Oh, the power of a great morning. It’s a serious game changer!
I intend to give you all something that I desperately wish someone gave me twenty years ago when I had my first child.
This is my best kept morning secret to all the mamas out there who just do not have enough time in their day or are drowning in stress and responsibility.
Struggling with Time Management
Managing time is something I struggled with years a while back.
I was always complaining I didn’t have enough time to do this and that. I always thought there was no possible way and that I could never get enough done or enough rest.
Then, I attended a class in my local mosque where I learned a better way my life and my time. It truly changed my life.
No, it wasn’t some crazy time management course, it was a peek into how Islam views time and excuses.
Some women are really struggling to break bad habits or make sweeping changes in their life. They might be telling themselves, “I just can’t do it. This is who I am, and I can’t change that”.
Take me for example, I used to be a night person. I swore and swore that I could never be anything else. Then, I learned that the messenger, Rahsool SAWS, did not like this attitude from people.
He actually became upset from it.
He taught us to change we actually only need two things:
Sincere intention and dua
We can find proof in the Quran and way of Rahsool SAWS.
The Quran says:
‘And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided. As soon as the thought of engaging in a bad habit hits your mind, seek refuge from Shaytaan with Allah’ (Qur’an, 2:186)
Sahih Muslim (2655) says:
“Verily, the hearts of all the sons of Adam are between the two fingers out of the fingers of the Compassionate Lord as one heart. He turns that to any (direction) He likes. Then Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: 0 Allah, the Turner of the hearts, turn our hearts to Thine obedience.”
Why make the change?
What is the purpose of life? Ibadah (worshiping Allah SWA)
It is the primary purpose that we are alive. If we can’t manage what we do within each day, we definitely can’t get ibadah right.
Allah SWA says:
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” [Qur’an: Chapter 51, Verse 56]
We will be asked what we did with our time.
Ibn Mas’ud  narrated that the Prophet  said: “The feet of the son of Adam shall not move from before his Lord on the Day of Judgement, until he is asked about five things: about his life and what he did with it, about his youth and what he wore it out in, about his wealth and how he earned it and spent it upon, and what he did with what he knew.“ [Jami at-Tirmidhi]
Miracle Mornings Change Lives
I wouldn’t share my miracle morning routine with such enthusiasm if I didn’t feel it would entirely change your life and your family’s life.
But what is a “miracle morning” and when do they happen exactly?
Miracle mornings started for me, when I built y morning routine and choice of time to do it, around an Islamic principle that there is barakah in the time in the last 3rd of the night or the time right after Fair.
Allah answers our du’a best in this time.
Al Bukhari and Muslim say:
“Our Lord descends every night, during the last third of it, to the skies of this world and asks, ‘Who is making du’a to Me, so that I can respond to him? Who is asking Me, so that I can give to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness, so that I can forgive him?”
“The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are the Isha and Fajr prayers. If they knew what there is in them, they would come even if they had to crawl.” (Muslim 651).
Al Tirmidhi says:
‘Amr ibn ‘Abash reported that the Prophet, peace, and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
“The closest any worshipper is to His Lord is during the last part of the night, so if you can be amongst those who remember Allah at that time then do so.”
Blind Faith?
I know we learn these things, but is it actually true???
What? Question Islam?
Questions Allah?
It’s not that. Let’s just say that in reality, we tend to not really become firm believers in something, until we have experienced the benefit of something before our own eyes.
That’s when we become real believers.
That’s what I did. I got up and tried so I could see it for myself.
Let’s just say the results made me a die-hard believer. It changed my life, it’s that simple. It even did it in more ways than one.
I also found that if anything in life becomes great stress or a burden, then this time window of time is the space for seeking solutions
After that, in moments of high stress and strain, I didn’t kill myself looking for help anywhere but with Allah first in this time.
Benefits of the Miracle Morning Routine
This routine has:
- Given me a positive mood and reduced my stress immensely.
- Shortened any task I have to do by half.
- Allowed me to be a more responsive wife, mother, daughter, worker, and friend.
What do I do during my Miracle Morning Routine?
I’m a bit of a health nut. I’ve been doing many of the things that I will mention below for years. I mean WAY before this new WAVE of plant-based mayhem (which I also like by the way as it is good for our health).
My routine goes something like this:
Qiyam and Fajr
I wake up and pray Qiyam. On a bad day, if kids are up all night, I am forgiving on myself and do just fair. I brush my teeth at that time and was my face with a fabulous black soap that I use from Ghana. It’s incredibly beneficial for the skin.
Make dua for protection for the day
(I can do a post on the benefits of this alone in my life- amazing effects)
I don’t skip this. Sometimes I will do for my kids at the same time or if not later.
External Hydration
Since I already washed my face and brushed my face at the time of wudu, I just apply some natural shea butter cream to my face to hydrate it, and that’s it.
Internal Hydration
I get myself some lukewarm water, lemon and cayenne-I had to force myself to do this w lukewarm water. I love ice cold water, but it’s a shocker for the body in general, especially first thing. Since our bodies are waking from fasting mode and the first thing we have is best absorbed and most beneficial, I make sure it is something that will really benefit me.
Smoothie
If I am feeling hungry I will make a smoothie right away, if not I will delay and do other things and come back to it. But I usually go on and make it as long as the noise from my Vitamix won’t wake the kids. I have my two favorite smoothie recipes up on my blog. There are recipes for a berry boost and a citrus smoothie there that you can check out, insh’Allah.
Journal
Next, I go and journal.
Why?
It’ gets the emotions out and flowing freely. If I am in a mental funk or not feeling my best, it gets rid of that right away. If I feel ok, it takes me to the next level of my focus, spirituality, and productivity. If you want to see how I journal you can also check my post on journaling in 4 easy steps on my blog. It’s a particular method, but it really works.
Quran
After that, I’m usually in a good mood and then can recite the Quran. I always aim for 3 things…just reciting, memorizing and tadubr or contemplation. They are very different and all beneficial in their own way…Reciting cleanses the heart, puts us in a good mood and is a showing Allah we are using his gift of speech for good. Memorizing will give us Quran to intercede for us on Yawmul Qiyamah, and tadubr uplifts our gratitude and iman as we ponder the words of Allah and all he has given us. If I find my time is tight for any reason, I will just do at least 2.
Stress reducers
Lastly, I clean cook or work.
Usually, I try to clean at night as it makes me feel better when I wake in the morning, but if the kids were messier than usual and the days were long and tiring, I leave some things for the morning to allow myself to rest. If it is clean, I go right into cooking dinner.
Cooking dinner?
Definitely.
The worst thing is having to cook hanging on our heads all day.
What will I cook?
During cooking during the day or at night the kids are always hanging on me and crying. Or maybe they are constantly are in need of me for some reason or another. I find myself running between the kitchen and tending to the things that they are doing. No thanks. I learned cooking at this time in silence significantly reduced my level of stress and anxiety. It also gave me a lighter feeling as I had more time to myself during the day. If I didn’t do a full meal I at least did all of the prep work or marinating of things so later I just had to do a quick assemble. As Ramadan approaches, I will break out some of my tips and tricks for faster cooking while fasting. For now, I’ll just say I do it then.
If I have some emails to send out or some stuff to write up, I’ll do it later. Each day is different.
How long does the routine take?
The rule of thumb for me in this time is I do the things that will reduce my stress. I do things that I wouldn’t want to do with my kids or husband around distracting me or needing my attention and time. I found it made me less stressed and much happier in the day as I had silent time to myself. I also do my planning and scheduling 2 times a month at this time (as you heard me describe it in previous podcasts)
This entire routine I described is usually about 2 hours. After that, if the Fajr is early, as it is in the winter, I will go back to sleep until I the kids wake or I have to get up and work. Some people will say, I need my sleep, that won’t work. Well, I’ll say this. I went from being a night person, and sleeping at 11-12 am to sleeping at 8:30 PM.
What? I’m not a kid!
Why?
Rahsool SAWS suggested we sleep early, so that we could wake for fair. Many “night people” miss fair on time and think it is no big deal, but it is a HUGE deal in Islam. Also, most people end up waking tired, end up getting less done and being less productive, as it’s hard with work and manage kids.
I just wanted to share some words about my routine.
It may not be for everyone…..or it may just be for you. Either way, think about it and if you decide to do it, ease into it. Don’t overwhelm yourself.
How can I start?
To try it out make sincere via and try to do it for 1-2 times during the week. Put in mind what you will do in that time and do it. Eventually, maybe you can change your whole schedule around as I did. Put it in your mind, but take it easy on yourself.
