Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem,
Dear respected brothers and sisters,
Today, I want to share my reflections on “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, a book that makes us take a hard look at ourselves and the small decisions that shape who we become.
Clear teaches us that tiny changes, what he calls atomic habits, can lead to remarkable results. SubhanAllah, this reminds me of how the Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلمtaught us that “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are small.” Clear’s concept of 1% improvement daily mirrors this Islamic principle perfectly. If we improve by just 1% each day, by the end of the year, we’ll be 37 times better, mashaAllah!
The book’s emphasis on identity-based habits particularly resonates with my current situation. Just as Clear says, “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become,” I’ve learned that even here, in these challenging circumstances, each choice I make is a vote for who I want to be.
Clear’s four laws of behavior change align beautifully with Islamic principles:
1. Make it obvious (like our five daily prayers marking our time)
2. Make it attractive (find joy in worship)
3. Make it easy (start with small, consistent actions)
4. Make it satisfying (feel the peace that comes with submission to Allah)
The habit scorecard he suggests reminds me of the Islamic concept of muhasabah (self-accounting). Just as we’re taught to evaluate our deeds daily, Clear encourages us to track our habits with a simple +/- system.
In a world where we’re bombarded with messages about overnight success and viral moments, Clear’s message is refreshingly similar to our Islamic teachings – real change comes from small, consistent actions done with the right intention.
May Allah help us develop habits that draw us closer to Him and make us better servants of His creation. Ameen.
Your brother in faith,
Wisam
