A Morning Reflection: The Small Things & Ihsaan

The morning is quiet, though my mind is already racing with the tasks of the day ahead. The pull of responsibilities is strong—children to care for, things to organize, a never-ending to-do list. But before the world fully wakes up, I pause. I breathe. I remind myself that this day, like every day, is not just about getting through it. It is about how I move through it. With intention. With awareness. With Ihsaan.

This morning, I find myself tending to the small things—tidying up unnoticed, preparing something for someone who may never even realize it was me, offering a kind word without expecting one in return. None of these actions are grand or extraordinary. And yet, they matter. Because as I do them, I remind myself: Allah sees me doing them. And that alone is enough.

That is Ihsaan—the state of worshipping Allah as though I see Him, and though I cannot see Him, knowing with certainty that He sees me. It is not just in the moments of prayer or fasting, but in the way I speak, the way I give, the way I serve, the way I carry myself when no one else is watching. It is in the fine details, the quiet sincerity of doing something purely for the sake of Allah.

And this is born from Taqwa—God-consciousness, the awareness that this life is temporary, that the Akhirah is permanent, that every deed I do is a provision I carry with me for the journey ahead. Taqwa puts me on the road to Allah, but Ihsaan makes me stop and gather what I need to take with me. It is not just about performing deeds, but performing them with excellence, with sincerity, with love.

And yet, I know that perfection is not mine to reach. It belongs to Allah alone. I will falter. I will have moments where I am not as present as I should be, where my efforts fall short where I feel totally overwhelmed and unappreciated but I am human I will never be perfect so instead I remind myself that even in the yearning to be better, there is reward. Even in striving, even in longing to be closer to Him, there is grace.

So today, I move through my morning with that consciousness. Not seeking thanks, not waiting for recognition, but knowing that every small action, every quiet kindness, is seen by the One who matters most. Because in the end, that is what truly remains—not the praise of people, not the fleeting moments of this dunya, but the sincerity of our intentions with Allah. And intentions with Him are never, ever wasted.

This morning, I ask myself: How am I practicing Ihsaan right now? And in this moment, the answer is simple—by being fully present, by doing the small things with love, and by knowing that in every act, I am seen. Alhamdulillah for the chance to strive, to serve, and to draw closer to Him, one quiet deed at a time.