As-salamu’alaykum,
I’m trying to become a more practicing Muslim, i.e. being punctual with salah, avoiding haram and doubtful matters, etc. Yet, I don’t see much improvement. I’ve been told that keeping the company of pious people will help me with this. However, the problem is that there aren’t any pious people around and even in the local masjid people sit for hours and discuss worldly matters loudly and brazenly without care. They even backbite and slander each other. Among these people are also members of my family. I’m a very timid and quite soul and can’t make myself correct these people (most of whom are around my father’s age) even though I really want to. Please advise.