An Atomic Ramadan?

Atomic Deeds could be the key to your best Ramadan yet...

Ramadan 2024 is now just around the corner. Crazy how time flies.

A few Ramadans ago, I had some very elaborate plans on how I would spend this month of unlimited blessings. Naturally, I was keen to make the most of the exponential rewards that are available in this month so I had devised an all-singing, all-dancing master plan to incorporate as many good deeds as possible. Colour-coded and categorised, I was quietly confident. I thought I would read the Qur’an twice (once with translation, pray every taraweeh at the masjid, do lots of extra nawafil, study the seerah, memorise Surah Rahman and then some. 

Ambitious, sure - but then again, I consider myself an optimist. :) 

Sadly, and quite understandably, I failed miserably. Unfortunately by the end of the month, I only had a few extra voluntary prayers, half a book and perhaps 1/3 of the Quran to show for it. 

It can be demoralising when you plan big, and fail. 

I’m sure many of you can relate. 

My subsequent Ramadans needed a major rethink.  

Of course, Allah rewards according to one’s intentions - so I am a big believer in thinking big, and having the best of intentions. 

But to grow oneself organically, we also need to retain a sense of realism to ensure we execute and hit goals we’ve set. 

So next time, instead of reinventing the wheel, why not implement a strategy that already exists? And comes from one of the most famous hadith of the best of mankind (SAW)? 

The Prophet (SAW) was asked what are the best of deeds? 

He responded: “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if it is small.”

If never hitting your big Ramadan goals is a problem you’ve suffered with in the past, the answer to all of this could be simple: Atomic Deeds. 

Coined from the world-famous, best-selling Atomic Habits by James Clear, this has become a staple of the self-help industry, selling over 15 million copies. Even to this day, it’s still near the top of most best-selling books lists, despite launching over 5 years ago.  

“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger.” - James Clear 

The Prophet (SAW) was the first to advocate small, consistent deeds as the most beloved to Allah, as it is these tiny changes that then compound and lead to transformation in behaviour, results and eventually even your identity. 

The logic behind doing small deeds is simple. It not only increases your chances of being consistent but also avoids chaos and saves you from getting overwhelmed. 

We usually get fatigued and frazzled with the desire to participate in voluntary and involuntary actions during Ramadan by making such grandiose plans, with only a few coming to fruition. And that then inevitably results in disappointment and demotivation, instead of benefitting from the momentum that spiritual Ramadan high should bring.

If this sounds like something you’ve experienced before, this Ramadan, why don’t you try to implement this hadith in your life and see how it goes?

James Clear says if you can get 1% better every day for a year, you'll end up 37 times better by the time the year is up. That means, if you can get 1% better every single day in Ramadan - you can end the month 3 times better than you were when you started it. And of course - it being the month of immense blessings - the barakah alone can accelerate this way beyond that 3x. 

That’s from something small and easy. If reciting a full chapter a day is difficult, start with one page of the Quran a day. If that’s too difficult, how about 5 ayats a day? Then go from there. 

Remember, they say it takes 21 days to form a habit - so Ramadan can be a perfect time for habit formation, for the long term. 

Have the intention that you intend to begin a habit that you will continue for the rest of your life. After all, as the hadith goes - "Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended.” Intend for what is best, with a lifestyle change insha’allah. 

Of course, I’m not saying you should cut down or minimise your worship at all. Far from it. Do what you can, and push yourself to your very limits. This is the month of sacrifice and struggle after all. But think about them as the beginning of the rest of your life. Pace yourself accordingly. Think macro, not micro. Don’t treat the 30 days like a sprint, instead as the beginning of a marathon that will continue for the rest of your life. Perhaps do your worship as intended, and pick just one Atomic Deed you intend to stick by this year. And next year, you can add on another one, and so on. 

Instead of writing down the goals you want to hit, write down who you want to become. Align your atomic deeds with the identity you want to build, and let these deeds then reinforce the person you aspire to be. This is extremely powerful. 

When creating these atomic deeds habits, keep in mind Clear’s 4 Laws of Changing Human Behaviour - based on the concept of the habit loop (Cue-Craving-Response- Reward). 

Here are the 4 Laws:

Make it Obvious - What time will you do it? What exactly will you do? Be clear and specific. 

Make it Attractive - When dopamine goes up, so does the urge to take action. What will you reward yourself with if it’s done? What do you want? What’s your why? Link an action you WANT to do with one you NEED to do. 

Make it easy - Can you complete it in two minutes or less? The law of least effort. How do you make the deed next to impossible to miss? Design the environment, accordingly.

Make it Satisfying - “What is immediately rewarded is repeated. What is immediately punished is avoided.”  Can you track it? Can you have an accountability partner? 

Small, consistent deeds are the key - especially in an age of mass distraction, noise and overwhelm.

Whatever you do, do NOT belittle the small action. Remember, Allah says in the Qu’ran:

“So whoever does [even] an atom’s weight of good will see it. [Qu’ran 99:7]

Do not rush. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Make the right intention, for permanent transformation and get onto it, one atomic deed at a time.

"Some people spend their entire lives waiting for the time to be right to make an improvement." James Clear

There will never be the ‘perfect’ time. So why not make it now? 

That, my friend, can be a great road map for the upcoming Ramadan, insha’Allah. 

Have yourself an amazing Atomic Ramadan and I pray that your month is full of blessings and mercy. 

May Allah put immense barakah in every single intention you make and action you take, ameen.