There are things I want to do, but I don’t tend to make resolutions, and I rarely announce future plans any more. For one thing, I don’t want to be a hypocrite, I don’t want to get into the habit of breaking promises. For another, and this is part of Allah’s design: when humans announce projects and plans, we get a little thrill in the brain as if we actually completed it, and this makes us less likely to continue on and succeed. I’ve noticed this in my own life, and when I’ve announced projects or plans in the past, I’ve often quickly abandoned them, or crept along halfheartedly for a bit, before petering out, and may God forgive me, this happens almost any time I announce something before I complete it.
Situations like this call for a dua.
And never say of anything, “Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,”
وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا
Except [when adding], “If Allah wills.” And remember your Lord when you forget [it] and say, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct.”
إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا
Ya Allah, guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct!
InshaAllah, I won’t need it too often, but I’m human and this will likely come in handy at least once a week day hour. I’ve tried to memorize it before, so maybe this will help…
عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا
‘asaa an yahdiyani rabbi li-agraba min haadaa rashadan
Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct.
InshaAllah.
