The Third Habit: Caring for the Body as a Trust
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.
Our bodies are not ours to misuse. They are a trust, an Amaanah - loaned to us by the One who created them. In Islam, taking care of your body isn’t about vanity or trends. It’s about gratitude. It’s about discipline. And it’s about living in a state where your strength supports your worship.
“And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful.”
— Sūrah an-Nisāʾ (4:29)
Neglect, overindulgence, sleep deprivation, poor eating aren’t just bad habits. They’re lapses in responsibility. And over time, they affect our clarity in Salaah, our mood, our energy for Qur’an, our patience with people, and our ability to serve others.
We’re not aiming for a body that impresses. We’re aiming for a body that obeys.
💬 A Letter to Myself
Dear self,
You will be asked about this body.
The eyes, the limbs, the stomach - even your energy.
You don’t need to pursue perfection.
You just need to honour the trust.
Use your health to build the Hereafter.
Move not to change your body shape alone, but to show gratitude for the strength you have.
Choose the food that energises your ‘Ibaadah, not just your cravings.
Even the most ordinary bite of food can become a step closer to Allah سبحانه وتعالى if done with consciousness and care.
🍎 What I’m Trying to Build
Here are practical ways to reconnect with health as a means to worship:
🧴 1. Reframe Health as Worship
Remind yourself: Your body is not yours — it’s Allah’s trust to you.
Check your intention before beginning workouts or dietary changes.
Ask: “Will this help me serve my deen better?”
🥗 2. Eat with Sunnah in Mind
Eat when hungry, and stop before you're full.
“A few morsels are enough to keep a person’s back straight...” — Sunan Ibn Majah 3349
Include Sunnah foods like dates, honey, olives, barley, and black seed regularly.
Say Bismillah before eating and remember the du’a الحمد الله الذي أطعمني هذا، ورزقنيه من غير حول منى ولا قوةٍ
'Al- hamdu lillahi-lladhi at'amani hadha, wa razaqanihi min ghairi haulin minni wa la quwwatin (All praise is due to Allah Who has given me food to eat and provided it without any endeavour on my part or any power),' after.
🏃♀️ 3. Move Your Body Gently, But Regularly
Take walks.
Stretch or engage in low-impact movement for 15–30 minutes.
Avoid extremes: neither neglectful nor obsessive.
💧 4. Hydrate and Rest
Water brings energy and reduces brain fog.
Sleep enough to function with presence in Salaah and patience in Akhlaaq.
🧠 5. Guard Mental Wellness Too
Take breaks when overwhelmed.
Speak kindly to yourself.
Reduce screen overstimulation and comparison.
🧱 Start Small, Stay Consistent
Replace one daily snack with a nourishing alternative.
Add 10 minutes of outdoor movement a day.
Choose one unhealthy habit to replace each week (e.g., swap fizzy drinks for water, one less hour on the phone).
Health in Islam isn’t about numbers. It’s about intentionality, moderation, and accountability.
📖 Qur’an and Sunnah
“Indeed, your body has a right over you…”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 5199
“Eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.”
— Sūrah al-Aʿrāf (7:31)
When your health is aligned with your Imaan, every step, breath, and bite can become worship.
🧵 Final Reflections
Dear self,
You don’t need to become someone new.
You just need to become someone responsible.
Your body is the tool.
Worship is the goal.
Your health is not a project of self-love or your effort. It’s a gift of Allah سبحانه وتعالى’s mercy.
Care for it. Not to be seen by people, but to stand strong before your Lord.
Sincerely,
still striving, still learning —
your sister in need of Allah.
