How to become a strong Muslim

 Fulfill the Five Pillars of Islam. Observing the Five Pillars is mandatory for all Muslims. You must comply with them to practice Islam correctly. A strong Muslim will not waver from his observance of the pillars. Fulfill your daily obligations mindfully, and plan your occasional obligations with care. The Five Pillars are:

Testimony of Faith (Shahada). When you become a Muslim, you make a testimony of faith. Say aloud: "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger."

Performance of the five daily prayers (Salah). Pray five times daily in the direction of the holy city of Mecca.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan (Sawm). Ramadan is a holy month. Observe it by praying, fasting, and performing acts of charity.

Almsgiving. Donate 2.5% of your savings to the poor (Zakat).

Making a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). If you are able, you must travel to Mecca at least once in your lifetime.

Read the Qur'an as often as you can. Seek an understanding of Islam directly from the authentic source. You will strengthen your personal faith if you understand Arabic, the language your faith is based upon. Make a practice of reading the Qur'an every day for at least a few minutes, or longer if you are able, as well as moments when you feel your faith waver or your focus on Allah falter.[1]

Every time you read, recite at least one verse aloud and try to perfect its pronunciation.

Study an explanation of its meaning and contemplate how it applies to your own life.

Try to be mindful of Allah throughout your day as you go about your business or chores. Keeping your lips moist with dhikr helps develop an awareness of Allah's might and majesty.

above and beyond the mandatory requirements. While you must pray five times a day under Islamic law, a strong Muslim may also pray at additional times when moved to do so. You may pray alone, but to strengthen your faith, head to your mosque at prayer times. Collective worship has special merit.[2]

While the obligatory prayers typically last only a few minutes each, you may extend your time in prayer by including additional voluntary prayers in your schedule as the Prophet Mohammed (SAW) encourages us to do.

Tahajjud is a very rewarding Sunnah prayer offered during the dead of night, a peaceful time when Allah descends to the lowest heaven.

Add your own personal prayers (dua) after the formal prayers or at any time during the day - ask Allah for help, guidance and protection, thank Him for his bounties and praise Him for His wisdom and generosity.

Repentance is an important part of every Muslims' daily worship. Acknowledge your sins, however small, promise not to repeat them and ask Allah for His forgiveness. Allah is always inclined to forgive us, but only when we ask and only when we repent with deep sincerity.

Crying during prayer is desirable as it signifies fear of Allah's punishment and helps lead to submission to His will.

Vary your routine so that you concentrate and feel close to Allah during the act of praying, and are not merely going through the motions. If your mind wanders you make mistakes, your prayer becomes invalidated and is not accepted.

Always heed the warnings contained in the Qur'an and the narrations of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) concerning the consequences for not completing the fardh salah.

While almsgiving is required of all Muslims, it is up the individual to determine what they can give beyond the required 2.5% of their income. If you are a high-earner, donate more than 2.5% of your income to good causes represented by trustworthy organizations. If you have extra time, volunteer at charity organizations. If you have special skills that can be helpful for others, such as TESOL training or knowledge of the law, consider donating your skills to non-profits and volunteer organizations that cannot afford to hire professionals.[3]