If you feel you’re falling short: read this. 

A Fajr Sister reached out to me today, asking: Have you ever felt burdened from trying to become a Muslim that Allah wants you to be? I’m not sure if that’s the correct way to say it. I know that we slip sometimes and we are not perfect, but sometimes I feel like I’m not doing enough in terms of ibadah (worship) and other good deeds that would define me as a Muslim.

I could immediately relate to her sentiments. Why would Allah put all these expectations, rules, and regulations on us? Why would Allah make it so easy for us to fall into sin if He wants us not to sin? These are questions that have come up for me in the past. I used to feel so anxious that I had to get everything right and be perfect at everything. Until that led me to extreme burnout, and I realised that Allah doesn’t want us to be perfect. He just wants us to show up for the things that are important, and He’ll take care of the rest.

Allah Sees You

Something that I’m beginning to learn more and more is that Allah really sees you with compassion. Allah is Ash-Shakoor, the one who acknowledges even the little, tiniest of things you did. And do you know the beauty of those little things? Allah causes it to multiply and lead to more good things. It may come back to you later where Allah sends you glad tidings – that little thing you did, look what I turned it into.

The example of those who spend in the way of Allah is just like a grain that produced seven ears, each ear having a hundred grains, and Allah multiplies for whom He wills. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing. (Quran, Surah Al-Baqara, 2: 261)

Verses like that above remind you to not belittle your own good deeds, even if it is small. If it was made with a sincere intention, ask Allah to accept it and thank Him for facilitating it for you. 

Sincerity over Perfection

No one is perfect. Allah didn’t describe us as a perfect person. If we were a people who didn’t sin, He would replace us with a people who could sin and return to Him in repentance. Our sins or our shortcomings or our limitations are just a sign that Allah is the greatest and we have to turn to Him.

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) having said:

By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace (you by) those people who would commit sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them. (Sahih Muslim, 2749)

It’s about being present in the good that you do that really counts. It is about being intentional, doing it sincerely, and doing it from a place of true love and awe of Allah. When it comes from that place, Allah makes it reach far. The Prophet peace be upon him said that the most beloved deeds to Allah are done consistently, even if they are small. 

Allah is the Source of Good

Then again, if you’re feeling that you want to take your faith to the next level, if you’re thinking to yourself, I really want to do more good deeds. If you’re in that place, who put that yearning within you? Allah. Maybe this is a sign that Allah is going to take you on a journey that makes you grow even higher in your faith and facilitates even more good things for you to do.

Narrated `Aisha:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6464)

Whenever you do good, it’s a gift from Allah. We’re all on our journeys – ups and downs, lessons and falls. The beauty is in the learning, in the continuous growth, in the turning back again and again each time we slip up. The beauty is in trusting that Allah keeps true to His promise. He promises to love those who turn to Him in repentance, He promises to multiply your goodness and He promises to answer your call.

A Tool to Help You: Write a Letter to Allah about Your Struggles

Just earlier, I had written a letter to Allah before getting into my tasks for the day. I thought to send it to my Fajr Sister who asked me the question but then I thought, why not share it with anyone who may need this right now? If you’re feeling overwhelmed, not good enough, not knowing where to begin or you’re simply looking for some much-needed motivation, this is for you:

Bismillah

Dear Allah, 

I woke up this morning with a renewed hope in Who you are and Your plan for me. I thank you for all the wonderful gifts and blessings you have surrounded me with. I thank you for the opportunity and the ability to breathe in deeply and mindfully. I thank you for the iman that beats in my heart, the passion that flows through my veins, the purpose you have inspired within me. 

I thank you for the tears that flow after I have sinned, softening the hardness of my heart. I thank you for Your invitation to return to You and for Your banquet of forgiveness, mercy, and light. I thank you for Your love, for Your continuous compassion, for your generosity, for Your facilitation, and for Your guidance. I thank You for Your words of wisdom in the Quran, for Your comfort, and for Your presence in my life. 

Thank you my Lord for this blessed day, for the gift of life, for the opportunity to serve and surrender to You.

Glory be to You oh Allah, Lord of the worlds and all praise and all thanks. Glory be to you oh Allah, You have no partners. Glory be to You oh Allah, none is worthy of worship but You. You are my Rabb – my nurturer. You are Ar-Razaq – my provider. You are As-Salam – my peace. You are Al- Wasi’- the expander of my horizons and the expander of my chest. You are As-Samee’- you’ve listened to every plea. You are Al-Mujeeb – the answerer of my yearnings. 

Ya Ghafoor, the Most Forgiving, please forgive me for the times I’ve wasted, for the promises I’ve failed to fulfil, for the responsibilities I did not show up for. Please forgive me for all my shortcomings, arrogance, negligence and sins. Indeed I have oppressed myself and indeed I am at loss without Your forgiveness. 

Ya Shafi, The Healer, spread Your light between the cracks of my brokenness, lift me up and hold me with strength, care and wisdom. Carry me the way You carry the wings of the birds flying against the wind. 

Oh Allah, I ask you to use me to serve You. Help me to nourish myself, my family, my neighbours, my community, and humanity in Your name and for Your sake. Help me to be present and make those around me feel seen, heard and loved by You. 

Ya Hadi, Oh The One who guides, guide the way I prioritise my affairs and responsibilities. Enable me to hold myself accountable. Empower me to not take my blessings, time and life for granted and to uphold the principles You’ve instilled within me. Guide my planning, prioritisation and implementation. Renew my intentions, replenish my faith, purify my soul. Guide my heart, guide my mind, guide my hand, guide my pen. 

I am here oh Allah, at your service. Let me start every action in Your name and for Your glory. There is no power and no might except from You, oh Allah. In Your name I begin, in Your name I move forward, in Your name I live, in your name I die. 

May Your peace, blessings and salutations be upon the beloved messenger Muhammad and all thanks and all praise be to You, Lord of the world. 

With love and surrender,

Your servant

You can access the pdf of this letter on our resource page. Read this letter every morning or every week before you do your planning or start your tasks, or use it as inspiration to write your own personalised letter to Allah. 

Allah Responds to You

I want to prove to you how true Allah’s promise is: that He will increase and multiply even our smallest actions and that He will respond to our call. I had written the letter above to Allah asking Him to help others feel seen and heard by Him. My Fajr sister sent me that message asking for my advice about doing good. Look at the good it inspired! A whole article being written and published and read by those who need to hear this today. 

Writing and reading are two powerful tools on your journey, and so I’d like to end this article with something I wrote for my young adolescent cousin a few years ago:

It’s the tiny things you do that help you grow. Do you know what happens to the tiny words on the pages that you read? They turn into little thoughts. Those little thoughts turn into big ideas. Those big ideas turn into little actions. Those little actions turn into big achievements. And with every little step you take, you write a new adventure in the story of your life.

Have hope, dearest sister. Breathe in deeply. There are beautiful things to come.

With love,

Fatima Altalib

P.S. If this post touched your heart or sparked something within you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please like, comment, and share it with someone who might need these words today.

P.P.S. If you’re yearning to overcome limiting beliefs, reduce overwhelm, and live more mindfully – without neglecting your responsibilities – The Fajr Sisters Path to Presence self-paced workshop is here for you. This programme offers guided sessions, practical tools, and meaningful reflections to help you reconnect with yourself and your purpose in a grounded, fulfilling way.

Learn more and take your first step toward inner alignment here: https://arabicnest.com/path-to-presence/

References

https://quran.com/al-baqarah/261

https://sunnah.com/muslim:2749

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6464

Resources