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June 4, 2026
In Surah Ali ‘Imran (3), Allah describes the people of sound minds with two qualities: they remember Allah standing, sitting and on their sides and they think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth (3:191)1. One habit is spiritual, the other intellectual. In the Foundations of Faith series, Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan argues that faith cannot stand on one leg alone. Here are four habits to build that balance.
1. Remember Allah in the In-Between Moments
Dhikr does not require a retreat. Remember Allah while walking between classes, before a meal or while looking out a window. The Quran promises that hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah (13:28)2. The first act of getting closer to Allah is simply remembering Him.
2. Think Deeply, Don’t Just Look
Tafakkur, deep thought about the skies and the earth, is the second habit (3:191)1. Pondering creation is an intellectual exercise the Quran treats as an act of faith. Give your mind real questions to sit with instead of letting it idle.
3. Sit with One Ayah at a Time
Allah asks why people do not reflect deeply on the Quran, pointing once to its perfect consistency (4:82)3 and once to locked hearts (47:24)4. Reflection answers both at once, which is why one Ayah pondered deeply benefits you more than twenty quoted in passing. Beautiful things deserve a long stare.
4. Match Your Learning with Your Prayer
Ustadh Nouman’s rule for students of knowledge and community activists: if you are learning more, you should be praying more. The straight path we ask for in Surah Al-Fatihah (1:6-7)5 runs between those who kept only the spiritual and those who kept only the intellectual. Balance is the Quran’s standard.
When the heart and the mind grow together, the result is purpose: a person who sees a mission in everything they do.
Build all habits with the Foundations of Faith series and deepen your study of the Quran on Bayyinah TV.
Notes
[1] Al-Quran, Surah Ali ‘Imran, 3:191, https://quran.com/ali-imran/191 ↩
[2] Al-Quran, Surah Ar-Ra’d, 13:28, https://quran.com/ar-rad/28 ↩
[3] Al-Quran, Surah An-Nisa, 4:82, https://quran.com/an-nisa/82 ↩
[4] Al-Quran, Surah Muhammad, 47:24, https://quran.com/muhammad/24 ↩
[5] Al-Quran, Surah Al-Fatihah, 1:6-7, https://quran.com/al-fatihah/6-7 ↩
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