5 Practical Tips to Finally Balance Deen and Dunya
In the whirlwind of today’s fast-paced world, balancing the demands of work, parenting, social life, self care and most importantly ‘ibadah can feel challenging and even overwhelming, especially when you’re deeply committed to improve as a Muslimah. I mean, we shouldn’t have to compromise on a harmonious lifestyle that fulfills both our worldly responsibilities and our spiritual needs right?
Let’s explore some practical tips that can help achieve this balance!
1. Set Clear Intentions
We all know how crucial intentions (niyyah) are in Islam, and it might sound very redundant but it is honestly too often downplayed and minimised. Here’s one simple example: when is the last time you formulated a sincere intention to make all your actions pleasing to Allah at the start of your day? Yes you might mention it during Fajr prayer, but what about when you actually open your eyes? Is Allah the first thing you think of?
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Actions are but by intention, and every man shall have only that which he intended” so by aligning our intentions, we can transform even the most mundane tasks into acts of worship and in fact, that has to be one of my favourite things about Islam: it frames absolutely every aspects of our lives and is therefore so much more than a religion.
2. Establish a Structured Routine
While I’m honestly not the best at keeping the same exact routine overtime, I know for a fact it makes a huge difference in our productivity and really help us keep up with our faith. The best example of that is morning dhikr, which not only strengthens our connection with Allah but also sets a calm and focused tone for the day. I find morning to also be a great time for Quranic studies! Besides that, the best way to structure your day is of course, to build it around Salah as much as possible. Trust me: the moment you start to do that, your days are so much more fulfilling Subhan’Allah. To make that easier for you, you could use Islamic planners to ensure you don’t focus on work and mundane things before ‘ibadah.
3. Prioritise and Do Tasks with Taqwa
I think this is probably the most strategic piece of advice here! Take a moment to think about how you can incorporate the concept of taqwa, (consciousness of Allah) into your daily life, how you can make every moment count. I always say this but the great thing about Islam is that it is not complicated whatsoever. Allah gave us so many opportunities to improve and to make sure we please Him in everything that we do, so what you can do is turn daily tasks into acts of worship by infusing them with good intentions and ethical practices. When you’re about to start, ask yourself how you can benefit from it both in this life and the next one. If you struggle to find an answer to this question, then you might need to question what you’re doing overall and how it actually aligns with your faith.
When doing things with taqwa, we naturally seek al Ihsan, excellence, which then not only boosts our productivity but also enhances our love for our deen.
4. Use Technology Wisely
In this digital age, technology can be both a blessing and a distraction. Use apps and tools designed to enhance your productivity all while keeping you connected with your faith. You could set reminders for prayer times, use Quranic apps for daily recitation, and explore Islamic podcasts (like In Balance for example ;)) and lectures to enrich your knowledge. Just be mindful of how you use technology to avoid falling into the trap of endless distractions and fitna like we’re unfortunately so used to. Speaking of which, you might consider taking some off social media too so you teach yourself to enjoy offline activities again and not be as addicted to dopamine anymore. You don’t necessarily have to get rid of socials altogether — with the right balance, technology can be actually be a great tool in your journey as a Muslimah!
4. Take Time for Reflection and Self-Care
Balancing work and worship requires regular self-reflection and self-care. I know this might be tricky especially if you work really long hours or are parents, but it is so essentiel for your mental and spiritual well being. Take moments to pause, reflect and assess how your body, mind and soul are feeling. Engage in activities that feel rejuvenating such as exercising, pampering yourself or spending quality time with family and friends. I cannot stress that enough: maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for sustaining long-term productivity but also preserving your imaan. You deserve to take care of ourselves!
5. Seek Knowledge and Community Support
Finally, we shouldn’t underestimate the power of seeking knowledge and surrounding ourselves with a supportive community. Make sure to attend halaqas, to go to the masjid, to connect with the Ummah as much as possible, even if it just one the weekends. Engaging with like-minded people can provide us with encouragement, accountability, and valuable insights into balancing everything. Prophet Muhammad (saws) emphasised a lot of the importance of companionship (I mean, he himself had his sahabas!). Our community can truly be a source of great strength and inspiration, so make sure you surround yourself with the right peeps who aim, just like you, to find balance between their deen and this dunya.
