how to perfect ourselves

A Bedouin came to the prophet (pbuh) and said, "I have come to ask you for things would enrich me in this life and hereafter." The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Ask what you wish."

The Bedouin said, "I would like to be the most knowledgeable of all people,"

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Fear Allah (Ittaqi-Llah), and you will be the most knowledgeable of all people."

Then he asked, "I would like to be the richest of all people."

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Be satisfied with what you have got, you will be the richest of all people."

He asked, "I would like to be the most just among all people."

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Love for people what you love for yourself,
you will become the most just among all people."

He then asked, "I would like to become the best of all people."

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Be helpful to people and you will be the best of them."

He asked, "I would also like to become the most special (to Allah) of all people."

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Always remember (Dhikr) Allah and you shall become the most special to Allah."

He then asked, "How do I perfect my faith?"

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Perfect your behavior (Akhlaaq) and your faith will become perfect."

Then the man said, "I would like to be among the good doers."

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Worship Allah as if you see Him, know that even though you do not, He sees you."

The man then asked, "I would love to be among the obedient."

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Perform your obligatory prayers (Salaat) and you will be among the obedient."

He said, "I aspire to meet Allah pure of all sins."

The prophet (pbuh) replied, "Clean yourself of Janaabah (after intercourse) and you meet Allah free of sins."

He then said, "I aspire to be joined in the Day of Judgment in light."

The prophet (pbuh) replied, "Inflect no injustice upon others, then you will be in light in the Day of Judgment."

He said, "I wish that my Lord be merciful on me in the Day of Judgment."

The prophet (pbuh) said, "Have mercy on yourself and on His (Allah's) slaves, and Allah will be merciful on you in the Day of Judgment."

The man then said, "I wish to decrease my sins."

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Increase your repentance and asking for forgiveness, your sins will be decreased."

The man said, "I wish to become the most generous of all people."

The prophet (pbuh) said, "Do not complain any of your affairs to other creatures, you will become the most generous of all people."

He kept asking, "I wish to become the strongest of all people."

The prophet (pbuh) replied, "Count on Allah in all of your endeavors."

The man said, "I wish that Allah would expand my earnings."

The prophet (pbuh) replied, "Maintain your purity (Tahaara) and Allah will expand your earnings."

He said, "I wish to become one of Allah's and His prophet's most beloved."

The prophet (pbuh) said, "Love what Allah and His prophet love and you become Allah's and his prophet's most beloved."

He said, "I wish to be sheltered from Allah's punishment in the Day of Judgment."

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Do not be angry with any of Allah's creatures, then you will be safe from Allah's punishment in the Day of Judgment."

The man continued asking, "I wish that my prayers be answered."

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Avoid the use of the forbidden (Haraam) and your prayers will be answered."

He said, "I wish that my Lord would keep my sins secret in the Day of Judgment."

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Keep the defects of your brothers secret then your Lord will shelter you in the Day of Judgment."

The man then asked, "What is it that rescues from sins and faults?"

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "The tears, sincere submission and sickness."

The man continued, "Which good deed carries the most weight in the eyes of Allah?"

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Maintaining good manners and acting humbly and with patience in times of hardship."

He asked, "Which sin carries the most weight in the eyes of Allah?"

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Bad manners and selfish greed."

The man then said, " What suppresses the Lord's anger in this life and in hereafter?"

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Confidential charity and maintaining connections with one's family."

The man then asked, "What puts off the fire of hell in the day of Judgment?"

The prophet (pbuh) answered, "Patience (Al-Sabr) in this life through hardship and ordeals."

Narrated Sahl bin Sa'd:

The Prophet said, "Whoever guarantees me (the chastity of) what is between his legs (i.e. his private parts), and what is between his jaws (i.e., his tongue), I guarantee him Paradise."
Sahih Bukhari