I don’t know about you, but I used to feel that setting boundaries would make me a bad Muslim.

I thought that my heart should be open to everyone – my fellow Muslim should have access to me. But I was naïve.

Getting good at setting boundaries protects our peace. I needed to remind myself of what Islam does, and doesn’t, expect of me. And I used this as my guide.

In Islam, we’re taught balance and intention in everything. That includes who we give our time, energy, and attention to. Saying no isn’t selfish; it’s an act of sincerity. If saying yes would pull you away from Allah or leave your heart unsettled, then saying no becomes an act of self-love.

So if there’s something sitting heavy on your chest right now; something you said ‘yes’ to, when you really meant ‘no’, give yourself permission to set a boundary, and protect your peace.