Words: 3,752

Read time: 14m 59s

17 years in school

4 years in college.

43 years in a job you hate but tell yourself you like.

"Retire" until death comes to you if it hasn't already.

That was my life trajectory.

Someone asked me once, "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"

I answered, "A Principal at the hedge fund I'm at now."

At the time it sounded good. It was a top-tier "self improvement health focused company."

We had unlimited Seamless budgets for breakfast and lunch. There was a gym floor in the office, locker rooms, and even meditation rooms (I used them as prayer rooms).

It had everything we're told is essential for personal success.

But I was still stuck in the matrix.

I used to be obsessed with self-improvement books. I read all the big names.

Atomic Habits. The Power of Now. Deep Work. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The Compound Effect. The Richest Man in Babylon. How to Win Friends. Psycho-Cybernetics. The Magic of Believing.

I could keep going.

Each of these books seemed to repeat the same formula:

Meditate.
Set goals.
Wake up early.
Self-educate.
Create a routine.
Gratitude.
Eat healthy.
Work out.
Be in nature. 

They all offered frameworks that were supposed to unlock the next level of productivity or success.

Around the same time I started reading secular self-help books, I also started studying Islām more seriously.

And that's when I began to connect the dots.

The parallels were uncanny.

Everything these books were preaching?

Islām had already covered it—and not just at a surface level, but in a way that connected the mind, body, and soul.

I already knew Islām was the truth but seeing these parallels reaffirmed it even more.

Why wasn't anyone talking about this? Why hadn't any of the self-help gurus connected the dots?

I posted a reel about this realization, and it went viral—nearly 3 million views in just two days. People were shocked. People agreed. People saw the truth. It made me realize how many were blind to these connections.

Islam is the pinnacle of self-improvement.

But it goes deeper than that.

What's been happening this week:

• Launched my Muslim creator community—so wholesome to see friends from all over the world join! Already celebrating some wins, and I'm beyond excited to help everyone on their journey. It's hands down the best thing I've done to date.

• Alhamdulillah the brands are growing and we just added 2 new team members.

• Recently started using halāl beef tallow for my skin: game-changer. Never going back to regular moisturizers.

Dunyā Matrix: The Divine Theater

And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement [6:32]

• لَعِبٌ (La'ib) - "Play." The root word لعب implies frivolity or an activity lacking serious purpose or substance.

• لَهْوٌ (Lahw) - "Amusement" or "diversion". The root word لهو is something that takes a person away from important or serious matters.

This is the dunya. Constantly pulling you away from what's truly important. It's like a game that seems important in the moment but is ultimately without value.

This world is a divine theater.

We are living in a very complex and realistic simulation.

It is the most hyper-realistic video game you will ever play.

You are a character in this game, but your ruh (soul) is the essence. You, as the soul, control the character as you move through life.

Your mind is a VR headset. Think Apple Vision Pro.

It's a filter that distorts reality making you perceive this world as the ultimate reality instead of what it truly is: a divine theater.

Your nafs are your in-game distractions.

They pull you toward instant satisfaction. Laziness. Indulgence. Chasing material pursuits.

Just like a video game offers distractions—points, status, short-term pleasures—the dunya does the same. It seduces you with wealth, status, and pleasure, convincing you that these fleeting rewards are the ultimate purpose.

No. Snap out of it.

To win this game and see through the deception of the dunya matrix, you need:

Taqwa. God-consciousness

And fear Allāh so that you may be successful [2:189]

Taqwa is often translated to "fear" but it goes deeper than that.

The root word وقى means "to protect" or "shield."

Taqwa is the shield that protects your soul from the sins and deception of the dunya.

It's not just fear of Allah. It's being constantly aware of Him in every thought and action.

Taqwa gives you the lens to free yourself from the distortions of the mind.

It lets you see the dunya for what it really is—a temporary test.

Without taqwa, the dunya looks like it's the only thing that matters.

With taqwa, you can unplug from the deception and see life for what it truly is.

Break free from the illusions of the world and focus on the eternal reality beyond—preparing for the Day of Judgment when the curtains will be pulled back.

Recognize that the true reality lies in your submission to Allah and the pursuit of the Hereafter.

You begin to see the code beneath the game.

Everything in this world is temporary. The material world is just a fleeting test.

Understanding that Allah controls everything is the key to unlocking the matrix 

Trust in Him.

Nothing happens without His will.

The question is:

Can you recognize Allah's sovereignty and pass the test of life?

You have money? How will you spend it? Will you give in charity or waste it on indulgence? Will you remember to worship the One who gave it to you?

You broke? How will you earn? Will it be through halal means or haram? Will you worship Him no matter your situation?

The problem was never money, power, relationships, or status.

It's how you use them.

We hear and we disobey [2:93]

We hear and we obey [2:285]

Which party will you be among?

The Secret Weapon To Self-Improvement

Ihsan is to worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then know that He sees you [Bukhari]

The word ihsan إحسان comes from the root حسن and is often translated as "excellence" or "perfection".

The root word refers to something that is good, beautiful, or excellent.

Ihsan is the form that means "to do something well" or "to bring something to its best possible state."

Living with ihsan is about living in a state of heightened awareness of Allah's presence.

It is the mindset that allows you to see beyond the dunya, beyond the distractions of the matrix.

Just like a video game has layers of reality, ihsan gives you the power to interact with the deeper purpose behind the apparent reality of the dunya.

You're no longer caught up in chasing temporary rewards or looking for validation.

You strive for something much greater.

Living with ihsan allows you to view life through the lens of taqwa.

You recognize that everything you do here has eternal consequences.

Every action is seen by Allah. Al-Baseer, The All-Seeing.

This consciousness shapes the highest level of self-improvement.

True self-improvement is the process of perfecting your inner state to worship Allah in the best possible way.

The 9 Pillars of Ihsānic Living

Modern self-improvement ideologies suggest that success comes from personal achievement, financial gain, or physical wellness.

You're told to meditate for peace, set goals for satisfaction, and develop routines to maximize productivity. These tools can help organize life.

But they are incomplete for Muslims.

These systems promote individualism and materialism which lead to burnout, dissatisfaction, or even arrogance when the focus remains purely on the self.

Muslims should be cautious about falling into this trap.

The endless pursuit of success without a higher purpose is spiritually empty and dangerous.

It creates a mindset of more—more money, more recognition, more peace—while ignoring the reality of the hereafter.

This focus on the dunya becomes a veil over the heart, distracting you from your true purpose: to worship Allah and seek His pleasure.

The real enemy is not with the tools of self-improvement but the mindset behind them.

Modern self-help detaches from responsibility to faith, community, and Allah.

True self-improvement in Islam is not about gaining power or status but perfecting your character and actions for the sake of Allah.

It's not about building for the dunya; it's about preparing for the akhirah.

Advice given by the self-help industry is incomplete because it ignores the soul.

Meditation, goal-setting, and routines without the remembrance of Allah become mere exercises in ego-building rather than soul-enriching practices.

Islamic self-improvement is rooted in dhikr, niyyah, and barakah.

Let me introduce you to Ihsanic Living. 

It connects the dots between personal development and Islamic excellence. It's about living with the highest level of awareness and turning the mundane into acts of worship.

I'm going to redefine what self-improvement is.

1) Meditate → Dhikr

Indeed, mankind was created anxious [70:19]

Sometimes people try to be so "calm" it actually makes them anxious about not feeling "calm" enough.

When you focus too much on being in a certain state, it leads to the opposite: anxiety about not reaching that state.

You sit there trying to force peace and it becomes another task, another goal to hit.

Meditation is not self-improvement. Do not enter into it under any such delusions [Alan Watts]

Meditation for self-improvement is an endless chase for perfection that leads to frustration instead of peace.

It tries to achieve this calm state through detachment from emotions and thoughts.

You try to find peace in yourself. It becomes a cycle of self-focus.

Self-worship much?

No wonder people are always chasing peace but never finding it.

There is a void that cannot be filled except with dhikr.

You silence the mind to fill it with the remembrance Allāh.

You acknowledge the greatness of Allah which calms the soul in a way self-centered meditation can never.

Meditation asks you to disconnect.

Dhikr asks you connects you to as-Salām. The Source of Peace.

It transforms anxiety into trust.

You don't rely on yourself for peace, you rely on Allāh.

Verily in remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest [13:28]

Next time you feel anxious, don't just sit there trying to detach.

Shift your focus towards Allāh.

Say alhamdulillāh (all praises to Allah).

Say subhān Allāh (all glory be to Allāh).

Say Allāhu akbar (Allāh is the greatest).

Incorporate the morning & evening adkhār into your lives if you haven't already.

2) Set Goals → Intentions

Goal-setting is all about chasing material success—wealth, status, fitness, career goals.

But how often do people hit those goals only to feel more stressed, burnt out, or unfulfilled?

You set one goal, achieve it, and then immediately move to the next. The outcome becomes the only marker of success and it leaves people feeling empty—even when they achieve what they set out to do.

And if you don't reach the outcome, you feel even worse than when you started because now you feel like you weren't enough.

Islām flips this.

It was never about the end result.

It was always about the niyyah (intention) behind it.

Actions are judged by intentions [Bukhari & Muslim]

Even the most mundane tasks become acts of worship when done for the sake of Allāh.

Working? I'm earning a halal income to support my family, give charity and serve the ummah.

Eating? I'm nourishing my body so I can maintain the trust Allāh has given me and have the strength to worship Him.

Sleeping? I'm resting my body, fulfilling its rights, with the intention to rise for Fajr and be productive in worship and work.

There are levels to intentions.

It's easiest to start from the base of the pyramid and work your way up.

The goal is to shift your intentions from worldly gains to pleasing Allah.

Start by reflecting on your actions:

• Are they primarily for self-gratification or material success?

• How can you elevate them to focus on spiritual contentment or the afterlife?

Detach from the outcome and focus on the process. This removes stress because you trust Allah's plan. Whether you succeed or fail, the effort becomes rewarding in itself.

Trust Allah. Trust His plan. Trust that He chooses the best outcome for you.

Don't just set goals for the sake of "success".

Set your intentions for Allah.

Whoever honestly asks Allah for martyrdom, Allah will grant him martyrdom even if he dies in his own bed [Muslim]

What you might consider a "failure" is a success in the eyes of Allah regardless of the outcome.

3) Wake Early → Post-Fajr

The "rise and grind" culture glorifies early mornings for 1 reason: productivity.

The value of a day is measured solely by how much you accomplish.

But what happens when the constant push for productivity leaves you stressed and drained by noon because you couldn't finish everything?

Hustle culture values output over well-being. It's productivity for productivity's sake, which leaves you feeling empty even if you check off every task.

Waking up early is different for a Muslim.

The early morning has blessings [Tirmidhi]

Post-Fajr is a time for barakah—not just to get more done but purpose-driven productivity.

Read my previous letter on barakah if you want to learn more about it here.

The focus is not on rushing into work. It's on first connecting to Allah.

How you start your day affects your nervous system.

Rushing into tasks activates the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight), raising cortisol (stress hormone) and creating anxiety. This leads to burnout over time.

Starting with the Fajr prayer activates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest), promoting relaxation and reducing stress hormones. Research shows that calming spiritual practices like prayer lower heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol.

Pair your Fajr prayer with reciting the Qur'an and you just tapped into an endless source of barakah.

4) Learn → Seek Knowledge

Self-educate so you can make more money, gain more followers, get that promotion, marry that person.

Why is everything focused on self-interest instead of benefiting society?

You've seen it firsthand if you lived in New York.

It's all about "me."

Me. Me. Me.

Self-centered mindsets breed arrogance.

The pursuit of knowledge isn't just about getting ahead.

Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim [Sunan Ibn Majah]

Here's the difference: Knowledge is not just for you.

It's for the betterment of the community and a way to draw closer to Allah.

There are two types of knowledge obligations:

• Farḍ al-‘ayn (فرض العين): Essential knowledge every Muslim must learn, such as tajweed, prayer, and basic fiqh, as it directly impacts personal worship.

• Farḍ al-kifāyah (فرض الكفاية): Knowledge that is a communal responsibility, like funeral rites (janāzah), becoming a scholar, or mastering sciences that benefit the community. If no one learns it, the entire community is at fault.

Knowledge is a responsibility that extends beyond the self.

Knowledge is more than self-improvement—it's a responsibility with a higher purpose.

Shift your mindset. Learn to benefit others. Fulfill your duty to Allah. Grow closer to Him.

Even worldly knowledge can be an act of worship if the intention is pure.

Whether you study science, business, or religion, remember that every piece of knowledge is an opportunity to draw closer to Him.

5) Routine → 5 Daily Prayers

Morning routine. Workout routine. Skincare routine. Evening routine. Sleep routine. Meal prep routine. Meditation routine. Study routine.

Routines provide structure. But they can also become rigid checklists that lead to stress when they fall apart.

Let me tell you about my approach.

Salāh (the 5 daily prayers) should be the foundation of every Muslim's routine

It is not only a divinely structured routine but also serves as a constant reminder of Allah throughout the day.

Remember the benefits of dhikr?

Prayer provides spiritual breaks that reconnect you with your purpose, preventing stress and the monotony of worldly routines from taking over.

While others scramble to create routines, we already have one that includes spiritual breaks—a perfect mental health reset from the chaos of life.

Schedule your day around prayer. Here's my simple routine. You can adjust it to fit your life:

• Fajr: Gratitude, qur'ān, focused work, breakfast.

• Dhuhr: Re-energize & rest, workout, lunch.

• Asr: Learning, meetings, creative hobbies.

• Maghrib: Dhikr, dinner, family time.

• Isha: Journal & reflection, du'ās, sleep.

Building your day around salāh brings productivity and peace—not from hustle, but from barakah (blessings).

6) Gratitude → Be Thankful [14:7]

Gratitude is often practiced as a tool for increasing happiness, stress relief, or improving mental health.

While these are valid outcomes, secular gratitude can be shallow, focusing on the self ("I am grateful for what I have") without acknowledging the source.

But who are you even grateful to?

It makes no sense.

Gratitude isn't just a method for self-improvement. It's a core part of faith:

If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe [14:7]

True gratitude recognizes that every blessing—big or small—comes from Allah.

It shifts the mindset from "I have this" to "what Allah has given me is enough."

This contentment, or qana'ah, is about being satisfied with what Allah has given, trusting that His provision is perfect.

Look at those below you (in worldly matters) and do not look at those above you, for this is better to ensure that you do not belittle the favors of Allāh upon you [Muslim]

Gratitude is not limited to material blessings.

It includes being thankful for guidance, faith, and the opportunity to serve others.

Start your morning with the du'a for waking up.

الحَمْـدُ لِلّهِ الّذي أَحْـيانا بَعْـدَ ما أَماتَـنا وَإليه النُّـشور

alhamdulillāhilladhee ahyānā ba da mā amātanā wa ilayhin-nushūr

All praise belongs to Allah Who has restored us back to life after causing us to die; and to Him shall we return [Bukhari]

Then think about 3-5 things you are truly grateful for at the moment.

True wealth is in contentment.

Recognize the ultimate source of all blessings—Allah.

7) Eat Healthy → Prophetic Foods

Eat this so you look good. Eat this so you can attract anyone you want.

The focus on appearance, weight management, and living longer has pushed many into unhealthy relationships with food.

The obsession with external validation distorts the true purpose of eating well.

When I was younger, I was told to eat more because I was "too skinny" and needed to be "healthier" and have more fat on my body because men don't want bony wives.

Like what.

That left me with a terrible relationship with food for the longest.

It wasn't until I learned about the islāmic perspective and etiquettes of eating that changed everything for me.

There is an holistic approach to eating. Food nourishes mind, body, and soul.

Eat the way the Prophet ﷺ did.
Eat the foods the Prophet ﷺ loved.
Eat mindfully like the Prophet ﷺ said.
Eat with intention like the Prophet ﷺ guided.
Eat without waste like the Prophet ﷺ instructed.
Eat with moderation like the Prophet ﷺ practiced.
Eat and share your food like the Prophet ﷺ shared.
Eat without criticizing the food like the Prophet ﷺ showed.
Eat starting with bismillah and ending with alhamdulillah like the Prophet ﷺ taught.

Make every meal an act of worship.

Follow the way of the Prophet ﷺ and become closer to Allah.

8) Work Out → Body is an Amānah

Fitness culture focuses on aesthetics, performance, and personal satisfaction.

While working out does improve health—it's easy to get caught up in appearance, vanity, or competition.

Look at the Olympics, sports competitions, basketball tournaments, football games. They all revolve around competitiveness.

These programs distract the masses from reflecting on their true purpose.

Fitness can easily become a pursuit of perfection in body image or an ego-driven endeavor.

We start to get unhealthy comparisons, feelings of inadequacy, or even body dysmorphia when the "ideal" physique isn't achieved.

You're pressured to think you should look a certain way 2 months after giving birth.

You're pushed to believe you should be lifting double your weight by 25.

No. Health isn't about appearance or physical performance.

The body is an amānah (trust) from Allah.

Maintain what Allah has entrusted to you.

Your body is not yours.

We are reminded of this through rulings on tattoos, mutilation, and certain piercings being harām.

Exercise should be done with the intention of preserving your health to worship Allah better and fulfill your responsibilities toward family and community.

It's not about how much can you lift bruh.

It's about being strong and healthy to serve Allah and others.

Next time you exercise, set your intention to preserve your health as a trust from Allah.

Start working out. It's good for you.

Even a simple dhikr walk will do wonders for your mind, body, and soul.

9) Nature → Contemplate Creation

Everyone promotes spending time in nature as a way to relax and improve mental health.

Yes.

It can reduce stress but the deeper purpose of nature is unexplored. Nature becomes a tool for personal well-being rather than a sign pointing to something greater.

The Qur'ān transforms the experience of nature into an act of worship.

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and day are signs for those of understanding 3:190

We are constantly told to reflect upon nature. Those are the people of understanding.

Nature is not just a backdrop for personal relaxation but a reminder of Allah's greatness and mercy.

Reflect on the natural world to increase your tawakkul (trust in Allah) and gratitude.

Nature is a living testament to Allah's power. Not just a means for self-care.

The next time you're in nature, don't just relax—contemplate the signs of Allah.

Turn every walk, sky, sunrise, sunset, rain or breeze into a moment of dhikr.

Nature is a living testament to Allah as al-Khaliq (The Creator).

There are countless beautiful du'as in the Qur'an that you can recite for gratitude, blessings, and to glorify Allah.

If you're looking to use more of these powerful supplications into your life, check out my book Quranic Du'as.

It's filled with proven du'as directly from the Qur'an, along with their meanings and backstories to help you connect deeper with the words of your Lord.

That's all I got for you lots.

Thanks for making it this far.

And as always:

مع حبي (with love)

— Saufiyah ♡