15 AYAAT. 15 PRODUCTIVITY POINTERS.
“Then where are you going?” [81:26].
Productive questions!
On many occasions in the Qur’an, Allah 
uses questions to WAKE you up. Someone once said: “Quality questions create a quality life. Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.”
We know the sahaba mastered a beautiful art of questioning, they wouldn’t ask the Prophet 
for a good deed, they would ask for the best deed which would give them the maximum reward in different situations of their lives.
Now how can you be more productive in your life and your worship of Allah by asking questions?
First of all, there are many types of questions depending on the intention of the questioner. An example are the Jews whom asked Musa 
, “Show us Allâh in public.” These people, in whose heart was a disease, only asked Musa this question to challenge him; it wasn’t constructive at all.
Then we have asking excessive questions, also not a productive type of questioning.
On the other hand you have those who ask questions because they have taqwa. For example the sahaaba asking The Prophet about the orphans – why did they ask? They asked because they did not want to be questioned about the orphans on Judgment Day. You can also ask questions to educate someone else, even though you know the answer yourself (don’t do this to mock someone!) Look at hadhrat Jibreel: he asked questions to teach the sahaaba their religion.
So some people ask questions because they are concerned about their Deen, or they want to educate and wake others up through questions, while others use questions for mocking, minding other people’s business, etc.
The motto in seeking knowledge is: Ask, ask, ask — until you’re confident that you have a firm understanding. However, always ask in an appropriate way. Now there are some questions which will improve result in every area of your life.
Sounds promising, doesn’t it?
When you begin any project, are trying to make a change in your life, or are faced with a difficult undertaking, the best way to improve your result is to ask these important questions first.
Questions
Why am I doing this? It’s a big motivator to understand the reason behind anything you undertake. Whether it’s a goal, task, habit, or project, “Why am I doing this?” is the first question you have to ask yourself. For example, you may say “I’m feeding a poor person because I want to be close to the Prophet in Paradise.”
What is the desired outcome? Without a clear view on the result you desire, you can’t plan how to get there. Identify what you’re trying to accomplish and exactly what that will look like. Vague goals are rarely reached. TIP: don’t just make dua’ for Paradise; keep asking Allah for the highest chambers of Paradise, Jannatul Firdaws.
When is the deadline? Know when the action or project needs to be complete. If you know how much time you have to work with, you can better plan backwards and set aside the necessary amount of time. Think about the six hours Allah gives us to repent after committing a bad deed so the angels won’t even write it down in your book!
What am I responsible for? Understanding your role is crucial. Define your responsibilities. This is especially important if you are part of a team or household.
What are the possible roadblocks or obstacles? There will always be difficulties and they are easier to overcome if you prepare for them. It’s not always possible; but if you at least anticipate potential obstacles, they can be solved quickly.
What are the available resources? Be aware of what resources are available, like people’s skills accessible to you. Always be honest about the amount of time that can be committed.
How important is this project or task? The importance of any goal or project determines how much attention and effort it deserves.
What can I do to be more effective? Develop strategies to help you be more efficient and productive.
Better Results Asking questions is a valuable tool in every area of life. This overlooked strategy can make the difference between success and failure. When we get clear about what we are trying to accomplish and why, we have a much better chance of attaining the desired result. Finally, if we plan and prepare we can best utilize the skills and resources available to us to achieve the most success. May Allah guide us in achieving our most important goal – to reach Jannatul Firdaws safe and sound! Ameen!
Note: Questions inspired by productivelifeconcepts.com.
Further Reading: Develop strategies
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