Finding Direction in Life

Misuse of Time

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Some people perceive that they have all the time to do the things they always wanted to do, although they agree that time in this world will come to an end. As a result, they fail to internalise the importance of managing their daily activities properly.

Another thing is that the concept of time management has been adulterated by some- they bring procrastination into it. Some call it creative procrastination, when in fact, the meaning of both words 'creative' and 'procrastination' are as far as the heavens and the earth. Creativity is generated when you're not lazy, procrastination is generated when you are lazy. So how can these two words be 'together' when their causes are from directly opposite circumstances?

Coupled with various distractions which are increasingly pervasive in society (i.e. time-wasters) from the screens to forbidden relations, managing our time well is even more important and crucial to our lives, dignity, and success in this world and in the hereafter.

As a reminder, .the believers (i.e. Muslims) believe in the existence of the hereafter, and so they work towards it (in this world), as it is the final destination of mankind- Hell or Paradise. Consequently, they are enjoined to make use of their time well in this world which is pleasing to Allah, the Exalted.

How to start off to manage one of our greatest assets?

1. Set goals in life.
2. Set up a time journal (to know where you are spending time at, on a daily basis, probably for a few weeks)
3. Create timetable or a to-do list for the day, week, month, or year (such that it brings you closer to your goals in life)

I hope this was beneficial for you and me.

Oh Allah, rectify our affairs.

Regards,

Akbar Azad

EVERY.PERSON.SUCCESSFUL

Take Charge of Your Life

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Are you convinced that you are responsible for your life? That you will be in the grave alone? That you will bear your share of the consequences of your actions and no one else? That you will be questioned by your Lord and no one else? 


No one else will bear the consequences of your actions on your behalf, except you.

Therefore, take charge of your life before...

Your old age

You fall sick

You become poor

You are busy

Your death

 In a hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah grant him peace and blessings) said to a man while he was advising him: 

"Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth, before you become old; and your health, before you fall sick; and your richness, before you become poor; and your free time before you become busy; and your life, before your death." (From Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him. Reported in the mustadrak of Al-Haakim, Musnad Imam Ahmad, and others, with an authentic chain of narration.)

I hope this short article was beneficial for me and you. And all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the universe. 

Regards,

Akbar Azad

EVERY.PERSON.SUCCESSFUL

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)