Based on a lecture by Sheikh Muhammad AlShareef
“I don’t have time!” We have probably used this statement at least once in our life. For some, this statement is an excuse; you can find them wasting hours and hours playing Farmville, but when it comes to reading a beneficial article or volunteering for a noble cause, they seem reluctant. For some, this statement is genuine; they want to do good deeds, but they cannot manage their time. Although time management is an important subject, it is a pity that most of the educational institutions do not offer a course on this. However, as usual, Productive Muslim is here to help you! In this article, we will be looking at steps that will help you maximize your time (by means ofsaving and managing time) insha Allah.
• Make du’aa: Raise your hands to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala and ask Him to bless your time and efforts. Ask Him to bestow you with skills of time management.
• Renew your intention everyday: Ask yourself everyday how you want your life to be. Is it fame, wealth, or the sole pleasure of Allah that is driving you towards the project you want to undertake?
• Have an ambition: Make sure you have a long-term goal. Dream of leaving a legacy. Be honest and decide a goal that excites you. This is very important because all your other actions will be based on this. Once you have decided your ambition, plan short-term goals for achieving that. Remember that excellence and legacies don’t come about by accident, they are the product of deliberate reflection and planning. Have a direction for your life and then, put your trust in Allah.
• Teamwork: You need to understand that you alone will not be able to execute all of your plans. Therefore, you need to work with a group of people who have the same vision as you. This will relieve you of stress, and help you to achieve your goals within a short span of time.
• De-clutter your mind: A diary or something of that nature is effective in organizing your tasks and writing down any thought that comes to mind aswe often lose focus when numerous ideas pop up in our mind, and are further distracted by tasks that need to get done. This way, you won’t be forgetting things and your mind will be free to focus on the Hereafter, for your ambition.
• Improve everyday: There are steps that we can take and changes we can make every day to increase our deeds, improve our salah or relationships or character. Therefore, strive to improve every day.
• Offer the Fajr prayer: This is a blessed time. “Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.” (Qur’an 17:78). According to statistics, the average person spends 27 years ofhis life sleeping! You can save a lot of time by staying awake after the prayer. The Brothers can remain in the masjid and do some dhikr, or interact with other Muslim brothers to see if they are in need. On the other hand, the sisters can follow up the prayer with recitation of Qur’an, exercise, or a healthy breakfast. Instead of going back to sleep, indulge in productive habits. You will notice that your productivity increases and the day will seem longer. To wake up at Fajr and maintain this habit ofstaying awake, it is wise to go to bed every night by 9-10 p.m, or taking a nap around Zhuhr time.
• Start your day on the right note: In Islam, we are always asked to start on a positive note. We start with the name of Allah. We start with the right foot/hand. Similarly, it is wise to start with the important things first. If you start with trivial things, such as checking Facebook, chances are that your entire day will not be as productive as you intended.
• Exercise: Undoubtedly, exercise has many benefits, such as refreshing you and keeping you healthy. If you go for a walk, you can enjoy the creations of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and reflect on the bounties that He has bestowed upon you. It could also be an activity for bonding with your family and friends. There are many options of exercising which you can choose from; even a walk to the masjid during Fajr will give you similar benefits.
“By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.” Qur’an 103:1-3
Are we making the most of our time? Are we living up Soorat–al–Asr to thefullest?
To be continued insha’Allah…
About the Author:
Khadeejah Islam, writer for Habibi Halaqas
