Habit building is one of the hottest and most discussed topics when it comes to productivity and efficiency. And for good reason. If we are searching for excellence then it will emerge from our habits. People have started to become self-aware of the damage caused by harboring bad habits and intrigued by the importance of creating good ones. Yet, the hardest part of habit-building remains on how to begin and how to be consistent with it.
Habit-building becomes effortless when we follow the principles taught to us by the Quran. The Quran removes a major misconception that surrounds habit-building or breaking for that matter. If we practice these principles, habit building will not only become easy but also straightforward. It will become a part of who you are.
The principal verse I’ll be focusing on to prove my points is the following: Allah said to Muhammad ﷺ: “Say! My prayer, my worship, my life, and my death are all for Allah, the lord of the Universe (6:162).” While there are other interpretations given to this verse we’ll be focusing on only one of them. This verse was to differentiate between the previous religions and Islam. I will first start by explaining the verse in question and then I’ll discuss its implications and the principles that could be learned from it.
The differentiation that was found in previous religions
During the period of retrogression and deviation, external influences gained momentum. When Christians began to give precedence to their cultural, anthological, and genealogical influences over religion, a divergence came about: worship would be for Allah, while they were free to do as they pleased for the rest of their engagements. This differentiation reached such a level that the following idiom became famous: render unto God what is God’s, and render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.
As a result of this, beliefs and acts of worship were left confined to a very small section. The rest would only follow their religion when they would attend their place of worship. Outside of it, they did what they willed even when forbidden or deemed inappropriate by their religion. Religion was reduced to a dot that was growing smaller and smaller as time passed.
Islam Changed Everything
Islam and Rasulullah ﷺ changed this concept completely. Islam placed importance on devoting a person’s entire life to the obedience of Allah. You may do and take care of any other engagements in your life, but first and foremost you must see what the injunctions of Allah are with regards to it. You should then do it with the intention of acquiring the pleasure of Allah. As a result of this, your entire life will become worship.
In other words, you have to embody worship. There is no time and place for it. Your worship is seen in you, and not only seen while you’re doing it. Yes, as Muslims, there are some acts of worship for specific times and places but that is far from being our complete deen. Consequently, if you’re a Muslim, you’re not one only in a mosque or at home but rather everywhere else too.
The Principle Learned
Like it’s been mentioned before, we learn our principles from the Quran and Sunnah. So what did the Quran teach us here? I mentioned in the beginning, that there’s a misconception about achieving excellence and habit-building. Well, that misconception was just removed by the Quran itself. Just like your worships are not confined to a specific time and place, you won’t only be a muslim in a Masjid. Similarly, you won’t have the quality of excellence in a specific environment, rather you need to embody it, to achieve true excellence. For example, you’ll only be truly kindhearted when you’re kind to everyone worthy of your kindness. You won’t be truly kindhearted if you’re only kind to a specific person in a specific setting, will you? You can show kindness temporarily but that doesn’t make you kind-hearted.
Similarly, if you desire excellence, maybe in your studies, job, or something else then you can’t fake it by showing excellence at a specific time or place. To become a stellar student, you can’t have commendable study habits for a week or two. You need to embody those habits until they are no longer your habits, but rather a part of who you are.
Clarification of The Verse
To shed more light on my point I’ll explain the implication of the verse above in a real-world scenario. Suppose someone just converted to Islam after the night prayer (Isha). He’ll still be considered a worshipper before he even prays fajr. He has not yet prayed any prayers, nor given any charity, nor fasted or performed the holy pilgrimage. Yet, he is considered from amongst the worshippers. The moment he became Muslim he made a pact to live the life of a Muslim. All the injunctions that are on a Muslim are now on him. Therefore, even if he does not engage in any physical act of worship, the mere fact that he’s a Muslim and living his life accordingly, by abstaining from sins, makes him a worshipper. He won’t be any more of a worshipper after praying the morning prayer (Fajr).
In the same manner, if you want to make or break habits and be consistent with it, this principle is crucial to achieving your goals. Let me give you an example of how this principle can be applied. Let’s say you want to build the habit of writing. You may want to start writing a book, a journal, or a blog. One of the first steps in your habit-building journey is to believe you’re already a writer. Just like you’re a worshipper before praying your first Fajr, similarly, you’re a writer before even starting to write. Just like you won’t become more of a worshipper after praying your first Fajr, similarly, you won’t become more of a writer after writing your first book, journal, or blog.
Other Implications of The Principle
Habits will stick to you when you become the person you want to be in the present moment. For example, two friends, who made a firm intention to break their habit of smoking, are standing outside. Another man passes by, offering each a cigarette. The first one says: “Sorry man, I’m trying to stop smoking” and the second one says: “I’m not a smoker.” Who do you think has a higher likelihood to break their habit? The first answer implies that you want to be from those who do not smoke but you’re currently not one of them. Consequently, when you’re tempted to relapse, it’ll be a lot more difficult for you to control the urges because you’re still a smoker in your mind. The second answer, on the other hand, implies that not only have you stopped but you are not from that group. This behavior creates disdain for that habit and greatly decreases your chances of returning to prior habits. Why? Because once you’ve firmly believed and embodied that you’re not a smoker, then every moment that passes in which you don’t smoke becomes proof to your mind that you’re not a smoker. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. You’ll wake up and say: “see, I did not smoke yesterday because I’m not a smoker” and not: “I just need to get through this one day.”
This principle can not only be used for breaking bad habits but also for creating new ones. Let’s take another example of waking up early and joining the ambitious 5 AM club. Use the same principle learned: you are a worshiper under all circumstances and settings. Hence, if you want to wake up early, incorporate the belief that you are from those who already do. Truly believe that you’re an early bird and be the person you want to become on day one. Look closely at your vocabulary. Are you saying “I will start waking up at 5 AM” or saying “I wake up at 5 AM every day?” After vocalizing the latter, the first day you wake up at 5 AM, will serve as proof that you’re an early bird. Every other day where you do the same will add to that evidence until one day it’s no longer a habit but rather a part of who you are. You want to start writing? Believe that you’re a writer. You want to read a book a week? Believe that you’re a reader. Embody it.
As mentioned in the verse in question, you must be a worshiper at all times to make it a part of who you. Similarly, good habits should also be a part of who you are. Do not be like the previous religions who only limited their worship to specific occasions. The Quran is the book of guidance for all of humanity, thus any instruction leads solely to success. Truly, use this principle to change your life for the better. To change your habits for the better. To create new habits and break bad ones.
Nice. I liked the last part especially the scenario of smokers