At this current age, time is the most valuable asset that an individual possesses. Most of us, at some point in our lives, fail to take control over it with respect to our aims and objectives, our work and rest habits and routines. There are moments when we take time for granted and then we are always ready with the excuse that we are short on time. Unfortunately, we have missed out the true essence of time, and are far from realizing how each second is important, to prepare us for the hereafter. Allah Subhanu-wa-Ta’ala mentions in the Quran:
“But did We not grant you life enough for whoever would remember therein to remember, and the warner had come to you?”
(Surah Fatir, 37)
Time is a special blessing from Allah Subhanu-wa-Ta’ala. Reported by Ibn Abbas RA, Prophet Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam once advised a companion, saying;
“Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: youth before old age; health before illness; richness before poverty; free time before becoming busy; and life before death.”
(Al-Mustadrak 4/306; Al-Haakim)
Reflecting upon the glorious Islamic history, one will find numerous examples of great Imams and Muhaddiseens who contributed to deen with their amazing input, utilizing the same 24 hours we possess.
Time is running out of our hands these days, and we are searching for the lost barakah, having no idea of how to handle the situation. Keeping in mind that Ramadhan is just around the corner, we must take some practical steps in order to adjust our routines and working habits so as to utilize to the maximum, the blessed moments of this month.
1. Make schedules and To-Do-Lists
It is always a great idea to write things down, whether be it your daily goals or your daily routine. Always plan your day ahead and make a to-do-list. This can be for a day, for a week or a month or even for a year as well, in order to accomplish and keep a track of your progress in terms of your aims and objectives. A checklist helps motivate an individual towards pursuing the written task as soon as possible, without laziness hindering the task oriented mind. It also acts as a reminder for some.
As for Ramadhan pre-preparation, one can add their missed up salahs, missed up fasts, tahajjud schedule, returning of things, making tauba for past sins, cleaning of house and heart, become a part of their to-do-lists.
2. Allot time for Different Activities
Balance all activities of your daily routine and schedule them around the salah timings. Set specific timings against specific events and prioritize tasks. Avoid random activities that may hinder your routine. Allocate sufficient time for ibadahs (farz, nawafil, dhikr azkaar, recitation), for worldly matters, like specific study time, specific time to check emails, and for other activities. Balance your activities and add leisure, exercise and other stress reliving behaviors to your schedule.
Be conscious of time; do not spend too much on a specific task and move on to the next if one thing is taking too much time. You can always re-visit and complete it. The human body looks for change; monotonous work for longer periods can slow down productivity and diminish efficiency. Take help from the masnoon duas when starting any task, making an intention to put in maximum effort in it, and seeking Allah Subhanu-wa-Ta’ala’s help for completion of the task at hand.
3. Utilize little Pockets of Time
There are always instances when we get little time in between different tasks; moments that we might seem to waste by simply gazing around or thinking about some irrelevant matter. These are small pockets of time we waste unintentionally. Utilizing such pockets of time depicts how much value we hold for time in our lives.
This is another source of injecting barakah into our 24 hour clock. Make use of such times; like waiting in car, travelling, waiting at the doctors’ or standing in queue, by making istaghfaar, reciting tasbihaat, or by revising your lessons. Some minor tasks do not require special attention, time, environment or situation to be carried out. These can be accomplished in small pockets of time.
4. Set Targets and Deadlines
If you have a to-do-list for a week or a month, with some goals, breakdown these goals into smaller, achievable and measureable daily targets, that are visible. Set deadlines against your daily targets and be regular, strict, consistent and punctual at meeting them. Even for accomplishment in spiritual progress, commit to daily amals that may not be countless but consistent. As narrated by Hazrat Aisha (RA); the Prophet sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam is reported to have said:
“…and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari English reference: Vol. 8, Book 76, Hadith 471, Arabic reference: Book 81, Hadith 6541)
5. Cancel Out Noise
Any unintended interferences and interruptions, that may hinder productivity, or break the concentration flow, are to be kept away. Such noise (unintended, sudden distractions) includes irrelevant social media notifications, constant cellular phone updates and messages, unrelated phone calls, gossips, and news updates. This noise may seem insignificant, however it does break the concentration cycle, and an individual has to spend another fifteen minutes and so on, in order to re concentrate the mind on the task at hand, thus wasting quite some bit of time during the process.
As a Sunnah, one should keep to themselves and focus on their own tasks rather than poking nose in every other matter not necessarily directly related to them. All these distractions in our life are lughw (not beneficial) in the light of Quran and Sunnah, and they do not assist Muslims towards the attainment of their mission and goals, rather stirs them away from their ultimate focus. One must learn to cut down these in order to effectively utilize the barakah time has to offer.
For Ramadhan, an individual should learn to completely disconnect with such lughw practices in order to protect their fast.
6. Manage your Sleep
If an individual is able to take control of their sleep cycles, they can optimize on time and be more productive. Align your sleep cycle with the Sunnah way, making a niyyat of following Sunnah as well as aiming for productivity enhancement. Allah SWT will put immense barakah in your sleep and it will turn out to be beneficial for you.
Sleep earlier at night aiming for tahajjud, and check your optimal sleep duration (the duration after which you will get up fresh). 5.5-6.5 hours of continuous sleep is enough and optimal for an individual if sleeping early. Prophet Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam did not prefer sleeping between the Isha azaan and salah. Aim to sleep earlier after offering Isha prayer.
Learn to remain awake after Fajr salah because the hours around Fajr are the most productive hours of the day and filled with immense barakah. The human body is designed to recognize the natural light and the mind functions at its best during those hours. Any work carried out in the morning will take around 1 hour as compared to an effort of around 3 hours during the night. Utilize this time in ibadah, Quran recitation, dhikr azkaar, and dua, so as to begin your day productive, with the tasbeeh of Allah Subhanu-wa-Ta’ala.
Add barakah to your routine by taking the afternoon nap (qaylula) as per the Sunnah of Nabi sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. Often called a power nap, this is usually between 30-45min long, taken at any time in the afternoon between zawal (12 30) to asar salah time. This is extremely refreshing and helps one wake up for tahajjud. Most mammals sleep in two periods, and the human body has a natural urge to rest at this time.
Following these guidelines will also help you manage and control your sleep during Ramadan inshaa Allah.
Apart from these practical steps, a significant move to ensure barakah in your time is to strive for the best and make an effort to utilize each moment. Complement your struggle and effort with constant dua for the attainment of your goals and objectives. Be thankful to Allah Subhanu-wa-Ta’ala for whatever little progress you are making and develop patience, husn-e-zann and hope for the accomplishment of your goals within the given time frame. May Allah Subhanu-wa-Ta’ala grant special barakah in the time of all Muslims around the world. (Aameen)
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May Allah SWT bless all Muslim brothers and sisters with happiness in their family life!
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