Make This Year Count - The Islamic Way

As the crescent of Muharram appears, a quiet yet powerful opportunity arrives-the Islamic New Year. Unlike the fireworks and countdowns of the Gregorian New Year, the Hijri year begins in stillness and remembrance. It invites us not to party, but to pause.

This is not just a new date on the calendar. It's a chance to realign. To ask: Who am I becoming, and is that who I want to be in the eyes of Allah?

A Spiritual Reset

The first sacred month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram, is one of the four months Allah made sacred in the Qur'an (9:36). The Prophet ﷺ called it "the month of Allah"-a title given to no other month. It's a time to start again, inwardly and outwardly.

Islamic New Year Resolutions That Matter

While the concept of "New Year's resolutions" may seem modern, the idea of setting intentions (niyyah) and evaluating one's soul (muhasabah) is deeply Islamic. The early Muslims used to reflect every night-how much more should we reflect at the turn of the year?

Here are four practical but spiritually anchored resolutions for the new year:

1. Commit to a Qur'an Reading Plan

Even if it's just one verse a day, build a bond with the Qur'an this year. Start with:

• 1 ayah after Fajr with translation and reflection.
• Use a Qur'an journal to write what the verse means to you.
• Try completing a 30-day thematic study, e.g., verses on patience, tawakkul (trust), or justice.

2. Reignite Night Prayers (Salat al-Layl)

The nights are long in the early Hijri months-perfect for rekindling Qiyam or at least two rak'ahs before Fajr. It doesn't need to be grand; sincerity is better than quantity.

• Start with 2 rak'ahs once a week.
• Pair it with du'a for what you want in this new year.
• Use it as a moment to cry, breathe, reflect-away from the noise.

3. Keep a Gratitude & Reconciliation Journal

Healing starts when we admit where we've been hurt-or where we've hurt others.

• Write three things you're grateful for daily.
• Choose one relationship to mend this year.
• Ask Allah for help in softening your heart and their heart.

4. Make a Charity & Zakat Schedule

Being generous doesn't have to wait until Ramadan.

• Pick a monthly cause: orphan sponsorship, food aid, mental health support.
• Schedule your Zakat calculations now, not later.
• Let giving become part of your yearly lifestyle.

Make Goals That Lead to Jannah

This new year, don't just chase productivity-chase purpose.

Make intentional goals that bring you closer to Allah:

• Less gossip, more dhikr.
• Less screen time, more soul time.
• Less comparison, more contentment.

And if you fall behind mid-year? Don't quit. Our faith isn't about perfection-it's about sincere return (tawbah).

A Quiet but Powerful New Beginning

The world may not notice when a new Hijri year starts, but the angels do.

So start quietly. Start sincerely. Start with a du'a:

"O Allah, make this year better than the last-for my faith, my family, and my akhirah."

Because in the end, we're not counting days-we're making days count.