Habits are actions that are, simply said, on autopilot, which are the things that we do without much thought. They are already in tune with our bodies; we just carry them out automatically. In order to change, we need to identify the triggers and root causes of a particular action or behaviour. This is because habitual actions are done without much effort, and we do it out of routine. Consistency is more important than intensity when forming new habits, typically requiring daily repetition until the behaviour becomes automatic. Allah Says:

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

“Allah has promised those who believe and do the righteous deeds – for them (is) forgiveness and a reward great.” (Surah Al-Ma`idah 5:9)

Habits are the things we do without even thinking about them daily. When we build good habits, we can do everything we need to do more easily and efficiently. It increases our mental energy and decreases stress. We can be far more productive and efficient with our time when we don’t have bad habits. We can accomplish far more with far less effort. Truly good habits, productivity, and meaningful happiness come from discipline and a healthy spirituality. Allah Says:

مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْهَا وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَى الَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ.

”Whoever brings good, he shall have better than it, and whoever brings evil, those who do evil shall not be rewarded (for) aught except what they did.” (Surah Qasas 27:84)

Building and maintaining good habits is one of the most powerful ways to live a life that pleases Allah. Islam is a complete way of life that guides us in every aspect, from the way we greet others to how we eat, sleep, and worship. These habits are not just for special occasions; they are meant to be integrated into our daily Islamic practices. Building better habits that align our hearts, minds, and actions with Allah’s guidance.

There are some key habits that we should all strive to build:

1. Good habits serve as a divine guard against the trials
2. Good habits practised towards the worship of Allah
3. Good habits encourage goodness and forbid evil
4. Good habits set goals based on your definition
5. Good habits are the fruit of doing good actions
6. Good habits find inspiration and motivation
7. Good habits strive for the pleasure of Allah
8. Good habits are one of the pillars of Faith
9. Good habits indulge in all sorts of vices
10. Good habits avoid that which is wrong
11. Good habits remove the fear of enraging
12. Good habits to obtain the blessings of Allah
13. Good habits keep away from lying and deceit
14. Good habits are always better to make note of
15. Good habits seek the companionship of others
16. Good habits create habits surrounding your goals
17. Good habits are meant to cleanse or purify the heart 
18. Good habits serve as a divine guard against the trials
19. Good habits being cause of happiness in helping people
20. Good habits, congratulate someone’s new accomplishment

In Islam, good habits hold a significant place as they reflect the inner character and faith of a Muslim. We should behave in a good way and always do good deeds, as it is very important for every Muslim. God has an equal relation to all existent beings; there remains no reason for a good deed to be accepted by one person and not by another.

Here are some good deeds you need to implement into your Life:

• Make it obvious: Create cues in your environment to remind you to do your new habit.
• Make it attractive: Try to make the habit something fun
• Make it easy: Try to make the habit simple so that you can do it more easily.
• Make it satisfying: Find a way to reward yourself for doing the habit.
• Never miss a habit twice in a row: This will keep you on track.
• Stick to a sustainable pace: That way, you won’t burn out
• Centre your routine around the worship of Allah
• Plan each day, keeping your Aakhirah in mind
• Always have a positive outlook towards Allah
• Always be grateful to Allah in every situation
• Be Kind and Merciful towards Others
• Start your day by remembering Allah
• Ask for Allah’s help in everything
• Follow good role models
• Don’t be quick to judge, gossip
• Anger is a difficult impulse to control
• Prayer is a healing meditation; be regular
• Applying past knowledge to new situations
• Seek knowledge and ponder upon the Universe
• Look around your blessings and be thankful to Allah
• Set a new perspective in which your priority is ibadah
• Thinking and communicating with clarity and precision
• Ask for Allah’s guidance to know and follow the right path
• Think of your habit as a way to grow 1% per day: Improving just a little bit each day results in big changes over time. ​
• Track your actions. Helps your body feel good about the habit.
• Attach a new habit to an existing one: Build a habit to floss, then you can attach it to brushing your teeth.

Good habits tend to be good for the mind and body. Habits of the mind are what help us successfully engage in effective behaviours that lead to success over the long term. We all have bad habits. Our nafs just want the pleasure from doing them, even when our mind knows that they are bad. It is the desire to feel that pleasure in an instant, in contrast to everlasting pleasure like the pleasures of paradise described in the Quran. Every action depends on the intention behind it. Allah Says:

وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوا ۛ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

“And do not throw (yourselves) with your (own) hands into destruction (by refraining). And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:195)

Everyone understands that habits can either make or break you. Success is unavoidable if you develop good habits. Once you know the things that stand in your way and the things that help you, see if you can make changes in your life that help you create better support structures for the habits you want to build.

Build good habits and break bad ones. Here are some tips to start:

• Built big goals with determination to change the bad habits
• Instead of ambitiously erasing the bad habit immediately
• Setting big goals takes practical and balanced steps
• Make small changes to make good habits in real life
• Make the habit “tiny” to ensure you can do it
• Attach a new behaviour to an existing one
• Focus on the habit of reading good books
• Swap a bad habit for a positive one
• Track obstacles and hit the big peaceful destiny 
• Design your environment to trigger better habits
• Make a priority to track in the better chain of habits
• Focusing on the behaviours that will get you to your goal
• Remove obstacles that prevent you from forming good habits
• Determine where a bad habit is triggered and try to eliminate it

Now that you have identified the root cause of those bad habits. Have a plan and then have a backup. Changing requires a lot of motivation and willpower, and to do so, we need to be intentional. When the better action becomes habitual in our daily routine, we can then add more changes. Changing takes a lot of patience. It definitely involves struggles and challenges.

Here are some of the verses in this regard: Allah says:

• “Show us the straight way.” (Surah Al-Fatiha, 5)
• “Lower your voice and talk moderately.” (Quran 31:19)
• “Don’t let hatred cause you to be unjust.” (Quran 6:108)
• “..If you are thankful, I will give you more ..” (Quran 14:7)
• “Don’t ask too many favours from people.” (Quran 2:273)
• “Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient.” (Quran 2:153)
• “And establish worship for My Remembrance.” (Quran 20:14)
• “Preach to others in a good and wise manner.” (Quran 16:125)
• “Whosoever does a good deed, it is for his self…’‘ (Quran 45:15)
• “And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (Quran 3:86)

Islam is the religion of goodness and righteousness. It orders Muslims to do good deeds so that others may follow them. Change is a word ever so easy to understand, but extremely difficult to practise. However, it is possible with the right intentions, continuous efforts and constant. By building these into our daily Islamic habits, we protect ourselves from sin, strengthen our faith, and find peace in our everyday lives. Allah says:

وَيَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا هُدًى وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ مَّرَدًّا

“And Allah increases those who accept guidance, (in) guidance. And the everlasting good deeds (are) better near your Lord (for) reward and better (for) return.” (Surah Maryam 19:76)

Good habits will give you success effortlessly, while bad habits will lead you nowhere but to failure and disappointment. Good habits can turn a personality into greatness, while bad habits will make him fall and lose. The intention should be pure, and it should not be to seek material benefits or to gain appreciation. Good deeds not only bring us closer to Allah, but it also has many benefits. May Allah ease our task, and keep searching for truth and guidance.