Assalamu Alaikum my dear,

A few years ago, one of my nieces called me with exciting news—she was going to Hajj with her newly married husband. I was overjoyed for her, of course. But somewhere in that joy, my coaching hat slipped on. I didn’t want to just talk about the fiqh of Hajj; I wanted to speak about its spirit.

After some heartfelt advice, I asked her a question that I hoped would stay with her forever: “What’s one thing you’ll carry back from Hajj into your daily life? One small change that becomes your personal sign that your Hajj wasn’t just a trip—it was a transformation?”

She paused. It made her think. And that’s what I wanted.

Now that Ramadan is behind us, I find myself asking you and me the same question.

Ramadan is over. The nights of Qiyam, the quiet moments with the Quran, the hunger that reminded us of our dependence on Allah subuhanawut’ala—all of that has passed. The question now is: Are we just going back to the way things were?

Yes, life resumes. The routine returns. But normalcy should never be what it was before Ramadan. Not completely. If Ramadan didn’t change us, even by an inch, did we truly honour its gift?

Every Ramadan should bring us closer to becoming our best version—a better parent, a kinder spouse, a more obedient child, and ultimately, a more conscious slave of Allah. That’s the long game. That’s the trajectory we’re aiming for.

So, here’s something simple I’d like you to reflect on:

What’s one small thing you can add or remove from your life starting today—something that takes you an inch closer to Allah subuhanawut’ala?

It doesn’t have to be dramatic. In fact, it shouldn’t be. Grandiose goals often fail to materialize. But small, sincere, sustainable changes? They transform lives.

Visit your parents once a week. Feed a morsel to your spouse. Set up a standing weekly sadaqah. Help your neighbour with groceries. Kiss your kids goodnight. Pray one rakah of witr before bed. Say Astaghfirullah 100 times a day. Recite a page of the Quran. Choose something that resonates with your heart.

Small steps are the fastest way to meaningful success—in every area of life.

And before I end, let me say something that often goes unsaid.

Notice how I mentioned good character before acts of worship? That’s intentional. Ibadah is our foundation, our bedrock. But one of the purposes of worship is to refine our character. Allah subuhanawut’ala has no need for our prayers, fasts, or charity. We are the ones in need—of the purification, of the transformation.

The scholars call it tazkiyatun nafs—the purification of the soul. And how do we know if our worship purified us?

Look at our character.

If our character hasn’t improved, if we’re still impatient, harsh, or arrogant—then something’s missing. Because real ibadah leaves fingerprints on the heart. It shows up in the way we speak, love, forgive, and treat those closest to us.

So again, I ask:

What is the one small thing you’ll carry forward from Ramadan? The one change that reminds you that you’ve inched closer to the One who matters most?

May Allah subuhanawut’ala make us people who ponder, who reflect, and who act—one small step at a time.

With love and gratitude,
Rushdhi

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