Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “O Allah, bless my nation in their early mornings (i.e., what they do early in the morning).”… (Sunnan Ibn Majah)

Are you having trouble creating or sticking to a morning routine? If you have nodded yes, then this action packed Muslimah Guide to Morning Routine is for you. It’s an excerpt from Intentional Mornings Ebook- Create and Keep a Spiritual and Productive Morning Routine. 

Success comes from what you do with your time and how you structure your days. The morning holds the hours when there are no distractions and fewer temptations to steer you off course. No kids to feed, house to tidy or a toddler to please.

Later in the day, you lose that control as distractions creep in and studies have suggested that ability to exert self-control and resist temptation decreases gradually throughout the day. During these hours, you have the ability to get ahead, take massive action on your big goals and feel accomplishment. There is nothing like starting the day knowing that you’ve already prayed, exercised, and ticked off important tasks. The truth is that the first couple hours of your day are the most productive and create momentum for the rest of your day.

Benefits of  having a morning routine

Spiritual Benefits:

One the greatest benefits of the morning is Fajr, there is a sense of inner peace when one prayers the dawn prayers. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The two Rak’ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all it contains.” ( sahih Muslim)

Physical benefits:

Many studies suggest that we eat less calories if we sleep early and wake up early. Not to mention that we have more energy and are more motivated to get a workout in.

Quality ‘me’ Time:

There are so many different demands on our time that we simply forget time for ourselves. Time for self-reflection and contemplation. According to some research by creating and following a morning routine your stress, depression and anxiety levels will start to decrease and your life satisfaction level will begin to increase.

Mindset Benefits:

Ever find your mind always stimulated and going from one thought or idea to the next? One benefit that comes with having a morning routine that works, is that it helps you focus so you can use your energy on what matters most.

The Prophet’s Morning Routine and how we as Muslimah moms can us it

The best morning routines start the night before.

Abu Barzah al-Aslami (radhi allahu anhu) said that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to prefer to delay Isha, and he did not like to sleep before it or talk after it.”  [Saheeh al-Bukharee]

The Prophet (ﷺ) stated, Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven every night when the last third of the night begins when He says, ‘Who calls Me to answer him? Who asks Me to give him? Who asks Me for forgiveness to forgive him? (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

Action step: Go to sleep after Isha and if you can wake up 10-20 minutes before fajr in order to pray Witr.

Sitting in the place where you have prayed

Hadeeth of Sammaak ibn Harb, who said: “I asked Jaabir ibn Samurah,

‘Did you used to sit with the Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, ‘Yes, frequently. He would not get up from the place where he had prayed Subh until the sun rose. When the sun rose, he would get up. They used to talk about things that had happened during the Jaahiliyyah (days of ignorance), and they would laugh and smile.” Saheeh Muslim (1/463)

Action Step: Stay seated at the place you have prayed until sun rise

Start your day on a light note (or reward yourself)

One benefit that we should not overlook here is that after the prophet (sallaahu alaihi wasalam) worshiped Allah and gave Him his due rights, the prophet (salalaahu alaihi wasalam) would laugh and smile subhannalah.

It was also narrated that the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: “O Allah, bless my people in their early mornings.” When he sent out a detachment or an army, he sent them at the beginning of the day. Sakhr was a merchant, and he would send off his merchandise at the beginning of the day; and he became rich and had much wealth.(Sunan Abu Dawud)

Action Step: Start your day after sunrise, do something for you. It is so crucial that you take this time as me time first because as mothers we struggle to find this time. If there is something that you want to do that makes you happy, now is the time to do it. Before the kids wake up 😉

Serve your Family

We understand that when the prophet was not leading the people in prayer he was at home serving his family. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked: What did the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) do in his house? She said: He was a human being like any other; he would clean his garment, milk his sheep and serve himself. (Narrated by Ahmad)

Action Step: Serve your family when they wake up. There is nothing calmer than being ready for your kids, with breakfast on the table and ready to talk to them about the day ahead (this is also backed by science).

By following the Prophets (sallaalahu alaihi wasalam) sunnah, and setting your intentions to doing it for the sake of Allah you are turning actions and habits that you would other wise have already done into worship (insha Allah). One of the main reasons I researched and wrote Intentional Mornings was because the early hours are blessed for everyone (because Allah is Ar rahmaan and Ar Raheem, He is most merciful to believers and non believers).

So when you read a science backed morning routine it’s not that it doesn’t work it’s just that you are leaving rewards on the table and because of this I wanted to convey the message of turning habits and routines into worship, Inshaa Allah.