It has been a year.
If I were to look back at my last post, I’d probably feel a sting of “failed momentum.” I had these grand plans for Amin Sihat, but life happened, and the blog sat stagnant. For a while, I felt like that “delusional man” I wrote about in my first-ever post, talking big but not following through.
But then came Ramadan.
To be honest, this year’s Ramadan wasn’t “fantastical” for me. In previous years, I’d go in with massive goals and high-octane energy. This year? It was subdued. I didn’t have a grand plan. I didn’t even use the month to obsess over whether the scale was moving down. I just… let it be.
The Post-Ramadan Litmus Test
There is a profound piece of wisdom in our tradition, often attributed to scholars like Ibn Rajab, who suggested that the sign of an accepted good deed is the good deed that follows it (Al-jaza’ ‘ala al-hasanah al-hasanah ba’daha). Essentially, you can judge the quality of your Ramadan by how you behave once the month is over.
If you are buzzing with a new light and carrying your ibadah into Syawal, it’s a good sign.
Looking at my first few weeks of Syawal, I realized—to my own surprise—that I might have had a “good” Ramadan after all. Despite the lack of fanfare, something shifted. During the month, I developed a routine of a short iktikaf in the morning—just me, the Quran, and some quiet contemplation.
Lo and behold, the routine stuck. I am still doing it.
The “Quran Daily” Experiment
I’ve always been close to the Quran and genuinely derive pleasure from the Book, but this year I wanted a way to visualise that connection. So, I built a simple tool: Quran Daily.
It’s a basic app to track daily reads and keep the momentum going. It isn’t anything fancy, but it helped me rediscover the joy of reading rather than treating it like a chore on a checklist. If you’re curious about how I’m tracking my progress, feel free to check it out and let me know what you think.
High Tide Raises All Boats
There’s a saying that “a high tide raises all boats.” I’ve found this to be true for the soul.
When my spiritual state (my iman) started to see an upswing through this new consistency with the Quran, it started lifting other parts of my life, too. That spiritual momentum created a “mental high” that finally pushed me to look at my physical health again.
Admittedly, my health regime lately has been… well, horrible. I drifted away from the Building Blocks I set for myself. But the clarity I’ve gained recently has inspired me to get my act together.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are small.” (Sahih Bukhari)
That is the energy I’m bringing into this “Revival.” I’m not aiming for a total transformation overnight. I’m just going back to the basics—back to the Diet Suku Suku Separuh and back to moving my body.
What’s Next?
Amin Sihat is evolving. I still want to be physically fit, but I’ve realized that being “Sihat” is a holistic venture: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual.
From here on out, I’ll be sharing more than just weight loss updates. I want to talk about the things I’m pondering—work, politics, and the lessons I derive from my morning Quran sessions.
It has been a long break, but I’m giving it another crack. If you’re still here, thanks for reading. Let’s see where this tide takes us.
