By Marie Matney
O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. [Quran, 33:41]
Sometimes life rushes past us so quickly that we’re pulled further from Allah (swt) every day. Have you ever felt as if you were standing on the edge of the deepest abyss in the ocean and everyone and everything you love was on the other side, desperately reaching out to you? Have you ever felt like you were doing what Allah (swt) asked, but only because you had to?
Missing the Benefits
When we do things for Allah— salah or dhikr or anything that we begin with bismillah—just out of habit or with a sense of emptiness, we don’t get the baraka. We miss the benefit of carrying out the act of prayer, brushing our teeth, or even things like parenting. Saying the words without the intention drains the baraka from the act.
Developing Intention
When we say bismillah before beginning something, we have to be present in our recitation. We have to actually make the intention to clean the house for the sake of Allah (swt) and not just say it without awareness just before going about our business.
But awareness isn’t always present in a rush-rush life. We move so fast through everything that we can’t– or don’t— stop to think about what we’re doing or why we’re doing it.
How can we slow things down and bring back that closeness to Allah (swt)?
With a Mantra
A mantra is simply a word or phrase that’s repeated over and over again in order to bring about a change— a transformation, if you will.
A mantra is self-talk. If you tell yourself, “I don’t have time,” “I’m too stressed,” or even, “I’m not good enough”— that’s your mantra.
Why not change the words you’re already saying to ones that can bring you closer to Allah (swt)?
Islamic Mantras
Bismillah is just one of the words we already use many times each day. But the difference between empty words and a mantra is the intention. When you say bismillah with the full intention of sweeping the floor in the name of Allah (swt), it becomes a mantra.
When you say la hawla wa la quwitta illah billah, you’re acknowledging that your strength only comes from Allah (swt) and are asking Him to make you stronger, when you say it as a mantra and with focus.
One Step Further
Your Islamic mantra awakens your mind to the things you want to change for the sake of Allah (swt). Your mind then makes decisions based on the goal you want to achieve.
For example: you’re a good Muslim; you pray five times a day; and you make dua for others, etc. But when your neighbor is sitting beside you, you can’t help but fall into the conversation about her friend’s son who’s fallen prey to the pressures of high school. You’re backbiting. Again.
You know it’s wrong, but you don’t know how to change it. So you ask Allah (swt) for help, over and over and over again. But, you slide into backbiting still.
Ask for Allah (swt)’s help with your mantra. Develop a set of words to immediately make you aware that backbiting is wrong and say them mindfully. You could say something like, “I’m a Muslim who loves Allah (swt) and her brothers and sisters.” Say it with awareness over and over again in an effort to bring about that change. Once you have the words down, you have to use your mantra the right way.
The Right Way to Use Your Islamic Mantra
- Say it 25 times immediately after saying your dua when you wake and before getting out of bed.
- Close your eyes.
- Focus on your words and say them with full intention.
- Focus on your breathing as you say the mantra.
- Repeat often throughout the day, in chunks of 25.
- Repeat your Islamic mantra after dhkir after your salah, as well.
- Then, say it again at night before sleeping.
Mantras don’t bring transformations right away. It can take up to 40 days for your mind to become accustomed to guiding your decisions toward your new behavior, so be patient and consistently ask Allah (swt) to grant you success with your mantra in worshipping Him, as well as in completing the change you want to make for His sake.
What will your Islamic mantra help you to change for the sake of Allah (swt)?
THANKS. REMEMBER IT TAKES 40 DAYS OF TRAINING TO SEE A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR.
I HAD TO QUIT USING TEA COFFEA ETC. AFTER KEEPING FASTS FOR 40 I WAS ABLE TO QUIT IT. BUT UNFORTUNATELY RESTARTED AFTER 2 MONTHS . I WONDER WHERE I WENT WRONG.
Assalamu Alaikum humi,
As far I have learnt through a course in productive Muslim,it takes 21 days for your brain to like the new habit and 66 days to change permanently.
In sha Allah,you would also be able to change habits easily.u can take a look @ Productive Muslim.com for more tips on this.and if you have already known, Alhamdulillah 🙂
thank you much
Masha Allah. Timely Reminder.
ya good It will work insha allah
Assalam o Alaikum,
Jazaka Allah Khairan Kaseera
My sincere duain to the writer and the team of Understandquran for doing such excellent work to bring the Muslims in particular and the all the human beings in general to get rid of anxieties and live a peaceful life with the blessings of Allah SWT, It is very painful to see that why some people do not avoid watching tv dramas which definitely affect the psyche and results in sleepless nights. The best one ivery beatifully expressed in your article ‘A Simple Daily Practice That Can Improve Contact With Allah SWT’. Please continue writing for awakening we Muslims. m-rehman@cyber.net.pk Your nice response with counselling will be appreciated. Allah Hafiz
JazakAllah
Therefore to focus what we are saying in Zikr, Salah and Quran we should learn Arabic language or atleast love it and learn two or three words daily from masnoon duas and then pray and tell others. In this way Alhamdullilah I have increased my concentration towards Allah.
Shukran for the teachings which i will make them in practice and also will remind my friends, neighbours and relatives. Jazakallah Khairan, My God bless you
this article touched me so deeply and gives an easy and do-able solution to bring positive changes in our lives for the sake of Allah. One small question is that in matters pertaining to following Islam, should we not steer clear of words which are associated with religious practices of non-muslims. Like the word “Mantra”, which brings to mind the hindu religion. I looked it up in the dictionary and found the following definition:
(Sanskrit) literally a ‘sacred utterance’ in Vedism; one of a collection of orally transmitted poetic hymns
Thanks for such a wonderful article..Muslims do pray 5 times a day and remember Allah(swt) but I found that they are not involved in good deeds, particularly backbitting. I hope InshaAllah this article explores the correct way of remembering Allah(swt) and changing our habbits.
Maashallah! Similarly ’18 ways to barakah’ on productivemuslim.com is a good read!
Great Article, MashaAllah. You are applying the concepts of meditation(focus exercise) for Islam(submission). People apply meditation/visualization for achieving worldly goals, but this is a great way of applying it for our ultimate goal. Jazaakallah Khair.
jazak Allah khair
MashaAllah! this is great to hear.
Jazak Allah (swt). Keep it up.
I have a big problem and I don’t know whethr this will help, my salat is not consistant I ve being trying so hard to but its not getting better
If you have this problem, then one solution may help you inshaAllah: that is, to know the meaning and the translation of all what you are reciting during Salah, as well as those surahs or verses which you use daily in your Salah. Concentrate on the meaning, then inshaAllah you will be concentrating during prayer and stay focused all the time.
I hope this helps.
Jamani mimi sijaelewa ni nini hio Mantra, ni dua au na kama ni dua inamaana gani yaani nimechanganyikiwa kabisa na mada hii ya Mantra
Thank you so much for the advice.
Assalaam aleikum,
This respond is for Fauza, Fauza asked a question in Kiswahili language, I speak kiswahili, therefore, i will respond in Kiswahili for the benefit of Fauza and other Kiswahili speaker in similar situation, In Shaa Allah.
Mpendwa Fauza, najibu kwa namna nilivyoelewa mimi. Kama nitakosea lolote naomba Mwenyezi Mungu anisamehe.
Mantra ni neno au maneno yanayo rudiwa rudiwa mara nyingi ili kuleta mabadiliko
Mantra ni kujisemesha au kujiongelesha mwenyewe. Mfano ukijisemesha””sina muda”, “nina “stress” “, au mimi sio mzuri/mwema”. Basi haya maneno ndio mantra yako.
Ni vyema kusema maneno ambayo yatakusaidia kukuweka karibu zaidi na Mwenyezi Mungu.
Mantra ya kiislam ni maneno ya kiislam tunayoyasema mara kwa mara mfano Bismillah, Alhamdulillah nakadhalika.
Nilivyoelewa mimi, mantra ya kiislam ni vitu kama dhikr, dua, au maneno yeyote mazuri ambayo si haram yatakayo kubadilisha na kuweka karibu zaidi na Mwenyezi Mungu. Maneno ambayo yatakubadilisha na yatakuongezea taqwa.
Mfano “naweza kumka usiku kuswali tahajjud”, “naweza kufunga sunnah ya jumatatu na alhamisi”, “naweza kusoma Quran kila siku” au kusema in shaa Allah kila unapopanga kufanya kitu Fulani. Au kusema Maa shaa Allah unapoona kitu kizuri, au kusoma dua unapolala au unapoamka.
Fauza Unaweza kuniandikia email:namsha15@gmail.com
Jaazakum Allah khairan,
Dr Amina
Mantra a.k.a auto-suggestions. I’ve read about it in You Can Win. It surely is a way to change your habits and form new ones. It would be more effective, if you combine it with visualization and belief.
Jazak’Allah khair for the reminder sis. I agree that Positive affirmations are important. With right intentions and focusing whatever you do is for the Sake of Allah(swt), you have increased rewards, barakah and most importantly you start making that connection with Allah(swt).
I Personally somehow dislike using the word mantra as it is commonly used by mostly hindus and few other religions. As sometimes things could get misinterpreted.
Jazakallah khayr to all those who’ve put their efforts so this priceless piece has reached us all.
A part of it pointed out a major weakness that i have, alhamdulillah i am able to tell it apart as a weakness. Each day, i try to incorporate in my dua the following, ‘yaa Allah grant me full control over what my tongue gives out [ my speeech]’. sometimes it can be really hard to resist it because the person speaking with you is a really close one, say family.but i believe with the Help of Allah and my effort i will overcome.
I just wanted to share my mantra, maybe somebody might need it too. 🙂
Thanks very much for this awesome article. May allah bless you
Aameen, help us spread this noble work by sharing in your circles.
Stay blessed 🙂
Masha Allah for that
It’s hard to come by experienced people about this subject, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
There’s definitely a lot to know about this topic. I really like all the points you made.