time management

The Islamic Way

• It is a measure of the passing away of life… So,

Time is Life!• It is a precious resource…We have only 24 hours

in a day• It is irreplaceable…Time, unlike wealth, once lost,

can’t be gained back• It is something you can’t have enough of • It is something to be respected... Not only your

own time, but also other people’s! • If not managed well, it is a creator of stress

Allah (s.w.t) says:

“ By the time, Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, And do righteous deeds, And (join together) in the mutual enjoining of Truth and of Sabr (patience &

constancy).”

Ibn Abbas (r.a.a) narrates that the Prophet (s.a.w) said, “There are two blessings which many people lose. (They are) health and free time for doing good” (Bukhari)

The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “On the Day of Resurrection the feet of the son of Adam will not move away till he is questioned about five matters:

1.On what he spent his life

2. In doing what he made his youth pass away

3. From where he acquired his property

4. On what he spent it (property)

5. What he did regarding what he knew.”

( Tirmidhi)

Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w) said: “Grasp five things before five others: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your leisure before your work and your life before your death.”

Tirmidhi

Abdullah bin Umar (r.a.a) said, “ Allah’s Apostle (s.a.w) took hold of my shoulder and said, ‘Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.’

Ibn Umar (r.a.a) used to say, “ If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening and take from your health for your sickness, and take from your life for your death.” (Bukhari)

Abu Bakr Siddiq (r.a.a) used to pray:

“O Allah, do not leave us in the dark (i.e. under the wrong impression about things) and do not make us

one of those who are careless about time”.

Umar Farooq (r.a.a) used to ask Allah for Barakah (abundance & blessings) in his time (to do more in less time) and to enable him to

use it for the right purposes.

Sh. Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddi said:

““The people who do not value time and The people who do not value time and waste all their spare time are truly waste all their spare time are truly deprived and at a great loss. A person’s deprived and at a great loss. A person’s life will pass away in the twinkling of an life will pass away in the twinkling of an eye and he will be left truly empty-eye and he will be left truly empty-handed”.handed”.

Making the maximum use of their time..

• Ibn ul Jawzi wrote about 1000 books in his lifetime.

• Ibn Jarir Tabari used to write 28 pages every day & not waste a single moment of his day.

• In Jahiz Ibn Rashid’s life, there were only 2 nights he did not read.

Ibn ul Jawzi said, “I feel sorry for those people who are busy in play and amusement, roaming around without any specific purpose, sitting in the market-place staring at every passer-by and debating & giving their opinions on the rise and fall of nations.”

FROM THE QURAN,

THE SUNNAH OF THE PROPHET

(S.A.W), & THE PRACTICE OF THE SAHAABAH (R.A.A)

WE LEARN HOW TO PRIORITIZE, PLAN, ORGANIZE & ALLOCATE

OUR TIME TO USE IT IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.

The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “It is incumbent on every intelligent person that he should spend some part of his time talking to his Rabb.”

This can be done in prayer, Quran, Dhikr, while alone and amongst people. Share your feelings and thoughts with Allah.

Quran (59:18) :

“And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow – and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is acquainted with what you do”.

DO A REGULAR CHECK & REVIEW OF YOUR ACTIVITIES

- What am I doing for my tomorrow (my Hereafter)?

- What are my duties & am I doing them (worship, etc)?

- What are my dealings with people? Am I giving them their rights?

- What is my character, manners & habits like?

- Have I stopped lying, backbiting, telling tales, aimless talk,

sarcasm and doing activities which waste time?

- Where is my wealth coming from & how am I spending it?

A believer is never ‘free’; he does not have excess time because there is too much to be done. If you have time left over from your duties, help others. If you are already doing this and still have time, do some more.

You can do Dhikr – Remembrance of Allah

“So when you have finished (your duties) then stand up (for worship) and to your Lord direct (your) longing.” Quran 94:7,8

The Prophet (saw) used to forbid ‘Qil’ and ‘Qal’ (idle, useless talk or that you talk too much about others)

• Laziness

• Lack of focus or identifying what one wants

• Too engrossed with one’s own personal problems

• Lack of self-control or self-discipline

• Ego in thinking oneself indispensable

• Leaving things half done

• Taking things & people’s criticism too personally

• Demands of society & excessive time spent on social events

• Not realizing the importance & value of time

- Identify your goals

- Make a list of these goals making sure you balance your different life roles

- Prioritize and make a list of things to do

- Make time-tables & stick to them

- Be focused on what you are doing for ex. active listening saves time

- Set realistic targets (monthly,weekly,daily) plan & achieve them

- Review & amend as necessary

- Train people to respect your time & schedules

- Ask for Allah’s help in being constant

-Find out the ways of doing things correctly.

-Knowledge will stop you from wasting time in making mistakes

-Be determined to succeed. Develop a winning attitude

-Do not impose limitations on yourself. Do things confidently

-Be honest with yourself & be realistic

Prayer is the best training (physical & mental for us in learning to be punctual, focused, single minded, self-disciplined & goal oriented. So pray the right way, with the right movements, humility and concentration.