Salam alaykum students!
It’s that time again: back to school! 📚 Whether you’re starting university, beginning higher education, or coming back from the holidays, this season can feel intense. Between the excitement of new projects and the stress of workload, how do you stay aligned with your faith while aiming for excellence?
Good news: being an organized and high-performing Muslim student is absolutely possible! Even better, it becomes an act of worship when done with the right intention.
Here’s your complete guide for a successful school year, in shaa Allah!
Before talking about productivity, let’s set the foundation. Why are you studying?
Is it for your parents? For a good job? For money?
All of these reasons are valid, but add a spiritual dimension to them:
Study to develop the talents Allah gave you, to serve your community, to become a better Muslim on this earth.
This niyyah will transform your learning and your revision sessions into acts of worship. Seriously!
✅ Sunna Tip: write your niyyah down using the Boost feature with Sunna Planner and re-read it whenever you lose motivation.
Your salawat are non-negotiable. Build your classes, revision time, and breaks around these five daily appointments with Allah.
This structure will surprisingly give you more freedom and more barakah.
Fajr + 1 hour of revision = winning combo! Your brain is fresh, distractions are minimal, and barakah is present.
Even if you’re not a morning person, try it for a week or during school breaks. The results will surprise you!
On Sunday evening, spend 30 minutes planning your week:
📚 Mandatory classes
🤓 Revision blocks
🕌 Prayer times (+ mosque travel time if needed)
💘 Family/friends time (very important!)
🚀 Personal projects
💪 Sports
😴 Rest — yes, rest is important too!
✅ Tip: Use the Sunna Planner to plan your days!
25 minutes of focused work + 5 minutes of break.
After 4 cycles, take a longer break with dhikr, prayer, or Qur’an reading.
This method respects natural focus rhythms and integrates spiritual moments regularly.
Perfect if you struggle with concentration — we even discuss ADHD-friendly Muslim routines here!
Divide your day into blocks:
- Fajr: Qur’an reading, morning adhkar
- Shurooq → Dhuhr: Classes or intense study sessions
- Dhuhr → Asr: Short nap / more classes
- Asr → Maghrib: Sports or extracurricular focus
- Maghrib → Isha: Family or relaxation
Choose a maximum of 3 key tasks per day. Any more will leave you frustrated.
Your priorities can mix academic and spiritual goals, for example:
- Revise Chapter 6 of Physics
- Read 2 Surahs from the Qur’an
- Finish marketing assignment
✅ Pro Tip: with Sunna Planner, you can tag your tasks by priority (Urgent, To-Do, Low, or No Priority) so you always have a clear view of what needs to be done today or later.
Problem: Your class from 2-5 pm falls during Dhuhr and 'Asr.
Solutions: Speak to your professor at the start of the year, explain why praying on time is important, it actually helps you be more focused in class. Step out for 5 minutes to pray in a proper spot. Identify prayer spaces on campus in advance. Often, all you need to do is ask. If your request is denied, know that Allah rewards your intention and will open better doors for you.
Sometimes you may feel alone in your values. Here’s how to handle it:
- Connect with other Muslim students
- Stay firm in your principles with kindness
- Use this diversity to grow in patience and wisdom
- Be a positive example of Islam through your behavior
80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Identify the crucial 20% and focus on it.
Do the same spiritually: identify the top 20% of deeds that have the biggest impact on your iman.
On the bus, between classes, while waiting…
Perfect moments to:
- Revise flashcards
- Do dhikr
- Listen to Islamic lectures
- Recite duaa
- Read Qur’an
Lack of sleep kills productivity and spirituality. Aim for 6–8h/night and try to sleep right after Isha to benefit from morning barakah.
Your brain needs quality fuel. Avoid daily junk food (one cheat day a week is fine).
- Fruits & vegetables
- Quality protein
- Nuts & dried fruits
- Plenty of water
Good nutrition and sleep aren’t just for athletes, they’re for anyone chasing excellence! 😜
“A healthy body in a healthy mind.” Just 20–30 minutes of exercise a day can boost concentration, mood, and stress resilience.
Plus, it’s a way to challenge yourself and build mental toughness.
Mawaqit – for prayer times and mosque locations
Sunna Planner – to organize your tasks, do dhikr, and stay productive
Google Drive – to store and organize your notes
Opal – to control screen time and avoid distractions
Not just academic goals! Combine:
- Minimum grades per subject
- Number of surahs to memorize
- Islamic books to read
- Personal projects
- Travel plans
- Internship/apprenticeship search (in shaa Allah)
- Take a few minutes each month to check your progress.
- What’s working? What needs improvement?
- How can you better balance studies and spirituality?
Being a Muslim student is an incredible blessing! You have the opportunity to grow intellectually while strengthening your faith.
Never see your studies and faith as separate, make your education a way to get closer to Allah, to develop the talents He gave you, and to serve Him.
The discipline, perseverance, and organization you develop as a student will benefit you in every aspect of life including your spirituality.
So, are you ready for this new school year?
May Allah make your studies easy, bless your efforts, and make you a shining example through both your results and your behavior.
🎓📱✨ In shaa Allah, this year will be full of success!
Join the “Back to School” Challenge on the Sunna app and aim for excellence this year!
An incredible and comprehensive app in my opinion. A huge thank you. I'm using the free version, but I'm honestly thinking of upgrading to the paid version for more access! Baraka Allahou fikoum!
Perfect for organizing your day between tasks related to religion and other daily professional and personal activities! I really like the daily reminders that we receive! In short, a super useful and easy-to-use app and responsive customer service. Lots of potential for the future too 🙏🏽
