5 Way to Strengthen Your Iman as a Busy Mom

When I first became Muslim 10 years ago, I jumped in with both feet and took in as much information as I could, as fast as I could. I had an insatiable hunger for Islamic knowledge, and as a single mom with one child that was 7 years old at the time, I had the freedom with my time to do so.

Now, with a husband and three more kids 6 years and under, my time is not as free as it once was.

It’s easy for my iman to take a backseat, and the years of Islam to fade that passionate drive for learning something new, but I still remember the excitement I would feel when I would open a book to learn more, and when I would add something to my new lifestyle that defined me further as a Muslim.

I still aim for that fire inside of me. Now, I just need to be more intentional with how I find it.

If you’re interested in building your iman, you’ve likely read articles about it before. Many of these articles reference the same few items, and admittedly, they are more important than the items I’m going to list for you. You know them well:

1. Prayer
2. Du’a
3. Dhikr
4. Fasting
5. Charity (works or monetary)

There are times where we fall off the Islamic bandwagon a bit, and jumping back on can seem like a big task, or it feels like a chore when it should feel like a gift. All of these are of the utmost importance, and in sha Allah, if they are in line, you have a an incredibly strong foundation, alhamdulilah.

But I know that when those areas are weak, it can be hard to just start in one day. In sha Allah the below items will help you see that yes, prayer is a gift, not a task. Fasting is a blessing, not a deprivation, and charity benefits you as much as the receiver, in sha Allah.

1. Exercise

Yes, exercise. This is a perfect way to feel the blessing of health Allah has given you, alhamdulilah. Even for those who are suffering from health conditions, you can feel strong in your given abilities and see positive results with consistent work, in sha Allah. Your skin will glow, you will have more energy for your daily tasks (like prayer), and in sha Allah have a more positive outlook on life in general.

2. Book club

A book club is a great way to network with other like-minded sisters, and to have some accountability in completing a book. A book club I know about is starting with Motherhood Realized, and I would highly recommend Gift from the Sea as well. Two more books that are on my wishlist, because I’ve heard great things about them, but I can’t say I’ve read yet myself are:

• Reclaim Your Heart by Yasmin Mogahed
• Deliberate Motherhood by The Power of Moms

I’ve made a list of some other great books for moms with young kids, so check that out and start your own book club, too!

3. Join a halaqa

Another way to network with like-minded sisters, and many times their kids as well. Everyone is coming for the purpose of gaining knowledge, so in sha Allah these are great connections to make in the community! Some of my favorite people in our local community I met through a halaqa at the masjid.

I 100% understand that going to a halaqa with littles can be hard. I know sisters that come every week with little kids in tow, but honestly, I haven’t been to a halaqa in years because the idea of packing up all the kids, diapers, snacks, and sippy cups, to tell them they have to be quiet seems a bit daunting. Now that my time and availability are opening up with my youngest just having turned two, I am anxious to start going to halaqas again, and bringing kids that can handle playing quietly, in sha Allah.

4. Take online classes

If there aren’t options for a halaqa around you, or getting out is too hard to handle, taking an online class is a great way to strengthen your deen with knowledge! There are lots of options available, and I know not everyone will agree on the best resources, but here’s a short list to get you started, in sha Allah:

• Islamic Online University, headed by Bilal Phillips
  • Has both free and low-cost options for anything from single classes to full
    degree programs
• Mishkah University, headed by Dr. Salah Assawy and Dr. Hatem al-Haj
  • Reasonably priced classes to take ala carte, or towards a degree program
• Seekers Hub, headed by Faraz Rabbani
  • Has free classes, with suggested charitable donation

There are many other options just a Google search away. If you already know a shaykh you trust, ask them for a resource that would be available to you.

5. Slow Down

I kept the most important for last.

Keep this hadith in mind:

“Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth, before you become old; your health, before you fall sick; your richness, before you become poor; your free time before you become busy; and your life, before your death.” (Musnad Imam Ahmed)

Whenever we busy ourselves with the dunya, whether that’s driving kids to their sports and activities, socializing excessively with friends and family, or with hobbies that don’t benefit us in this life or the Hereafter, our ibadah starts to feel like a burden rather than a gift.

There are things we have to do each day, like changing diapers, getting dinner ready, helping kids with school work, going to work, and grocery shopping. If we don’t allow for some margin in our daily lives, then the priorities of what needs to get done for survival takes precedence over our worship and beneficial work towards strengthening our deen.

Build in margin into your life. Schedule time to not do anything if that’s what it takes.

Use that free time for dhikr, reflection, added prayer, reading, and being thankful to Allah for all that He has gifted you with. When we are busy, it’s easy to see what stands in our way from being our most efficient selves, but when we have time to reflect, we can see the blessings we have every day, in sha Allah.

Do you have ways that help you strengthen your deen?