The Ninth Habit: Reflect Often, Track Gently
Bismillāh.
This is a reminder first to myself, written in need, not from a place of knowing, but hoping.
If it benefits you too, then All Praise is due to Allah سبحانه وتعالى alone.
Growth isn’t just in doing more — it’s in pausing to reflect. In a world that glorifies busyness and productivity, we can lose sight of why we’re doing what we do.
But in Islam, Muhaasabah (self-accountability) is part of Taqwa. It softens the heart, renews intention, and reminds us of our real destination.
“O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow…”
— Sūrah al-Ḥashr (59:18)
Reflection breeds awareness. Knowing what’s working. Noticing what’s slipping. And being able to ask Allah سبحانه وتعالى to help you course-correct.
💬 A Letter to Myself
Dear self,
Don’t keep moving so fast that you forget your intended destination.
Reflection and subsequent correction is maturity.
It allows you to move with purpose instead of panic.
Check your actions, your reactions, your days.
Not to shame yourself, but to come closer to the One who sees it all.
🪞What I’m Trying to Build
A gentle habit of regular self-check-ins rooted in sincerity:
🕰 1. Set a Weekly Reflection Time
After Jumu‘ah or before bed on Sunday.
Ask yourself:
What did I do for my Akhirah this week?
Did I wrong anyone?
What brought me closer to Allah?
What distracted me?
📓 2. Keep a Simple Accountability Journal
A few bullet points: wins, slips, goals for next week.
Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for awareness.
Review du‘as you’ve made and notice how Allah responds.
🤲 3. Use Reflection to Make Better Du‘ā
“Ya Allah, I saw this weakness in me - help me.”
“Ya Allah, I tried - accept it from me.”
“Ya Allah, I forgot - forgive me and help me return.”
🧭 4. Realign Often
Are your routines still serving your Imaan?
Is your intention still fresh?
Let go of habits that aren’t helping - without guilt.
⚖ 5. Be Gentle, Not Neglectful
Avoid self-loathing. shaytan feeds on this and wants the Believers to despair.
But don’t let self-comfort excuse stagnation either.
The Salaf emphasised: “Hold yourself accountable before you are held accountable.”
🧱 Start Small, Stay Consistent
Pick one day a week for self-reflection.
Use a simple notebook, voice note, or digital tracker.
Focus on growth, not performance.
Let reflection lead to improvement, not paralysis.
📖 Qur’an and Sunnah
“By the soul and He who proportioned it. And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness, He has succeeded who purifies it.”
— Sūrah ash-Shams (91:7–9)
“Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account.”
— ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu)
🧵 Final Reflections
Your Lord sees every step even when you forget.
Reflect. Reset. Repent. Repeat.
Let your self-check be your safeguard, not your shame.
Sincerely,
still striving, still learning —
your sister in need of Allah.
