A bright morning welcomes a new day at the Islamic boarding school with cool, soothing air. After the excitement of the Quran memorization competition ends, the atmosphere at the boarding school now shifts to a quieter but still energetic daily rhythm. The students began to familiarize themselves with the small habits taught by Ustadzah Hamidah as the foundation for building strong character and faith.
Aira, who is always meticulous, leads the "Small Sharia Habits" program with the naqibah, including Nisa. They put together a simple but meaningful schedule of activities—such as practicing consistency in sunnah prayers, morning and evening zikr, and maintaining good manners when studying and interacting. "These small habits will equip us with extraordinary discipline and sincerity," said Aira during her briefing.
On the other hand, Zahra continues to be the class's source of humor, never running out of energy to cheer up her friends. But this time, she tried a new approach: weaving lighthearted religious messages into her jokes. "Hey, don't forget to recite a prayer before bed so you have good dreams, not ones where you're chased by a giant spider!" she said with her signature playful style, successfully making everyone laugh.
Nisa observed the small changes taking place around the Islamic boarding school, and with her keen eyes, she emphasized the importance of maintaining purity of heart and environment. "We start with small things," she said to Lina, "such as reminding each other not to gossip, and focusing more on real charity."
Lina, a charismatic young teacher, facilitated the weekly dialogue session. She invited the students to share their experiences and reflections on the implementation of these small sharia habits. "This dialogue not only strengthens our knowledge, but also strengthens our bonds of brotherhood," said Lina with a hopeful smile.
Tariqah, who now increasingly appreciates the importance of the process, actively participates. She begins to share a small story about her struggle to get used to performing sunnah prayers and dhikr, which used to feel difficult, but now feels easier with the help of her friends and teachers.
Meanwhile, Syarifah found an old manuscript in the library containing advice and inspiring stories about the power of small acts of charity that have a big impact, which will be added to this week's program material.
Ustadzah Hamidah closed the morning briefing with an enthusiastic statement, "Small habits that we do with sincere intentions and consistency, God willing, will have a tremendous effect. Let us make this the main foundation of our journey."
***
Among the students, Zahra stood out with small changes that had a big impact on herself and those around her. Usually known as the humorous one who always lightened the mood, Zahra now began to cultivate the habit of reciting morning and evening prayers regularly, even if only a few simple sentences.
One morning, as they gathered for their daily prayer, Zahra glanced at her friends and said, "I believe that prayer is like a charger for our hearts. If we forget to pray, our hearts become low on energy and we easily become stressed." Her words spontaneously drew laughter and warm applause. This small habit, though trivial, helped Zahra grow calmer and more focused in her studies.
Meanwhile, Nisa, who was busy managing the naqibah activities, began to practice stricter time management, reminding the other students not to delay their prayers and studies. One afternoon, she saw Tariqah looking exhausted after attending a long tahfiz session. Nisa invited Tariqah to set a schedule for their worship rituals together, so that they would not overdo it but remain consistent.
Tariqah, who had been feeling the heavy burden of memorization targets and boarding school activities in the past few weeks, gradually felt the benefits of this small habit. She began to feel a new sense of calm and strength in facing her days, like finding an oasis amidst the overwhelming busyness surrounding her.
At the library, Syarifah opened an old manuscript that has now become an inspiration for many students. The manuscript tells the story of a young student who, by consistently reading one verse of the Qur'an every day, was able to change his fate and that of his family for the better. The story was retold in a discussion session by Lina, who, in her inspiring way, linked the story to the daily lives of the students.
Ustadzah Hamidah continued to watch over them with gentleness and firmness. She often gently reprimanded those who began to slack off, but also gave appreciation for the small progress made by each student. "Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Do not underestimate the small habits you do sincerely," she said during the afternoon study session.
Lina closed the morning session with a warm dialogue, "What do you feel after starting to make sunnah prayers and dhikr a habit? Who wants to share the small changes they have felt?"
Amidst her busy schedule, Aira took the time to sit in the corner of the madrasah mosque, calming her mind while offering prayers. "It turns out that even a little time can lighten the heart and clear the mind," she murmured softly. She began to feel a big change in herself; not only did she become a more patient leader, but she also became more sincere in facing the dynamics of the Islamic boarding school.
On one occasion, Aira invited Zahra and Nisa to discuss how to apply fiqh values in everyday life. Nisa astutely gave examples of the application of manners and justice in social interactions that are often overlooked by most teenagers. "We have to start with small things, such as helping friends who are in difficulty or keeping the trust that has been entrusted to us," said Nisa with a confident voice.
Zahra chimed in with her cheerful style, "As for me, I'm learning to be patient when class gets noisy and sometimes makes me dizzy. Dhikr is like a miracle cure for stress, you know!"
That night, Aira wrote a short journal about the changes in herself. She recorded how the habit of praying at night and reciting prayers enabled her to see problems more wisely. She also began to notice friends who seemed to be struggling, helping them without judging and encouraging them to remain steadfast.
Lina, who observed these positive changes, guided Aira to lead a small training session for the students on emotional management and strategies for maintaining consistency in worship. "A leader who can manage themselves well will become an inspiring role model for many people," Lina reminded her gently.
On the other hand, Tariqah admired Aira's transformation. "Sis Aira has become a warmer and more approachable person. I've learned that leadership isn't just about directing, but also about understanding and giving," Tariqah reflected.
At the library, Syarifah prepared additional books that discuss the importance of routines and small habits in shaping character. She knew that with the right literature, the students would be further assisted in their spiritual and academic journeys.
Ustadzah Hamidah closed the day with a solemn message, "Every small change you make with sincere intentions, God willing, will radiate a great light in your lives and the lives of others. Do not underestimate the power of sharia habits, because they are the foundation for blessings."
***
Nisa, a young naqibah known for her keen eye and meticulousness, began to realize that small habits are actually a strong foundation in shaping the character of santri. Every day, she supervises and guides the santri to apply the principles of sharia in their simple but meaningful lives.
One afternoon, Nisa made her regular visit to several groups of Islamic boarding school students. She observed how they interacted and gently reminded them to be disciplined in performing congregational prayers and maintaining good manners while studying. "Simple habits such as reminding each other to do good things are important," she said to one of the groups, "because big changes start with small, consistent steps."
While discussing with Lina, Nisa shared her experience of facing challenges when some students liked to procrastinate on sunnah prayers or zikr. Lina suggested holding a motivational session based on inspirational stories from an old manuscript that Syarifah was reading. "The stories can be a mirror and motivation so that the spirit of sharia habits does not fade," said Lina.
The next day, Nisa led a motivational session by reading a story about a former student who lived simply but steadfastly, eventually becoming an important figure in improving his boarding school community. The story captivated the students with a new spirit. They looked at each other with the resolve to improve themselves little by little.
Lina also taught Nisa techniques for facilitating discussions that made each student feel heard and valued. "This is important so that they feel involved, not just lectured," Lina told Nisa. Using this method, Nisa saw a rapid change in the students' attitudes—from being initially lethargic and careless, they now began to be disciplined and responsible.
Meanwhile, Tariqah, who often communicated intensely with Nisa, felt the positive impact of her naqibah's guidance. Tariqah began to understand that consistency and sincerity in small acts of worship could build inner peace that strengthened the soul.
During the weekly evaluation meeting, Aira praised Nisa's performance. "Your approach to strengthening the roots of habit is extraordinary. This is a valuable asset for building the students' character as a whole," said Aira.
Meanwhile, at the library, Syarifah was preparing new material containing a collection of prayers and remembrance that were easy for the students to practice as reinforcement for their habits. She knew that the combination of knowledge and practice was the key to success.
Ustadzah Hamidah closed the evaluation session with an encouraging message, "Don't forget, every progress you see today is the result of small habits that you have patiently and sincerely cultivated. True strength lies in simple perseverance."
***
That week, the Islamic boarding school faced a small test that challenged the consistency of the Sharia habits that were being built. The usual cool atmosphere turned a little tense when some students began to show signs of negligence in performing the sunnah prayers and dhikr that had become a routine.
Aira, who was sensitive to changes in the atmosphere, immediately held a small meeting with the naqibah, including Nisa, to discuss this phenomenon. "This is an important moment to show that this small habit must be taken seriously," said Aira firmly. Nisa nodded, "Sometimes temptations from outside and busy activities make us forget, but it is precisely at that moment that this habit must become a protector of the heart."
On the other hand, Zahra, who was usually the most cheerful, began to look restless. In her group, several friends complained of fatigue and wanted to skip evening prayers just to get to sleep earlier. Zahra felt relieved when Lina and Nisa invited them to have an open discussion about the importance of consistency and the long-term impact of Sharia habits.
"Last night I almost didn't join the dzikir," Zahra admitted, "but remembering your words, I found the strength to resist laziness because I know this is for my own good."
The power of dialogue conveyed by Lina and Nisa's encouraging spirit succeeded in turning pessimism into a new spirit. They made a plan to add daily reminders via text messages and motivate each other.
However, a small conflict arose when Tariqah began to feel the burden of memorization targets and Sharia habits weighing heavily on her. During one evening session, she was forced to leave the prayer gathering early, which made her feel guilty. Nisa, as the naqibah, approached her with care, explaining that the spiritual journey is not a race but a gradual process that must be adapted to each individual's capabilities.
"What's important is not to stop, even if our steps are small. Consistency is the key, and we are all here to support you," Nisa said in a soothing voice.
That night, Tariqah cried in prayer, letting go of all her burdens and asking for strength to continue her struggle. She realized that the small sharia habits that had been taken for granted all this time actually held great power to make her stronger and more resilient.
Ustadzah Hamidah emphasized in the closing lecture of the day, "We are ordinary beings who need steadfastness and patience. If you fall, do not lose hope. Rise up and learn the wisdom from every trial."
That night, the Islamic boarding school was once again filled with new hope, having weathered that small trial with the conviction that the profound impact of Islamic practices would continue to be evident as long as they remained diligent and sincere.