5 Islamic Habits of Successful Muslims
With Islam comes many acts and practices that help us reach our full potential, both in our spiritual and worldly lives. By learning, adopting and maintaining habits derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah, we ensure that we live successful lives, bi ithnillah. Here are 5 Islamic habits that are practiced by successful Muslims.
Wake Up Early
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) prayed to Allah to grant abundance to the Ummah in their early mornings: "O Allah, bless my nation in their early mornings (i.e. what they do early in the morning)" (Sunan Ibn Majah).
By not starting our day early, we are missing out on blessings that are just waiting for us if we get out of bed. And while beginning our day early is important, so is starting it off with prayer.
Allah, Almighty says in the Qur'an:
"Perform the Salat (Prayer) from midday till the darkness of the night, and recite the Qur'an in the early dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn is ever witnessed (attended by the angels)." (Qur'an 17:78)
And the Holy Prophet also said about the dawn prayers:
The Prophet (PBUH) said, "The two Rak'ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all it contains." (Sahih Muslim)
Keep Learning
Islam gives great importance to learning and seeking knowledge. The first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gave him the command to “Read!” The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Seeking Knowledge is an obligation on every Muslim.” (Ahmed)
But not only is learning mandatory on all Muslims, it is a path towards paradise. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever follows a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah makes his way easy to paradise.” (Bukhari) Knowledge helps us humble ourselves and shows us the proper way of living our lives, which in turn leads to a better community and Ummah
Take Action
Procrastination is a disease that affects almost everyone. It’s a mentality of putting things off until later or waiting until the last minute to do an important task. But this is detrimental to our success in this world and the hereafter. By procrastinating, we are not reaching our full potential by nott valuing our time. The Prophet (PBUH) statted, “A person will not move on (on the Day of Judgment) until he has been asked about four things: his life and in what he spent it, his knowledge and what he did with it, his wealth, from where he acquired it and on what he spent it, and his body and how he wore it out.”
Those who are successful are not those who waited until the “right time” to take action. Try to hold your own self into account at the end of each day. Ask yourself: What did I do today and how can I improve myself tomorrow?
Staying Healthy
The power of good health should not be underestimated. With good physical and mental health comes the ability to do more with ourselves. We are able to achieve more, worship more, and give back more.
It is narrated in the hadith that the Prophet (PBUH) once said, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.” (Shu’ab al-Iman) So not only is taking care of your health good for you in the long run, it is also a form of worship. Take the time to eat healthy, exercise regularly and geer enough rest to make sure your body and mind stay strong.
Gratitude
Did you know that gratitude has been scientifically proven to improve physical, psychological and mental health, improve sleep, reduce aggression, improve self-esteem, and help you sleep better? But before these studies were even done, Allah told us to be thankful in the Qur’an, “If you are thankful I will add more (favors) unto you but if you show ingratitude then my punishment is terrible indeed.” (Qur’an 14:7)
We live in a world where we are constantly comparing what we have to what others have. This leads to ungratefulness for what we have and unnecessary competition, stress, anxiety and depression. By realizing our blessings, appreciating them, thanking Allah for them, and expressing thankfulness by doing righteous deeds, we are not only gaining reward from Allah, we are finding peace within ourselves and setting ourselves up for success.
As Allah says in the Qur’an, “Why should God make you suffer torment if you are thankful and believe in Him? God always rewards gratitude and He knows everything.” (Quran 4:147)