This Ramadan, even a small, consistent deed can carry the weight of mountains with Allah.
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DAILYREFLECTION
Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves.
Woke up for Fajr. Made your dhikr. Opened the Qur'an to review your hifz. But the verses aren't sticking. Your mind keeps wandering. Later at your desk, same story. Can't focus. Thoughts scattered.
Wait, I'm doing all the right things. Why isn't this working?
Imam Al-Shafi'i (RA) had the same frustration. One of the four great imams, a genius scholar, and even he struggled with retention. He wrote a poem about it:
I complained to my teacher Waki'a about my poor memory. He told me to abandon bad deeds. He said knowledge is light, and Allah's light is not given to those who disobey.
That hits different when you really think about it.
Your morning routine might be solid, but what about the rest of your day? What are you watching during lunch? How are you talking about that coworker who annoys you? Did you rush through Asr because you were "busy"?
Here's the uncomfortable truth: we can build barakah with good habits, but we can also destroy it with bad ones. And often, one bad habit outweighs multiple good ones. It's like pouring water into a bucket with a hole in the bottom.
Think of unproductive days as your internal alarm system. Something's off. Maybe it's subtle. Maybe it's obvious and you're just avoiding it.
Umar (RA) said: Hold yourself accountable before you're held accountable. Not fun, I know. Self-reflection rarely is. But it's necessary.
Ask yourself honestly: Is what I'm doing worth it? That show, that conversation, that compromise? When you zoom out and remember where you're trying to go, does it still make sense?
Getting rid of bad habits is hard. Really hard. But change starts with awareness, and awareness starts with intention.
Your internal alarm is ringing right now. Don't hit snooze. Figure out what's draining your barakah, and take one small step toward fixing it.
When the barakah returns, you won't regret it.
Reflect On This
What is one small change we can make today with sincere intention
Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.
WATERMELONWATCH
Displaced Palestinian children look out of a shelter in a tent camp on a rainy day in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.
School materials entered Gaza again after a long blockade, with UNICEF delivering learning kits as families still face widespread displacement and shortages. The small breakthrough is a real morale lift for children trying to study in tents and makeshift classrooms.
Hamas seeks a role for its police ahead of disarmament talks under a U.S. backed ceasefire framework, showing how tense and uncertain Gaza’s governance transition remains. Still, negotiations and regional mediation suggest there is active pressure to turn the pause in fighting into a longer, more stable arrangement.
OCHA reports continued insecurity and major humanitarian strain, with large scale displacement persisting and winter storms damaging shelters. Partners are still pushing relief forward, including child vaccinations, new temporary learning spaces, and cash assistance reaching thousands of households.
QURANCORNER
لِإِيلَافِ قُرَيْشٍ
“For the accustomed security of the Quraysh –”
Li’īlāfi Quraysh
"Li’īlāfi": For the covenants or agreements that ensured safety and ease – referring to trade agreements or general harmony that allowed the Quraysh to travel safely.
"Quraysh": The dominant tribe in Mecca, guardians of the Kaaba, and custodians of the region's central sanctuary.