Doing many acts of obedience and sitting with righteous people and scholars

Fatwa no. 14492 After six years of deviation, I became a religiously committed person, praise be to Allah. However, I am still attached to the past. When I intend to go to the Masjid (mosque) to attend gatherings of Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) and learning, I become hesitant under the pretext that I am not worthy of sitting with these good and pious people, and so I turn back before reaching the door of the Masjid.

A: You have to praise and thank Allah Who saved you from this deviated and aimless life and led you to the light of guidance and Iman (Faith), and from indulging in a life of corruption and endless sins to the light of obedience and Yaqin (certainty). You should preserve this blessing by increasing acts of obedience and worship, sitting with righteous companions and listening to scholars as well as attending learning circles in Masjids. You should try hard not to let Satan drag you away from the path of guidance; rather stick to gatherings of Dhikr (Part No. 26; Page No. 325) for all goodness is to be found in them, and always be on your guard against bad companions, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned against befriending them and likened bad friends to the one who works the bellows, for he will either burn your clothes or you will notice a bad smell from him.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.