Crafting Spiritual Resolutions for the Incoming Islamic New Year

Assalamu'alaikum,

I trust you had a wonderful Eid-ul-Adha!

As we prepare to bid farewell to the Islamic year of 1444H, the concept of "new year resolutions" becomes a recurring topic.

However, I wish to gently challenge this notion, encouraging you to explore beyond the usual resolutions you may set at the end of each Islamic/Gregorian year.

The Hijri calendar, our Islamic calendar, is more than just a method to measure time. It's a divine tool, which harmonizes our spiritual life throughout the year (Click here to learn why the Islamic calendar matters more than you think).

Hence, when we reach significant milestones within the Islamic year, we shouldn't simply overlay secular approaches to goal-setting and new year resolutions. Instead, we should develop spiritually-intelligent ways to formulate these resolutions that align with our faith principles and values.

Here are some steps I suggest you consider during these last couple of weeks of 1444H:

Step 1: Download our Annual Review Worksheet.

Last Ramadan, we created this annual review worksheet which was designed to review your year from one Ramadan to the next.

However, the same tool can be used to review your Islamic year from Muharram to Dhul-Hijjah.

Click here to download it and watch the video on how to use it (you can skip all the Ramadan references).

Step 2: Sincere Repentance

Once you complete the worksheet - take a moment to sincerely repent for all the sins committed throughout the year. Take a moment to express remorse over your wrongdoings and ask Allah to forgive you. If you did harm to people or cut off people - use the opportunity of a new Islamic year to seek their forgiveness and reconnect with people.

Step 3: Express Gratitude

Along with repentance - express heartfelt gratitude and thanks to Allah SWT for the innumerable blessings He has bestowed upon you.

Part of being grateful to Him is to express gratitude to the people in your life who've helped you along this year as well. Go down your WhatsApp contact list and send messages or voice-notes to various people who’ve had an impact on your year, thank them for all they did for you this year.

Step 4: Set intentions for the upcoming New Islamic year

Plan your upcoming year like a gardener. Set intentions, be conscious of your season of life, focus on the process, and detach from results. If you’re not sure how this works, watch the video below:

Step 5: Make Small Changes

Consider your current habits and routines. Ask yourself, what small changes you'll make at the start of the new Islamic year that will have snowballing effect by the end of the year.

For example, if you decide to recite one extra page of Quran per day or give extra dollar of charity per day, where will you be by the end of the year?

If you're unsure, our '10 Habits' course can provide guidance on which habits to focus on changing/improving in the upcoming Islamic new year.

The closing of the Islamic year is a moment for introspection and renewing intentions. Use this moment in time to craft Allah-centered, Akhirah-focused intentions that can positively propel you to a better version of yourself: spiritually, physically, and socially.

I hope these suggestions inspire you.

Sincerely,

From Our Archives