Productivity: Muslim's View VS Non-Muslim's View

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

To proceed,

   We have heard of talks about productivity. But how many of them provide the Muslim's view on productivity. In this post, we will read Dr Haitham al-Haddad's article on the Muslim's view on productivity. May Allah grant us understanding of Islam.

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The Muslim View of Productivity

Shaikh (Dr) Haitham Al-Haddad

Last Updated on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 23:35Please help us run Islam21c and its' projects for the next 12 months. Donate to our Just Giving page.

...The Muslim is required to be extremely productive but must also channel this productivity in the context of what is most beneficial for the afterlife...

Although Islam moulds every aspect of our life, many people wrongly assume that Islam only deals with either religious or social affairs. However, Allah says, “Say: Verily, my salah (prayer), my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (all that exists).”¹
Admitting that life is divided into two parts - this life and that of the hereafter, with the hereafter being eternal, compels us to think about the link between both. Being productive in this life yet neglecting the everlasting life to come is a miserable failure. A wise person should seek to live a productive life that leads to acquiring as much as possible in the second life. Allah says, “Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. Whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).”²
This is a key difference between the Muslim notion of productivity and a non-Islamic one. Non-Islamic ideas do not have a clear and sound view about what happens after death, and it fails to address the link between both thus leaving an emptiness in one’s life that can only be filled by an attachment to the Creator.  The Muslim is required to be extremely productive but must also channel this productivity in the context of what is most beneficial for the afterlife. Muslims should be selective in which activities they engage in – anything that does not benefit the second life should be seen as subsidiary. This view helps productive Muslims feel that every second counts, “So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.”³
This approach necessitates that a person be attached to his Lord and the hereafter, contemplating Allah and thinking of what pleases Him most. It provides human beings with a peace of mind knowing that there is a link between this life and the hereafter.

Some might say that this is a selfish viewpoint, but in reality, we should not want to please others whilst ourselves dwelling endlessly in the fire of hell where there is no help. However, if we help others with the correct intention, such as pleasing the Lord, then that help secures the most interest for a believer in regards to one’s final destination. This is conditional that the person act to please his Lord and not anyone else. Allah says, “And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform salah and give zakat - and that is the right religion.”⁴ The Muslim view of productivity is extremely developed with the focus being the extent of profit a person can make for the afterlife, and as such, even the most disabled person can be very productive despite his disability. “Actions are judged by intention and every single person gets what he intends.”⁵  The non-Muslim view of productivity focuses merely on output, and in some circumstances, on the action itself. It compares between the input and the output where both aspects are based on materialism. The Islamic focus is on the second life with the input large enough to include a wide range of activities that maximize heavenly rewards.

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Notes: this article has been reposted

Sources: www.islam21c.com

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1. Q. 6:162
2. Q. 3:185
3. Q. 99:7-8
4. Q. 98:5
5.  Al-Bukhari

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End quote.

   Hope that this was beneficial. If there are queries, please drop them at the comments/feedback box.

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail

Bismillahi'r-Rahmani'r-Rahim

Setting a timetable- we all know about it.

Exactly why we (are encouraged to) set timetable- not all of us know.

Each of us, generally, have goals in life. To achieve those goals, we need to work towards them. After Allah's permission, timetables ensure that we stick to those goals.

But, how do we set goals? Let me show you what I compiled...

We can categorise our goals into two:

• For the hereafter (akhirah)
• For this world (dun-ya)

*do note that we can work towards the hereafter through worldly means eg being a doctor (worldly) to save lives by the permission of Allah and intending it to increase his good rewards in the hereafter*

 We can further break these goals into two:

• Long-term Goals
• Short-term Goals (eg 90-day goals- in line with the long-term goals)

You may be asking yourselves this question (not that I know the unseen)- how do I broaden my goals?

Our GP (General Paper- a G.C.E. 'A'- Level subject) teachers may have taught us to write arguments through a number of structures/formats, among them is the S.P.E.R.M. format.

What does S.P.E.R.M. mean then?

S: Social etc

P: Politics, Productivity etc

E: Education/Environment/Entrepeneurship etc

R: Religion/Race etc

M: Medical, Money etc

So, we can apply this to our goals. For example (remember, you don't neccesarily have to follow the same)

S: Building an education institute for the less-educated

E: Attain a degree in Math/ Set up an unprecedented green business

R: Memorise the Quran, setting up financial centres across the world to aid poor Muslims

M: Being a leading event-organiser, inviting Medical professionals from across the globe to share their knowledge with the rest.

For P... it is challenging for me to have one example of its goal. 

Anyway, there are loads of other ways to have goals.

I hope that this was beneficial. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

We, man and Jinn, were created not except to worship Allah (alone, with no partners)

1ce Here

Bismillahi'r-Rahmani'r-Rahim

We praise Allah and seek His aid and assistance. We seek refuge in Him from the evil within us. May Allah exalt the mention of the Final Messenger, Muhammad, the son of 'Abdullah, and grant him peace.

I would like to ask you the following:

Why are we here on earth?

Your answer can generally be classified under two categories:

1. For fun and live a life with no account
2. For the worship of the One Who created us

Since death will overtake us one day (and we won't return to this present life), it is apparent that we have only one chance in this world- but how do we utilise our time here?

In this blog, the author will share with you a little of what he knows with regards to being productive in life, how to achieve our goals and more. The author believes success in this life and in the life to come is greatly infuenced by our time spent in this world. And undoubtedly, we live 1ce (pronounced as once) here in this world.

If there is any feedback, please contact the author at akbarazad93@gmail.com .