As a child, I was always told by my beloved mother not to delay what is to be done to a later time as it is something that stems from carelessness and laziness. Procrastination is a habit that is difficult to shake off once developed.

I was always told:

‘Tomorrow’s work do today, today’s work now and now’s work immediately.’

In hindsight, I understand that it was and is one of the most valuable pieces of advice one could ever receive. Procrastination creates obstacles for you in every walk of life no matter what you are doing: be it studies, work, your religion or any other task at hand. If not dealt with early and effectively, procrastination becomes a way of life and keeps haunting you till you have no time left to do all the things you had or wanted to.

Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Until, when death comes to one of them, he says: “My Lord! Send me back so that I may do good in that which I have left behind” [Qur’an: Chapter 23, Verses 99-100]

With the precious month of Ramadan just around the corner, we must get serious about beating procrastination if we want to take full advantage of all the bumper rewards that Ramadan is packed with! Give yourself an immensely rewarding challenge: make the intention to beat procrastination before Ramadan, and resolve to start implementing these steps to beat procrastination from TODAY:

1. The Anti-Procrastination Dua

The Prophet gifted us a beautiful, comprehensive dua to ward off all kinds of mental stress and obstacles that prevent us from reaching our full potential in our spiritual and worldly lives. Memorize this brilliant dua, make it once or more times a day and immediately notice the difference in your productivity:

“Allahumma inni ‘a’udhubika minal hammi walhuzni, Wal’ajzi walkasali, walbukhli waljubni, Wa dal’id-daiyni wa ghalabatir-rajal.”

‘O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being over powered by men.’  [Bukhari]

2. Sleep Early

All high achievers, beginning with the Prophet himself share one quality: going to bed early. Ramadan is a period where a Muslim must strive to be at his productive best. Start training yourself for Ramadan by going to bed early and practice waking up for Fajr so that you face less difficulty waking up when the holy month arrives. Fajr is a basic practice that we all need to adhere to throughout our daily lives but let us face it: how many of us do really wake up for Fajr? Making sleeping early a habit will ensure we wake up for Fajr, and will also ensure that we can wake up easily to have suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and fulfill a sunnah of our beloved Prophet . 

3. Start Practicing

Make a list of your shortcomings when it comes to your deen (religion) and start fixing them before Ramadan. Make a habit chart to get rid of negative habits and incorporate productive habits and deeds into your routine. Maybe there is a prayer that you are missing and need to start making a habit of praying, or that you need to stop wasting time online. Let’s not wait to start taking action when Ramadan begins, because it takes several days if not weeks to get used to the new routine. Such procrastination will make you lose MANY rewards. As a bare minimum, start by identifying your shortcomings and the steps you need to take to overcome them.

4. Set a Schedule

Ramadan is an extremely precious gift from Allah to us but it comes with a time limit of just 30 days. Knowing the true value of this month and not making a Ramadan schedule is equivalent to losing out an opportunity that you may not get again in your life. Make sure you schedule all the necessary acts of worship including reading your salah on time, recitation of the Qur’an, praying taraweeh, tahajjud, and extra supererogatory prayers. Also schedule your work, studies and other necessities of life but keep only those that are absolutely necessary, so you don’t lose out on the opportunity to maximize your worship. Make sure you stick to and follow your schedule to be at your productive best.

5. Prayers

Read your salah immediately after you hear the adhan. More often than not, we delay our prayers without any reason, and especially in Ramadan when we are feeling hungry, thirsty, tired and sleepy. We become groggy and delay our salah until we fall asleep or are not able to muster the courage to fight our lack of energy, resulting in a lost reward. The easiest way to avoid missing salah or reducing its reward is to pray as soon as possible. Doing so will ensure that you are relaxed and at peace with yourself.

6. Qur’an Recitation

Reading the Qur’an gives us the dose of daily guidance and productivity boost that we cannot do without, even for a day. Do not let procrastination make you lose out on the divine direction and spiritual energy that you need as a human being to live your life meaningfully. If you’ve set a target to finish reading the entire Qur’an, do not put off your portion for the day. Trust me; I have experience in delaying reading my portion of the Qur’an every day, and at the end, I’ve accumulated so much that its just impossible for me to reach my target of completing the Qur’an.

It is even more important to read as much Qur’an as possible in Ramadan. The Qur’an is divided into 30 juz (parts): you can complete one juz a day by reading 4 pages of the Qur’an after every salah daily, which means you can finish reading the Qur’an in Ramadan, In sha Allah! If Arabic is not something you know, it would be even better to read it with translation and tafsir (commentary). Understanding what you are reading has a profound effect on us and makes us act according to it.

7. You’ve Got to Do What You’ve Got to Do

Always keep in mind that you must do what you have to do at all costs, even if you do not like to do it. There are things that need to be done and missions that need to be accomplished. Leaving things for later will not make your responsibilities go away. Whatever obligations we have – whether religious, work or family-related – it is better to do them with all your heart than to delay them and do them in half-hearted haste with barely any concentration.

Above all, remember that all this effort at doing things on time and being productive is not for anyone else but for our own benefit in this world and the world hereafter. Allah says:

“And those who shall strive for Our Sake, We shall surely guide them unto Our ways.” [Qur’an: Chapter 29, Verse 69]

May Allah guide us to the right path and enable us to fulfill our responsibilities with dignity, honor, and grace. Aameen!

Now, tell us, what are your biggest struggles in beating procrastination before Ramadan?

The post How to Beat Procrastination Before Ramadan appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You’ve got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense. Paulo Coelho

Carving a career path is not about choosing something that is popular, one that everyone else seems to be doing or one that gives you the highest financial returns. For Muslims, it is of utmost importance that we choose the right career path as it is a decision that will affect our productivity. It also has the potential to make or break not only our worldly life but also our hereafter.

By choosing a profession that benefits the Ummah, our career will not only be a source of permissible income for us, but it is also a form of social productivity that brings not only the Muslim Ummah closer to Allah but also provides opportunities for non-Muslims to come to the same path. This will benefit us in the world and our status will be elevated in the hereafter as well, In sha Allah. Indeed earning a halal income based on our own efforts is encouraged by the prophet .

Abu Hurairah said: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘if one of you were to carry a bundle of firewood on his back and sell it, that would be better than asking a man who may or may not give him something.”‘ [Sunan an-Nasa’i]

So how exactly do we choose a career from an Islamic perspective and a path that will benefit the Ummah? Below are some pointers that will help us to at least start thinking along the right lines and get the ball rolling in the way of Allah and His creation.

1. Follow Your Strengths

While choosing a career, it is important that we follow our strengths. We should choose a path that is close to our hearts and one that we like. However, it is equally important that it is one that feeds off the strengths blessed upon you by Allah . All of us have our strengths and it is of utmost importance that we make an effort to identify those. This could be done through assessment activities, such as taking online questionnaires and surveys. It can also be done through self-reflection and assessing what is it that you like to do and are good at compared to your other skills and also in comparison to other individuals in society. To gain a deeper insight into the job that you are interested in, you could sign up for internships or apprenticeship programs. This list of high paying temp jobs may also help you decide.

More often than not, we would perform better at something that we naturally enjoy as opposed to something that we have to make an effort to do. The better we perform our job, the better the position we will be in to benefit the Ummah. For example, if we possess strong presentation/ communication or public speaking skills, we could consider becoming a da’ee and invite people to Islam. If we have a good grasp of the Arabic language and enjoy interaction with others, we can consider taking up teaching Arabic as a vocation.

And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwa (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes). [Qur’an: Chapter 7, Verse 96]

2. Keep it Halal & Seek the Pleasure of Allah

It has been seen many a times that a person chooses a career path blindly without thinking about its religious implications. There are certain careers that involve certain forbidden characteristics such as immoral behavior, corruption, bribery or interest-based transactions. Any career that would involve such characteristics would be questionable and the income of which is deemed haram by Allah .

In many cases, it is until after many years they realize that the money they have been earning for all these years was forbidden and they have been accumulating nothing but sins all their life. At this point, it becomes the biggest test of your life as it is something that you have invested much money and time in and for people of weaker Iman, it becomes almost impossible to go back on your actions. How is it possible to benefit the Ummah through a career which is plainly haram? How can they hope to attain any reward from it? Hence, the importance of keeping the career halal at all times.

The importance of seeking the pleasure of Allah cannot be emphasized enough. While choosing a career path, always keep in mind that our aim is to gain the pleasure of Allah . Hence, we should choose a path which will enable us to remain steadfast on the teachings of Islam as detailed in the Qur’an or hadith and ones which will not only enable benefit of the Ummah but you as an individual will also gain the reward for the good deeds.

Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. [Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 268]

For example, we may choose to have the job of an administrator, maybe at a department level, company level or even the country level. Our aim should be the implementation of the Shariah laws both at a personal as well as societal level. When we are in a position of authority and have a say over policy making and how our organization can benefit the Ummah, then this can serve as an opportunity to implement shariah at a societal level where the tenets of the deen are preserved. Be it at the social, economical, political or the financial aspects of a set-up. Moreover, the honor, dignity, property/wealth and family can also be protected by making sure that all practices fall within the boundaries set by Allah . In this way you will ensure the maximum benefit for the Ummah as you will be enabling them to follow the rules laid out by Allah . Have a look at all the great property investments offered by B8 Real Estate on their website. Are you seeking guidance on the best places to invest? Look no further; you may want to explore reputable options like sarabirealtygroup.co.ke for expert assistance. Moreover, if you’re planning to buy a property, seeking help from conveyancing solicitors will help you decide where to invest your money. However, if you’re looking for a rental property, visit the Canary Wharf Apartments website. An expert from Raynor Realty may also help you find the best property, whether it’s for rental or acquisition. However, if you need to downsize and transition to senior living, consider an Estate Liquidation Services. It’s a one stop service to sell property and transfer it to a new home.

3. Be an Independent Model

Set an example for other Muslims to follow. One of the common examples of this is banking where there were always debates and confusion on whether the type of banking in place was halal or haram. As a result of this, Islamic banking was established, which ensured that the issue of interest along with others was taken care of. Similarly, many Muslim and some non-Muslim countries have come with the idea of having halal hotels where forbidden things like alcohol or non-halal meat is not served. Moreover, other activities like music and dances have been entirely eliminated to make these hotels Islam friendly. These are examples of how we can choose a path that will enable us to establish businesses based on Islamic concepts, giving you the opportunity to help the Ummah practice the religion and also help you gain lots of reward.

Identification of such niche areas can be carried out through picking businesses that you are interested in, followed by an analysis of the forbidden practices performed in those businesses, and an identification of how these can be removed and whether the business would still be beneficial or not. For example, if we want to open a hotel of our own, we can start by identifying that the selling/ serving of alcohol/ non-halal meat, playing of music etc. are forbidden. Then we can picture opening a hotel that is clean of such vices. We would also be investing on the best hotel SEO services. Similarly, this idea is applicable to other careers as well.

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: “Richness is not an abundance of worldly goods, rather richness is contentment with one’s lot.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i]

4. Convert your Profession to Ibadah

One of the most important points to remember is that we are rewarded for whatever action we take based on our niyyah or intentions.

Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab : The Prophet said, “The rewards (of deeds) are according to the intention, and everybody will get the reward for what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for Allah’s and His Apostle’s sake, his emigration was for Allah and His Apostle ; and whoever emigrated for worldly benefits, or to marry a woman, then his emigration was for the thing for what he emigrated for.” [Bukhari].

This is especially for those who have already chosen a career path and might be thinking how their careers benefit the Ummah. Some might even be thinking of what new career path they can take. But wait, you might not have to take that drastic step. Whatever you are doing, just make sure that you correct your intention. Make your intention of whatever you do for Allah only. This action will ensure that you get reward even for the apparently worldly career path that you may have. You can do this by utilizing your expertise to help the Muslims, or the Muslim businesses. You can concentrate on community work by thinking of the advancement of Muslims in their corporate or professional careers as well and many such ways. Remember, it is never difficult to benefit the Ummah whatever your career maybe as long as it is halal. There is always a way, In sha Allah.

5. Ask for Allah’s Help and Guidance

Last but not the least, always pray to Allah for his help and guidance in all matters. Always pray salaatul Istikhara before taking any action so as to have the will and permission of Allah in every action you take and In sha Allah you will be on the right path.

And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allah. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. 

And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent. [Qur’an: Chapter 65, Verses 2-3]

May Allah guide us to the right path and let us fulfill our responsibilities with dignity, honor and grace. Ameen.

Don’t forget to share your comments and experience below!

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We all spend money: we must take care of our needs, and beyond that, we enjoy spending it! If we are lucky, we are able to save some as well. But more often than not, many people end up spending all that they have without thinking of the consequences, and fret when they really need the money. Money is an important need – especially in these times – and it is natural that you fulfill your basic necessities; however, we must strike a balance so that we are able to pay off our expenses, save some for emergencies, and also have a little extra to indulge. That’s where effective financial planning comes in, and considering professional paraplanning services in AU can be a smart step towards securing your financial future.

Let us take a look at some things that we can do in order to use our money productively and wisely, i.e. without wasting it and thinking before we really spend.

1. Identify your expenses

First and foremost, you need to and jot down all the monthly expenses you have. These of course vary slightly according to the needs of each individual, and should include all details from food, accommodation, school fees, transportation costs, electricity bills, car installments, credit card payments, etc. I would also suggest setting aside a certain amount for charity each month. To improve your security and effective investing, you can learn more at ourfiscalsecurity.

2. Create a spreadsheet or use a software application

Create a spreadsheet with your budget and expenses. Include your monthly income as well as your accumulated annual income. Then list all your expenses with a cost figure next to it. This will tell you if your income is enough to cover your expenses. If it is, then you are more or less on the right track; but if the income is not enough, you need to streamline your expenses. You can even do this more efficiently through some useful iPhone applications like Texthog, Cashbase or online at Mint.com (also an app).

3. Save a percentage of money

Once you have your expenses outlined, you will have a good idea of what you can save on a monthly (and eventually annual) basis. Target this amount and make sure that you put aside a sufficient amount with every paycheck you receive. This will ensure that you have money in the bank in case of an emergency or personal expense. Ideally, saving 10-20% of one’s monthly income is a good start.

4. Keep track of all expenses

Keep track of each expense that you make on a daily basis. For example, I use my mobile notepad to keep a list of what I spend during the day. At the end of every week, I transfer this on to a spreadsheet on my computer to compare with my outlined budget.

5. Analyze

What you need to make sure is that you do not lose sight of your goals. Set aside a specific day, (e.g. the last day of the month, or the day you receive your paycheck) and analyze your expenses. First, you have to see that you are saving the amount you have set for yourself. If not, you need to figure out where most of your money is going, and if there is a way to cut down those expenses. Start working on these cut-backs immediately.

6. Stay Clear

It is narrated by Abu Musa Ashari that the Prophet said: After the major sins which must be avoided, the greatest sin is that someone dies in a state of debt and leaves behind no asset to pay it off. (Darimi)

Try as much as you can to stay out of debt – and if that cannot be avoided, make sure that you make your payments on time. Find ways to easily repay your quick loans. Just as you would put aside money for savings, also immediately put aside the amount for debt payments, or pay them as soon as you can to make sure that those monthly car installments, loan repayments for that payday loan, or credit card payments are secure. Letting those payments accumulate would only lead you to paying penalties for late payment! In addition, whether you are struggling to pay a bounce back loan or another form of debt, a team of experts can help. You should seek the assistance of trusted insolvency firms if your company has financial issues or is going through a formal insolvency process, such as company liquidation.

7. Lifestyle Change

“And eat and drink, but waste not in extravagance. Certainly He (Allah) likes not those who waste in extravagance.” (Qur’an 7:31)

Get rid of all your expensive and forbidden habits. This may be the cost of cigarettes, the cost of a cup of Starbucks coffee every morning, or simply overspending on something that isn’t necessary. Take some time to calculate how much you spend on coffee, cigarettes, and fast food every year and you will be surprised to discover how much money can be used productively, and, how much damage you are potentially doing to your health.

8. Disposable Income

If you follow the above pointers and save money monthly, you will end up having a good lump sum amount which you can use as disposable income. If you are going to trade stocks, you need to understand what you are doing. For example, short-term trading has different tax implications than investing, as well as different strategies. You also need to understand terms such as how to short the pound. Reward yourself for all the hard work you have done the whole year. Use that money to go for a vacation or buy yourself that item you always wanted to.

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet said, “Wealth does not mean having a lot of property. Wealth means having self-contentment.” [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]

Question: What financial tips do you have to share?  Write them below so that we may all increase the barakah in our finances, inshAllah!

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”You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you..”
– Brian Tracy

The world is sometimes a very tough place to live in, with all the ups and downs in life it sometimes feels that we are in some sort of never ending roller coaster ride. There is so much going on around us, positive and negative, good or bad which can lead us to experience many different emotions ranging from happiness to sadness.

At times we take all the good things we have for granted and focus on being pessimistic, we forget whatever emotion or experience we are going through is temporary and we will eventually have to face something different. Many people find it difficult to deal with emotions and let negativity overcome them, however as Muslims we should have a positive outlook all the time. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said “How amazing is the case of the believer; there is good for him in everything, and this characteristic is exclusively for him alone. If he experiences something pleasant, he is thankful, and that is good for him; and if he comes across some diversity, he is patient, and that is good for him.” [Muslim] 

We need to understand that it part and parcel of life to have difficulties and challenges, and each and every one of us is going to go through some hardships in life at one time or the other. The key here is to remain positive and not let adverse situations affect the productivity and quality of our lives.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went to visit a sick bedouin. Whenever the Prophet went to a patient, he used to say to him: ”Don’t worry, if Allah Wills, it will be expiation (for your sins).” The bedouin said: “You say expiation? No, it is but a fever that is boiling or harassing an old man and will lead him to his grave without his will.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Then, yes, it is so.” [Sahih Bukhari]

The bottom line then is to have a positive mindset and optimistic view on life no matter what the situation. Important to keep in mind is that the only thing we can control in our lives is our own attitude and how we react to various situations whilst Allah controls all affairs.

Once we are able to alter our attitude positively, the world all of a sudden looks a bearable place to live in and everything seems to fall into place. Here are a few ways through which we can program our minds to be more positive towards life.

1. Remember Allah

The most important virtue of a Muslim is to remember Allah at all times. In difficult times, when ones morale is low and you are feeling down, the best thing you can do is remembrance of Allah. The Muslim is blessed with so many duas and supplications that help in overcoming any negative feelings that one may have. Remembering Allah will take away the ill feelings, give mental relief and give you the strength to move on with a positive attitude.

2. Give thanks

Always be thankful to ALLAH for all the blessings that you have. If you look around, you will notice that you are blessed with so much that the little things we lose our sleep over do not really matter at all. Islam as a religion does not support the idea of being depressed because it makes a person ungrateful which is a virtue furthest away from a faithful and devout Muslim. Instead, look at those who are not as blessed as you are and have gratitude.

3. Look for the positives

Every situation has its positives and negatives or its pros and cons. Our effort should always be to look for the positive side of things no matter what situation or condition we may find ourselves in. This depends on our mindset. If we are determined on finding all the negatives, then you will see all the negatives.

However, if your outlook is positive, you will see the benefits of a particular situation. Look at the half glass full instead of the half glass empty and have faith that Allah can open ways for you. Once you see the positive side, it will become much easier to accept the situation and work towards improving it.

4. Be patient

Learn to always be patient in all circumstances. Many things happen in life, good and bad and we need to be brave in the face of adversity. What we need to remember is that no situation in life remains the same for a long time. Whatever circumstances you may find yourself it will eventually change, being patient is also the ingredient of successful people.

5. Never give up, have faith

One of the most essential qualities of a Muslim should be to never give up. Be brave, be patient and have faith. You will face difficulties on every step and corner of life and all you need to do is to keep your head held high. Keep trying with the faith that there are better things in store for you and that with your will power and dedication will pull through.

This means that you have not lost hope and are positive about achieving a task in the near future.

Implement these above steps and remain positive at all times simply because negativity hampers progress and productivity, whereas, positivity breeds productivity! Share other ways you develop a positive outlook below.

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