Reverting to Islam was the best decision I’ve ever made الحمد لله

But I’d be lying if I said it was easy.

I had to unlearn everything I thought I knew about life.

My identity, my habits, even the way I understood right from wrong.

I felt overwhelmed, unsure where to start, and often questioned if I was doing enough.

Looking back, I wish someone had told me that it’s okay to take your time.

It’s okay to start small.

Transformation is a journey, not a destination.

That’s why I’m starting a new series called “10 Lessons From 2 Years as a Revert.”

In it, I’m reflecting on the biggest lessons I’ve learned since taking my Shahada.

These lessons have transformed my life.

They need more than a 60-second instagram reel.

That’s where these newsletters come in.

The Plan: A Deeper Dive

Each week, I’ll take one of the lesson and go deeper into it.

Why it matters, how I applied it, and how you can use it to overcome the same struggles.

Whether you’re a revert, a born Muslim, or just someone looking for clarity and structure in your faith, I pray that Allah makes this series beneficial for you.

The Common Trap

Before Islam, I thought life had no deeper purpose.

You live, find happiness (if you’re lucky), and then you die.

No accountability.

No justice.

No heaven.

No hell.

But when I started learning about Islam, everything changed.

I realized:

God is real.

He’s always been here watching, protecting and guiding me.

He knows everything about me, even my thoughts.

And one day, I’ll stand accountable.

That hit hard.

I saw my sins and how much I needed to change.

What if I die tomorrow? I need to fix this now.

So I pushed myself.

I tried to learn all the rules, implement them and transform overnight.

But it only led to a downward spiral of overwhelm and identity crisis.

Because when you try to change everything at once, you end up changing…

nothing.

The Journey

Here’s what we forget: Islam wasn’t revealed all at once.

It came step by step.

The Muslims who followed the Prophet ﷺ experienced two phases:

• The 13 years in Mecca: This was a time of building character, loving Allah, and developing the mindset of a believer. There were no heavy rules or regulations during this time.

• The 10 years in Medina: This is when rules and regulations were introduced, step by step, after the foundation of faith and mindset had been firmly established.

They focused on loving Allah, understanding His attributes, and building their character.

Only after that foundation was solid did rules and regulations come into play.

Yet today, we often try to sprint before we can walk.

We skip the spiritual foundation, go straight to the rules and wonder why we feel overwhelmed.

Building the foundation:

Just like Islam was revealed in stages, we too need to implement it in stages.

Start With Allah

Build your foundation by strengthening your relationship with Allah.

You can’t love someone you don’t know.

• Learn His names and attributes.

• Understand who you’re worshiping and why.

You'll find plenty of lectures on youtube about this topic.

I like Ali Hammuda's series "change of heart", you can find it here

Prayer

Prayer (Salah) is the first thing you’ll be asked about on the day of judgement.

It’s also what sets a Muslim apart from a non-Muslim.

Learning how to pray can feel hard, but trust me, it’s so worth it.

Here are some things that helped me:

1) listen to surah al-fatiha on repeat

• On the bus

• During walks

• Before bed

Repetition is key. The more you hear it, the easier it sticks.

2) Follow an App or YouTube Video

The app I used is called Namaz.

It shows the movements and what to say step by step.

Apps like this are better than writing things down in my opinion.

You just press play and follow along.

3) Start small

Feeling overwhelmed? Start with one prayer.

I chose Fajr because:

- Fewer distractions

- You’re usually at home

- No stress about finding a place to pray.

Build consistency with one, then add more.

4) Organize your day around prayer

5 daily prayers isn’t as overwhelming as it seems if you plan ahead.

- Identify your prayer times

- Know where you’ll pray

(pro tip: dressing rooms are a lifesaver)

Even with a busy schedule, small adjustments go a long way.

5) Track your progress

Use a habit tracker.

Seeing 10, 20, or 30 days of consistent prayer motivates you not to break the chain.

You can download my habit tracker by clicking here (it's free)

6) Make a lot of du'ā

رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ

My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.

[14:40]

You’ll get there, inshaAllah.

Keep going, and trust in Allah.

Growth takes time.

The companions of the Prophet ﷺ took years to develop their faith.

You’re not behind.

You’re exactly where Allah has written you to be.

Question Before You Implement

Just because someone says you “should” do something doesn’t mean it’s your next step.

Many people unknowingly mix cultural practices with Islam.

So, even if the advice comes from a good place, you’re still responsible for verifying its reliability.

Before implementing any practice, ask yourself:

• Is this backed by a reliable source?

• Does it align with the Qur'an and Sunnah?

Take the time to seek knowledge from trusted scholars and authentic sources. You don’t need to act on everything immediately, especially if you’re unsure.

Allah knows that you are in a state of learning, and you are not held responsible for what you do not know.

Now that doesn't mean you should “not learn” to avoid being held accountable, because Allah knows your heart as well as your mind.

Take Action

Pick one thing to focus on.

• Praying Fajr on time.

• Morning / Evening Adkhars

• Learning one of Allah’s 99 names.

Whatever it is, make it non-negotiable.

If you’re not consistent in your 5x prayers, start there.

Use this framework from Atomic Habits:

• I will (behavior) at (time) in (location).

Example: I will pray Fajr at 5:00 AM in my bedroom.

“The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if it is small.” (Bukhari)

You’ve Already Proven You’re Different

Most people never take the time to prioritize their personal growth.

You, however, are different.

By simply acknowledging that you want to grow closer to Allah and live with intention, you’ve already taken a step that many never will.

I want you to know that if you’re struggling with consistency, motivation, or limiting beliefs, it’s not your fault—it’s the approach you’ve been given.

Modern self-help books often make discipline seem hard and unattainable because they leave Allah out of the picture.

They ask you to rely only on yourself, your limited energy, and your fleeting willpower.

As Muslims, we don’t have to play by those rules.

That's why i created discipline through deen.

It’s designed to help you break down the overwhelm into small, actionable steps.

And no, this isn’t just another “feel-good” self-help guide.

It’s a framework based on timeless Islamic principles, giving you the tools to:

• Create routines centered around worship — not empty productivity hacks.

• Leverage tawakkul, so you’re relying on Allah, not the fleeting highs of motivation.

• Rewire your mindset to overcome limiting beliefs that holds you back.

• Fill your days with clarity, purpose, and barakah.

→ Download Discipline Through Deen now.

Make the choice your future self will thank you for.

Not Ready Yet? No Problem.

Transformation doesn’t happen overnight, and starting small is better than not starting at all.

To help you ease into this journey, I’ve created a free resource: the 7-Day Islamic Discipline Blueprint.

It’ll help you:

• Build small, intentional habits rooted in worship.

• Start creating a disciplined routine without overwhelm.

• Gain confidence in your ability to stay consistent.

→ Grab your free blueprint here.

Don’t wait for the perfect time. Start now, with what you have.

And remember that the smallest step forward is still progress.

May Allah grant you success in this journey of transformation

That’s all i have for you today!

- Lina♡