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I want to emphasize that what makes these habits so impactful is intention. These are not simple acts I have introduced from my own interests; rather, they are from the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the words of my Creator. My intention is to emulate the Prophet and follow the words of the Most High. God willing.

If this were not the case, I would not be bothered.

Below are additional habits I am working on implementing to enhance my experience in dunya.

Positive thinking: having good expectation of Allah – the most important one so far, the one that takes the crown. حُسْنُ الظَّنِّ بِاللَّهِ as a society we are programmed to complain, to look for the negative in the day. It’s as the saying goes “misery loves company”. It may seem minor, however; every time we focus on what went wrong, we forget that it can easily have gone right simply by remembering Allah.

An example that happened recently is instead of worrying about a parking spot I focused on thinking about how I will get the best parking space, and it will be easy, and sure enough it was easy. That’s a small example but apply that to everything in life, not because we are trying to “manifest” but because Allah Most High is as we think He is. If we think He is forgiving, we are forgiven, Merciful, then our life is filled with mercy.

The way I see it, why not? why not choose to believe that Allah will make my affairs easy, give me my heart’s desires, rectify any annoyance I have? What do I have to lose? Literally nothing. Yes, sometimes reality will dampen my mood, but the REALITY is our souls are not from this world and we are connected to Allah on a spiritual realm. Thus, it gives me so much comfort to say

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ، أَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ، وَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ

O Ever-Living, O Sustainer, by Your mercy I seek help. Set right all my affairs, and do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye.

and leave it to Him. There is no one I trust more.

Ayatul Kursi after every prayer – a simple recitation where Jannah is the reward. Of course I had to try. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

مَنْ قَرَأَ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ مَكْتُوبَةٍ، لَمْ يَمْنَعْهُ مِنْ دُخُولِ الْجَنَّةِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَمُوتَ

Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every prescribed (obligatory) prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death.

This small habit has helped me be more present and remain seated after my prayer instead of rushing off to return to whatever it is that I was doing before the prayer. I start to wonder why I am even rushing, chasing dunya and just sit and be present with my Creator.

Surah Kahf on Fridays – Fridays are a joyous day. Ever heard the saying TGIF? Thank God it’s Friday. For most of us, it’s a day before the weekend, a day to attend Jummah prayer, and reunite with loved ones.

It is also a day to read Surah Kahf and reflect on the stories in this surah.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

مَنْ قَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْكَهْفِ فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ أَضَاءَ لَهُ مِنَ النُّورِ مَا بَيْنَ الْجُمُعَتَيْنِ

Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on Friday will have a light for him between this Friday and the next.

The reward here is too great to give up. A single recitation brings blessings for an entire week.

3 Quls over the body at night – It was narrated by the wife of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Aisha (RA) that every night before bed he would recite the three Quls, blow into his hands and wipe over his body. The Prophet of God is doing this for protection from evil and unseen disturbances, Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ where are we?

Alhamdulilah, I have always been someone who never feared black magic, shaytaan, evil eye, etc, and perhaps it’s because I started this sunnah at a young age. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel; the best of Mankind has shown us how to protect ourselves in this world where jinns and humans coexist.

The Sunnah before Fajr – This dunya can be extremely beautiful. Wealth, nature, human connection, there is a lot of good that we can gain from being here. Yet all this, is nothing compared to the two rakahs before Fajr.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا

The two rakʿahs (Sunnah) of Fajr are better than the world and all that it contains.

Sometimes I feel tired and want to skip it, but I remember this hadith and immediately get up because what I am giving up is too expensive.

Just as I am intentionally adding good habits, I am also cutting out negative ones.

Lying – This one is actually challenging because even a small lie is still considered a lie. We might think its insignificant because we forget it is a sin and think of it as just a means to get by however we greatly underestimate the severity of it.

Allah Most High says:

وَيْلٌۭ لِّكُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍۢ

Woe to every sinful liar [45:7]

The thought of Allah cursing me makes me shudder and that is enough to want to avoid this sin.

Backbiting – As common as it is for this to be regular speech in gatherings, many years ago I watched a short film about backbiting. It showed a group of women sitting together looking beautiful in hijab, and as they continued to socialize, the snacks they ate turned into raw meat, their fingers and mouths suddenly became bloody. A direct image of the verse in Quran.

Allah Most High says:

وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًۭا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

And do not backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is accepting of repentance, Most Merciful [49:12]

This video was enough to turn me off from backbiting and till this day I am disgusted by the images I saw. Unfortunately, this is still a common struggle in our communities. May Allah forgive us and grant us His guidance.

Arrogance – What is arrogance?

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ describes it as:

الْكِبْرُ بَطَرُ الْحَقِّ وَغَمْطُ النَّاسِ

Arrogance is rejecting the truth and belittling people.

And it’s consequence:

لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ

He will not enter Paradise who has an atom’s weight of arrogance in his heart.

Arrogance isn’t something that is visible; It is in the heart and only Allah knows. However, it does show in our actions, and conversations. A person can seem like the most pious person ever, and yet when they are put in a position of power, they make it very clear certain people are not welcome near them, or given the same privileges as them, whether it’s because of race, class, gender, or other forms of distinction.

A small disagreement can easily reveal their disdain for someone, simply because they believe they are superior. If someone is favored over them, they wonder how? may Allah protect us from a heart that thinks like this.

Allah Most High says:

إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ

Indeed, the most honored (or noble) of you in the sight of Allah is the one with the most taqwa (God-conciousness) [49:13]

Is this easy? Perhaps for some. I have observed that in order to be God’s servant fully, we often have to go against the teachings of our family, education system, communities, and the media.

They tell us we are superior; we say, “No, Allah is superior”.

They tell us we are inferior; we say, “No, we are dignified by God Almighty.”

Peace and blessings upon the Nabi of Allah.