16 Shaʻban 1446 AH / 15 February 2025

as Salaamu Alaykum

Welcome to the Optimized Muslim Newsletter on all things self-development for Muslims. I synthesise and filter insights, ideas, quotes, resources and more so we can become Optimized Muslims إن شاء الله

There was no email, last week, so this one will make up for it in sha Allah

In today's email: Reflections on turning 32, insights from Ibn Qayyim on patience and gratitude, and practical wisdom for your spiritual journey. Plus: the surprising benefits of L-theanine and caffeine combination.

Probably a 6 Minute read

I found Grey hairs in my beard- thoughts on time

So I turned 32 recently, and coincidentally came across this post which I really resonated with. Especially so considering that I've definitively found my first 2 grey beard hairs. I say definitively, because I made excuses for that alone melanin-challenged strand of hair previously when joking with my family.

Jokes aside, here's the post and my comments underneath:

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"The grey in your beard, Jawad, is not a mark of wisdom, as some might believe. Each strand speaks of life’s impermanence—a quiet call to reflect, recalibrate, and ready yourself for the journey beyond. You are but a traveler, passing through this temporary world on your way to a lasting, eternal abode.

These grey strands are not here to cast shadows over your days but to ignite a fire within—a sense of urgency, a renewed focus. Hold the blessings of this world with gratitude, but loosen your grip on its illusions. Delight in what is given, but remember, these gifts do not define you. Let your heart dwell where it truly belongs, anchored in the One who calls you home.

What provisions have you gathered for the journey ahead? Now is the time to prepare, to release what burdens you, and to move with purpose toward what awaits. Leave behind the distractions that pull you off course. Carry only what strengthens and nourishes your soul." Jawad Mian

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I've always benefitted from reflections like the above.

A deeper lesson is that if you read some of the works of Imam Al Ghazali like "letter to a disciple" or "My dear beloved son", or Ibn Jawzi's Sayd Al Khatir (Captured Thoughts) - they have this kind of self talk.

You can get an idea of how they thought. How they reframed situations. How they processed events. Essentially, what their default operating system is - if that makes sense.

So, as always, we can either nod along and think "that's profound" as we're reading it, or we can try to incorporate how scholarly giants thought into our own mental frameworks.

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Regular muhasaba + honest companionship or mentors.

Don't just rely on your own nafs or the whole "lone wolf" idea.

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The believer is the mirror of another believer.”

A Practical Reminder from Ibn Qayim Al Jawziyah

"The reasons why one half of iman is patience and the other half is gratitude are as follows:

Iman is a term which covers words, deeds and intentions, all of which are based on one of two things, action or abstinence. Action refers to performing a deed in accordance with the instructions of Allah, which is the reality of gratitude.

Abstinence, as in refraining from wrong action, requires patience. The whole of religion is embodied in these two things: carrying out that which Allah has commanded, and refraining from that which Allah has prohibited. (Location 996)"

Patience and gratitude by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyah

My thoughts: First principle thinking. Simply things

Hadith

“Fear Allah SWT in your treatment of animals as they cannot express what they feel. Ride them when they are fit, and take them for food when they are suitable.” (Related by by Abū Dāwūd.)

Seerah

Abdullah Ibn Ubayy was the hypocrite who just before the Battle of Uḥud, withdrew from the Muslim army, taking with him about one-third of the soldiers.

A quote to think about

"A surefire way to make a bad situation worse is to continue replaying it in your mind. The damage is done. The only thing that matters now is making the best choice given your current position." James Clear

Health (kind of)

When paired with caffeine, L-theanine helps increase focus and attention. A study found that a combination of L-theanine and caffeine helped adults focus better during demanding tasks. There are many studies on the synergistic effects of this combo. Here's a snippet from one of the many randomized controlled trials: The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18681988/

Reads for Your Journey:📖

The Alchemy of Happiness Abu Hamid al-Ghazali

"Upon its release, the Alchemy of Happiness allowed al-Ghazali to considerably cut the tensions between the scholars and mystics. The Alchemy of Happiness emphasized the importance of observing the ritual requirements of Islam, the actions that would lead to salvation, and the avoidance of sin."

Powerful Reality Check

Imam Al Ghazali on time:

 Imam al-Ghazali says, “Your time should not be without structure, such that you occupy yourself arbitrarily with whatever comes along. Rather, you must take account of yourself and order your worship during the day and the night, assigning to each period of time an activity that must not be neglected nor replaced by another activity."

Be careful in pronouncing people happy:

“When you see anyone eminent in honours or power, be careful not to be confused by appearances and to pronounce them happy.” - Epictetus 

My thoughts: This also can apply to this obsession with entertainment. People are racing with each other constantly trying to show other people that they are entertained or enjoying themselves which they mistakenly believe is a proxy for happiness or contentment. The irony is that it's often times of solitude and reflection that one gets to experience true tranquility and contentment. Also, just understanding hedonic adaptation and the hadith of the golden valleys will rid you of this Muppet-level thinking

Question to ask ourselves

What provisions have we gathered for the journey ahead?

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Aadil

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