Should a new Muslim abandon harams immediately?

Let us suppose that a person says “I have become a Believer”; must he quit drinking gradually, as the Companions did? How must he do it? How must he act related to prayer and other decrees? Was what we did wrong?

Dear Brother / Sister,

A person who enters Islam becomes responsible for all the orders and prohibitions of Islam from the moment he enters Islam. That person must fulfill his responsibilities such as prayer, fasting and zakah. He must also stay away from harams like alcohol, fornication, gambling, etc.

The gradual introduction of some orders and prohibitions in the religion of Islam is something peculiar to the period when the Quran was sent down. It is stated in the Quran that the religion of Islam was completed by the following verse:

“Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favor upon you, and chosen Islam as your way.” (Surah al-Maidah 5/3)

Questions on Islam