Learning Arabic can be viewed as one of the ways we can grow closer to Allah (glorified and exalted be He). Insha Allah this article will look at why Arabic is so important in our lives, and also outline some practical tips to get you started.

Modern Standard Arabic or Classical/Qur’anic?

Of course there are two forms of Arabic: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Classical Arabic, that of the Qur’an. You need to decide why it is you are learning Arabic. What do you hope to get out of it? The ability to converse with other Arabic speakers? The ability to be able to read the words of Allah (glorified and exalted be He) with complete understanding?

I have met many people who suggest that learning MSA alongside Classical is the best method. However, only you can know what works best for you, and most importantly what you have time for.

While we can grasp the meaning of the Qur’an through translation it will never be the exact meaning as that of the Arabic words. Arabic is an extremely rich language and often there are no equivalent words in other languages such as English. Therefore, without learning Arabic it is unlikely we can ever fully appreciate the meaning and linguistic beauty of the Holy Qur’an.

Arabic and Our Relationship with the Qur’an

Needless to say, that if you understand the words of the Qur’an as intended by Allah (glorified and exalted be He) then you are likely to feel closer to your Creator as a result thereof. Learning Arabic can be viewed as an extension of gaining knowledge in Islam.

Let us not forget Allah (glorified and exalted be He) asks in the Holy Qur’an: ‘“Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”’ [Qur'an: Chapter 39, Verse 9].

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge. [Muslim]

Imagine: you are praying behind one of the famous imams in Masjid al Haram and you are able to understand everything being recited. Imagine the feeling of Allah (glorified and exalted be He) speaking directly to your heart. You are likely to have greater khushoo in your prayer because of your increased understanding of the language and therefore the impact of the meaning.

This, in turn, is likely to encourage you to read the Qur’an more often, and learn more surahs for recitation during salah. If Allah (glorified and exalted be He) is speaking to you directly through Arabic, then this is sure to make your reading of Qur’an and salah more meaningful and productive; ultimately helping you to improve your life, overall.

Allah (glorified and exalted be He) has made Islam easy for us. In the Qur’an it is written: ‘And indeed, We have eased the Qur’an in your tongue that they might be reminded’ [Qur'an: Chapter 44, Verse 58]. With the right intention, Allah (glorified and exalted be He) will help you to achieve your Arabic goals.

Benefits of Learning Arabic

As well as the many benefits for increasing our understanding of our Deen, learning Arabic can provide other benefits too:

1. Allah (glorified and exalted be He) says in the Holy Qur’an that we should continue learning throughout our lives and ask to have our knowledge increased: ‘And say: “My Lord, increase me in knowledge”’ [Qur'an: Chapter 20, Verse 114].
   As Muslims, we should always be seeking ways to increase our knowledge – mastering Arabic is certainly a beneficial way to do this.
2. Depending on the type of Arabic you are learning e.g. different dialects. Your travel to the respective parts of the Arab world will be easier as you find yourself able to communicate with the locals.

A ‘How to’ Guide for Learning Arabic

1. Practice, practice, practice – make mistakes, be fearless, and make dua that Allah (glorified and exalted be He) makes learning Arabic, easy for you.
2. You don’t have to be living in an Arabic-speaking country to practice your new language skills. There are thousands of resources available on the Internet e.g. quizzes, listening exercises, pronunciation guides. You can also find yourself a ‘language buddy’ via Skype through which you can exchange languages e.g. Arabic in exchange for English. This is a great – and free – way to practice your speaking skills in a non-Arabic speaking country.
3. Read the Qur’an regularly – remember the first word of Revelation was: Qul (recite). Therefore, take the advice of your Creator and develop the habit of reading Arabic or reciting regularly. You will soon begin to recognize common words and therefore begin to grow your vocabulary bank. Your new best friend will be your dictionary!  Making flash cards can help you to remember and revise vocabulary. Be sure to revisit new words regularly to test yourself.
4. Allocate set days and times of the week when you can focus on your studies. Find a suitable location where you know you can study in the kind of environment that works best for you.
5. Discover how best you learn. If you learn better by listening and practicing conversations then there seems little point in sitting for hours every day and reading a grammar book. Discover your learning style and you will see the difference.
6. Focus on the skills that you need to practice. It may not be the best use of your time to practice your speaking skills if your main objective is to perfect your listening skills e.g. for listening to Qur’an recitations.
7. Surround yourself by the language. Read the Arabic newspaper. Read the Qur’an. Watch Arabic shows. Listen to Arabic radio stations. Who is your favorite reciter of Qur’an? Listen to them on CD. Try to have conversations with other Arabic speakers. If possible, travel to an Arabic-speaking country so you have no choice but to use the language that you have learned!
8. Make it fun! When you think of language learning perhaps you imagine pages and pages of grammar rules. It doesn’t have to be this way. If it’s not fun, then you will only find excuses and reasons why you cannot study. Have you considered a language exchange via Skype?
9. Start small. As with anything, make it manageable otherwise you will only be discouraged. Bithnillah, the days will slowly turn into weeks and you will be amazed at how much you have learned.
10. Stop procrastinating! If we want to do something, we have to make time for it and possibly make some sacrifices too. We all lead busy lives these days, however there is no excuse for not finding time for something which can bring us closer to Allah (glorified and exalted be He).
11. Join a class or self-study. Only you can decide how best you will acquire the language and also what you have the time for. If you know that you can only study once the kids have gone to bed or before Fajr then self-study is likely to be your best option.

We’ve perhaps scratched the surface of why you should be learning Arabic and how best to do so productively. What are your experiences of learning Arabic? Share your productive tips with readers below.

 About the Author:

Sadia has a passion for education and being the change she wants to see in this world. She is currently a teacher; a blogger (visit www.globaleducationdevelopment.blogspot.com to find out more, or follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gedblog); and a volunteer for the Islamic Education Project: Madaar. Visit www.openislamiccurriculum.com for more information on getting involved.

[ek-ser-sahyz] noun

bodily or mental exertion, especially for the sake of training or improvement of health: Walking is a great exercise.

Exercise, without it we are not as healthy as we could be. Without it we are not as productive as we could be. Without it we are not exploiting our mind and body to their fullest potential. Without it we are not fulfilling our religion to its fullest. Without it we are not the Muslims we could be.

Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Two favors that many of the people squander are health and free time.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi]

Although some of us may find that exercising doesn’t come easy, we at Muslim Fitness feel that it’s a key element in being a well-rounded Muslim. Being physically active should be cultivated in every Muslim from a young age. Its benefits are endless and enduring. The benefits of play allow the young to expend their excess energies which in turn will aid them in focusing on the cognitive functions needed for academic and Islamic studies. The benefits of play allow more mature individuals to stay young, vivacious and stress free, in turn allowing them to perform their manifold daily responsibilities such as work, family, Islamic duties and everything in between.

Here at Muslim Fitness we strive every single day towards living a well balanced life. That means that we work hard at our careers, we work hard at parenthood, we work hard at being better Muslims and we definitely play hard. What do we mean by “play hard”? We mean play or engage in physical activities such as ice skating, sledding, walking, biking, jogging, tennis, basketball, squash, aerobics, lifting weights, climbing stairs, chasing the kids, throwing a Frisbee, pitching a baseball, softball, in line skating – anything that engages the body to move and stretch and increase heart rate.

Let’s admit that theoretically, most of us know and believe that exercise is beneficial for us, whether we are young, old or anywhere in between. So why are most of us not engaging in some kind of “play” every day?

Some world cultures imply that exercise is not for women. Women are raised to shun any form of “play”. They are taught that “play” is masculine and that any woman participating in play will become masculine and forward in her ways. In some cultures women are made busy with the household and family responsibilities and are not allowed the time to engage in “play”. If they find time for “play” then they are looked upon as irresponsible and child like.

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said: “The Prophet raced with me and I beat him.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

Brothers and sisters, as long as we are not engaging in anything unlawful, trespassing the limits set by the Shariah or letting ourselves get carried away and forgetting about our truest reason for being, we can safely bury those stigmas and look ahead toward a healthy future for ourselves and our families!

Here’s how to help kick start your new active lifestyle.

1. Choose one or several activities or sports you enjoy:

Everyone has at least one activity that they like. Let’s take walking for example: very simple indeed but highly effective for improving blood circulation throughout the body. Good blood circulation means that oxygen and nutrients are being carried efficiently to all internal organs including lungs, heart, and brain as well as muscle tissue hence leaving the body full of energy and vitality.

2. Select and commit to at least 3 days in your week to practice your selected activity(ies) for 1 hour:

Commitment is essential when implementing changes in one’s lifestyle. Without commitment failure to change is eminent. We must find time in our busy schedule if we want change to work. No need to over commit. We’ve known beginners who’ve gone “gung ho” by implementing daily exercise for up to 2 hours at a time resulting in exhaustion within 2 weeks. Thus leading to the inevitable, “it’s too hard” or “I can’t keep this up. I get too tired”. So please, keep it simple and realistic for better chances of success.

3. Find a time slot for each day that best suits your schedule:

Take a look at your daily activities and habits. Choose a time where you are the least busy and pencil in your activity for one hour:

• After Fajr prayer, while the children are still asleep or you steal a few of hours before work or class.
• After putting the children on the school bus or dropping them off at school.
• During your lunch break or between classes.
• Immediately after work or before picking the kids up from school.
• Just before sunset (Maghrib)

4. Prepare whatever equipment you will need for your activity(ies):

Being prepared is extremely important. If the needed equipment is not available then it’s over. Busy schedules do not permit losing time for unpreparedness. So carry a sports bag in the trunk of your car with your “gear” or leave it at your workplace. If you’re a student, then leave your sports bag in your locker.

5. When the time comes, whether in the mood or not, don’t find excuses:

This is where your level of commitment will count the most. It becomes too easy for us to find excuses when we are not in the mood to do something. This is where the winners will rise above their laziness and all the futile excuses popping up in their mind. They will hold true to their commitment and reap the rewards at the finish line.

6. Find a partner to share activities with:

In our experience we’ve found that some people commit more easily and successfully to being active if they have a partner. There is an increased sense of accountability and responsibility with a partner. It also becomes a support system where each individual relies on the other for encouragement, motivation and progress.

We hope that this article will inspire and motivate our brothers and sisters to make positive changes in their lifestyle, improve their health and become well-rounded Muslims. Let us know how you get on with playing hard!

About the Author:

Muslim Fitness was created in collaboration by husband/wife team Wasim and Myriam. They have extracted over 20 years of knowledge gained through personal experience, research and testing, which qualifies them to provide the keys to success in attaining health and fitness goals. Through Muslim Fitness, they are able to share their knowledge and educate Muslims on the “how to” of getting healthy. They hope to change the wahttp://productivemuslim.com/wp-admin/post-new.php#y Muslims view and feel about fitness and nutrition by showing the direct correlation between having good health and being happy and productive Muslims. Find out more at http://youtube.com/MuslimFitness | http://facebook.com/MuslimFitness | MuslimFitness2012@gmail.com.

We’re looking for a committed and dynamic individual to volunteer with us for a four-month internship in the following position:

Social Media Assistant (4-month Internship)

Aim: To manage all of Productive Muslim’s social media profiles, respond to messages/queries from the audiences on all platforms, and publish articles on ProductiveMuslim.com.

Responsibilities:

• Manage all social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, and LinkedIn):
  • Post engaging, relevant content on each profile daily (could be scheduled in advance) in addition to posting announcements
  • Respond to all messages/queries from fans on all social media platforms
  • Ideally remain abreast of changes taking place on various social media and discuss with team/reflect them on Productive Muslim’s use of the media

• Publish articles on ProductiveMuslim.com:
  • Post articles via WordPress while sourcing relevant images when required
  • Respond to readers’ comments on articles as required or forward to respective team for follow-up

• Assist Executive Assistant in administrative tasks, including:
  • Customer service via our main inbox (responding to emails)
  • Scheduling meetings
  • Other administrative tasks as required

• Attend online Skype meetings with team members when required

Skills:

• Excellent organizational and communication skills – Essential
• Be committed, hardworking, and motivated – Essential
• Computer-literate and quick learner – Essential
• Ability to meet deadlines – Essential
• Experience with and proficiency in all or most of the above-mentioned social media platforms – Essential
• Experience with WordPress or other blogging site – Desirable
• Experience in customer service – Desirable
• Shared vision for ProductiveMuslim.com – Desirable

Estimated Commitment: 10 hours per week (Note: Ramadan is coming up and that is our peak period of productivity :) – lots of work but lots of reward, in sha Allah. So please bear that in mind.)

Benefits

Reward:
What has motivated our team to carry ProductiveMuslim.com forward since 2008? It is the reward in this life of inspiring people and turning lives around for the better and the reward in the next life for the hard work dedicated to Allah’s (glorified and exalted be He) pleasure.

Personal Development:

• Improve social media skills and marketing via these platforms
• Free or subsidized access to relevant training programs
• Develop ability to work with a global online team using project management tools
• Personal development opportunities through interaction with team members
• Reference available upon successful completion of tenure or upon voluntary resignation

Training Provided: Hands-on training of the systems used as well as an overview of team guidelines

How to Apply

If you have the skills we’re looking for and are motivated to work with our dynamic team of volunteers, here’s what you need to do:

• E-mail your CV to admin@productivemuslim.com stating “Social Media Assistant” in the subject line of the your email
• Provide a cover letter indicating why you want to apply for the position and how you think you fit the description
• Deadline for applications: 25th May 2013

What to Expect

Sent in your application? Great! Our team will conduct a short-listing process after 25th May, 2013. If your application has been short-listed, you will be contacted for an online interview within a few days. Although we would love to personally respond to each and every proactive applicant, the large volume of applications we receive usually prevents us from doing so. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

F.A.Q.

Is this a paid position?
No, the position is an unpaid, voluntary one. The Productive Muslim Team is a big team of dedicated volunteers. :)

How is the training conducted?
The training will be held online by the team heads.

Where are you located?
Productive Muslim is a global team with members in countries including US, Canada, UK, UAE, Bosnia, France, Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia. All our work is conducted online, hence you can be anywhere in the world to apply for the positions above. 

How are teams structured?
Productive Muslim is structured into four teams – Admin, IT, Marketing & Sales, and Research & Content. Each team has a Head, who reports directly to the founder of Productive Muslim. 

I can’t seem to fit the role description above, but I still want to join the Productive Muslim team. What do I do?
Keep an eye on our website. As we’re growing, alhamdulillah, we often have openings in the team. 

But I’d like to join Productive Muslim NOW!
If you still insist, send us an e-mail through the “Contact Us” page and tell us your skills and strengths. Better yet, send us your resume.

In Part 1 of this series, I focused on information overload in the YouTube Culture, and steps you can take to manage this. In this part, you will read more about how to be selective in what you watch, and what else you can do to get the best out of watching online videos.
 

So Many Trees in the Forest

In Part 1 of this series, I talked about how easy it is to become overloaded with information these days and the negative impact this has on your productivity. There is no doubt that you must seek knowledge, and the immediate availability of YouTube videos definitely makes that easier. Maybe too easy sometimes. Whatever topic or medium of information you choose, you should always ask yourself whether you’re really benefitting or just passively taking in information.

Making an inventory, prioritizing and disconnecting are essential steps to take when you’re out there in the information jungle, but still, with all that’s available, being selective can be a real tough task. What you’ll want to avoid is picking up bits and pieces of information here and there and find that you can’t see the forest for the trees. Instead, go for information that’s both focused and comprehensive. Here are two more ideas to help you with that:

1. Books

There are video lectures that discuss or explain a particular book or other written materials. Make sure you have the book while watching. This way, the outline and the source of information are clear and straightforward, enabling you to stay focused. And you will also benefit from using more than one skill (listening/watching, reading) to process the information. Well-known basic books include ‘Kitab at Tawheed’, or an explanation of the ‘Forty Hadith of Imam an-Nawawi’.

2. Follow a program

Rather than jumping from video to video about one or more topics, choose the ones that are part of a program, or series. They usually aim to give you a deeper understanding of the topic, plus it will give you the satisfaction and motivation boost of having ‘finished something’. For example, try watching a complete series about the seerah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) or the different Companions. You could find a program on how to learn to read and recite the Qur’an with tajweed (correct pronounciation), or benefit from a series on the tafsir (commentary) of the Qur’an.

Bridging the Productivity Gap

Islam is a religion of striving to do good deeds, and whenever we feel that we are just consuming knowledge without benefitting much from it in terms of action, we should do the utmost to bridge that productivity gap.

“By the time. Verily, man is in loss. Except those who believe and do righteous deeds and recommend one another to the truth, and recommend one another to patience.” [Qur'an, Chapter 103, Verses 1-3]

With huge quantities of information so easily accessible, the Ummah has really seen a revolution in the ways of seeking knowledge about our religion. And as we’re trying to manage and make productive choices within this new YouTube culture, we should also look at ourselves critically. Could there be something in our attitudes towards watching video lectures that prevents us from reaping all the benefits?

Here are two more points to keep in mind if you want to bridge the productivity gap and maximize the benefits and blessings of seeking knowledge in the YouTube culture:

1. Take video lectures seriously and get active

Many people wouldn’t dream of going to a ‘live’ lecture of a Sheikh without taking notes or jotting down questions as he speaks, yet we have a much more passive attitude when watching a lecture on YouTube. Of course, the first thing you should do is to get your pen and notebook out, but don’t stop there, there’s more you can do.

• Go back to your notes and write a summary of the lecture.
• Make a list of action points based on the information in the video (and hold yourself accountable for sticking to them!).

And just like you would try to keep distractions to a minimum in any other lesson or lecture (by switching off your phone for example), do the same thing while watching a video lecture. Choose a suitabletime to watch video lectures and don’t try multitasking. 

2. Don’t let the Ummah go solo

There is a trend towards individualism in the YouTube culture that we as an Ummah should recognize. A whole world of information is at our fingertips and we don’t have to leave our house, or even talk to someone for that matter. But this Ummah should be one of unity and brotherhood, and the social aspects of seeking knowledge can be such a great source of blessings, we shouldn’t let that pass.

Nu’man ibn Bashir reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said:

“The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.” [Muslim]

Pursuing knowledge together can be so much more encouraging, motivating and, ultimately, productive than doing it all by yourself. So, try to get others involved and select, watch and discuss video lectures together. Compare your notes. Design a program or schedule together around a certain topic. Encourage one another to put knowledge into action. Help one another to achieve your goals and be successful in this life and the next.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this series about the YouTube culture and your productivity and have picked up some beneficial ideas. I’d love to hear your own ideas about this topic in the comments section below!

About the Author:

Maryam Mujahid is a psychologist and teacher who accepted Islam in 2000. She is currently based in Saudi Arabia, and it’s her goal to inspire Muslims to get the best out of themselves.

When you have your plate full, keeping focused isn’t always easy. And when we can’t give our full attention to a task, we can’t give it our best. This can start a cycle of demotivation and non-productivity, unless we pull in the reins and turn it around.

It takes a strong resolve to focus, good motivation, and working smartly to beat distractions. Here are some ways to hone your ability to focus and stay focused on the task at hand:

1. Planned productivity

Reserve time for daily tasks according to how your personal productivity and attention levels vary throughout the day. You might be a morning person for example, whose mind is freshest for challenging tasks early in the day, and simpler ones later. If you aren’t sure when you are most productive, consciously explore this over a week or two, making notes of what works well for you.

2. “Diarize”

When you have figured out your personal productivity scale, note down your tasks for the day in a small diary that you can carry around with you, and update as you go along. Taking tasks out of your head and putting them on paper is a relief for your mind, and a written commitment to yourself. Be realistic about how much you can fit into one day, taking into account your other responsibilities.

3. You can’t eat an elephant!

Break up big tasks into small manageable ones that you can note down, and handle step-by-step. This makes them easier to carry out, and should leave you feeling less overwhelmed. Once you have noted something down, stick to what you have set out: whether you feel like doing it or not. Small acts done consistently will bear fruit over time. Allah (glorified and exalted be He) exhorts us to persevere in order to beat the clock and attain eternal success:

“By (the Token of) time (through the Ages). Verily Man is in loss. Except such as have Faith and do righteous deeds and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth and of Patience and Constancy.” [Qur’an: Chapter 103, Verses 1-3]

Keep at it to keep your head above water! Take regular breaks, re-group and don’t give up.

4. Direct your focus

Remove all distractions that are taking your mind off the task at hand, or decreasing your productivity. Be honest with yourself about what these are. 
Do not have any social networks close at hand while working! If you think you can multi-task better than most online, read the next tip.
If you aren’t sure of your optimal working environment, research ways to improve it and experiment with different options until you find a good fit for yourself.

5. Mono-task

In today’s always-on hyper-connected world, it is difficult to resist the temptation to open a new tab when we work online. And when we’re offline, our handheld devices never skip a beat. We forget that we have the power to choose to switch off. Given current research, mono-tasking is the smarter choice. A while ago multi-tasking was all the rage. But now it has been scientifically proven that in constant switching back and forth between tasks, one is actually slowed down.

The impact of multi-tasking varies across tasks of different intensities. Switching between casually reading a magazine and texting a friend won’t reduce productivity as greatly as texting and driving will (where the accompanying slowdown can mean life or death), but some level of impairment does occur. According to one study, productivity can be reduced by as much as 40 percent due to the mental slowdown in switching tasks.

Even more shocking is that over time, “heavy” media multi-taskers experience a reduced ability to filter out irrelevant information, i.e. distractors. That means that while we may think we’re getting more done at once, we’re actually reducing our own ability to focus, and in effect, our productivity!

A word to the wise: Reduce multi-tasking across unrelated tasks as far as possible.

6. Reward yourself

Sometimes when we have a task ahead of us – even if we enjoy the work we are doing – it can be a struggle to actually get down to doing it. This is only human, and we work better when we’re motivated to do a task. So why not create a reward for yourself for afterwards, as motivation to get it done? It doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive. It can be something as simple as sitting in the park sipping your favorite coffee undisturbed, or taking a trip to the swimming pool, which you never have time for. Make time to get your tasks done, and make time for yourself too.

7. Don’t overdo it

It is important to know when you have passed your productivity level on a certain task and are now beating a dead horse. When your back aches and your mind isn’t functioning as well as it was, give yourself a break and focus on a simpler task. You can come back to this one when your mind is refreshed and ready again.

8. Keep sharp

Sleep well, eat healthy and make time for prayer, recreation and socializing. Work time should be work time, and rest time is rest time.
As believers, our strength is in our faith. It keeps us grounded and focused. So relax and focus your mind with meditation on Allah (glorified and exalted be He)’s creation, and do dhikr for a few minutes every day.

Try to establish a routine for your daily tasks: concentrating and getting them done one at a time will soon become a habit, in sha Allah.

Most importantly, make time each day to reflect on your deeds for the day and your productivity towards this life, and the next. Review to improve constantly, and the sky is the limit!

About the Author:

Zakiya Mahomed (BA Hons Arabic) is a South African writer, researcher and an aspiring linguist. Having worked as an Arabic educator for a number of years, she now tutors in languages and Economics, her other graduate major.

We’re going to use the CORD model and the Organise and Review habits in particular here to develop a ‘second brain’. Your second brain is designed to replace your real brain when it comes to memory (our woeful short-term memory is a major driver of stress and unproductive behaviour). Your second brain is also designed to support the good decision-making – intelligence and intuition – that our real brain is really good at already, but which we perhaps aren’t currently using to its full potential or aren’t as able to do unless we’re in periods of proactive attention.

What Does a Second Brain Look Like?

The second brain is, of course, a metaphor! I’m not going to ask you to go out and kill someone and put their brain in a jar. The second brain is made up of the following basic elements:

Memory

• A list of the tasks you’re working on
• A ‘bigger picture’ list of the wider projects these tasks relate to
• Other lists and reference information – basically, things that could be useful in the future

Intelligence

• A series of questions to help support good decision-making and force the clarity that reduces your stress; Checklists and a routine to support regular review – both daily and weekly – of everything held in the second brain.

Intuition

• Checklist questions designed to enhance mindfulness, self-reflection and the regular discipline of being conscious of your competence – or incompetence
• ‘Thinking tools’ designed to aid ruthlessness, by keeping you focussed on the potential impact of what you’re doing, rather than just filling the need to be ‘busy’

The CORD Model

The CORD model describes the four distinct elements of knowledge work.

• Collect/Capture
• Organise
• Review
• Do

These are the four things that always need to happen to add value or impact to any single piece of information. It’s a model that you can use both to think about how you manage your personal workflow and also how you structure your days and weeks to remain as agile and adaptable as possible to whatever comes your way. It also gives you the confidence to know that whatever you’re working on is the best possible thing you can be doing at any given moment.

The CORD model’s four phases also provide the structure to separate thinking from doing in our work. Organise and Review are where the thinking happens, where the psychological heavy lifting takes place. So the Capture and the Do habits are to help you to trust that the second brain has it all under control and will be doing that thinking in due course, so that you don’t have to worry about it right now.

Trust and Your Second Brain

Your aim is to focus on developing a second brain that you trust. If you trust it, you’ll use it. If you use it, you’ll trust it. Without that trust, you’re putting time and attention into developing something that only serves as a distraction. For your real brain to relax, it needs to know that the second brain is taking care of all of those stressful decisions and things that need remembering.

Trust in your productivity systems and practices tends to work in either positive or negative bursts of momentum: either you feel on top of everything, which feels great and means you’re even more likely to continue doing the things that keep you even more on top, or things have started to spiral out of control and you feel worse and worse, thinking that it’s all so difficult.

Once you trust your second brain, what you’re left with is a profound feeling of Zen-like calm. You’re able to be present and in the moment: focused on the current thing you need to do, not worried by all the other possible things that you know you need to work on.

This is the fifth article in a continuing series about how to be a productivity ninja. (Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5)

About the Author:

Graham Allcott is the founder of Think Productive – a company that runs time management courses that feel very different to what you’ve probably experienced before! In July 2012 he released his book, “How to be a Productivity Ninja”, a culmination of the last three years of work of his company. The book is available on Amazon and the e-book is being sold in aid of READ International – so for every digital book sold, at least five real text books will arrive in some rural Tanzanian schools that really need them! Buy a book, change a life.

As such this article is about me sharing my experience. Although I cherish my children’s academic achievements and winning international awards for various science and innovation competitions, I love them unconditionally. Needless to say, my children are not geniuses. I just wish to see them happy and healthy, embracing Islam fully. Below are just some of the steps I have taken in raising them:

1. Stop buying Garden and Home magazines

These magazines often make you feel miserable especially if you have hyperactive kids like me who turn the house into pirate ships or shops or schools. So,

• Adopt the Japanese minimalistic style, easy to clean and maintain.
• Learn one recipe for biscuits and cakes then diversify.
• Keep clothes at a minimum level.
• Rein in the household chores and involve the children.

2. Combine structured and informal learning

• Introduce adequate structure in your kids’ life especially for homework and reading the Qur’an or fardhu ain. For example, after school, get them tea and then home work for 1 hour. After that they are free to cycle, to jump, to paint, to do what they want to do (of course computers must be in the family public space).
• Get some other children together. If there is an open space for them, it is much better. However, if live in the areas where some bad characters may lurk, set up an informal play scheme. I used to organize a free play scheme on weekends with other mothers so that our children could play together in a safe environment, but with adequate distance from adults’ watchful eyes.
• Involve children in organizing trips and outdoor activities. My children love experiencing rough sleeping.

3. Encourage entrepreneurial spirit

• Give small amount of seed capital to your children. My children love making and selling things. In this way, they learnt maths, negotiation and communication skills early. They also learnt to make delightful products such as pop-up cards or special occasion cards and flowers for Eid and birthdays. But don’t go over the top, you could be taken to task for child labour.

4. Story books are their friends

• Adopt story telling as a way of explaining and learning typically ‘boring’ subjects. My children hated their text books. I don’t blame them because many text books are notoriously unreadable. But they love good story books, practically devoured them. Over so many years, storytelling has been a powerful method of learning and teaching. If you tell the kids that World War 2 was started by a guy called Hitler, they would soon fall asleep. But try telling that the war was started by a mustached guy who used to be bullied or a bully at school and lived in a place where kids disappeared (for example), watch the facial transformation.
• Visit libraries and book shops despite the age of digital books.
• Teach them to respect books and treat them with care.

5. Give them a sense of purpose

• Identify your children’s interests and nurture them.
• Don’t force them to be what you want them to be. However, explain to them about options and consequences.
• Don’t condemn but don’t overindulge them with praises either. When children have a clear sense of purpose, they will be motivated to work towards that goal. One of my daughters loves animals, astronomy and baking. Her ambition is to set up an animal shelter complete with a café and star gazing equipment.

6. Lead by action

• Undertake small projects and get your children involved but don’t force them.
• Explain to them the purpose of these projects. You can’t expect your children to be innovative if you yourself are lazy. When I started a TOTALLY FREE QURAN E-LEARNING (ehsanlearning.co.uk), it inspired my daughters to enter into an international Innovation Competition to help displaced people around the world or refugees, illustrate children’s books and develop e-learning courses for English as Additional Language children.

7. Find out your children’s learning barriers early

• Find out your children’s learning styles early. How do they learn? Are they auditory, visual, kinesthetic or logical learners? In this way, you can strengthen their learning.
• Don’t force your own learning style on your children.

8. Tell them there is no failure but learning

• Explain to your children that the focus should be on learning with a clear purpose not failure.
• Talk about options and limitations in achieving their ambitions. Be as realistic as possible but don’t thwart their ambitions.
• Get involved in your children’s school. For example, if your children could not get to the school they want, (the price of property in good schools’ catchment areas is ridiculously high) it is not the end of the world. My older daughters went to a school which has a notoriously bad reputation in the country. But one of them won an international science competition while a student there. She was invited to visit the NASA Centre in the US including meeting with astronauts. The school was so supportive in getting her visa by pestering the US embassy on a daily basis. Everyone was so excited including other parents and students. The school also supported another daughter to set up a Fair Trade shop and helped another one win a project sponsored by the local authority

“Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast? And We removed from you your burden. Which had weighed upon your back. And raised high for you your repute. For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. And to your Lord direct [your] longing” [Quran: Chapter 94].

Do you have any tips that you can add to this and thus help other parents to also raise happy and innovative kids?

About the Author:

Suziana Shukor is a mother of 5 girls, working as an instructional designer at an international NGO. Her previous employments include being a lecturer and a policy team manager at Northamptonshire County Council, UK. She received her LLB (Hons) from the University of East Anglia, MA in Business Law from the Leeds University and PhD in Law from the University of Kent, all in the UK. Currently she is developing and running a free Qur’an e-learning course, arguably the first of its kind in the world: ehsanlearning.co.uk. She is also a guest blogger for LINGOs (Learning for International NGOs).

1. Make a habit of saying “Alhamdulillah”(all praise be to Allah) at every ease and hardship:

Suhaib reported that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said:

“Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks Allah, thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (endures into patiently), there is good for him in it.” [Sahih Muslim]

It is as simple as making dua to Allah (glorified and exalted be He) for things to go the right in your life. The only thing that Allah (glorified and exalted be He) asks in return is your gratitude to Him. Make it a habit to say “Alhamdulillah” at every good news or at every good turn in your life. Not to forget, be thankful to Allah (glorified and exalted be He) for saving you from any calamity also.

In seeking to thank Allah (glorified and exalted be He), not only do you please Him, but you are sure to receive success in return – in abundance. Do not forget, Allah (glorified and exalted be He) loves those who thank Him. Be grateful throughout your day. When you wake up in the morning, when you eat or drink, when you give charity and more so when you listen to the Holy Quran, always say ‘Alhamdulillah’.

As the Quran says,

“And remember when your Lord proclaimed, “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you in favour. But if you deny indeed, my punishment is severe.” [Quran: Chapter 14, Verse 7]

2. Prayers:

Prayers are the best form of showing your gratitude to Allah (glorified and exalted be He). Remembrance of Allah (glorified and exalted be He) at all times, especially during your prayers, is a form of showing gratitude. Pray on time, do not forget your obligatory prayers and if possible, make sunnah prayers as well. Remember to make dua in remembrance of Allah (glorified and exalted be He) and thank Him for all that he has bestowed upon you. Making dua for oneself and for others is characteristic of a true Muslim. A trait that Allah (glorified and exalted be He) himself loves to see in believers!

Try to develop traits of kindness, hospitality, lowering your tone of voice and personal hygiene. Mostly, He loves to see those who supplicate to him, not only at times of need, but also just because they remembered him. Only through steadfast prayer is it possible for a Muslim to be a true believer. Without prayer, he will find himself in a state of loss.

As Allah (glorified and exalted be He) says in the Holy Quran, ‘”Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer-we will surely cause him to live a good life, and we will surely give them their reward (in the hereafter) according to the best of what they used to do.” [Quran: Chapter 16, Verse 97]

The reward for prayers is immense. Jannah becomes closer to you and all for just showing your sign of gratitude to Allah (glorified and exalted be He) for what he has done for you throughout your life.

3. Helping oneself through helping others:

Helping another person is a sign of a true Muslim. In this busy world, all of us get caught up in our daily activities that we tend to forget what we have and what others need. For example, when you see your classmate short of money to buy lunch, offer him/her to share your lunch or provide them with lunch for a day. You will not be at any loss! Allah (glorified and exalted be He) has a list of all your deeds and is waiting to reward you.

The Holy Quran says: “As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them will be the Gardens of refuge, as accommodation for what they used to do.” [Quran: Chapter 32, Verse 19]

There are many ways of helping others and doing good deeds.

Show your gratitude through charity. Allah (glorified and exalted be He) loves those believers who spend for His cause. Any form of spending for His cause, for Allah’s (glorified and exalted be He) pleasure alone, and you will surely be rewarded in abundance!

Carrying books for your professor, cleaning the house for your mother, opting to help someone cross the road, all these are small acts that you could start with.

4. Being good to others the same way you want them to be good to you:

We always complain of how some people mistreat us or bully us. But no matter what situation you are in, you should never forget to treat others with respect, dignity and equality. The more they mistreat you, chances are that you will want to react furiously to them. But remember Allah (glorified and exalted be He) in such situations. Is it worthy that a believer of Allah (glorified and exalted be He) fights with others? Is that what Ar-Rahman expects from us? The person on the other side might not worry about all this. But you will be answerable to the Almighty on the Day of Judgment and there won’t be a third person as a witness to support your argument. You will be answerable for your own actions.

It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira (may Allāh be pleased with him) that the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) observed, “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day does not harm his neighbor, and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day shows hospitality to his guest and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day speaks good or remains silent.” [Sahih Muslim]

So the more you stay away from such actions and thoughts, the more you are respecting Allah’s (glorified and exalted be He) words and that in turn is a form of showing gratitude to Our Lord for all that he has done for you. So think twice before you react. In fact, think thrice before you react.

5. Think good things, say good things:

The fact that we can think and speak is indeed a gift from Allah (glorified and exalted be He). Are you aware of the angels that guard you throughout your lives? The angels who are appointed by Allah (glorified and exalted be He) to write down your good and bad deeds?

“When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left. Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].” [Quran: Chapter 50, Verse 17-18]

Be wary of what you say. Every thought, every word you speak, is written down and is presented on the Day of Judgement.

So try to bring yourself to think good thoughts, think good for others. Start with small thoughts. For example, when your friend receives some form of accolade, show appreciation for it. Try not to bicker about it. Try to be happy for the person and if possible, make a dua for success for the person in the future as well. If that is too hard, start with small steps, appreciate him/her and control your thought from being jealous of the other person. Try to make changes in your life by other small activities like cooking for your family, thanking your parents for all that they have given you, taking care of your younger siblings so your mother can rest for a while, cleaning the house, spending time with your grandparents etc.

These are all small acts we all could start within our lives, and it could benefit us in the long run through good practice of it in our daily life.

I’ll leave with a thought for all of you to ponder upon: if Allah (glorified and exalted be He) can give us everything we ask for, why is it so hard for us to be grateful. If not for Allah(glorified and exalted be He), who else do we do all this for?

About the Author:

Aeesha is from India and a revert into Islam. She holds a BA in Communication, Journalism and Media, and is currently reading a postgraduate in Mass Communication.

This is the first part of a series of three articles about how young Muslims can develop strength, courage and resilience in the face of peer pressure and bullying. In this part you will read about the impact of peer pressure and how you can stay firm.

“Everyone’s skipping class tomorrow, you’re such a nerd to go, and you’ll be the only one there anyway!”

Ever had to deal with pressure like that before?

Everywhere in this world people interact, and form groups and communities. Hence, wherever there are groups, small or big, there is pressure to conform to the accepted norm: whether it’s wearing skinny jeans, gossiping about your boss or teacher, asking for a mega dowry or being a silent witness to bullying or injustice. For a lot of our young brothers and sisters, standing up to peer pressure can be a relentless struggle in a period when you’re trying to establish yourself and your values. You can be pressured to conform by negative comments, ignoring, whispering behind your back, rolling eyes or giving you ‘the look’. But at the same time, peer pressure can often be very friendly, with encouraging remarks or well-meant advice to do something….. that you really don’t want to and shouldn’t do!

“And when it is said to them: “Do not cause corruption on the earth”, they say, “We are but reformers”. Unquestionably, it is they who are corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.” [Qur'an: Chapter 2, Verse 11-12]

It’s natural for people to want to be liked and accepted by the people that matter to them. Yet in the end, each one of us is individually responsible for the successes and failures in this life, and when your peers pressure you to do or accept something that’s not right and goes against your values, you should stay firm and stand up to the pressure.

Well, that’s maybe easier said than done.

Fortunately there are facts, tips and tricks that you can equip yourself with to win the battle:

Know Your Dragons: the Ins and Outs of Peer Pressure

You’re more likely to fall for peer pressure in new or unclear situations. Think about going to a new school, starting college or a job. In situations like this, when you’re out of your comfort zone, it’s likely that you rely more on others for information and clues on what’s accepted to do. These are times when you should take extra care to guard yourself against negative peer pressure.

Peer pressure increases when being different has important consequences.  What if your decision not to participate in an activity would mean that you will be ridiculed forever? Or if your speaking up about something will cost you your friends?  Remember that you should do what’s right, even when the stakes are high. 

Conquer Your Dragons: Stay Away from the Negative and Value a Good Companion

The Qur’an offers beautiful advice and guidance that you can apply when you are faced with negative influence from the people around you, and by the same token, you are also warned about the ‘follow the herd mentality’.

“And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.” [Qur'an: Chapter 73, Verse 10]

“When it is said to them: “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say: “Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing”. Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?” [Qur'an: Chapter 2, Verse 170]

“Take what is given freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.” [Qur'an: Chapter 7, Verse: 199]

It’s clear and simple. If you want to stay steadfast upon your deen (religion), live up to your values and be successful in this life and the hereafter: you should stay away from those people and situations that invite you to all the wrong things.You will probably know who and what they are when you come to think about it.

At the same time, you aren’t meant to be a hermit, living only for yourself. Islam recognizes the importance of the bonds between the members of the Ummah. And as much as you can experience negative pressure, when you hang out with the right crew, you can encourage and motivate each other to achieve your best. Peer pressure the positive way!

Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said:

“The example of a good companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is I like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith’s bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof.” [Bukhari]

And remember the story of the people of the cave. They were young men who turned away from their corrupt society, and at the same time, stuck together for support.

“[Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, “Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.”" [Qur'an: Chapter 18, Verse 10]

Practical Tips to Overcome Peer Pressure

Tip #1: when you’re facing peer pressure, try to find someone older and more experienced in life to talk to about your problems, a mentor of some sorts. Someone who is willing to provide a listening ear and can advise and help you to stay strong and make the right decisions. A member of the Islamic community where you live, for example, or an older family friend – in any case, someone who you trust and who understands you.  

Tip #2: while it may be a bit impractical to retreat yourself in a cave if the situation becomes dire, you could try to create your own sanctuary. A spot just for you where you can retreat from the pressure and find yourself again.

Your Ultimate Weapons: Confidence, Courage and Steadfastness

How can you increase your confidence, courage and steadfastness when dealing with peer pressure?

1. Check your motivation: Ask yourself what really motivates you to want to do something, or leave something. If you want to be confident and steadfast in your actions, this is where it starts. Why do you want to wear hijab or avoid listening to gangsta rap? If you feel you lack genuine motivation, read up about the issue or talk about it until you feel more confident in your stance about it. It will strengthen your decisions in times when your values are put to the test.
2. Be clear, don’t  JADE (Justify, Argue, Defend, Explain): There are situations in which you can get into a discussion about your values, but when you’re dealing with peer pressure, be short and sweet about what you want and don’t want. For example, when you’re pressured to eat or drink something that you don’t want, you could just say: “No thanks, I decide what goes into my body”. Or, when friends push you to stop reading and go partying with them instead: “It’s up to me how I spend my free time”. JADE-ing will give people a foot in the door when you really need to have that door closed.
3. Have something ready to say: Avoid being swept away by the insecurity of the moment, not knowing what to say or how to react. Write down some useful phrases and practice them too. You’ll probably have to find out along the way which phrases work best in which situation, but make sure you have some ready to use.
4. Lead an active and productive life: Being busy with work, study, volunteering, being active in the community and seeking knowledge will boost your confidence and steadfastness. Stay busy, and as you start to see results and achieve your goals, this will make you confident and courageous enough to continue on the path you carved out for yourself, no matter what others will say.

In the next part of the series, we will take a closer look at bullying, and how we as Muslims can deal with it.

About the Author:

Maryam Mujahid is a psychologist and teacher who accepted Islam in 2000. She is currently based in Saudi Arabia, and it’s her goal to inspire Muslims to get the best out of themselves.

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