say that you are Muslims. In fact, belief has not yet entered your hearts. If you obey God and His Messenger, nothing will be reduced from your deeds. God is All-forgiving and All-merciful.” So the Quran says they have accepted Islam but their faith has not been accepted yet. In another verse, God says: “Believers, have faith in God and His Messenger,…” (Surah An-Nisa, verse 136) In this verse, those who say they are believers are urged to truly believe in God and the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
4- The fourth way is to not consider the behavior of those who claim to be religious as the criteria for being religious. It is because some people’s religiosity may not be real and they may be pretending to be religious in order to have personal and worldly gains. We should seek those who act and behave based on the faith.
5- The fifth way is refusing to make others’ judgments our criterion for assessing our religiosity. It is possible that we are true religious persons but others do not consider it so, or vice versa.
