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Someone emailed this to me today and I thought it was so beautiful that I had to share it with you**. It’s a few simple steps you can incorporate to your day, your week, and throughout your life to help bring you closer to Allah. Most of them are quite easy to do, others are a bit of a challenge. But even if the whole list is too long, I’m sure you’ll find one or two that you can hold on to and make a part of your life. I especially loved being reminded of number 24. I think it’s very easy to feel superiors to others for one reason or another, but remember in the eyes of Allah, it’s what’s in our hearts that truly matters.

1. Put Allah first in your life.

2. Start off each day with ‘adhkaar al-istiyqaadh’ or waking up Supplications. For example: Alhamdulillahil-ladhi ahyana ba’ada ma amatana wa ilaihin-nushoor. Many thanks to Allah who gave us life after having given us death and (our) final return (on the Day of Qiyaamah (Judgement)) is to Him.

3. Broaden your horizons: – Learn new verses from the Quran every day. Travel far to pray in a mosque. Take up a booklet of supplications and read them. Recite the 99 names of Allah. Understand some new Hadith. Attend a Halaqa…

4. Pray Salaat Al-dhuhaa (after sunrise).

5. If someone says something mean to you, shrug it off and dismiss it in a friendly, laidback manner and pray that Allah forgive them.

6. When you get angry, remember Allah, and how short life is to waste in being Angry. Let go of your anger in the hopes that Allah forgives you should you ever anger Him.

7. While you can never have too many friends, select a few quality ones that will help you fulfill the purpose of your creation (i.e. live for Allah, help those in need, be charitable and selfless, be kind etc).

8. When you’re happy, try to share your happiness with others. Thank Allah for the cause of your happiness and pray for its continuation.

9. When something bad or embarrassing happens to you, remind yourself that it could always be worse. Remember the reward for patience and thank Allah that it’s not worse than it is.

10. Go the extra mile in terms of kindness. Feed the poor, shelter an orphan, help build a house, or fix a road. Do something that requires more effort than just dropping pennies into a box.

11. Never stop believing that you can win Allah’s love and thus work for it. Then you can win the love of Allah’s slaves.

12. Spend some time thinking of Allah’s amazing creation.

13. Always love those who love Allah unconditionally. Ensure that you live for His sake, love for His sake, and hate only those whom He hates.

14. Find the right or Sunnah way to express yourself. And if you know that what you are about to say shall be of no benefit then remain silent.

15. Give yourself a break occasionally. Play games, spend time with family and friends, but always remember Allah.

16. Pray for blessings to come to those who are lost, and pray to Allah to guide them to the right path.

17. Hug your parents, kiss their hands and heads and always obey them except when they contradict Allah’s orders.

18. Smile at everyone because your smile makes a big difference to those around you.

19. Forgive, forget and smile often.

20. Tears are not only for women… tears are for all human beings with feelings. Don’t restrain your tears when remembering Allah.

21. When people criticize your actions and efforts, review your actions to see if they please Allah or not. If they do; then ignore the criticisms and remember how the Prophet (SAW) and his Sahaba were criticized, ridiculed and even physically harmed, then be patient.

22. Read the Quran daily and try to have a schedule for completing it as much as you can. When you do manage to read the Quran daily, take the time to understand what you’re reading and not just pass your eyes over the words.

23. Don’t let popularity go to your head because it never lasts and you may lose more from it than you gain.

24. Never look down on anybody, for to Allah, they may be better than you.

25. Forward this to all with the intention of having a healthy society living for Allah and pray:
“This is by Grace of my Lord – to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! And whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for himself; and whoever is ungrateful, (it is for the loss of only himself). Certainly my Lord is Rich, Bountiful.” (Q27:V40)

* Picture from flickr
** I’ve changed a few things here and there, if you want to see the original email, please let me know.