The Method to Save Oneself from Sins

A person once came to Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi (rahimahullah) and mentioned to him that he had a habit of gambling. He asked Moulana for a cure which will enable him to give up this wrong habit. Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi (rahimahullah) mentioned the following to him:

Self-determination (to leave out the sin) is the cure. Also, you should make it compulsory upon yourself that whenever you commit this sin, you will perform one hundred rakaats of nafl salaah, and you will leave out eating two meals in the day. However, the main cure is self-determination.

Thereafter, this person mentioned that he does not have love in his heart for his parents. Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi (rahimahullah) advised him to go out of his way to serve his parents, as this will cause his love for them to increase (i.e. Hazrat Thaanwi (rahimahullah) advised him to serve them to the best of his ability with complete love and devotion, knowing well that this is the command of Allah Ta‘ala, and through this, he will earn Allah Ta‘ala’s pleasure and Jannah).

(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 11/136)