7] I want to be a devoted slave of Allaah … ten pointers

7]
My question is short. I want to enter Paradise, I want to strive to
control my self (my nafs), I want to kiss my mother's hand every day,
I want to keep away from whims and desires and from the Shaytaan, I
want Allaah tocall me a devoted slave on the Day of Resurrection, in
sha Allaah, I want to love my brothers, and I want my faith to keep
increasing. What should I do?.
Praise be to Allaah.
We ask Allaah to make you steadfast in adhering to the truth, and to
make your hopes come true, and to make you one of those who turn to
Him and who know the truth, defend it and adhere to Islam.
The things you mention inyour question indicate that you have a sound
and pure nature, and a great desire to achieve great things and to
give everyone his rights. Theseare great hopes that can be achieved
through faith,as it was narrated that Sufyaan al-Thawri said: Faith is
not wishes or pretence, rather it is what settles in the heart and is
proven by actions." So we will discuss the matter of faith and how
important it is in becoming a devoted slave, pleasing and honouring
one's parents and achieving thevictory of Paradise.
Whoever seeks to achievegreat things has to stay up at night (worship).
Hence al-Fudayl said: "Youhearts can never taste thesweetness of faith
until they shun worldly pleasures." And he also said, "If you cannot
pray qiyaam at night and fast during the day, then know that you are
deprived."
The sincere believer has a heart like a burning coal, hence it was
narrated by al-Haakim in his Mustadrak and al-Tabaraani in his
Mu'jamwith a saheeh isnaad that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said, "Faith wears out in your heart asclothes
wear out, so ask Allaah to renew the faith in your hearts."
The believer's heart may sometimes feel overwhelmed by clouds of sin.
This was portrayed to us by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) whenhe said: "There is no heartthat does not have clouds
like the clouds that cover the moon. When the cloud covers it, it is
dark, and when the cloud moves away it shines." Narrated by
al-Tabaraani in al-Awsat, and classed assaheeh by al-Albaani. So the
believer's heart is sometimes covered with acloud and its light is
hidden, and it remains dark and lonely, but if he strives to increase
his store of faith and seeks the help of Allaah, that cloud goes away
and the light in his heart starts to shine again. Hence one of the
salaf said: "It is part ofa person's smartness to c heck on his faith
and be aware of what affects it." It is also part of a
person'ssmartness "that he recognizes how the Shaytaan whispers to
him."
So he has to come back tofaith. If you come back to faith and do as it
requires,then you will achieve what you want. We will tell you of a
basic principle which will let you know when faith is present and when
it is not. Imam Ibn al-Jawzi said: "O you who are turned away, O you
who are deprived of meeting your loved ones, if you want to know how
you stand before the king, then look at how you are spending your time
and what work you are assigned to do. How many people stand at the
door of the king, but no one enters except the onewhom he cares for.
Not every heart is fit to draw close, not every heart can be filled
with love, not every wind is like the morning breeze."
If a person want to know how he stands before Allaah and how he stands
in relation to His commands and prohibitions, let him look at himself
and see what he is preoccupied with. If he is busy with da'wah and
with saving people from the Fire, striving to attain Paradise, helping
the weak and needy, honouring his parents, then let him rejoice in the
fact that he is close to the King of kings, for Allaah does not help
anyone to do good except those whom He loves.
But if he is has no interest in da'wah, dislikesthe daa'iyahs and
does not do good things, if he is preoccupied with this world and its
gains, and with gossip and asking too many questions, whilst not doing
much or following his whims and desires, let him know thathe is far
from Allaah and has been deprived of that which will bring him closer
to Paradise, because Allaah says in His holy Book (interpretation of
the meaning):
"Whoever desires the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this
world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then,
afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell; he will burn therein
disgraced and rejected ( far away from Allaah's Mercy).
And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the
necessary effort due for it (i.e. does righteous deeds of Allaah's
obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allaah Islamic
Monotheism) — then suchare the ones whose striving shall be
appreciated, (thanked andrewarded by Allaah)"
[al-Isra' 17:18-19