Start your day full of energy and focus!
How can we overcome distracting thoughts in the morning?
Do you wake up every day feeling full of energy? Or have you ever woken up feeling down? Something troubles you from the moment you wake up. Heavy thoughts about the day, preoccupied concerns, things that have happened, things that could go wrong, what to do, how to do it, thoughts about people, family, work, etc. Sometimes, you don't know why, but you feel empty and stressed when you wake up.
Trust me, I've had plenty of rough mornings and still struggle some days. On those days, I could not be present even while freshening up, making wudu (ablution before prayer), and praying my morning prayers. My mind was traveling to all the places that it wanted. Do we deserve a better start to our days?
It is one dua (supplication) away!
Sleep in Islam
Sleep is an essential part of our daily routine, serving as a vital recharging mechanism after a day of depleting our energy. In the Quran, Allah mentioned sleep several times as one of his blessings and signs for humanity to embrace and reflect on Allah’s greatness.
Allah says;
And one of His signs is your sleep by night and by day for rest as well as your seeking His bounty in both. Surely in these are signs for people who listen. (30:23)
And we made your sleep for rest, and made the night as a cover, and made the day for livelihood, (78:9-11)
He is the One Who has made the night for you as a cover, and made sleep for resting, and the day for rising (25:47)
Do they not see that We made the night for them to rest in and the day bright? Surely in this are signs for those who believe. (27:86)
It is Allah Who has made the night for you to rest in and the day bright. Surely Allah is ever Bountiful to humanity, but most people are ungrateful. (40:61)
Subhanalllah (Glory be to Allah). Allah created sleep for us to rest and reminds us to reflect on it as a sign/evidence to appreciate the greatness of Allah. Every day, we must wake up with a deep connection to Allah, thinking about how miraculously we slept last night and how we woke up, and make the most out of both.
The moment we wake up.
Today, I want to draw your attention to one of the duas Prophet Muhammed (Pbuh) made when he woke up.
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
All praise is for Allah who gave us life after having taken it from us, and unto Him is the resurrection.
Al-Bukhari 11:113, Muslim 4:2083
Subhanallah, In this supplication, we connect to four things at once!
1. Gratitude to Allah
2. Life
3. Death
4. Hereafter life.
Grateful to Allah
When we say "الحَمْـدُ لِلّهِ" (All praise be to Allah), we acknowledge that everything we have or don't have is from Allah and is ultimately for our benefit. We are sincerely grateful for this. Additionally, we recognize that everything belongs to Allah, the creator and protector of all worlds and everything in them. This is a fundamental trait of a Muslim (one who fully submits to God). Especially at that moment of waking up, we are thankful to Allah for granting us rest and waking us up to another day, providing us with another opportunity to serve Him.
Life
Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says :
“It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply.” [Az-Zumar 39:42]
Once again, we have been given another opportunity to serve Allah to the best of our abilities. Our Lord has granted us this chance, which many people worldwide have not received today. This gratitude enables us to dispel any negative or stressful thoughts, and we should see it as a renewed opportunity to do our best in this world for the sake of Almighty Allah.
Death
Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Remember often the destroyer of pleasures: death. Verily, no one living a hard life remembers it but that it expands his contentment, nor one living in prosperity but that it constricts his vain hopes.”
Source: Musnad al-Bazzār 6987
Reminding ourselves about death, a reality at our doorstep that balances our thoughts, helps us take actions that please Allah. It reminds us that life is short, and the time given to us now is a gift and an opportunity to serve our lord.
Hereafter
Subhanallah, this is a powerful reminder. When we think about the hereafter, it helps us to set high intentions based on the hereafter and for the sake of Allah. These intentions are higher and more aspiring than worldly intentions such as wealth and fame. Use these high intentions for your actions every day. When you set your intentions for the sake of Allah, it sets up the highest potential energy you can have. Once you start acting, a higher momentum will be generated. This will also help you detach entirely from results, which are the source of worries and anxieties. In Islam, your intentions reward your actions, and results are always from Allah, which we accept as Muslims.
Remember to recite this morning’s supplication consciously to help us with the following:
1. Connect to Allah first and be grateful to Him, continuing to do so throughout the day.
2. Clear your mind from unnecessary thoughts upon waking up and stay mindful of the present moments.
3. Enhance your focus during morning prayers, Quran recitation, and remembrance of Allah.
4. Set high intentions to guide your actions throughout the day.
5. Regard each day as a new opportunity to earn for this world and the Hereafter.
I pray that Allah blesses us in our morning hours and frees us from all evil and stressful thoughts. May Allah help us make the best use of our time in this world to serve humanity for the sake of Allah at our best.
Aameen
With Duáas
Haneef
Haneef founded TaQwa Minds, a young coaching/training platform for Muslim professionals. The mission is to help Muslim Professionals and god-conscious Individuals be profoundly mindful and productive and excel in their life roles without sacrificing one for another. My services are focused on developing TaQwa habits through easy-to-integrate frameworks.