Salaam Friends,

Does the struggle ever leave?

Or does it just change shape?!

Last week’s poll has us thinking it’s the latter:

Moral of the story: if you’re struggling, you aren’t alone! 

May Allāh grant ease in all our affairs. 

Āmīn, yā Rabb

We’re sitting here writing this week’s newsletter after Fajr, the world still quiet, still half-asleep. 

And while writing this is never truly difficult, doing it in the early morning, specifically post-Fajr, feels more calming. Definitely, lighter and gentler. 

(And a little smug - oops).

Which has us thinking about the barakah (blessing) of this time. 

Have you ever come across this hadīth of the Prophet ﷺ:

When the Prophet ﷺ specified a time with du‘ā, that time carries objective barakah, not just a subjective feeling.

What does this mean? Objective? Subjective?

Well, barakah isn't just ‘feeling peaceful’ or ‘being productive’. It's actually understood as an increase in good and a stability and continuity of that good. 

So when the Prophet ﷺ made du‘ā for a time—like the early morning—that is effectively: a request for Allāh to place increased good in that time itself. 

Not in you or your mood. 

In the actual substance of time.

Because the barakah is from Allāh, it exists whether you perceive it or not. 

Feel focused? You'll benefit. Feel tired? You’ll still benefit. 

The barakah does not switch on and off based on your experience. That's what makes it objective. 

Just like Laylat ul-Qadr being better than a thousand months, regardless of anyone feeling anything. 

The reality exists independent of perception!

Objective barakah is usually recognised through its آثار (effects), like:

⚒️ Less effort, more result

🤏🏽 Small actions having lasting impact

🧹 Consistency becoming easier to maintain

⌚ Time feeling sufficient even when it’s limited

You don’t need an emotional high or a dramatic spiritual experience.

It’s often quiet, but measurable over time. 

So the barakah is sitting right there folks — we just have to activate it by aligning with the guidance, starting of course with waking up for Fajr and then staying up after it!

Ibn Kathīr explains:

This makes the period immediately after Fajr part of a transition zone of heightened witnessing.

There is a known pattern in the Sunnah that deeds are presented:

The early morning sits within the first presentation window of the day, meaning actions done here are:

From an intellectual standpoint:

Islamically, this aligns with the removal of shaytān’s “knots” after dhikr and the connection between wudū’, and salāh.

[Reference: Bukhāri, 1142 and Muslim, 776]

spiritually = obstructions are lifted

mentally = distractions are minimal

After Fajr, you are not yet immersed in work, people, transactions etc. 

So your intentions are not being pulled in different directions. This means what you do in this time often carries more sincerity and less dilution of intentions. 

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allāh be pleased with him) reported:

This hadith clearly links the prayer to what comes after it — seated and remembering Allāh. 

This means the time after Fajr is not simply a break between activities, but an extension of the prayer itself, where the presence and focus established in salah are carried forward.

It is this continuity—moving from prayer into remembrance without interruption—that helps preserve the barakah of the moment, because the connection to Allāh is maintained.

Taken together, it starts to become clear why this time (after Fajr) isn’t like the rest of the day.

Well, we’ve covered quite a bit of time-ground here…

Next week, we’ll move from theory to practice in shā Allāh: what to actually do with this time after Fajr.

Until week two then friends.

(And remember to sit a while after Fajr!)

Love and du’ās,

The Minara Team