How can I be a good Muslim?

I want to be a Muslim but I live in a non-Muslim country.
I was born in a Christian country, but I have met Islam. Islam is a religion to which I feel closer, and I have always believed in Allah in my heart.
However, I suffered many psychological disorders: Introversion, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc.
In addition, I have pancreatitis and lung disease. I am getting medical attention. My parents passed away when I was 14. I have been living with my brothers since then and receiving financial support from my paternal aunt.
However, she hates Islam and Muslims. There are no Muslims or mosques where I live; so, I feel lost. I cannot move because of my health problems.
If I start to practice Islam, I feel worried that I will not get any help. For example, I cannot have halal food, clothing and other things. I have no money. How can I become a good Muslim in these circumstances? I need your help.

Dear Brother / Sister,

The purpose of the creation of man is to know and recognize the Creator. He can be known only through the prophets and books He sent. We can find the answers to questions like why Allah created us, what He wants from us, and what will happen to us in the end in those two sources.

First of all, we should know that Allah loves His servants. He has promised man eternal life and Paradise life, which will give him eternal happiness. He created man with this purpose and subjected him to a test in the world so that he would gain that eternal happy life. This test consists of His commandments and prohibitions. It necessitates obeying the prophet and following his path.

Its way is to practice Islam well. To practice Islam well means to be happy both in the hereafter and in the world.

The way to practice Islam well can be summarized as follows:

1. To obey Allah's commands and prohibitions.

To fulfill the deeds of worship that are fard and wajib and to avoid major sins. The way to do it is through worship.

Allah associates the purpose of creation with worshipping and states the following:

“I have only created Jinn and men, that they may serve Me.” (adh-Dhariyat, 56)

It can be said that man is programmed to worship. Allah says that following this program gives man a good life:

“Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure… " (an-Nahl, 97)

2. To say prayers.

Prayer (dua) enables man to be in contact with Allah all the time. Talking to Him, informing Him of of one’s problems and needs are possible only through prayer.

Allah states the following: “Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer).” (al-Mumin, 60)

Allah does not make His servant say a prayer that He will not answer. This belief is considered a remedy for all psychological problems of man.

3. To rely on Allah (tawakkul).

Tawakkul (to rely on Allah) means fulfilling your duties and trusting Allah. He who relies on and trusts in Allah will feel secure. As a matter of fact, the following is stated in a sacred hadith:

" I am just as My slave thinks I am. I will treat Him as he knows Me.” (see Bukhari, Tawhid 15, 35; Muslim, Dhikr 2)

Therefore, a Muslim who trusts in Allah is not afraid of troubles, difficulties and hardships.

A person who trusts in and relies on the divine promise “Sustenance comes from Allah; He is the one that gives sustenance; He is the absolute Sustainer” mentioned in various verses of the Quran does not fear for his livelihood. Sustenance will come from where he never expects disguised as causes.

However, there is a rule of trust: The person puts his trust in Him after he has done his best and acted in accordance with causes. After using his partial free will, he surrenders to the universal will.

4. To look at the people above in worship and the people below in misfortunes.

One way of practicing Islam well is to look at the people that are superior to him in terms of taqwa in worship and the people below in misfortunes. For, man can definitely find many people who are in a worse situation than him; therefore, he should be thankful in any case.

The following hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) should be accepted as a principle in life:

“Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (Allah); thus, there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.” (Muslim, Zuhd, 64)

How should a Muslim living among non-Muslims act?

Since Islam has all the human values accepted by the civilized world, no one who lives Islam well is excluded; he is even appreciated by those around him.

He might not always say that he is a Muslim everywhere and he can worship secretly so as not to be harmed and in order to get rid of prejudices.

The best and most effective way of practicing Islam is to represent Islam with one’s words and behaviors, to live with one’s behaviors and to light a candle instead of fighting the darkness.

It is a known fact that prejudices against Islam are widespread today because Muslims do not practice true Islam properly.

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