Lately, I’ve been thinking about the way we talk about worship online.

I love seeing Muslims encourage one another toward Allah. It’s inspiring to hear or read stories about a fellow Muslim who prayed tahajjud and found their life transformed, or someone who turned to istighfar during a difficult season and experienced an opening they never expected.

These are beautiful acts of worship and there is goodness in sharing goodness. Sometimes seeing another person’s love for Allah is exactly what awakens something within our own hearts. But I’ve also been thinking about how spiritual encouragement can start to sound like a spiritual formula.

Do this to get married.

Read this surah every day and watch your problems disappear.

Say Astaghfurallah this many times and see how much rizq comes into your life.

Without realizing it, we can treat worship less as a means of drawing closer to Allah and more as a formula for receiving something from Him.

Now that’s not to say we shouldn’t ask Allah for what we want in this dunya. Quite the contrary. We should absolutely ask Allah for things. That’s what duaa is for. He is Al-Kareem. He loves for us to turn to Him.

But it’s the fixation on what a particular act of worship might bring that can cause us to overlook what it is already giving us.

Tahajjud draws us closer to Allah even before the duaa comes true. Istighfar benefits us even before the rizq arrives. Reading Quran can transform us even before our circumstances change.

Sometimes the way we talk about these experiences online can make it seem like there’s a one-size-fits-all approach to spirituality.

But our needs, capacities and circumstances change. And naturally, the ways we draw closer to Allah may look different through the changing seasons of our lives.

Making room for seasons

Worship doesn’t look the same in every season.

There may be a season in life when you can wake up long before Fajr and spend an hour in tahajjud.

There may be another when you are waking throughout the night with a baby and making your five prayers on time is all you can muster.

There may be a season when you read pages and pages of Quran every day. And another when you read five ayahs slowly, look up their meaning, journal about them and reflect on them for the rest of the week.

There may be a season when you find yourself especially drawn to istighfar. Another when your heart needs to cultivate more gratitude. Another when you’re learning tawakkul. Another when you need knowledge.

And another when one of the greatest acts of worship available to you is patience with the people Allah has placed in your care.

The beauty of our deen is that there are so many ways to worship Allah and draw closer to Him.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) reminded us, “The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are small.” (Sahih Muslim)

Different seasons don’t change what Allah has obligated, but they may change which voluntary practices we have the capacity for and which ones our hearts need most.

Our spirituality was never meant to be identical

And yet, worship can subtly become another aspect of our lives we compare.

Everyone is reading Surah Al-Baqarah every day. Should I be?

Everyone is waking up for tahajjud. Am I not doing enough?

She made 10,000 istighfar today. I barely made my morning adhkar.

There is a kind of spiritual comparison that can be good for us. Seeing someone else worship Allah can inspire us to do more. Sometimes we need to witness someone else’s love for the deen to awaken something in ourselves. But inspiration can also turn into feelings of inadequacy.

When someone else’s relationship with Allah becomes the measuring stick for our own or when seeing what someone else is doing leaves us feeling so spiritually behind that, rather than drawing us toward Allah, it begins pushing us further away.

I may have been guilty of contributing to this myself. I love finding creative ways to share Islam through social media. I love a catchy headline and a clean aesthetic. It fuels the creative journalist in me, and my intention has always been to inspire and bring myself and others closer to Allah. But I’ve also started asking myself whether what I’m sharing is truly in service of Allah. Does the way I frame something leave someone feeling invited toward Him, or could it unintentionally leave them feeling like they’ve fallen behind?

It’s something I’ve had to think about in my own relationship with social media, and one of the reasons I stepped away from sharing content on Instagram and TikTok in particular.

Ultimately, it’s not about what everyone else is doing. Your relationship with Allah is deeply personal, and the voluntary acts that draw your heart closer to Him may not look exactly like someone else’s.

There are so many doors to Allah

Another person’s door to Allah might not be the same door for you.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) tells us in a hadith that Allah says:

“My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to Me with voluntary deeds until I love him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

We begin with the foundation: what Allah has obligated, staying away from what He has prohibited and fulfilling the responsibilities He has entrusted to us.

Beyond that is this incredibly expansive world of voluntary worship where…

Tahajjud is a door. Istighfar is a door. Reading Quran is a door. Dhikr is a door. Sadaqah is a door. Voluntary fasting is a door. Seeking knowledge is a door. Serving people is a door. Caring for your family can be a door. Sending salawat upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is another door.

Our relationship with Allah is the most sacred relationship we should and will ever have, and it is such a personal one.

So by all means, be inspired by others. Allow their worship to challenge you toward goodness. But also be mindful of your own heart and circumstances. What can truly bring you closer to Allah (SWT)?

When you see a beautiful reminder online, try to receive it as an invitation – not a formula, and not another measure of whether you’re doing enough. It may be a door Allah is inviting you through, or a reminder that there are many doors through which we can draw closer to Him.

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If this resonated with you, my book Peace Within: Spiritual Reminders for the Heart is a collection of Islamic reminders to help you reconnect with Allah, tend to your heart, and return to what truly matters.

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Do you ever come across an ayah while reading Quran that stops you in your tracks?

It’s what amazes me most about the Quran. You can read the same surah multiple times, and then one day, a single ayah suddenly feels as though it was revealed just for that moment or season of your life.

The words don’t change, but you do.

When I read the translation of Surah Ya-Sin, I came across an ayah that stayed with me. It wasn’t one I’d heard discussed often, yet I found myself returning to it over and over again.

لَا ٱلشَّمْسُ يَنۢبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تُدْرِكَ ٱلْقَمَرَ وَلَا ٱلَّيْلُ سَابِقُ ٱلنَّهَارِ ۚ وَكُلٌّۭ فِى فَلَكٍۢ يَسْبَحُونَ

“It is not for the sun to catch up with the moon, nor does the night outrun the day. Each is travelling in an orbit of their own.” [36:40]

The footnote in The Clear Quran mentions that the moon completes its cycle every month through its waxing and waning phases, while the sun completes its cycle over the course of a year, giving us the changing seasons.

As I sat with the Arabic, I found myself lingering on the verb yasbahun (يَسْبَحُونَ). While it’s translated here as travelling, in Arabic, it can also mean swimming or floating.

But it wasn’t the astronomy that captured my attention. It was the metaphor.

I couldn’t help but wonder: if this is how Allah describes these signs, what does that teach us about the way we are meant to move through this life? Are we focused on our own orbit, or are we distracted by someone else’s?

We spend a good chunk of our days scrolling through carefully curated moments of other people’s lives and begin to feel late, as though we’ve fallen behind or are somehow missing out. We end up comparing our careers, our families, our businesses, our homes, our knowledge and even our relationship with Allah. We can easily get stuck measuring our lives against someone else’s timeline until we start to believe that someone else’s life is the measuring stick for our own.

What I love about this ayah is that it gently reminds us that Allah never created us to live someone else’s story. He created each of us with our own tests, our own gifts, to move at our own pace toward the purpose He created us for.

Nothing in Allah’s creation is random. Nothing arrives before its appointed time and nothing misses what Allah has written for it. The sun doesn’t rush to become the moon. Each glorifies Allah by being what it was created to be. And if that is true of the sun and the moon, why would it be any less true for you?

The One who charted the path of the sun also charted yours. The One who determined the phases of the moon has also written the phases of your life. You were never meant to catch up. You were meant to trust the One who created your orbit in the first place.

Maybe that’s why this ayah spoke to me now and not years ago. The words hadn’t changed. I have.

It speaks to the beauty of the Quran because the same ayahs continue to reveal new lessons exactly when our hearts are ready to receive them.

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If this resonated with you, my book Peace Within: Spiritual Reminders for the Heart is a collection of Islamic reminders to help you reconnect with Allah, tend to your heart, and return to what truly matters.

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At the beginning of this year, I sat down and did what I always do. I reflected on the previous year and set intentions for the year ahead. I have an entire process that has worked for me year after year and yet, something felt different.

There was this quiet exhaustion that kept getting louder and louder. It had been years since I quit my fulltime corporate job and as an entrepreneur and stay at home mom, I still felt like I was overcome by panic and rush most of the time.

The to-do list never seemed to end. Every accomplishment was quickly replaced by another goal, another expectation, another thing to optimize, and I grew tired of it.

Over the past several months, I consciously chose to slow down and recenter myself mainly by getting off of social media and establishing a consistent Quran practice.

The sense of urgency, the pressure for “more” started to fade.

When I received the “Happy Islamic New Year!” text on a family group chat this week, something clicked. That feeling at the beginning of this year was leading me to this moment and to this realization:

I never paid much attention to the Islamic New Year before. I knew the sacred months, but I hadn’t considered what it might look like to move through the year guided by the Islamic calendar.

The Gregorian calendar helps us organize work, school, taxes, and appointments, but the Islamic calendar follows a completely different rhythm.

The Islamic year is not built around productivity. It is built around worship, remembrance, trust, repentance and our relationship with Allah.

Allah says:

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًۭا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ

“Indeed, the number of months ordained by Allah is twelve—in Allah’s Record since the day He created the heavens and the earth—of which four are sacred. That is the Right Way…” [9:36]

Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the sun, the Islamic calendar follows the moon. Each month begins with the sighting of a new crescent.

يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِىَ مَوَٰقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱلْحَجِّ

“They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about the phases of the moon. Say, “They are a means for people to determine time and pilgrimage.” [2:189]

There is something so beautiful about measuring time this way. Every month begins with a tiny sliver of light that gradually grows until it becomes full, then slowly fades before beginning again.

Our spirituality often follows a similar pattern. There are seasons where our iman feels strong and our worship feels full, but there are also seasons where we feel depleted, distracted or distant. Yet just as the moon is given a chance to begin again each month, Allah, in His mercy, continually gives us opportunities to return to Him.

Muharram

Muharram is one of the four sacred months and the first month of the Islamic year.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The best month for observing Saum (fasting) after Ramadan is Muharram, and the best Salat after the prescribed Salat is Salat at night.” (Riyad as-Salihin 1167)

Days to be aware of:

• Ashura (10th Muharram)

• Fast the 9th and 10th or the 10th and 11th

A good time to:

• Set spiritual intentions for the year ahead

• Make a list of habits you want to strengthen

• Write down the duaas you want to consistently make throughout the year

• Reflect on where you want to be spiritually by next Muharram

Reflection:
If I were to meet Allah at the end of this year, what would I hope has changed about my heart?

Safar

Safar is a quieter month and a reminder that growth happens through consistency not intensity.

A good time to:

• Focus on making daily prayers on time

• Establish a consistent Quran routine

• Continue the habits you began in Muharram

• Choose one act of worship to perform consistently

Reflection:
What act of worship feels small enough to sustain but meaningful enough to change me?

Rabi’ al-Awwal

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was born during this month.

A good time to:

• Study his seerah

• Listen to a podcast about his life

• Increase your salawat upon him

• Focus on improving your character and interactions with others using his example

Reflection:
If the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) observed my character today, what is one trait I would hope he recognizes in me?

Rabi’ al-Thani

After learning about Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), continue building your relationship with Islam.

A good time to:

• Start an Islamic book

• Learn the meaning of the surahs you recite regularly

• Memorize new Quran

• Join a class or study circle

Reflection:
What do I need to learn in order to worship Allah more intentionally?

Jumada al-Ula

Not every month has a major spiritual event. Use this month to check in with yourself.

A good time to:

• Evaluate your salah, add sunnah prayers gradually

• Review intentions you set in Muharram

• Focus on sincerity in your actions

Reflection:
Which of my acts of worship are rooted in love rather than obligation?

Jumada al-Akhirah

This month serves as a bridge into the sacred season ahead.

A good time to:

• Increase istighfar

• Make tawbah for past sins

• Reduce distractions and time-wasting habits

• Create a Ramadan preparation plan

Reflection:
What is standing between me and a stronger relationship with Allah?

Rajab

Rajab is one of the four sacred months and marks the beginning of the journey toward Ramadan.

One beautiful analogy often shared about these months is:

“Rajab is for planting, Sha’ban is for watering, and Ramadan is for harvesting.”

A good time to:

• Increase sunnah prayers

• Fast some optional days/make up days from last Ramadan

• Spend more time with the Quran

• Reflect on your spiritual goals for Ramadan

Reflection:
What seeds do I want to plant before Ramadan arrives?

Sha’ban

Sha’ban is not simply a month of preparation. It is a chance to arrive at Ramadan with a heart that is ready to receive it.

A good time to:

• Fast some optional days

• Increase Quran reading

• Reduce distractions and reflect on habits to let go of

• Set your intentions for a spiritual Ramadan

Reflection:
What am I carrying that I need to leave behind to prepare for Ramadan?

Ramadan

Ramadan is the greatest month of the Islamic year.

A good time to:

• Read, listen to, and reflect on the Quran

• Fast with sincerity

• Increase in charity

• Pray Qiyam and Tahajjud

• Make a lot of intentional duaa

• Take advantage of the last 10 nights

Reflection:
How can I leave this Ramadan different than I entered it?

Shawwal

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged fasting six days in Shawwal.

A good time to:

• Fast

• Maintain your Quran routine

• Sustain the habits built in Ramadan

• Continue acts of charity and dhikr

Reflection:
Which habit from Ramadan deserves a permanent place in my life and why?

Dhul-Qa’dah

Dhul-Qa’dah is one of the sacred months.

A good time to:

• Revisit your intentions

• Reflect on how you want to finish off this year

• Increase gratitude

• Focus on family ties and relationships

Reflection:
Am I moving closer to Allah than I was at the beginning of the year?

Dhul-Hijjah

Dhul-Hijjah is one of the most beloved seasons of worship in the entire year.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us that righteous deeds during the first ten days are among the most beloved to Allah.

A good time to:

• Fast the first nine days if able

• Prioritize fasting the Day of Arafah

• Increase dhikr and duaa

• Give charity

• Reflect on the sacrifice and story of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him)

Reflection:
What am I holding onto that Allah may be asking me to surrender?

–

The Islamic calendar does not pressure us to achieve more. It draws our attention to something far more important: our relationship with Allah.

Did we pray with more presence than we did last year? Is the Quran more familiar to us than it was before? Have we become more patient, more grateful, more sincere? Have we repented from sins that once held us back?

When we plan our lives around the Islamic year, we begin to view time differently. Muharram becomes a time to renew our intentions. Rajab and Sha’ban become a time to prepare our hearts. Ramadan becomes a time of transformation. Dhul-Hijjah becomes a time to finish strong. And each new moon becomes a reminder that we have been given another opportunity to return to Allah.

As the new moon marks the beginning of another Islamic year, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us to say:

اللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْأَمْنِ وَالإِيمَانِ، وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالإِسْلَامِ، وَالتَّوْفِيقِ لِمَا تُحِبُّ وَتَرْضَى

“O Allah, let this moon appear over us with security and faith, safety and Islam, and success in that which You love and are pleased with.” (At-Tirmidhi 5/504)

May this year be one that brings us closer to Him than ever before.

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If this resonated with you, my book Peace Within: Spiritual Reminders for the Heart is a collection of Islamic reminders to help you reconnect with Allah, tend to your heart, and return to what truly matters.

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But despite my religious upbringing, I felt like I was missing something.

I remember at one of these Islamic conventions realizing that the majority of the speakers on the stage were reverts. It piqued my curiosity. I felt grateful for being born Muslim but I craved what they had…

There was this drive and deep desire for the deen that felt contagious when they spoke.

It was then that I understood that being born into and growing up in a religious Muslim family didn’t equate to being a spiritual Muslim.

I realized: You have to consciously choose Islam, and keep choosing it over and over again.

I started redefining my relationship with Allah and Islam in my 20s, and now, in my early 30s, I find myself digging deeper and wanting to prioritize it over everything else.

A lot of what I write about below I knew, but when the mind and heart connected, it changed everything for me. Islam was no longer a rule book. It gave me a lens to see everything differently. A lens that’s clear, grounding, gives purpose, meaning and direction.

Tawhid: Not just a belief, but a compass

Oftentimes with religion we can get caught up in saying “things are the way they are” without really trying to understand the deeper reasons behind them.

Believing in Allah’s Oneness is not just a tenet and not just about rejecting idol worship. Its meaning transforms when you realize it’s about more than that.

It’s about what sits at the center of your life.

It’s knowing that nothing and no one is more important than Him and your relationship with Him. It guides your decisions, actions and the direction you’re heading in. It’s your compass in this world to help get you to the akhirah you desire.

It also has different implications today beyond worshiping idols — are we placing more importance on money and prioritizing making money over our worship of Allah? Are we valuing this world over our connection with Him? Are we wasting our time knowing and talking about the lives of others over the time we could be spending getting closer to and praising Allah? Do we care about what others think more than pleasing or displeasing Him?

The hard truth is: If something is not leading you closer to Allah, it’s probably pulling you further away from Him.

It can be subtle, and that’s what I’ve realized. The mindless eating, the doom scrolling, the binge-watching turning into brain (and heart) rot.

Allah tells us in Surah Al-Jathiyah:

أَفَرَءَيْتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍۢ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِۦ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِۦ غِشَـٰوَةًۭ فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

“Have you seen ˹O Prophet˺ those who have taken their own desires as their god? ˹And so˺ Allah left them to stray knowingly, sealed their hearing and hearts, and placed a cover on their sight. Who then can guide them after Allah? Will you ˹all˺ not then be mindful?” [45:23]

Tawhid serves as a reminder of Who you prioritize, turn to, rely on and ultimately allow to guide your life.

Istighfar/Tawba: Not just for big sins

For a long time, I thought istighfar and tawba (repentance) were reserved for major sins. But what I didn’t realize is that I could be sinning even when I don’t think I am. After all, it was pride and takabbur that turned Iblis from a devoted worshipper into the most cursed of creation.

Reflecting on that changed my relationship with istighfar completely. Istighfar and tawba became less of a reaction and more of a constant state and a constant returning.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), despite being forgiven, would seek forgiveness often:

“By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6307)

Making istighfar sincerely and often can help unlock rizq and bring barakah into your life. Your sins, whether you’re mindful of them or not, could be blocking greatness in your life and of course, affect your akhirah.

Living for the akhirah

Realizing the magnitude of accountability on the Day of Judgment also deepened the importance of istighfar in my daily life. It made me more mindful of my words, my intentions and the subtle ways we can distance ourselves from Allah without even realizing it.

At the same time, it also taught me to let go of trying to control everything in this dunya. Because I know Allah’s justice is coming. Nothing goes unseen. Nothing goes unaccounted for.

What once felt urgent in the dunya starts to feel temporary when you begin living with the akhirah in mind.

You start thinking differently about your actions, your priorities, your intentions and even your time. You stop obsessing over and getting overwhelmed by things, situations and people when you remember that this life is temporary and eventually all that’s in it will fade. When you truly internalize that, it changes how you move through this life.

Allah reminds us in Surah Al-A’la:

بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا

وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ

“But you ˹deniers only˺ prefer the life of this world,

even though the Hereafter is far better and more lasting.” [87:16–17]

Quran: More than a Holy Book

Growing up, I viewed the Quran as a sacred book, one that required a certain level of knowledge to truly understand or deeply engage with it. I respected it, loved it and recognized its holiness, but I still felt distant from it in some ways. It wasn’t until I started reading it in a language I fully understood that everything changed.

I’ve been reading the Quran from cover to cover in translation and it’s rewired my brain chemistry, opened my heart, deepened my love, understanding and connection to it in ways I still struggle to articulate.

The Quran is the only book where the Author loves the reader. I now see it as a Divine love letter from Allah – first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), but meant for all of us until the end of time.

When Allah comforts and reassures the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the other prophets throughout the Quran, He is also comforting and reassuring us. Their stories stopped feeling ancient and started feeling deeply human and relevant to my own life today.

That’s the miracle of the Quran. It was relevant to the people living at the time it was revealed, and it continues to speak directly to the hearts of people centuries later who read it, recite it and reflect on it.

Its guidance is timeless.

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌۭ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًۭا

“We send down the Quran as a healing and mercy for the believers, but it only increases the wrongdoers in loss.” [17:82]

There is guidance, healing and wisdom in the Quran for everything we are going through in this life. How can we not prioritize reading it and letting it guide our lives?

Sadaqah: Giving from what you love

Many of us grow up knowing that giving charity is an important pillar of Islam, but I only recently started to internalize the wisdom behind it, and even now, I know it’s probably only a small glimpse of what we’re truly meant to understand from it.

After everything Allah has blessed us with, sadaqah becomes more than simply giving money away. It becomes an act of detaching the heart from this dunya – a reminder that nothing we have truly belongs to us in the first place. Our wealth, time, possessions and blessings are all trusts and tests from Allah, and giving from what we love conditions the heart not to become consumed by or overly attached to this world.

It also shifts your perspective outward. No matter what challenge, hardship or test we are facing, there is always someone else longing for something Allah has already blessed us with. Sadaqah nurtures gratitude, softens the heart and reminds us that caring for one another is part of what it means to live as an ummah.

لَن تَنَالُوا۟ ٱلْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍۢ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌۭ

“You will never achieve righteousness until you donate some of what you cherish. And whatever you give is certainly well known to Allah.” [3:92]

The ease in tawakkul

We spend so much of our lives overthinking outcomes, trying to force certainty, trying to understand why things are happening the way they are. But tawakkul teaches us to do our part, tie our camel and leave the rest to Allah.

Trusting Allah takes such a weight off your shoulders because you realize you were never meant to carry it in the first place. There’s so much peace in knowing that Allah sees the full picture while we only see pixels of it.

One of the most profound stories that shifted my understanding of this was the story of Musa (peace be upon him) and Al-Khidr in Surah Al-Kahf. Musa questioned things that appeared unfair, confusing and even wrong on the surface, only to later realize there was divine wisdom behind every single situation that occurred in their journey together.

That story deeply humbled me because it reminded me that we are incapable of fully understanding Allah’s wisdom, and yet we are still called to trust Him anyway.

In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah reminds us:

…وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ شَرٌّۭ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

“…Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you and like something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.” [2:216]

Having tawakkul doesn’t mean life will suddenly become easy, but it does train your heart to become more at ease because you understand Who is truly in control and that this is just dunya.

Hardship is a test and a mercy

One of the most transformative shifts has been understanding that hardship is also a mercy from Allah.

Trials and tribulations in this life can become a means of purification, elevation and closeness to Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5641, 5642)

Sometimes hardship is meant to wake you up, purify you, redirect you or bring you back to Allah.

Salah: Opportunity to detach and reconnect

Another shift for me was no longer viewing salah as a chore or a “have to,” but rather as a “get to.”

Allah gave us everything – our bodies, our families, our rizq, every blessing we’ve ever known, and in return, we are asked to pause throughout the day and remember Him.

Allah says in Surah Taha:

إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ

“’It is truly I. I am Allah! There is no god ‘worthy of worship’ except Me. So worship Me ‘alone’ , and establish prayer for My remembrance.” [20:14]

At the core of it all, our entire purpose in this life is to worship Allah. Yet somehow, we can spend hours scrolling, consuming, working, worrying and pouring ourselves into this dunya, while struggling to give Allah even a small portion of our time.

In 24 hours, we are prescribed to pray five times a day. If you spend five minutes on each prayer, that’s only 25 minutes a day. Just 25 minutes spent doing what we were ultimately created to do for the One who created time.

When you think about it that way, salah begins to feel less like an obligation and more of a way to express our gratitude and love for Allah.

Salah becomes an opportunity to detach from the dunya multiple times a day — a chance to step away from the noise, the stress, the distractions and return to Allah. It’s one of the most powerful forms of spiritual, emotional and nervous system regulation we’ve been given.

I recently read a note about how Ibn al-Qayyim said one of the signs of a sound heart is finding it difficult to leave the prayer once you enter it.

Shifting your perspective will help deepen your relationship with prayer. You’ll begin to crave staying in sujood longer. Sitting with Allah longer. Lingering in that closeness a little more before returning back to the dunya.

—

There’s a hadith where Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said that Allah says:

“I am as My servant thinks I am…” (Hadith 15, 40 Hadith Qudsi)

If you truly believe that Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful and always near, you begin to see traces of that in your life.

Your perception of Allah shapes your relationship with Him.

A lot of us know Islam intellectually. We grow up hearing the verses, the stories, the rulings and the reminders. But when that knowledge moves from the mind to the heart, everything begins to shift.

And maybe this mind-heart connection is the missing piece many of us don’t realize we’re longing for.

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If this resonated with you, my book Peace Within: Spiritual Reminders for the Heart continues these themes in a slower, more intentional way. It’s a collection of short, Islamic reminders to help you reconnect with Allah, tend to your heart, and return to what truly matters.

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We hear the phrase “life is short” all the time, but it takes on a completely different meaning when it’s rooted in trusting Allah. When you begin to see this life through the lens of the Quran, you start to realize just how fleeting it really is — and how much more exists beyond it. What once felt uncertain or frightening begins to feel purposeful and reassuring, because you trust that whatever Allah has planned is better than anything you could plan for yourself.

Connecting with the Quran has changed my life and softened my heart in ways I can’t fully articulate in this post alone. As I’ve gone deeper into reflection and tadabbur, I’ve started noticing shifts within myself — in the way I think, the way I react and the way I understand this world, and more.

Here are some of the signs I’ve noticed along the way that you may also find in your own journey with the Quran.

You’re being guided

We recite Surah Al-Fatiha 17 times a day, if not more — it’s the most repeated Surah we recite in prayer and the first Surah in the Quran when we open it. And in it, we ask Allah (swt) to guide us along the Sirat al Mustaqim, the Straight Path.

ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ

Guide us along the Straight Path,

صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

the Path of those You have blessed—not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray. [1:6-7]

Allah guides whom He wills. It’s a special invitation that you feel so incredibly grateful to receive. You were chosen to be guided by Him. To be guided to this moment right now. To be guided to the Quran, the Straight Path and inshallah always continue to be guided by Al-Hadi, The Guide. You realize just how profound and magnificent it is to be guided.

Your heart feels like it’s softening

As you continue to connect with the Quran, you’ll feel yourself softening towards others and with yourself. Leaning into more compassion and mercy. You’ll want to forgive more and be forgiven.

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌۭ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًۭا

We send down the Quran as a healing and mercy for the believers, but it only increases the wrongdoers in loss. [17:82]

You cry more

Because your heart is softening, you’ll notice yourself cry more. You’re being affected by things, by words, by situations you might not have given attention to before. You’re undeniably seeing the signs Allah is sending you in the Quran and in the universe and can’t help but cry and feel immense gratitude for being seen by Al-Baseer, The All-Seeing. Sometimes you’ll cry and find yourself unable to even name the feeling because what you feel is beyond what other humans can make you feel, it is because you’re connecting with your Creator.

You gain clarity

There is a reason why one of the attributes of the Quran is mubeen, clear.

…قَدْ جَآءَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ نُورٌۭ وَكِتَـٰبٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

…There certainly has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book

يَهْدِى بِهِ ٱللَّهُ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضْوَٰنَهُۥ سُبُلَ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِۦ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

through which Allah guides those who seek His pleasure to the ways of peace, brings them out of darkness and into light by His Will, and guides them to the Straight Path. [5:15-16]

Things will become so clear to you. What felt foggy in your mind will become clear. The questions you had about existence, about the world around you, about why people are the way they are, why bad things happen…everything will start to become clearer to you and you’ll gain a new perspective that will center you.

You’ll feel detached from the dunya

The things you once wanted, cared about, prayed for aren’t weighing on your mind and heart as much. They don’t overwhelm you. You’re not overthinking, you don’t feel your chest tightening as much, you don’t feel panicked and rushed. Instead, you trust in Allah to not test you with more than what you can bear.

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ…

Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford. [2:286]

And you trust and have tawakkul in Him that He will provide for you, for He is the best Provider. You’ll embody the birds leaving for the day with empty stomachs and coming back at night full and content.

lt was narrated from Abu Tameem that he heard `Umar bin al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) say:

I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: “If you truly put your trust in Allah, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds: they go out with empty stomachs and come back with full stomachs.` (Musnad Ahmad 370)

You’ll also feel less called to pleasing others, and more called to pleasing Him. And it will be the most free you’ve ever felt in this dunya.

Your desires/goals shift

Your goals will start to shift and be less about acquiring, attaining or achieving in this dunya and more about becoming the person you want to be when you leave this world. You’ll want sadaqa jariya, a continuous charity long after you leave this world. You’ll want for anyone who you wronged or spoke negatively about to forgive you. You’ll want your heart to be purified, cleansed, at peace.

You’ll realize that the body you were thinking about, is simply that, a body. Flesh that will disintegrate into nothingness when in the ground. You’ll become less concerned about the number on the weight scale and more focused on the amount of good deeds on your judgement scale.

You’ll want the Quran to be your daily companion and what you turn to when you have questions and need guidance. You’ll want to be in the presence of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). You’ll want to visit Allah’s home and be in constant worship of Him. You’ll want Allah to declare His love for you to the angels. You’ll want to die with your pointer finger raised up making shahada, your lips in a smile and your face shining bright as you envision yourself entering jannah inshallah.

You’ll see beauty all around you

You’ll start to notice things you may not have noticed or given attention to before. You’ll be in nature and find Allah in everything. You’ll notice how animals travel in packs or work together. You’ll notice the reflection of the sun on the glistening water. The leaves as they gently flow in the breeze. How lightning and thunder are signs of His might. You’ll realize that everything else is praising Allah. And you’ll be inspired to praise Him more. Subhanallah.

Fears are redirected

You’ll notice your dunya fears shifting to more akhirah-focussed fears like not dying a believer (a’uodhu billah), not being forgiven, not having a good ending, dying a hypocrite, the torment of the grave, etc.

You won’t fear death as much, you’ll look forward to welcoming it when the time comes, but you’ll start to pray for Allah’s mercy more because you’re aware of His power, magnificence, might, and know just how fragile and weak you are.

May Allah protect us, continue to guide us, forgive us and give us the best ending.

You’ll see struggle differently

Life is not without struggle but there’s an understanding and wisdom behind it that transforms the struggle into worship beyond this world.

All of the prophets struggled – struggles from this very world that we deal with today like being judged, being talked about negatively, being shunned or abandoned by family/community, being imprisoned, unjust rulers and evil people, infertility, becoming orphans/widowed, losing a loved one, being persecuted, falling ill, etc.

These stories are not just stories to listen to or read. They are lessons to be applied in our own lives. The key to navigating the challenges we face today, in our society, within our own families and within our own hearts.

لَقَدْ كَانَ فِى قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌۭ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ۗ…

In their stories there is truly a lesson for people of reason. [12:111]

The keys have always been right in front of us, within us, but as Allah says, the hearts are blind. Removing that veil removes the barriers/blocks, and unlocks the heart – revealing a new understanding of this world, this life, and the next life, like never before.

أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌۭ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَآ أَوْ ءَاذَانٌۭ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۖ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَلَـٰكِن تَعْمَى ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٱلَّتِى فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ

Have they not travelled throughout the land so their hearts may reason, and their ears may listen? Indeed, it is not the eyes that are blind, but it is the hearts in the chests that grow blind. [22:46]

You’ll crave the words of Allah

You won’t want to go a day without reading and reflecting on the Quran. You’ll miss it. Don’t allow yourself to grow distant from it. Make it a part of your daily routine. Turn to it in the morning when you first wake up. Let it be the last words you read at night. Make it your daily companion.

The more you connect with the Quran, the less death will feel like something to fear and the more it will feel like a return.

May Allah turn our hearts to the Quran constantly and may it intercede for us on the Day of Judgment.

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I wrote a book of short Islamic reminders to keep you grounded in your daily routine…you can get your copy here.

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If tasting the sweetness of Ramadan makes anything clear, it’s how much our hearts need closeness to Allah – His guidance, His remembrance, His book – in the midst of this restless dunya.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said we should be like a traveler in this world, but what does it truly mean to embody this? I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, especially as I’ve been on my own journey of cleansing my heart.

In Surah Al-A'la, Allah tells us:

بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا
وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰ

“But you prefer the life of this world,
even though the Hereafter is far better and more lasting.” [87:16-17]

So how do we actually live like travelers in this world? How do we keep our hearts anchored to the akhirah while moving through this life?

It begins with a few habits and mindset shifts that help recenter the heart and keep the akhirah in mind.

Recognize dunya for what it is

Reading the Quran and learning what Allah says about this world rewired my brain and opened my eyes to its delusion.

ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ وَزِينَةٌۭ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَـٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّۭا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَـٰمًۭا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌۭ شَدِيدٌۭ وَمَغْفِرَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌۭ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ

Know that this worldly life is no more than play, amusement, luxury, mutual boasting, and competition in wealth and children. This is like rain that causes plants to grow, to the delight of the planters. But later the plants dry up and you see them wither, then they are reduced to chaff. And in the Hereafter there will be either severe punishment or forgiveness and pleasure of Allah, whereas the life of this world is no more than the delusion of enjoyment. [57:20]

It is so easy to get distracted by this world and what’s in it. We can still enjoy what Allah allowed for us, but we should always strive to keep this dunya at arm’s length.

Here’s another duaa I love to make that helps ease my worries and refocus on the akhirah.

اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا أَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا

وَلَا مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا

وَلَا غَايَةَ رَغْبَتِنَا

“O Allah, do not make this world our greatest concern,

nor the limit of our knowledge,

nor the ultimate goal of our desires.”

Limit worldly distractions
Earlier this year, I talked about how I felt torn between showing up on social media and stepping away. It’s something I’ve been wrestling with internally.

For the last month or so, I dramatically reduced the amount of time spent on social media, both in terms of creating and consuming, and it has made such a huge impact on my heart. I’ve gained so much clarity, peace and contentment. I feel less distracted and I feel focused on building a life that is more pleasing to Allah (SWT). My nafs isn’t working overtime fighting the locks on the heart that often come with social media like pride, consumption, comparison, mindlessness, etc.

أَلْهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ

Competition for more ˹gains˺ diverts you ˹from Allah˺, [102:1]

Stepping away from social media also helped free up my time, regulate my nervous system and declutter my mind to make room for the knowledge and information that will truly matter in the end.

The deeper I dive into the Quran, the clearer the delusion of this world and the deception of Shaytan becomes, and the more barakah I feel in my time and life overall.

وَٱلْعَصْرِ

إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ

إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ

“By the ˹passage of˺ time!

Surely humanity is in ˹grave˺ loss,

except those who have faith, do good, and urge each other to the truth, and urge each other to perseverance.” [Surah Al-’Asr, 103]

Reflect on the Quran

You’ll never understand the true magnitude of the Quran until you actually sit there with a sincere heart and read it in a language you understand. That first step is everything. It’s the opening to the best relationship you’ll ever have in this life.

As your relationship with the Quran grows, try to deepen your understanding of Arabic too. It is after all the language in which the Quran was revealed. Translations are helpful for the initial understanding, but the Arabic carries layers of meaning, nuance and beauty that unfold the more you dive into it. Even small steps in understanding it can open doors you didn’t know were there.

I’ve felt my heart being pulled to the Quran. If a day goes by and I haven’t reflected on it, I miss it dearly, I crave it, I feel like there’s emptiness in my day. And on the days I do get to read and reflect, I feel full, I feel content, I feel happy. That’s the beauty of the Quran.

This is the Quran translation I’ve been reading from front to back. I also love using Quran.com and the app. You can choose the translations that you resonate with and modify other settings for your reading/reflecting practice.

Remember death often

Our time in this life is so short and the end of this life is only the beginning of our eternal one. We should live with that in mind. It will help guide our purpose, our steps, our direction, our actions and more.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ ٱلنَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ

“Every soul will taste death. And you will only receive your full reward on the Day of Judgment. Whoever is spared from the Fire and is admitted into Paradise will ˹indeed˺ triumph, whereas the life of this world is no more than the delusion of enjoyment.” [3:185]

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Remember often the destroyer of pleasures (death).” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)

If you haven’t watched this episode Imam Omar Suleiman recorded with the Muslim Undertaker about the Barzakh and the Islamic burial process, I highly recommend it. It’s a powerful one!

Plan your day around prayers

The first thing we will be asked about on the day of judgment is our prayers.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: The first of his actions for which a servant of Allah will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayers. If they are in order, then he will have prospered and succeeded: and if they are wanting, then he will have failed and lost. If there is something defective in his obligatory prayers, the Lord (glorified and exalted be He) will say: See if My servant has any supererogatory prayers with which may be completed that which was defective in his obligatory prayers. Then the rest of his actions will be judged in like fashion. (40 Hadith Qudsi)

If you’re not yet consistent with prayer, the first step is establishing the five daily prayers as a firm part of your day.

If you’re making your five daily prayers, then work on making them on time.

If you’re making your five daily prayers on time, then work on not rushing them and focus on achieving khushu’.

If you solidify praying on time with khushu’, then work on adding in sunnah prayers.

End your night with Surah Al-Mulk

One day, your family and loved ones will bury you in the ground and eventually have to leave your side. But if you build a relationship with the Quran, the words you recited and reflected on in this life will continue to accompany and benefit you, inshallah. How beautiful is that?

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said about Surah Al-Mulk:

“Indeed there is a Surah in the Qur’an of thirty Ayat, which intercedes for a man until he is forgiven. It is [Surah] Tabarak Alladhi Biyadihil-Mulk.”

If it’s not already a part of your night routine, start reading Surah Al-Mulk before you sleep.

Reframe your daily tasks/work to be in service of Allah

Detaching from the dunya doesn’t mean abandoning or neglecting your responsibilities in this life. It’s about reframing your actions with the right intentions and having an akhirah-focussed mindset so what you do in your daily life is transformed into worship.

وَٱبْتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن

“Rather, seek the ˹reward˺ of the Hereafter by means of what Allah has granted you, without forgetting your share of this world…” [28:77]

Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah

Long before mindfulness and meditation became part of modern wellness culture, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us to keep our tongues and hearts in constant remembrance of Allah.

Dhikr gently pulls focus away from the noise of the dunya and brings it back to what truly matters. It’s the easiest form of ibadah and you don’t even need anything to make it happen except a sincere heart. You can do it almost anywhere, at any time – while walking, driving, cooking, or sitting quietly with your thoughts.

أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ

“Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.” [13:28]

The more you remember Allah, the more your heart is trained to return to Him.

Give for the sake of Allah

Is there something that if you lost or no longer had you would feel crushed by?

Constantly giving from what you have is a gift from Allah to remind us to detach from the adornment of this world.

He says in the Quran, “spend from what We’ve provided you.” It’s not ours to begin with. Everything in this world belongs to Allah. Our souls belong to Him, our children, our wealth, our time, everything we’ve ever known or had…that’s why we say, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” (Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return). It’s a reminder. An affirmation. We are not beholden to this world. We belong to Allah.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌۭ لَّا بَيْعٌۭ فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٌۭ وَلَا شَفَـٰعَةٌۭ ۗ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ

O believers! Donate from what We have provided for you before the arrival of a Day when there will be no bargaining, friendship, or intercession. Those who disbelieve are ˹truly˺ the wrongdoers. [2:254]

In addition to giving sadaqa, think about letting go of a habit that isn’t pleasing to Allah, or a counterproductive mindset you’ve been clinging to – something that if you shift, you will feel less attached to this dunya as a result. Maybe it’s making an effort to dress or act more modestly. Maybe it’s turning away from social media so you’re not inclined to partake in gossip, backbiting or falling into comparison. Maybe it’s being more mindful of what you’re eating or consuming so that you’re not being wasteful or overindulging.

Get into the habit of asking yourself: Does doing ____ please Allah (SWT)? Does ____ move me closer to the akhirah I desire? How can I earn Allah’s pleasure today?

–

Shaytan will always try to convince us, in little ways and big ways, that this dunya is everything. But the Quran warns us of this.

Everything we see, chase and worry about in this life will eventually fade. What remains are the good deeds – the moments we remembered Allah and returned to Him in repentance, the prayers we stood for, the Quran we recited and reflected on, the good we sent ahead, and the hearts we purified along the way.

مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ ۖ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ بَاقٍۢ ۗ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوٓا۟ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

“Whatever you have will end, but whatever Allah has is everlasting. And We will certainly reward the steadfast according to the best of their deeds.” [16:96]

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If this post resonated with you, my book Peace Within: Spiritual Reminders for the Heart continues these themes in a slower, more intentional way. It’s a collection of short, Islamic reminders to help you reconnect with Allah, tend to your heart, and return to what truly matters.

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It’s a question we have all been asked at a certain point in our adult lives. The more new people we meet the more we receive this question and depending on what season of life you are in, it’s either an easy answer or it’s complicated.

It’s time to reframe. Redefine.

We should be asking instead:

What are you currently prioritizing? What’s sparking your interest and curiosity? What have you been loving lately? What’s been grounding you?...

We’ve been trained to network instead of connect. Getting to know someone has been about getting to know their title, their job and understanding their work experience. But rarely do you understand their actual interests and hobbies from that question alone, their values, their motivations.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot, especially as I navigate my own self-editing journey – as a mother of two, a former corporate employee, an entrepreneur, a writer, and now working with an Islamic institute.

I was at an event recently and I ran into someone I knew and she asked me “What’s new?” My mind quickly went to my daily life/my week which was full of mom responsibilities and that was the direction the conversation headed in. She then came back to me minutes later and told me fervently:

“When I ask you what’s new, this is what you tell me!”

She was talking about the book I wrote and published.

I laughed shyly: “Oh yeah!”

The hostess of the event was telling a group of her friends that I’m an author and I interjected, “It’s just one book.”

They emphatically said, “One book! You’re still an author!”

They were right, I don’t know why I responded like that but I think a part of me didn’t feel worthy of that title because I felt like I needed more. I needed to solidify that title. I still needed to earn it because somehow the years of writing, ideating, researching, not to mention my degrees and journalism career didn’t merit the title.

I’m sharing this because it’s been guiding me to a realization that I’ve been conditioned to think that way – that more needs to be done, to continue climbing the ladder and one day I will feel worthy, accomplished and successful.

Success. Such an interesting word.

Society sold us the idea that success means:

Going to school, getting good grades, getting into college, graduating, getting a stable job that pays well, getting married, buying a home, making a lot of money, starting a family… etc.

But this formula of success wasn’t built upon something beyond this world. It was defined for this dunya. And the truth is, pursuing it aimlessly will leave you feeling empty.

Islam does not condemn education, work, marriage, wealth or ambition. In fact, these can all be acts of worship. The difference is what sits at the center. When these pursuits become ends, they deplete the soul. But when they are anchored in seeking the pleasure of Allah, they transform.

A career can turn into service. Wealth can become a tool for khayr. Family can become a legacy beyond this world. Success becomes about who you are becoming for the sake of Allah, not just what you are accumulating in this world.

I feel a shift coming. I feel this generation waking up after feeling restless, tired, fed up with the same old narratives and the tainted idea of success.

Recent surveys show younger workers are feeling burnt out, stressed, misaligned and disconnected from their work. Purpose, balance and mental well-being are now ranking higher than status or salary alone. The traditional 9 to 5 model, once sold as stability, is being re-evaluated.

At the same time, there’s growing uncertainty around automation and AI. Industries are changing. Roles people were trained years for can now be completely replaced by technology.

The version of success this generation was sold is no longer fulfilling.

Alignment, purpose, intentionality, mindfulness, service are all worth striving for, but with seeking the pleasure of Allah (swt) being at the center of it all.

We are told in the Quran, the true meaning of success.

وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَـٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةًۭ فِى جَنَّـٰتِ عَدْنٍۢ ۚ وَرِضْوَٰنٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

Allah has promised the believers, both men and women, Gardens under which rivers flow, to stay there forever, and splendid homes in the Gardens of Eternity, and—above all—the pleasure of Allah. That is ˹truly˺ the ultimate triumph. [9:72]

We are also told what distracts us from the ultimate triumph.

وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

This worldly life is no more than play and amusement, but far better is the ˹eternal˺ Home of the Hereafter for those mindful ˹of Allah˺. Will you not then understand? [6:32]

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًۭا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًۭا

Wealth and children are the adornment of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are far better with your Lord in reward and in hope. [18:46]

We are reminded five times a day with the adhan,

حَيَّ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَاةِ

حَيَّ عَلَى ٱلْفَلَاحِ

Come to prayer.

Come to success.

It’s clearly defined, and yet, we forget, for we are forgetful.

Allah frequently ends ayahs in the Quran with reminders about heedlessness, forgetfulness, the lack of reflection and mindfulness.

Mohammed Faris, author of “The Barakah Effect,” talks about the five pillars of hustle culture (materialism, individualism, consumerism, capitalism, and fear of death) and how the true antidote is the five pillars of Islam. How beautiful is that?

Allah doesn’t want us to suffer. He doesn’t want us to feel miserable. He gave us everything we need to be successful in this world for the sake of our hereafter, and yet we are forgetful.

Some scholars note the linguistic closeness between the Arabic word insan (human) and nisyan (forgetfulness), highlighting how forgetfulness is woven into the human condition.

But it’s on us to remember.

Remember that our identities were never meant to be tied to our job titles.

Remember to go back to Allah, go back to His book, go back to our fitra and understand our true purpose in this life.

We know better. We just have to seek it. We have the Quran, a timeless guide that knows us and what we need to hear at the right time.

لِّلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ

“...those who seek the pleasure of Allah, and it is they who will be successful.” [30:38]

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If this resonated with you, my book Peace Within: Spiritual Reminders for the Heart continues these themes in a slower, more intentional way. It’s a collection of short, Islamic reminders to help you reconnect with Allah, tend to your heart, and return to what truly matters.

get your copy here

I’ve gotten so used to rushing myself that even the most important actions to me have become rushed and it’s turned into a habit that I don’t even think about it. Even when I don’t have somewhere to be or something to do that is urgent, I find myself rushing.

I’m in a season of life where I’m reevaluating and editing my priorities and what I deem important, especially as Ramadan is almost here.

Here are the things that have helped me so far in my journey to regulate my nervous system, declutter my mind and be more present, and I pray help you too.

Slow down in prayer

We are gifted five opportunities in the day by our Creator, the One who knows us better than we know ourselves, to slow down, recenter and reconnect. If you’ve been praying on 1.5x speed, slow down, unrush yourself. Think about each word you’re uttering and each move you’re making.

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Silence notifications

If you don’t already have social media notifications or emails silenced, it’s truly a game changer. Unless it’s urgent, a response is not required right away. Your mind doesn’t need to be going from x to x, all the time. If you find yourself going into your phone and then forget why you’re on it in the first place, chances are your mind is overwhelmed with too much at once.

Set a time during your day/week depending on your obligations and work life to check your emails and social media (and not first thing in the morning). Find a time when you’ve already completed your most important tasks (to you) for the day. When you start off your day reading or listening to the words of Allah, leaning into your feel-good habits, it sets you up for a better day and adds barakah to your time.

It may take a few days to adjust and not go on your phone randomly throughout the day, but eventually you’ll break that habit and actually feel present in your daily life. If you need a nudge, utilize the screentime feature in iPhone or get an app blocker like Brick to help you stay on track and limit the time you spend on certain apps.

Prime your environment

Along the same lines as silencing distracting notifications, edit your phone’s home screen to align with what matters to you. Instead of having your social media apps front and center, tuck them in a tab group on a separate page and make your Quran app and other apps you’d rather spend your time on more accessible.

Remember, what you see often you move toward. This means also taking a look at who you are following on social media and what kind of content you engage with and why. The human brain is not meant to process information about hundreds of people’s lives at once. Anthropologist Robin Dunbar found that humans can meaningfully maintain social relationships with about 150 people due to limits in cognitive processing and emotional capacity.

Another way to prime your environment is to charge your phone away from your bed. It helps your mind and body relax and get ready for sleep when you’re not placing a screen in front of it. You can use the time you would usually spend scrolling to read (Quran or a book), journal or another calming activity before getting some shut-eye. Placing your phone away from your bed can also help you wake up for fajr when you set an alarm and need to physically get out of bed to turn it off.

Read Quran and make dhikr

I love this quote from the book I’m reading:

“Your body is made from this earth and so it is nourished by the food of the earth. Your ruh (soul) is from Jannah (Paradise), so it cannot be nourished by things from this dunya. It must be fed by Allah with something from outside this dunya. The nourishment of the soul and the heart is the Qur’an. It can only come from Allah.”

It reminds me of this ayah:

أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ

“Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.” [13:28]

Reading Quran, or even listening to it, will cleanse your heart, feed your soul and calm your mind. Dhikr, and making istighfar in particular, is a calming and mindful experience as you engage in the remembrance of Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Shall I not teach you something whereby you will catch up with those who have preceded you and will get ahead of those who follow you, and no one will surpass you unless he does the same as you do?”

They said, “Surely, O Messenger of Allah.”

He said, “Say: Subhan Allah, and Allahu Akbar, and praise Him (by saying Al-hamdu lillah) thirty-three times at the end of every Salaah.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim Riyad as-Salihin 572]

Journal/write down your thoughts

Numerous studies have shown the power of putting pen to paper and how positive an effect it has on clearing your mind.

Here are just some of those effects:

• reduces stress

• improves emotional regulation

• helps organize thoughts

• increases mindfulness

I learned this trick back in my high school creative writing class. It’s called stream of consciousness. When you feel overwhelmed or your thoughts are racing at a speed you can’t keep up with, sit down and write. Don’t think, just write. You’re not supposed to pick up your pen until you’re done. What this does essentially is allow you to dump your raw, unfiltered thoughts on paper without self-judgement. I love doing this when I’m feeling a certain way or my heart feels heavy and I can’t pinpoint what exactly is bothering me. When I write, it comes out and afterwards I’m able to better process my feelings and thoughts.

Create a list of nonnegotiables

The key to achieving what you want is to do it in small steps consistently.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6464)

Create a little list of three things that will help you get closer to your goals/being the version of yourself you’re striving for, add value to your life and akhirah and is pleasing to Allah and therefore yourself.

Everyday, think of a spiritual win, a physical win and a mental win that will ground you.

I’ve shared a list of my feel-good habits on my instagram. When I start my day with Quran or dhikr and then move onto my tasks it gives me a sense of peace, calm and contentment that fuels me for the rest of the day.

Allow yourself to be still

You deserve to have peace of mind and calmness in your day. Release any guilt you may feel or expectation of productivity you pressured yourself into. Islam is a religion of balance. We are not called to burnout. We are called to intentionality and mindfulness. There is space for worship, for work and for stillness.

If this resonated with you, my book Peace Within: Spiritual Reminders for the Heart continues these themes in a slower, more intentional way. It’s a collection of short, Islamic reminders to help you reconnect with Allah, tend to your heart, and return to what truly matters.

Get your copy here

Lately, I’ve been in this quiet tug-of-war within myself – between showing up online and disappearing completely.

Part of me loves creating and loves expressing myself online. Sharing reminders, reflections and the beauty in the little, everyday things – it feels purposeful. It feels like a way to spread khayr, good into the world. To bring light into people’s feeds and day, to use what Allah gave me for something meaningful.

But there’s another part of me that craves s t i l l n e s s. A life lived softly and privately.

A life without the overwhelm, the algorithms, the numbers, the noise.

And I think many of us feel that tension. The desire to create and the desire to retreat.

To be seen for purpose, but not consumed by it.

Because the reality is, social media can be both a blessing and a test.

It can connect hearts, spread good, inspire change, but it can also drain your soul if you lose yourself in it.

It’s strange. As a younger millennial, social media has been such a huge part of my adult life – my career, even. I’ve worked as a social media manager for media and news organizations, as well as businesses and brands.

But lately, I can’t help but question what it’s all becoming. Because how do you keep your heart pure in a space that thrives on validation? How do you post without falling into showing off, when we’re taught to guard our beauty, be modest, stay humble and to keep our deeds hidden?

I catch myself wanting to share certain things in hopes it might inspire someone else, even if it’s just one person.

But then I wonder…

Where’s the line between inspiration and display?

Between serving and receiving?

Between authenticity and performance?

No matter how pure your intention is, the essence of this digital world is built around performance and consumerism.

It rewards what people want to see, not what pleases Allah. And that’s where it starts to feel h e a v y.

Sometimes I wonder if as a society, we’ve started living for social media, instead of just using it as a tool.

Meta themselves conducted internal research and discovered the impact their platforms really have on young people like harming their mental health, increased depression, negative body image, eating disorders and more.

It’s shaping how we see ourselves, how we measure our worth, how we live our lives offline.

I’ve realized that maybe it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

Maybe balance is the key. To create in seasons – to show up first and foremost in our worship to Allah and step back to refill when we feel our hearts being pulled away. To post with purpose, not pressure, and set healthy boundaries for ourselves.

Allah is Al-Khaliq – The Creator. He’s the Source of all creativity, and maybe the desire to create within us is a small reflection of His name. And I wonder if part of our test as “creatives” is to release our ego and reflect deeper on this divine attribute.

Through her work in tadabbur, deep reflection of the Quran, Dr. Zainab Alwani identifies different states of the heart that Allah describes in the Quran.

One of those states is qalb munib, a heart that comes back to Allah, despite any wrongdoings or mistakes.

مَنْ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمَٰنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَاءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُنِيبٍ

“who were in awe of the Most Compassionate without seeing [Him], and have come with a heart turning [only to Him].” [50:33]

Maybe this is one of those things we’re meant to keep wrestling with. Maybe it’s a sign we need to go back to our Creator and recenter our hearts.

Here’s a duaa I’ve been coming back to:

يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ

“O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3522)

I don’t really have an answer or some sort of grand conclusion. Just a lot of questions – and maybe that’s okay.

If you have thoughts on this… I’d love to hear them.

If this resonated with you, my book Peace Within: Spiritual Reminders for the Heart continues these themes in a slower, more intentional way. It’s a collection of short, Islamic reminders to help you reconnect with Allah, tend to your heart, and return to what truly matters.

Get your copy here

I had an ugly, harsh realization I’ve come to recently and I’ve had to be very honest with myself. 

I realized: I really struggle with being fully present in motherhood.

Even as I write that, I feel a little shame come up. I know that motherhood is the most important role we are given. I also acknowledge how much of a blessing and gift it is. You are literally entrusted with the lives of tiny humans. But I can’t help but feel or think…is that enough for me? 

Why do I constantly feel like I can’t be still? Even as I’m rolling Play-Doh with my 3-year-old, my mind is scrambling thinking about how I can package my thoughts in my next social media post, what the best title is for my substack, or something else along those lines. It might be the curse of being a creative person, but I can’t help it. It feels like I’m playing in a video game where I’m stuck on a level I can’t get past.

I know I am extremely privileged to be in a time of my life where my main responsibility is taking care of my children and home. And yet, I pressure myself, stress myself and push myself to move on to the next thing. Nobody is making me do anything and somehow it feels that way. 

When I quit my corporate job to focus on motherhood and start my business, I craved that freedom – the slow mornings, the soft life, the increase in and dedication to more spirituality. Almost three years later, I’m still craving that – except I’m not shackled by my 9-5, this time, I placed the chains on myself, and for what? 

I am all for chasing dreams. I even created an Islamic-inspired daily journal that actually helps you reach them. But there’s a point you get to in pursuit of those dreams where you find yourself, your true self, what really matters to you and that’s where I am, or at least think I am. 

There’s a cost-benefit analysis that happens in your mind when you might realize… is pursuing x really worth the cost of this…?

If the answer is no, it’s not a matter of giving up on that dream, it’s a sign of intentionality, growth, maturity, thoughtfulness. That dream may be put on pause or maybe it just doesn’t make sense for you anymore. 

When I think of my future self. I see her at peace. I see her being unrushed. I see her feeling content, fulfilled and in flow. I see her fully trusting in Allah and herself. She values her relationship with Allah over everything. Then it’s her relationship with herself, her family, her friends, etc. 

So why is it that when I look at my to-do list, my list of priorities, my reality doesn’t match up? What is most important to me ends up being pushed to the bottom of the list. Even as someone who is productive and achieves her goals and dreams, why haven’t I been able to embody this state of calm? This state of flow. My desired level of spirituality.

I've asked this to myself and the answer was surprisingly simple.

I’m choosing not to.

I can wake up and pray tahajjud then fajr, make duaa, dhikr and then read my quran, get my workout in, journal, do my skincare, make breakfast, and spend the rest of the day with my children and husband being fully present with them. I can make those my top priorities and feel content with that. Feel fulfilled. Have a calm nervous system throughout and feel at peace.

I can have that. I just have to choose it. You might be thinking: “well obviously!” But I mean really choose it. 

Prioritize my spirituality first and foremost. Allow myself to breathe, show up as the best mother I can be and have that be enough. Allow for my creativity to flow instead of being rigid about it by coming up with arbitrary deadlines for myself. I know in my heart that if I allow myself to feel that way I will be happier for it. I will be better for it and it will start to positively impact those around me.

So here I am, intentionally choosing to let spirituality be my anchor. To let myself flow, be still, calm and at peace. And to let that guide me and be enough for me.

What are you choosing in this season of life, and what are you editing?

Would love to know your thoughts!

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