The new Muslim's field guide

Question

My questions involves many things. I am a very new convert and at first I was praying all prayers as best I could (I don't know Arabic) Someone told me I should only speak in Arabic, so in the end I have stopped praying. I think of Allah many times in the day and follow the teachings but some things I know are wrong i cannot stop. Since Allah called me, I have improved my life immensely and am happier than i have been in a very long time. I used to be drunk every day but now I almost don’t drink at all. I used to gamble all my money but now I almost don’t gamble at all when I do these wrong things I can feel it is wrong and don’t want to go back to my old ways. I can feel Allah is guiding me in ways I don’t understand. I don't feel guilty I just feel why am I doing this. I have asked a few Muslim people I work with and even a person I met online to teach me to pray properly and help me in other ways but because I am Australian they don’t feel I am being serious about being Muslim so they have been reluctant I am not a good person I think but I am much better than I have been and with His help an guidance I know I will succeed. There are many things for me to learn. Please give me your advise; should I keep trying by myself, or continue to seek help from other Muslims even though they seem not to want to.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

first and last, and thanks be to Him always. He blesses whomsoever He will with guidance, and deprives whomsoever He will of happiness. He saves His slave from misguidance and supports His close friends until the Hour begins. 

My dear Muslim brother, congratulations on your being blessed with guidance. We ask Allah to make you steadfast until death. 

It was a great achievement when you decided to embrace Islam and give up the misguidance in which you had grown up and the shirk [association of others with Allah] which is forbidden. We welcome you as a new brother in Islam and we welcome you as a visitor to this site. 

First of all, we would remind you that in this world man passes through great tests and trials, which require him to be patient and steadfast, and to stand firm until death.  

“O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord  with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, and you will meet (the results of your deeds which you did)”

[al-Inshiqaaq 84:6 – interpretation of the meaning]

One of the trials with which Allah tests His slaves is the enjoining of obligations and duties such as prayer, fasting, zakaah (poor due), Hajj (pilgrimage) and other acts of worship, and the things that He forbids them to do such as lying, cheating, adultery, homosexuality and all other forbidden things, so as to see the sincere believer who obeys the commands of Allah, so that He may admit him to Paradise, and the liar and hypocrite who does not obey Allah, so that He may send him to Hell. 

Try to do your best to learn what Allah commands, and do it, and what He forbids, and avoid it. 

There are many commands, and many prohibitions, and it is impossible to list them or explain them all in one place. But we refer you to what is mentioned in this site of ours of questions that deal with the teachings of Islam, so you can look at it and read what it says, and may Allah benefit you thereby. 

With regard to what you mention in your question about having to learn Arabic, this is true, but you do not have to learn the whole language, rather just what you need for religious purposes. See question no. 6524. The fact that you do not know Arabic does not justify your not praying, because you can learn what you need for prayer in a short period of time, and until you learn it you should still continue to pray regularly on time, and pray according to what you are able to do. “Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope” [al-Baqarah 2:286].  

With regard to how to pray, you will find the answer to that on this site, under Question no. 13340. See also 8580, 2427, 11040. 

Finally we advise you to look for an Islamic Centre in your city, and to keep company with Muslims who practice their religion. Do not forget to read trustworthy websites, and try to benefit from them as much as you can. We will also be happy to help you and others like you who are looking for things that will benefit them, and we will offer whatever advice we can, so keep in touch with us. May Allah protect you and take care of you.