As someone who had a late start in life, it’s hard not to feel behind; I have moments where I struggle with it deeply. I converted in the fall of 2018, and it took me until 2019 to learn how to pray salah. In 2020, I got my first hijab, and it wouldn’t be until 2022 that I decided to take my education seriously. With the progress laid out, it seems like I moved embarrassingly slowly, but this is the timeline Allah wanted for me. As Al-Hakim (The Most Wise), Allah knew what action I needed to take and lined up my circumstances so I would take them at the perfect moment. My journey looks flawed, but I’m incredibly grateful to Al-Fattah (The opener) for allowing me to have it.

What I hope young readers will get out of this is that none of our journeys are the same, so don’t rush it. I’ve seen many bright reverts snuff out their own flames by trying to take on too much at once rather than making progress in their deen at a measured pace, learning the sweetness along the way. The Qur’an was sent down to The Prophet SAW over the span of 23 years, fundamental rulings were revealed as the companions became ready for them. There’s a very well-known hadith that emphasizes this principle:

“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Do good deeds properly, sincerely, and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.” – Sahih al-Bukhari 6464. The keyword here is: “moderately”; Allah made Islam easy and beneficial so we can find Him.

So, what do I do if I burn out?

If you find yourself struggling with burnout, there are many ways out; for brevity, I’ll only highlight the ones I feel are most significant.

Return to the basics.

When you find yourself moving at an unsustainable pace, there are three practices to zero in on. The five daily prayers act not only as one of the five pillars of Islam but also as a needed break from our daily stress, improving our spiritual and mental health. The Quran is the core of our faith; it acts as a source of ease, an answer to our problems, and is full of crucial reminders; focusing on it can serve as a reminder of the beauty of our Deen. Dhikr (remembrance) is the act of reaffirming our faith; there are many benefits to dedicating yourself to this, such as quieting the mind. Remembrance can be invoked at any point and be as simple as repeating the word Alhamdulilah.

Reconnect with what called you to Islam.

What do you love most about the religion? Is it the companions’ stories or perhaps the beauty within the Qur’an? Whatever that aspect is, you should return to them and reflect. With so much to do, it’s easy to lose the forest for the trees and stop ourselves from indulging in what we love the most. That’s why it’s paramount to stop and think about these questions as we progress to ensure we’re not losing sight of what we love.

Refine your company

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “A man follows the religion of his friend. So, each one should consider whom he makes his friend.” –Sunan Abi Dawud 4833

The above hadith is more accurate than we often like to admit; if we find ourselves struggling and consistently exhausted, it could be because our friends aren’t the ideal people for us. Changing up our friend group can be one of the hardest things we can ever do, but the results will be well worth it. Jihad an-nafs refers to the struggle against our desires, which is considered the most important type. So imagine how much barakah (blessings) would come out of undergoing this challenge. In 2023, I decided to remake my Discord account; in doing so, I cut down the number of people who had access to me by over half. Since then, I have stayed with those who encouraged me to practice my religion and were an overall positive influence on me. This move served as a catalyst that pushed me to become a better person and make progress on my personal projects.

Everyone’s path will look different because Allah created every person uniquely. There’s no reason to hold onto undo shame or embarrassment solely because you feel like you’re not moving at the same pace as your peers or you’re running on empty. Instead, we should turn to Allah and ask Him to help us move forward in the best way.