Enjoining Ma`ruf (that which is

Q 3 and 4: Your Eminence, how can Muslims keep themselves safe? How can Muslims cope in this material world, in which materialism is oppressing people and hardening their hearts - and I seek refuge with Allah from this - to the extent that there are only a few good people in this age, that are hardly known. How can we safeguard ourselves in this life? What can we do, beware of, and how?Your Eminence, Shaykh `Abdul-`Aziz, what advices and recommendations can you give me as I am a twenty-year old young man, just starting out in life? What books would you advise me to read, knowing that I am ready to pay any costs necessary for any book received from Your Eminence? May Allah reward you with the best!

(Part No. 12; Page No. 355) A: You should have Taqwa (fear Allah as He should be feared), obey Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), abide by His Book and the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet), keep to what concerns you and avoid what does not, stay away from Fitnah (temptation), and stay close to good people and avoid the evil ones. You should recite, with a submissive attentive heart, the Qur’an often and contemplate its meanings, and observe the Adh-kar (invocations and Remembrances said at certain times on a regular basis) that have been authenticated as reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him). Read books that are rich in wisdom and exhortation, such as "Al-Fawa’id", "Al-Da’ wal-Dawa’" by Ibn Al-Qayyim and supplicate with humility and awe to Allah during Sujud (prostration) saying the invocations reported in the Sunnah, in the hope that Allah will guide you, open your heart to good, and ward off all apparent and hidden Fitnah. Among the useful books that you could read are: "Zad Al-Ma‘ad fy Hady Khayr Al-‘Ibad" and "Ighathat Al-Lahfan" by Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah be merciful to him), "Fath Al-Majid bi-Sharh Kitab Al-Tawhid", with paying due care to the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) and "Tafsir Ibn Kathir". May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.