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"* Be sensible and do not talk about things that do not concern you. Occupy yourselves with what you have been commanded to do and do not waste your time on irrelevant things. Be pious to your Lord (mighty and glorified is He) and repent to Him. When someone shows piety to Him, He protects him; and when He protects someone, He elevates him to the door of His nearness. He elevates him to everlasting life. He elevates from the stars to the Seventh Heaven. You will soon see the Resurrection. You will see how Allah (mighty and glorified is He) will gather those who are pious to Him in the shade of His Throne and seat them at tables on which there is white honey, whereas the other people are immersed in heat and sweat. While sitting at those tables, they will see the creatures and their states; some people will be taken to the gardens of Paradise and others will be carried away to the Fire. They will be sitting there and their houses in Paradise are in front of them. Their wives and their youths of Paradise will be visible to them. They will see the things that have been assigned to them before they reach them."
Where you are in life is generally a reflection of how you spent your time, Success comes to those who utilise their Time effectively in all their affairs.
By Ismail Kamdar.
TOP SEVEN TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
Recently, I posted a series of Time Management tips on my Facebook page. I decided to put them together as one post here so everybody can benefit from them inshÄ’AllÄh. So without any further introduction, here are seven time management tips that I try to live by and which make life very productive for me, alḥamdulillÄh.
Tip #1: Work in small chunks
Don’t try to get something done in one sitting, especially if it takes a lot of time. Split it up into smaller chunks so that it is done by the deadline without affecting your other tasks.
Example 1: You have an assignment due on 15 May. Split up your work into one hour daily chunks of research, drafting, writing, referencing and editing so that it is done on time without seeming like a burden.
Example 2: If you have a 200 page book to read, split it up into 20 pages a day so that it is done in 10 days without affecting your other tasks and responsibilities.
Tip #2: Discipline is Key!
To be successful in anything in both worlds, self-discipline is necessary. This applies to time management as well. One needs to be very strict on oneself to stick to times, stick to schedules and not get distracted from priorities.
AlḥamdulillÄh, Islam teaches us self-discipline through our daily prayers, especially trying to pray with khushū‘, as well as through Ḥajj, fasting and other aspects of our religion. We need to take the discipline we learn from this and apply it to other areas of our life including time management.
It takes discipline to make schedules, checklists, etc. and even more discipline to stick to these schedules. It takes discipline to ignore distractions and avoid unnecessary phone conversations. This is a habit all Muslims need to develop.
Tip #3: Eliminate Time Wasters!
For people who don’t constantly monitor their days, a lot of time is wasted in useless activities (lughw as the Qur’an refers to it). A simple step to avoiding time wasters is to keep a log for a few days of everything you do in a day. You will be surprised at how much time is wasted in useless activities that do not benefit you in this world or the next.
By cutting down our time wasters to just the necessary means of relaxation and fun, we can free up a few more hours in the day for other beneficial projects.
Common time wasters to look out for include:
1. Wasting too much time on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or browsing non-beneficial websites
2. Talking on the phone for hours (this can also lead to sins like backbiting)
3. Television and Video Games
4. Oversleeping
By cutting down the above to just the necessary amount you need to function properly in a day (6-8 hours sleep, 2-3 hours of fun), we are able to free time for things which matter.
“Successful are the believers…those who stay away from lughw (things which waste time)†(Surah Mu’minoon 23:1 & 3)
Tip #4: Make a schedule
I prefer a weekly schedule to a daily one as it gives you more time to schedule more things and allows for planning in advance.
Stephen Covey says about weekly schedules, “Organizing on a weekly basis provides much greater balance and context than daily planning…Business, education and many other facets of society operate within the framework of the week, designating certain days for focused investment and others for relaxation or inspiration.†(7 Habits of Highly Effective People, p. 161)
A weekly schedule should have the days of the week on the x-axis and the hours of the day split into half an hour segments on the y-axis. It should include all the hours of the day and certain hours must be designated for sleep, family time, á¹¢alÄh, etc.
Such a schedule helps one to plan ahead for the week and will prevent a person from oversleeping, wasting time, etc.
Also note that the schedule should be flexible enough to be adjustable for sudden emergencies, so I recommend leaving one hour a day open for any adjustments.
You can read more about making a weekly timetable and how to prioritize it in the chapter “Habit 3 – Put first things first†in Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peopleâ€.
Tip #5: Plan your day around á¹¢alÄh
Some Muslims make the mistake of trying to fit á¹¢alÄh into their daily schedule and complain that they can’t find the time to pray.
The mistake is two-fold:
1. Trying to find time, instead of making time
2. Fitting á¹¢alÄh into your schedule, instead of planning your schedule around á¹¢alÄh
As Muslims, á¹¢alÄh should be our highest priority in the day and as such, when making our timetable/schedule, the first thing we need to fill in are the á¹¢alÄh times so that nothing else clashes with it. In fact, fill in the á¹¢alÄh times in RED and BOLD writing so that you know that those times are off-limits to anything else.
Do that and you will never find yourself in a position in which you don’t have time to pray, bi idhnillah.
Tip #6: Learn to say No!
Think about what are the biggest time wasters. Usually, it has something to do with excessive socializing. Whether it’s long phone class, instant messaging, social networks or hanging out. Much of our day goes in useless discussions.
The only way to avoid this is to learn to decline such offers…politely of course. :)
I’m not saying don’t phone people or visit them but if a phone call is going on too long and is cutting into your work time, there is nothing wrong with excusing yourself and saying you need to get back to work. Do this often and people will get the message and will only contact you when necessary or when they know you have time to chat.
Declining offers for long chats and useless conversations not only will help you stick to a schedule and accomplish more but will protect you from sins like backbiting and gossip as well.
Tip #7: Beneficial Hobbies
We all have that time of the day and that day of the week (and that month of the year sometimes) in which we are tired, don’t want to do any work and just want to have fun. There is nothing wrong with this as long as the means of fun is halal and you do not go into excess.
However, even better is if we establish hobbies which are both productive and fun! This could be a physical sport, reading, watching beneficial videos, playing educational or puzzle solving games, the list of beneficial hobbies can go on and on.
InshÄ’AllÄh if we establish beneficial hobbies, then even our fun time becomes productive and is not wasted!
So these are my seven time management tips. Feel free to share your own in the comments section so that we can all benefit.
A True Believer Would Not Take Part in Such Matters
The Maliki jurist Imaam Abu Bakr Ibn al-'Arabi رØمه الله once said that a person is not able to fulfill all of the necessary matters that he must take care of, why then should he get into the unnecessary, extra matters that are of no real concern to him? [1]
If a person starts getting involved into matters that are of no real concern or benefit to him, he will be wasting and losing valuable time. He will be losing time that he will never be able to regain.
For a true believer, the only matters of concern or benefit to him are Islaam, Eemaan, good deeds, the necessary acts that one needs to do to survive in life, such as eating, drinking, earning a living and so forth. These aspects are enough to take up every moment of his life. When will he have time to tum to trivial, useless or harmful pursuits?
A common problem today among Muslims is the endless pursuit and study of matters with very little benefit while, at the same time, ignoring the most important matters that are of great benefit. This is a sign that a person's Islaam is not complete or perfect. In fact, this is a sign that the person himself may not truly understand Islaam. How much time do Muslims today spend studying and learning the Qur'aan and hadeeth? Compare that to how much time they spend watching television, gossiping about others [2], debating on trivial points and reading numerous books on detailed political information which neither benefits nor harms them. If a person truly understood and applied the hadeeth:
"Part of the perfection of a person's Islaam is his leaving that which is of no concern to him," [3] he would realize that every moment of his life must be spent only in those things that are beneficial to him in both this life and the Hereafter.
Imaam Hasan al-Basri رØمه الله once said, "A sign that Allaah سبØانه Ùˆ تعالى has turned away from a servant is that He makes him busy with matters that are of no concern to him." [4]
When a person reaches such a point, he must repent and ask Allaah سبØانه Ùˆ تعالى to guide him to those matters that are important and beneficial. [5]
Notes:
[1] For the quote from Imaam Ibn al-'Arabi رØمه الله, see Imaam Muhammad az-Zarqaani رØمه الله, Sharh az-Zarqaani 'ala Muwatta' al-Imaam Maalik رØمه الله (Beirut: Daar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyah, 1990), vol. 4, p. 317.
[3] Recorded by Imaam at-Tirmidhi رØمه الله, Imaam Ibn Maajah رØمه الله, Imaam Ibn Hibbaan رØمه الله and others.
According to Shaykh Shu'ayb al-Arnaa'oot رØمه الله, it is hasan lighayrihi. See: Shaykh Shu'ayb al-Arnaa'oot رØمه الله and Shaykh Ibraaheem Baajis' رØمه الله Footnotes to Imaam Ibn Rajab رØمه الله: Jaami' al-'Uloom wal-Hikam (Beirut: Mu'assasat ar-Risaalah, 1991), vol. 1, p. 287.
According to Shaykh Saleem al-Hilaali ØÙظه الله, it is saheeh lighayrihi. (Saheeh lighairihi ("sahih due to other evidences") means that as the chain or hadeeth stands alone, it is hasan. However, supporting evidences remove any possible lingering doubt about it and raise it to the level of saheeh.) See: Bahjat an-Naadhireen Sharh Riyaadh as-Saaliheen, vol. 1, p. 141.
According to Shaykh al-Albaani رØمه الله, it is saheeh. See: Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhi (Riyadh: Maktab at-Tarbiyah al-'Arabi li-Duwal al-Khaleej, 1988), vol. 2, p. 269.
However, according to Shaykh Fawzi Ibn Muhammad ØÙظه الله, it is not authentic. He also gives the impression that two other modern-day scholars have come to the same conclusion. They are Shaykh Abu Is'haaq al-Huwaini ØÙظه الله and Shaykh 'Abdullaah al-Judai ØÙظه الله. See: al-Adhwaa as-Samaawiyyah fee Takhreej Ahaadeeth al-Arba'een an-Nawawiyyah (Amman, Jordan: al-Maktabah al-Islaamiyyah, 1413 A.H.), vol. 1, pp. 100-109.
According to Shaykh Jamaaluddeen Zarabozo ØÙظه الله, it is weak. See: Commentary on the Forty Hadeeth of Imaam An-Nawawi رØمه الله, vol. 1, pp. 485-486.
[4] Quoted in Imaam Ahmad al-Haitami رØمه الله, Fath al-Mubeen li-Sharh al-Arba'een (Beirut: Daar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyah, 1978), p. 145, and Imaam Muhammad az-Zarqaani رØمه الله, Sharh az-Zurqaani 'ala Muwatta' al-Imaam Maalik رØمه الله (Beirut: Daar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyah, 1990), vol. 4, p. 317.
[5] Shaykh Jamaaluddeen Zarabozo ØÙظه الله, Commentary on the Forty Hadeeth of Imaam An-Nawawi رØمه الله, vol. 1, p. 491.
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