I am distant from Allah and want steadfastness and to be practising, but I find it hard with no friends to help or family,

so what is your advice to me?

I advise you and myself with the consciousness of Allah and know, that a persons lifespan is in the hands of Allah and that a person cannot be secure from death between night and morning. I advise you to save yourself and to return to your Lord, and not care about what you may face from friends and family. Who said that guidance requires there to be someone accompanying you? Will it harm you to have no one if Allah is with you? The companions of Musa (Peace be upon him) said, Surely we are caught! He said, No, indeed Allah is with me and He will guide me! (26:63) Allah is with you, whom are you turning to? You are turning to the Ever Living, to the King of Kings, the Compeller of the heavens and earth. He is in control of your life, your death, your wealth, your poverty, your glory, your humiliation, your disgrace, your honour. He is control of everything.

If you are living in blessings while you may disobey Allah, then how would it be if you obey Allah? Dont assume bad of Allah, for by Allah, if you obey Him and love Him, He will make for you a source of relief and a way out. If you are alone, within your family and society, then Allah will accompany you in your loneliness and He will strengthen your heart, and make it firm with His guidance. Do not care about others perception, turn to your Maker and fix up what is between you and your Lord.

Mercy and honour are in the hands of Allah, so turn to Him. You were not created except for this, to worship Allah. So refrain from feeling lonely and from belittling yourself and do not underestimate your acts of obedience but know that Allah will lift you from misguidance and dishonour.

How do you know, that the ones you see of the sinners from your family, are to be guided through you by the will of Allah? Do you not know that this religion was in the darkness of a small cave, sent down with the faithful spirit to the heart of the leader of the Messengers and see how he lead with it the world. His name became widely mentioned when the Muadhins call out I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. This is the religion of Allah.

He will compensate and reward you for He is the Best of Compensators. He will compensate His slave with every good in His deen and Dunya so have glad tidings from Allah.

When you are obedient to Allah do not feel humiliation and do not feel as though you are weak. And if the whole world, and trials surround the people, then know that you are the dearest to Allah. And if they feel rich with the Dunya then know that you will be content with Allah. And if they seek glory by disobeying Allah, know that glory is reached through obedience. Do not feel weakness, emptiness or failure that you refrain from repentance because you face a trial or test. Or if you are doing a good deed, you leave it because of trials. No! By Allah, Surely Allah makes not the reward of the good doers be lost. And He does not make his pious believers be lost, rather He is the Most Merciful, Gracious towards them. Indeed He prepares for them, plans for them and protects them. So be among them and dont be among anyone else. Have glad tidings and turn to obedience and start practising even if no one of your family or friends is accompanying you. Whoever turns to His Lord, indeed he is successful.