Laura El Alam

This past March, I celebrated the 23rd anniversary of taking my shahada or testimony of faith, Alhamdullilah (praise and thanks to God alone). Back in 2000, upon embracing Islam, I began a lifelong journey of striving for self-improvement and seeking knowledge.

Taharah, or purification, is a crucial part of Islam. In fact, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Purification is half of iman (faith).” 

(Sahih Muslim 223)

In his best-selling book Atomic Habits and his popular 3-2-1 Newsletter, author and speaker James Clear offers strategies to make small changes that lead to remarkable results. One of Clear’s tips that I have found extremely useful is habit stacking.

Islam is a religion of balance and promotes moderation in all things. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

My two oldest children are now in their twenties – old enough (in their minds, at least) to provide valuable feedback on my parenting successes and missteps over the years.