How to make this time more inspiring

Year after year, we hear the excellent advice of what we should do if we are not going for Hajj. We all know about not clipping our nails and hair, the fasting of the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah, being charitable, making dua, and so on. While these are all excellent actions to take – essentials really – they may become repetitive and uninspiring, because they are so routine by now. If this is how you feel about Dhul Hijjah, try to do something different this year: do I’tikaaf.

Ramadan reloaded?

Most of us associate I’tikaaf – seclusion in the masjid – with the last ten nights of Ramadan. While Ramadan is obviously the best time for it, there is nothing stopping us from engaging in this beautiful action during other times in the year. In fact, any time you spend in the masjid, both men and women, can be considered an I’tikaaf when you have the right intention.

I’tikaaf does not have to mean pitching a tent and sleeping overnight. It does not even have to mean spending every single day in the masjid for the entire nine days of Dhul Hijjah. It can simply mean taking a few hours each day, or as your schedule allows, to completely isolate yourself in this seclusion, to cut yourself off from all distractions and worldly matters, and focus exclusively on your relationship with your Creator.

Hajj at home…sort of!

This practice is partially reminiscent of the Hajj journey itself, because when people go for Hajj, they are in the unique position of leaving behind all responsibilities – work, school, children, and all other worldly occupations. They have nothing to do, other than completely focus on their ibadah (worship), and their relationship with Allah . This acts as a form of purification, because when you leave behind the things which occupy you both physically and mentally, you free up space for your fitrah (pure God-given nature) to rise again and connect with its Lord.

Those preforming Hajj also find that, by necessity, they spend a lot of time in the masjid. In Makkah and Madinah, if you are not super early for salah, then you are left praying outside the masjid. This is especially true on Fridays, when you need to be at least a few hours early for Jumu’ah if you want any chance of making it inside the masjid.

The heart of worship

The Messenger says:

“Verily dua (supplication) is worship.” [Related by the four Imams and At-Tirmidhi graded it as Sahih]

If you have performed Hajj already and have experienced this waiting period before salah, you know that it is incredibly important to make a plan for how to spend that time. It is essential to make a dua list – a written record of all the duas you want to make or at least dua “prompts” – to help you remember particular people or topics.

Then, when you have your precious moments of solitude in the masjid, you do not need to search your memory or worry about forgetting something. It is all there – in front of you. All you simply need to do is open your heart to Allah and make all the duas you want.

You may not be in the Holy Lands, but if you are making I’tikaaf, you are still in a sacred space, and you have dedicated this time to Allah alone – so your duas will in sha Allah take on added significance, compared to your normal daily duas that are part of your routine.

In particular, try to make I’tikaaf – and your duas – in those few hours when the Hujjaaj are in the glorious moments of standing on the mount ofArafah directing their entire beings to Allah , speaking to Him and asking of Him. You may be on the other side of the world, and it may be night already, but those hours are universal. They are some of the most precious moments of the entire year. Therefore, as the blessed guests of Allah are pouring their hearts out in dua, you do the same, trying to emulate the same intensity – because Allah is always listening and is always close – even if you are not in Makkah at that moment.

Reflections

Also critical during Hajj is to take time to reflect on yourself, your life, your relationship with Allah , and your relationship with others. On the first day in Mina, and also the morning of Arafah, Hujjaaj are in ihraam, and they try to be in their most pure mental state – all in preparation for the precious hours of standing on mount Arafahthat await them. Those are prime moments for self reflection, because they are on the cusp of the greatest few hours of their lives. In your I’tikaaf at home, you are not so privileged to be awaiting wuqoof (the stand on mount Arafah). However, while you are isolated from the normality of life, you still have an ideal opportunity to introspect.

Qur’an and Salah

It is always good to start with Qur’an, as it helps to bring barakah into your life and set a spiritual tone for the time that will follow. In your I’tikaaf, you will have plenty of time for all kinds of ibadah, so a good starting point would be some extra salah, along with Qur’an recitation, reflection, or tafseer. Qur’an also helps to get you “in the mood” – a sort of spirituality buffer that helps you transition from worldly concerns to consciousness of Allah .

Take advantage while you can

There is a lot more you could do in this period of I’tikaaf, but the point of this article was not to list everything. It was merely to encourage you – the reader – to go deeper than the standard, recommended actions of Dhul Hijjah. By making I’tikaaf during these blessed days of Dhul Hijjah, you can feed your soul, give your heart and mind space, and give yourself time to be spiritually productive.

We only get two really significant spiritual ‘seasons’ in Islam – Ramadan and Hajj. Once Eid-ul Adha is over, it is a really long wait until the next Ramadan. Therefore, take advantage of this opportunity while you can. You never know if you will get the chance again.

Will you perform I’tikaaf this Dhul Hijjah? Share your experiences and other actions you do to bring the feeling of Hajj into your homes.

The post [Missing Makkah – Part 2] A Personal Plan for Dhul Hijjah appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

Currently, many of the former Hujjaj are experiencing intense feelings of longing – when memories resurface to remind them of those precious times in the Holy Lands:

• Remember the serenity of Madinah, and how amazing it was to pray in the Rawdah – right next to the Prophet’s grave?
• Do you recall the awe of the first time you saw the Ka’bah, and how grateful you felt as you made tawaaf – being so close to the center of the Islamic universe?
• How about the simplicity of your ihraam garments, along with the peace of mind as you made your way to Mina for the first time?
• And you definitely can’t forget the intensely desperate dua you made on Arafah during wuqoof – where you stood among millions, but remained in deep, intimate connection with your Creator.
• And what of the ecstasy you felt when the physical exertions had subsided, and it finally sunk in that you had completed the main pillar of Hajj? When you felt completely pure of sin – as clean as a newborn.

Now, turn those emotions into action!

There are incredible memories each of us who went to Hajj experienced, but a memory alone won’t take us back for Hajj. It’s only Allah’s invitation that will open our path to return. To earn that invitation, we need to truly show gratitude for what He gave us.

Allah tells us in the Qur’an, “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]…” [Qur’an: Chapter 14: Verse 7].

However, true appreciation does not come from lip service. It is manifested in action – trying to live that Hajj by striving to be close to Allah , and being the best we can be. Maybe all the good intentions and plans we made while on Hajj have been buried under the dust of life’s everyday struggles. However, it is not too late.

We are blessed with this sacred season to remind us of those aspirations. We are reinvigorated by the experiences of this year’s honored guests of Allah . We feel it again. We want it again, and we make the intention that, in sha Allah, we will try again.

Therefore, to all the former Hujjaaj, don’t waste these feelings. Use the momentum of this Hajj season. Take these emotions and turn them into something practical that will benefit you on your mission to live the Hajj spirit until you die.

Strive to better yourself, slowly but surely

Whether you had planned to make major changes in your life, or you just aimed to be a little better, remember those goals you made when you were in your purest state.

It is not always straightforward, though. Perhaps your life’s circumstances have changed dramatically – such that your post-Hajj ambitions are no longer realistic. If so, do not fret. It simply means you need to take some time, analyze your life, and come up with new goals. Goals that are perhaps different, but still in line with the spirit of the post-Hajj ambitions you had after your return.

Once you have decided on your goals, do what you can to inch forward towards the destination. Slowly but surely, build yourself up. And remember the beautiful and encouraging hadith:

The Prophet was asked, “What deeds are loved most by Allah?” He said, “The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few.” He added, ‘Don’t take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability.” [al-Bukhari]

So, let us renew our commitments and find something small – at the very least – that we can do; whether that’s the adoption of some new good deed, or the dropping of something harmful or useless.

With sincere intentions, dedicated efforts, and the help of Allah, in sha Allah, each passing year – each passing Hajj season – will see us getting better and better. And in sha Allah when we get another chance to go back for Hajj, our next ambitions and plans for life after Hajj will push us to even greater heights for our remaining years in this world and beyond.

If you are former Hujjaaj, let us know your thoughts on this article in the comments section.

Also, keep an eye out for Part 2 of this series which will provide a personal plan to make the best of Dhul Hijjah while at home.

May Allah grant all this year’s Hujjaaj a Hajj maqbool and mabroor, and give them the tawfeeq  to live their Hajj ambitions. Ameen

The post [Missing Makkah – Part 1]: Special Advice for Former Hujjaj This Season appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

Imagine Ramadan at your doorstep. The long anticipated first taraweeh prayer will take place tonight. You desperately want to feel the spirit. But you just aren’t into it. You’re overwhelmed with something else: distractions! You’re drowning in deadlines for work;you need to catch up with family issues that you’ve been postponing for ages. On top of all that, your social media feeds – this one thing that you depend on to de-stress – is draining rather than boosting your spirit.

With minimal spiritual preparation under your belt and a sea of distractions swallowing you, you realize one thing: you’re not ready for Ramadan!

If this sounds like the scenario you are facing this year, then it’s time you drop everything you’re doing, pause a little bit, and start to seriously and committedly plan for a healthier Ramadan journey. This is what we will attempt to discuss in this article, Insha Allah.

Ramadan is our precious annual opportunity to draw closer to Allah . It’s filled with abundant chances to gain rewards as well as make positive changes that will benefit us far beyond those 29 or 30 days. To reap maximum benefit during Ramadan, we’re often advised to start building our spiritual momentum at least two months prior to the blessed month.

We could focus on many areas to achieve that goal, but one of the most critical aspects that needs to be settled before any other planning is to eliminate, or at least minimise, our distractions.

Step 1: Acknowledge your distractions

Take some time out to think about what occupies your mind the most. Consider:

1. Time-wasters: Things you spend an unreasonable amount of time doing.
2. Intense attachments: Things that consume your heart or mind so that even when you aren’t physically involved/acting on them, you think about them a lot, desire them intensely, and give them more mental and emotional focus than they are worthy of.
3. Unresolved issues: Tasks you keep putting off that eat away at your focus and don’t allow you to relax and be present in your ibadah

In your list, make sure that you consider each of the following categories:

• Social media
• Entertainment (TV series, other TV programs, movies, music, games)
• Other digital media (websites, news, gadgets)
• Social events/gatherings
• Family affairs
• Sports (both watching and playing)
• Work
• Personal projects and tasks
• Home-related projects and tasks

Step 2: Put it in writing

Drawing from step 1, write down all your distractions and classify them according to:

• How much time they take
• How important they are to you right now (Be brutally honest in your assessment. This is about your current level of attachment – not your ideal)
• What internal need they fulfil for you (Why do you do them? Why are they important to you? Do they help you to unwind/relax? Do they eliminate/lessen your feelings of loneliness? Do they give you an adrenaline rush?)

Once you’ve analyzed the distractions, rank them and identify those that are most critical to address before this Ramadan. You may not get to everything on the list, but as long as you’re making an effort on some of them, you’re on the right track.

Step 3: Fight!

Perhaps you’ve tried to give up that game before, only to fall back into the habit. Or you enforced social media restrictions, but slipped slowly until you were a regular user once more. Life is filled with such internal battles, and if we keep ‘failing’, it’s easy to lose hope.

But a Muslim should never despair. A Muslim should always try to learn from his/her past experiences. So, for this step, think through your past ‘failures’ and try to figure out why things didn’t work out.

After that, go back to your previous notes and try to find creative and effective solutions to eliminate your top distractions. While you’re doing that, keep four golden principles in mind:

1. You have to fill the void

When you eliminate or reduce time spent on a distraction, you free up space in your schedule, your heart or your mind. Leave that gap empty and shaytaan will fill it with something harmful or unproductive. So, find a good replacement which still fulfils that particular need.

For example, if you’re spending long periods reading news websites and on social media – especially to avoid work or studies that you find boring, you clearly need something that will stimulate your mind. Before finding a substitute, remind yourself of why it’s important to get the dreaded task done, then break it up into small, manageable blocks which you can knock off in half hour slots. After that, look for interesting activities that will stimulate both your mind and soul in the short breaks between time blocks. For example, in one break, you could take a walk around the block making dhikr. In the next break, you may spend a few minutes reading a beneficial Islamic article. Take the time to map out all your options, then draw on that pool – and that pool alone – when you reach each and every break.

But don’t limit yourself to ‘religious’ activities if you know they won’t be an effective substitute. For example, if Qur’an doesn’t yet fulfil your heart and mind completely, don’t replace movies with 90-minute Qur’an sessions. Instead, spend 20 minutes on Qur’an and the rest on something like (halal) fiction. A novel will fulfil your need for escapism but still stimulate your mind.

2. Take it step by step

In most cases, change is a gradual process. A big bang approach may yield instant results, but that success is often short-lived when we slip back into old habits. Experts preach the value of gradualism and from our own deen, we know how important it is to take things slowly and steadily.

A’isha is reported to have said that the Messenger of Allah was asked about the act most pleasing to Allah . He replied: “That which is done continuously, even if it is small.” [Sahih Muslim]

For example, maybe you spend every Saturday night out with your cousins or friends – fulfilling a need for social interaction and fun. Reduce that over time to every second weekend, then once a month. Maybe even convert some of those nights out into a small halaqah – followed by snacks or a meal. You don’t even need to prepare a speech – just play one of the many excellent Islamic lectures available online, then have a constructive group discussion afterwards.

Analyse the distraction, find a solution, then put your end goal in front of you. Now plot small but consistent steps to get to your target. Even if you don’t reach that target by this Ramadan, you’re on the right track and more importantly, still better off than you were before you started making this effort.

3. Seek help

The road to success is filled with help from others, so don’t be shy to seek assistance. For example, if you’re addicted to sports or online gaming, find someone who has beaten their addiction to the same thing, and ask them how they did it. Lean on them as a means of support and you’ll find that you are not alone in your struggle, and that – with persistence and the right companionship – you can, in sha Allah, reduce or even eliminate the habit.

4. Get things done now

If your mind is cluttered with accounts you need to settle or work/family issues you need to resolve, or even things you need to get fixed that will eat away at your time and focus in Ramadan if they’re left pending, then take some time out now to:

• dump your unresolved issues onto paper
• prioritize them depending on how quickly each of them can be resolved
• list down what you need to do to resolve each issue: for example, send an email, fix a meeting, call the plumber for poor water pressure in house or any plumbing issue, make an appointment with the dentist, etc. Make sure to hire plumbing services in Sydney to ensure that they will fix the water system right away. Plumbing repair seattle should be done immediately to avoid major damage. They will also help you fix the toilet leaking at the base.
• delegate tasks that others can do to help you resolve any of these issues
• start with the tasks that can get done quickest and tick them off as you finish

Break free now, see the results in Ramadan

Last Ramadan is a distant memory, and since that month left us, the day-to-day grind of ‘normal’ life has left us vulnerable to bad habits and distractions that wear us down spiritually. But if we put in the time and effort to fight off those distractions before this Ramadan, then Insha Allah we can meet the upcoming month in the strongest possible spiritual state.

May Allah help us all prepare and make the most out of the coming blessed month.

Please share with us in the comments the types of distractions you are most vulnerable to and how you intend to minimize them before Ramadan, In sha Allah.

P.S: Benefited from this article? Join our Productive Ramadan Online Course – a simple, practical and complete blueprint for leading a Productive Ramadan inshaAllah!

The post Get Rid of Your Distractions Before Ramadan: How to Achieve the Spiritual Focus You Want appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

For all the new fathers, the fathers-to-be and those who have been on the job for a long time and need some motivation, here are a few of the many tremendous blessings and opportunities for increased productivity that Allah has granted you through your role of being a father:

1. A Personal Sign and Trust

To start, the simple act of observation can bring one closer to Allah . Intellectually, we know that Allah is the Creator, Cherisher, Nourisher and Sustainer of everything. But this knowledge is brought to life in a very personal way when you see your child grow from a little ‘bean’ in the womb, to a foetus, then an infant, a toddler and beyond — thereby increasing you in submission to Him .

Beyond observation, the fact that Allah has given you a child means He  trusts you and deems you worthy enough to raise another human being. By accepting this responsibility and proceeding with the right intentions, every moment spent in fulfilling this trust can become an act of worship.

2. Character Development

Children can bring out the worst in us, but also the best. Being a father gives you ample chances to develop noble qualities that assist not only in parenthood, but life in general.

For example, you can develop tremendous sabr (patience) when day after day, you have to burp a difficult infant, rock your baby to sleep or deal with a toddler’s tantrums. And in the course of raising your kids, you learn to apply self-sacrifice when you have to give up your time, energy, wealth and even sleep for the sake of your kids.

Aside from developing good qualities, fatherhood also helps you to suppress bad qualities. As an active, helpful father, you simply don’t have time to be lazy. There are far too many demands on you and if you shirk your responsibilities, you’ll face the wrath of your wife — who will let you know that you are not pulling your weight. Pressure and necessity can bring out the best in us and fatherhood comes with plenty of this! At the same time, helping your wife with the baby develops your sense of empathy and also builds in you a work ethic — a habit of serving others.

So, when things feel tough, look at the bigger picture: Through your children, Allah  has given you character-building challenges. Embrace them as opportunities rather than problems.

3. Spiritual Benefits

On a personal level, fatherhood can help you to develop in your deen. For example, we know the value of worshipping Allah in the middle of the night. When your child is very young, he or she will probably wake up at these times for the night feed. If you handle that feed or if you help your wife with it, you will develop a habit of waking up in the middle of the night. Feeding the child (or helping) is an act of worship in itself, but you can double your reward by also making dua and dhikr in those late night hours. Once your child outgrows the night feed, you are already in the habit of waking up in the night — so you have a golden opportunity to make Tahajjud a habit in your life.

For new fathers, you also have the chance to develop your wife’s spirituality. If your wife is breastfeeding, you’ll notice how long and frustrating the process can sometimes be for her. While some mothers counter the boredom with spiritually unproductive activities (TV, music, etc, while breastfeeding), you can give her alternatives that will feed her soul and mind. For example, put Islamic lectures (audio or video), Quranic recitation or any other beneficial items on her mobile phone, which is convenient enough for her to operate while feeding. Such alternatives also expose your infant to the deen from an early age, which is a bonus.

Fatherhood also prompts you to study effective da’wah techniques: The most important person you can guide to the deen is not another adult, but your own child. So it pays off (especially in the Hereafter In sha Allah) to learn how best to call to Islam on a one-to-one level.

4. Appreciation for Your Own Parents

Being a father can also help to improve your relationship with your own parents. As you raise your own child, you experience the struggles your parents went through in raising you. Hence you can appreciate their efforts so much more. Practically, this can draw you closer to them and spiritually, it can inspire you to make due for them in a more heartfelt way:

“My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they cared for me when I was little.” [Qur’an: Chapter 17, Verse 24]

If you want to show your appreciation and love to your father, or the father figures in your life, then give him these Father’s day food gifts here. Remember that “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Your dad will also appreciate useful gifts such as Double Oak wallets.

Aside from these, there are many, many other blessings and opportunities that come with fatherhood in Islam. In the comments section below, feel free to add to the list – either speaking from your own experience or that of others.

May Allah  help today’s and tomorrow’s Muslim fathers to always remember the blessings that come with this great status and guide us to make the most of the opportunities at our disposal before it is too late. Aameen.

The post Being a Father: A Blessing that Boosts Productivity appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

[Hajj Tips Series – Part 1] Pre-Departure and Madinah

[Hajj Tips Series – Part 2] Makkah and Pre-Hajj

[Hajj Tips Series – Part 3] The Days of Hajj

The post [Hajj Tips Series] Tips for a Productive Journey on Hajj appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

The Prophet Muhammad was sent by Allah as a mercy to the worlds, so that we may be guided to Allah and achieve eternal happiness, just by following his example. The best part is, the life and practices of our beloved Prophet Muhammad are by their very nature extremely easy to implement!

Why Follow the Sunnah?

The benefits and importance of following the sunnah are clearly outlined in this unequivocal verse of the Qur’an:

“Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If you (really) love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Qur’an: Chapter 3, Verse 31]

If that isn’t enough to motivate us to follow our beloved Prophet’s way of life, Allah tells also us in a hadith qudsi:

“…My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it…” [Bukhari]

Apart from the above, following the sunnah has worldly benefits too: our Prophet was an incredibly productive person, so by following his sunnah, we automatically draw from his productivity techniques – thereby enhancing our own productivity.

Following the Sunnah in the 21st Century

With our lives being so far distanced from the Prophet’s (both in time and location), it can be difficult to see how implementing his example can be easy. Here are 5 practical ways to incorporate the sunnah into your life:

1. Find Out What It’s About

To follow the sunnah, you first need to know what it’s all about. This involves gaining knowledge – but make sure that the information you’re getting is authentic; since the benefit is in following the real sunnah, not the cultural and non-authentic religious practices that are sometimes rife in our communities.

Regarding sources of authentic knowledge, you can learn from classes, articles, lectures, or any other well-trusted means. And if you find bite-size pieces more effective, you can ‘subscribe’ to the sunnah by making use of the many regular channels that are available. For example, many of today’s popular ulama (scholars) use social media to provide a continuous stream of beneficial knowledge – such as daily hadiths, Qur’anic reminders, and sunnah-based advice. If you use such technologies, seek out and subscribe to these scholars’ feeds.

To go deeper into the topic, read books that are based on the authentic sources and find qualified teachers to explain what you read in order to confirm your understanding.

2. Seek Good Friends

Our Prophet taught us that your company contributes tremendously to the very course your life will take – he said:

“Man is on the religion of his friend, so let every one of you examine whom he befriends.” [Tirmidhi]

Try to surround yourself with good people who will remind you of the sunnah. It’s good to be around those who verbally remind you, but it’s even better to be around those who actively practice the sunnah themselves. Humans are imitative creatures by nature, so merely being in the company of such good influences is bound to inspire you to follow their example.

3. Make It a Habit

Following the methodology of Productive Muslim’s Productive Habits seminar, actively think of how you can turn your selected sunnahs into everyday habits. This involves:

• identifying the sunnah: i.e. the action itself
• knowing what the reward for following the sunnah is
• finding an effective trigger that will remind you to do the action.

Say you want to implement the sunnah of making wudu before sleeping every night. The cycle could look like this:

Action: Making wudu before sleeping each night.

Identify the reward: Forgiveness will be sought for you by an angel (wow!) – as per the hadith: “…Whenever a slave spends his night in a state of purification, an angel spends his night within his (slave’s) hair and he does not turn over during the night except that he [the angel] says: ‘O Allah, forgive Your slave, for he went to sleep in a state of purification.'” [Reported by at-Tabaranee. See Saheeh al-Jamee (3831)]

Trigger: Identify the last thing you do before getting into bed – for example, brushing your teeth. Make that the trigger, telling yourself that from now on, after you brush your teeth, you’ll make wudu.

4. Identify and Relate the Sunnah to Your Roles

There have been many great people in the history of humanity, and many of them have been taken as examples and role models by the people of their time and future generations. However, our Prophet is unique in that he is a flawless, timeless, universal role model: every other human had some flaws and negative sides to their character, but he is the only one whose every aspect of life can be taken as a positive example.

He fulfilled a number of different roles in his life: he was the leader of the Muslim community, a husband, a father, a teacher, an army commander, a statesman and much more. Look at all his roles and find one those that relate to your own life – for example, if you’re a teacher, study the aspects of his seerah relating to his teaching methods. Take him as your ultimate role model in your job – learn his sunnahs as a teacher and try to incorporate that into your own teaching style.

By making the sunnah very specific – instead of letting the whole body of it overwhelm you – you can find in our Prophet your ultimate role model for any important role you play in life.

5. Set Visual Reminders

“And Remind, for verily a reminder benefits the believer.”  [Qur’an: Chapter , Verse 55]

We humans are visual creatures, but in our modern societies, more often than not, what we see in the outside world calls us to vice and sin – like as the pornographic and materialistic advertisements all around us. One way of countering this is to use your sight in a beneficial way – by looking at that which reminds you of goodness, such as sunnahs you can implement. In your home or workplace, stick up visual reminders of the sunnahs you want to follow. These could be as simple as post-it notes, or as complex as Islamic infographics.

Aside from these tips, there are many other practical ways to incorporate the sunnah into your life. Feel free to suggest some in the comments section, and if you plan to try out some of the advice given in this article, come back later and let us know how it’s working out for you.

May Allah  help us all to incorporate the sunnah into our lives so that we may earn His love, forgiveness, and ultimately, success in both this life and the next, Aameen!

The post 5 Easy Ways to Incorporate the Sunnah in Your Life appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

Hajj is now over and as the pilgrims return home to their loved ones, they take back with them a multitude of precious memories from the journey, lessons they’ll hope to apply for the rest of their lives, and an elevated sense of spirituality.

Back to reality

But for many, those feelings can quickly fade once they arrive home, because the contrast between the lands of Hajj and the ‘normal’ home environment is as striking as day against night.

It’s almost as if Madinah, Makkah, Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifah are not in the real world. Away from the responsibilities of family, work, and home life, Hajj is like being in another galaxy – one where everyone is geared towards worshipping Allah; where there’s no crude advertising, music and images smacking you in the face every hour; and where the only worry each day is making it to the masjid to get a spot for the five compulsory prayers.

But once you arrive home, you return to the environments of hardship, laziness and sin. Despite all the wonderful gains from the weeks you’ve just spent as a guest of Allah, maintaining a spiritual high under such circumstances is difficult – if not impossible. While you know that the real work of Hajj only starts once you get home – in that you need to live your Hajj for the rest of your life – the circumstances of normal life can soon erode all the ambitious plans you had for living the rest of your days as one of Allah’s special people.

Hanging on

In such circumstances, it’s easy to lose hope – seeing Hajj as a temporary high that, in reality, cannot be maintained as the months and years go by. But such an attitude would be incorrect, because with the right intentions, sincere duas and dedicated efforts – it is indeed possible to remain on a higher level – even if that level isn’t quite as grand as what you’d hoped for.

So here are five points of advice which if followed, can insha Allah help you from slipping into decline, so that you can maintain your Hajj for life:

1. Be realistic

According to hadith, the most beloved deeds in Allah’s estimation are those that are consistent – even if they are few. You need not maintain the same levels of worship you had on your Hajj journey, but if you can keep just a few small and manageable ones – and do them sincerely and consistently – you’re already a winner.

2. Stay clean

After being totally purified on Arafah, your clean soul recognises your new sins and mistakes much more easily. But you won’t stay that pure forever – and Allah doesn’t expect you to remain that way: all of mankind sins, but the best of those who sin are those who repent and return to Allah. Recognize that you will slip – but you should follow up those sins and mistakes with immediate repentance. In this way, you can keep your slate as clean as possible Insha Allah. Even when you don’t recognize sins, make a habit of daily istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah). It is reported that the Prophet  made istighfar 100 times a day! So making istighfar not only helps keep you spiritually clean, but also gives you more points for following a sunnah.

3. Keep pelting for life

Remember the spiritual significance of pelting the jamaraat. After shaytaan was humiliated on the day of Arafah, he’s even more determined to corrupt you now that you’re back home. So, just as you stoned Shaytaan in those days, whenever you notice his whisperings/temptations coming to you back home, repeat that pelting in your mind: you chased him away on Mina, and you can do it again now too.

4. Protect and erase

Protect your senses from ‘spiritual filth’: stay away from sights and sounds that would corrupt your heart, and if you do see or hear them, immediately try to erase their effects by replacing those experiences with something better. For example, if you see a non-mahram of the opposite sex in indecent clothing, immediately look at something else (halaal) and try to make that the image that sticks in your mind. If you hear dirty music around you, recite or listen to Quran immediately and let that push the music out of your memory. Remember that Shaytaan uses your senses as the gateway to corrupting your heart in a slow and gradual way. Close those gates, be on guard and have your spiritual eraser ready.

5. Use gratitude to go back

It’s very, very sad to leave Makkah – especially after you’ve made your final tawwaf and left the Grand Mosque. Like millions of others before you, you dream of going back for Hajj again. But to make this desire a reality, those feelings need to move beyond just nostalgia and emotional yearning. Allah promises us that if we’re grateful, He will give us more:

“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.” [Qur’an: Chapter 14, Verse 7]

If you show true gratitude for the journey He has just granted you, insha Allah you can earn an invitation to go again. Appreciate what you had through your actions: by striving to live the best you can, as close to Allah as you can.

May Allah accept your Hajj from you, help you to maintain it until you reach the end of your life, and take you there again – so that you may step up to even higher levels of spirituality and closeness to Him.

The post Post-Pilgrimage: Maintaining your Hajj High appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

This post can’t come close to being comprehensive enough, or fitting of the subject matter – but it’s an attempt to help in this most immense of areas.

 A light in our dark days

Like Prophets before him, Muhammad came with numerous physical miracles. But the cardinal miracle he was sent with was our Holy Text – Al-Quran. The purpose of this Book is clearly stated very early – in the opening verses of Surah Baqarah (translation of the meaning):

“This is the Book whereof there is no doubt; a guidance to those who are conscious of Allah.” [2: 2]

In a world that has become so confusing and morally corrupt – and is degenerating further and further – who can say that they aren’t in need of guidance? Humanity has tried to put forward various ideologies as the ways to curing our world, and to achieve success – but which of these has truly proven successful?

The answer is: none. And it’s easy to know why. Despite how intelligent we are as humans, and how much we’ve achieved in this world – we cannot know everything there is to know about this world. And despite the progress made via scientific discoveries and technological advances, still no (sane) human can claim to know it all.

Conversely, the One who created us does know everything. Absolutely everything. Both of this world and the realms we cannot perceive through our senses. So it’s only logical that we follow the One with more knowledge – the One that knows what’s best for us – not only because of that knowledge, but because He created us.

And this Quran, coupled with the Sunnah (since the Prophet’s  (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)  ‘character was the Quran’ – as per Aisha’s statement) is our roadmap to success – both in this life and the next.

The religion of Islam (which is based on these two primary sources) teaches us exactly what’s best for us – and explains where we came from, who we are, and what our purpose in life is.

As Muslims, the Quran is our primary source of spiritual fulfilment and our greatest means towards spiritual progress. So no matter where we are in terms of our spirituality, the Quran is our means to advance. And with Ramadan being the month of the Quran, it’s only to strengthen our relationship with the Quran in preparation for it.

Strengthening the link– the Early Bird way

How many times have you heard speakers criticize those who make the Quran an ‘ornament’? Something that sits on the highest shelf of our homes – collecting dust; and only being picked up and read on certain occasions.

Maybe that description doesn’t fit you. Maybe you read the important surahs – such as Surah Yaseen and Surah Mulk regularly, or Surah Kahf on a Friday – because you know about the virtues and rewards of reading them. But is that all you read? Aren’t there 111 other surahs worthy of your attention?

Maybe you do read a lot more of the Quran regularly. But do you understand what you’re reading? Allah is speaking to you directly – do you know what He’s saying?

And are you giving the Quran its proper rights in terms of etiquettes? Do you recite with proper tajweed? Or are you assuming that the way you learnt to recite as a child is correct?

Maybe you’re a hafidh, and you know what the reward of that is – for both you and your parents on the Day of Judgement. But do you actually live the teachings of the Quran? Memorising is one thing, and understanding is another. But actually following is a much, much higher level.

Maybe you can’t even read Arabic at all – due to whatever circumstance in your history. Don’t you feel it’s worth trying to learn? Are you “too old” to start learning now?

No matter what stage we’re at, each of us has a relationship with the Quran. And if we want to improve that relationship, we need to start with sincere intentions, then follow that up with regular and consistent effort.

As explained in previous posts, our approach in this series is to follow a five-step process to gradually solve the problem:

1. Selection of an area: For this month, the topic is Quran
2. Diagnosis: Analyse what your current condition is in the area and list your weaknesses
3. Root cause analysis: Get to the root of your weaknesses / problems
4. Solutions: Come up with practical methods to overcome those root causes
5. Planning and implementation: Set up a realistic plan of action to implement those solutions step by step in the coming weeks, then at a higher pace in Ramadan

Diagnosis:

Ask yourself:

• Do I understand the importance of the Quran in this life?
• Do I understand its importance when I die, and in my Hereafter?
• Can I read the Quran in Arabic? Or do I just rely on translations of the meaning in my own home language?
• If I read in Arabic, is my tajweed correct?
• How often do I read Quran? (in Arabic and in your own language, if you don’t speak Arabic)
• When I read, how much time do I spend per reading?
• Am I reading only certain surahs or sections? Or do I read widely?
• What are the correct reasons to be reading Quran?
• Why do I read it?
• If I don’t understand what I read (either in Arabic or translation), do I make an effort to find out and get a deeper understanding? (e.g. via asking scholars, reading tafseer)
• When I understand, do I try to implement this understanding in my life?
• Do I teach others what I learn of the Quran?

Using this month’s worksheet, think through each question and record your answers. Be honest with yourself – and do this either completely in private, without sharing it with anyone (if you prefer it that way), or with someone else (if you think that’s more beneficial).

Analysis

First, consider your answers, then identify and list your weaknesses or problems you feel you need to address.

Next, write down each issue’s outward symptoms that you notice, and try to find the root causes of the issue by interrogating it. Look at the issue or the symptoms and ask yourself “why?” Keep asking “why?” of each answer until you get to the root cause.

For example, if you don’t recite Quran regularly, ask yourself why. Maybe your answer is simple: “I don’t have time” or “I’m too busy”. Go beyond that – ask why. What do you spend time on? Do you really not have even 10 minutes per day to give to Quran? Can you not cut down on another, less important activity to give Quran some time at least? For example, do you really need to read the news every day? Or do you really have to watch every TV show you like when it airs? (You can use the post on unhealthy habits to help with such time management issues.)

Solutions

With the problems diagnosed, the symptoms identified, and root causes found, now think of practical ways to solve those problems. Brainstorm and list practical ways to solve the issues from the root – meaning that your solution doesn’t only address the outward symptoms, but the root causes too.

While doing this, remember to apply realistic expectations for yourself. Don’t aim for a solution you know will be impossible. Aim for what’s within your grasp, and know that as you successfully implement one solution, insha-Allah you’ll be better equipped to aim higher and go even further after that.

Planning and implementation

With solutions identified, now analyse what your life is like at this moment, and come up with a realistic plan of how you can implement the solutions over a period of time. Remember to plan this in ways that are realistic – achievable – for you, even if it means you’ll be taking tiny steps over a long period of time. Doing things gradually – in small and consistent steps – is the best way to achieve sustainable, permanent solutions.

For example, if you struggle to read Arabic, don’t set yourself an initial target of reciting 10 pages of Quran per day (unless you have the time). It’s not about quantity. And the person who struggles to recite, according to hadith, gets more reward than the one who recites fluently. So start with one page. Or even just a few verses per day. You may think that’s too little, but the deeds most beloved to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they be small – so it’s better to read a small amount, which you can keep up with, rather than start big and then quit when you can’t sustain the pace.

Also apply wisdom. Don’t just dogmatically follow a path set down by others. Do what’s right for you – what you think will be most beneficial for you personally. For example, some people are rigid about quantity – they say you “have to” read a whole khattam in a certain number of days / weeks (e.g. ‘You must finish the whole Quran at least once in Ramadan’).

To meet that target, are you going to read like a bullet train (or speedy rapper)? Does Allah want quantity, or quality? Is it better to read the Quran three whole times in a month – without understanding, or read it once – with understanding?

Make your plans realistic and wise. Your relationship with the Quran is your own – it’s personal. And in your grave, and on the Day of Judgement, it’s that relationship which will either benefit or harm you. So keep that in mind and aim for solutions that will stick and will benefit you most in this life and in the next.

Also include, in your plan, the ways you’d like to intensify your efforts when Ramadan comes.

If, after a while, you find that you’ve incorrectly estimated your ability to follow the plan, simply make adjustments as needed. The goal for this month is to implement steps that are realistic for you – what you can manage, and not what will overburden you.

Worksheet

To help with this month’s exercise, you can download and use the following document: RamadanEarlyBird worksheet (4th edition).

Resources

To help you with this month’s focus, check out the following:

• Audio lecture: “Our Belief in the Quran”  by Shaykh Hussain Abdul Sattar  – a very short lecture on the key ingredient in benefiting from the Quran
• Audio lecture series: “Reasons for revelation” by Mufti Ismail Menk – Ramadan tafseer series in which the speaker explains the context around the revelation of specific verses of Quran
• Institutes specialising in Quran: Darun Na’im (Cape Town), Bayyinah Institute  (USA, and online after this Ramadan insha-Allah) – includes free audios of tafseer
• Website: Islam 101’s Quran resources page – includes Pickthall translation of meanings, recitations, and more.
• Video: “The purpose of life” by Dr Jeffrey Lang – the story of how an atheist Maths professor came to realise the truth and purpose of life via his reading of the Quran and the use of logic.

And remember that the most important resources of all are the right intentions, sincere dua asking for success in this venture, and then consistent effort to do your best.

Lastly, jazakAllah for being a part of this series on ProductiveMuslim. I hope it’s been beneficial, and I ask that you make dua for me, my family, everyone at ProductiveMuslim, all those who helped promote the series, and everyone who participated in it. I wish you the very best for the coming Ramadan. May Allah accept all your preparations and enable you to enter the month in a high state of spirituality, then help you build to greater and greater levels throughout it, and enable you to maintain your commitment on Eid day and beyond.

Read the other parts of this series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

The post The Ramadan Early Bird Series (Part 4) appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

Now, in part 3, we return to the spiritual realm with the ‘essence’ of worship: dua (supplication).

The Ticket to Everything You Want

Humans – by nature – have been created to want, want more, and want more. And while sometimes this is good, many times it isn’t – because too often we focus intensely on the material things we want, while neglecting the spiritual things we need.

Regardless, the fact remains that we want – whether what we want is material, spiritual, or both. And when we want, we need to seek what we want from its source.

As Muslims, we know that everything comes from Allah. So anything we want – be it material sustenance, freedom from hardships or debts, cure from illness, that dream job, marriage, children, knowledge, achievement, spiritual purity, or anything else – we need to ask it from Allah (as long as it’s not haraam, of course).

Renewing the Link

Unfortunately, in our fast-paced lives, we often fall victim to thinking that we’re too busy to make dua. With so much to do, so much demanding our attention, and almost constant time pressures, it is rare that we get a moment to stop and make a really intense, in-depth, and heartfelt dua.

Maybe we do make duas often, but confine these to our ‘automated’ duas – the ones that we mechanically repeat in Arabic and/or English as part of a routine, without really feeling much sincerity when we make them.

Maybe we always rely on the imam to make the dua, and simply repeat our ‘ameen’ after him, thinking that’s enough for us when it comes to dua. And while there certainly is virtue in making dua behind an imam, the reality is that imam isn’t you – so he can’t make the personal duas that are most important to you – your heart’s deepest needs and desires – which are only between you and Allah.

The link with Allah is the most important aspect of a Muslim’s life, and dua is the means by which this link is maintained and nurtured. Allah loves for us to ask from Him, and actually gets angry if we don’t ask (as stated in a hadith).

So it’s clear that dua should really be at the core of our lives, because it’s the essence of our life’s purpose (i.e. worship) – and the means by which we can attain anything we need (or want).

The Early Bird Solution

Continuing the Early Bird methodology, we are following a five-step process to gradually improve ourselves:

1. Selecting of an area: For this month, the topic is dua
2. Diagnosis: Analyse what your current condition is in the area (quality, frequency, etc), and list your weaknesses
3. Root cause analysis: Get to the root of your weaknesses / problems
4. Solutions: Come up with practical methods to overcome those root causes
5. Planning and implementation: Set up a realistic plan of action to implement those solutions gradually in the coming months, then at a higher pace in Ramadan

Diagnosis:

Ask yourself:

• Do I really understand how important dua is in life?
• Do I make time each day to make dua to Allah?
• If I do make dua, are these automated duas, or those of the imam alone?
• Do I take time out to think about what I truly need and want, and make specific duas for that?
• Do I believe that my duas have to be in Arabic only?
• Do I truly believe that Allah will answer my duas?
• What actions cause Allah to reject duas?
• Am I doing anything – intentionally or out of forgetfulness – that would cause Allah to reject my duas?
• When are the best times to make dua (i.e. the times when they are accepted)?
• What actions cause Allah to readily accept duas?
• Am I carrying out these actions on a regular basis?
• Do I know the etiquettes of dua?
• Aside from personal duas, do I know duas from the Quran and Sunnah? (Either in English or Arabic)

Using this month’s worksheet, think through each question, and record your answers. Be honest with yourself – and do this either completely in private, without sharing it with anyone (if you prefer it that way), or with someone else (if you think that’s more beneficial). List all your weaknesses or problems.

Root Cause Analysis

Now go through each of your listed weaknesses or problems, and write down its outward symptoms that you notice (e.g. I don’t put enough effort into making personal duas consistently). Then try to find what the root causes of those problems are by interrogating each symptom: ask yourself “why?” that symptom persists, and keep asking “why?” of each answer until you get to the root cause.

Solutions

With the problems diagnosed, the symptoms identified, and root causes found, think of practical ways to solve those problems from the root.

For example, if you don’t put enough time and effort into tailoring your duas to your most dearly-held needs and desires, one solution is to take time out from life to sit and write down the areas that are important to you (this month’s worksheet can help with that), and the duas you’d like to make in those areas. Let your imagination run wild – without getting into haram, of course – and then find a period each day to make some of those important duas.

Planning and Implementation

With solutions identified, analyse what your schedule and life is like at this moment, and come up with a realistic plan of how you can implement the solutions over a period of time. Remember to plan this in ways that are realistic for you, even if it means you’ll be taking tiny steps over a long period of time. Doing things gradually – in small and consistent steps – is the best way to achieve sustainable, permanent solutions.

Also include, in your plan, the ways you’d like to intensify your efforts when Ramadan comes.

If, after a while, you find that you’ve incorrectly estimated your ability to follow the plan, simply make adjustments as needed. The goal for this month, and the four that follow, is to implement steps that are realistic for you – what you can manage, and not what will overburden you.

Worksheet

To help with this month’s exercise, you can download and use the following document: RamadanEarlyBird3Worksheet.

Resources

To help you with this month’s focus, check out the following:

1. Mufti Ismail Menk audio lecture on ‘Supplication’ – from Ramadan 2009
2. Shaykh Yasir Qadhi video lecture on dua

And again, the most important resources of all are the right intentions, sincere dua asking for success in this venture, and then consistent effort to do your best.

Read the other parts of this series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4

The post The Ramadan Early Bird Series (Part 3) appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

It may be painful to face up to, and the exercise may take a while to do, but if you succeed, insha-Allah you’ll make giant strides in bettering your own self and your relationship with Allah .

Progress = Happiness?

Compared to the previous eras, modern technology makes our lives easier and saves us great amounts of time. For example, whereas laundry was a whole day job 200 years ago, today you can get it done and dried in a couple of hours – with minimal effort on your part.

But with so much time freed up, shouldn’t we be happier – since we have more time to do what we want?

Compare the level of happiness and contentment in previous generations to ours, and you’ll most likely find the answer to be a resounding “no”.

The paradox of today’s world is that even with all our time-saving gadgets and convenience, more than ever, we feel like we don’t have free time. We’re under more pressure and we always seem to need more hours in the day (or night) to finish our tasks. Add to that the entertainment we consume to ‘relax’ and ‘unwind’ from the stresses of life, and then the relatively new phenomenon of always being ‘connected’ to the world and your friends via technology, and you can see how we’re busier than ever before.

For many people, today’s life is filled with e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, mobile phone messages, and a never-ending stream of information: breaking news, alerts, updates, and other bits of information we think we need. The information flood is so rampant that some people seem to spend more time in the virtual world than they do in the real, physical world (shades of ‘The Matrix’, perhaps?).

Whether we pursue these things or they pursue us, it seems that many of us have become slaves to the technology and leisure-time activities we love so much.

The Vessel

But we know that any extreme is unhealthy. So by consuming and being involved in this much information, communication, and entertainment, we’re bound to suffer negative consequences at some point – whether it’s mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual.

American scholar Shaykh Abdullah Adhami sums up the danger in this beautifully simple yet profound quote:

“Every vessel – every container – will only pour out what is contained in it, and that’s very obvious…Your tongue is your ability to express what lies in your spirit: television, the movies, the friends you hang out with, the music you listen to. Everything around you is environmental forces that shape how your being is and how your heart is. And when you open your mouth to speak it’s like your heart is a sponge that absorbs all of this material from around you. Essentially what you’re doing is squeezing what is in you and what comes out is going to be what has been compiled in your mind and in your memory. Obviously you can only express in your heart what has been placed in it. And so in order for the outcome and the output from the tongue to be positive, the input in that needs to be positive: in spirit, in silence, in talking…and throughout our lives.”

Basically, what we consume (other than just food and drink) is what will fill our hearts, and ultimately that’s what we’ll express. So if we fill our time with habits that are poisonous – or not beneficial – those poisons will corrupt our inner beings.

As others have pointed out, the human brain only has a limited capacity – it can only hold so much information. And if we keep filling it with things that aren’t actually important, there won’t be much space left for the things that really are important.

Kicking the Habit – the Early Bird Way

You may already know that you have a Facebook problem, or a Twitter addiction, or that you obsessively check your email every few minutes. Whatever your habits, if you’ve gone to an extreme, you already know you should take some kind of action to bring back the balance. But living in the environment you live in, it’s not easy to disconnect completely and be free of your poisons.

So, as explained in Part 1, our approach in this series is to follow a five-step process to gradually solve the problem:

1. Selection of an area

 For this month, the topic is ‘Unhealthy habits’.

2. Diagnosis

 Analyse your current condition and list your weaknesses.

Using the accompanying worksheet, ask yourself:

• What technologies and websites do I use most in my personal life?
• How do I entertain myself?
• What communication habits fill my time?
• How many times do I use it per day?
• On average, how long do I spend on it per day?

Now for each item on your list, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Whose resources do I use for this? If it’s someone else’s, am I allowed to be using their resources for this?
2.  Why do I do it as often as I do?
3. When I use it, why do I spend this amount of time on it?
4. How does using it make me feel? And how long does that feeling last?
5. Do I neglect loved ones / people that are right in front of me while I do this? Do these things cause me to spend less quality time with them?
6. What time do I switch these things off for the day?
7.  For the entertainment-related items, what is the main message of the music / movies / games? And is this something admirable or meaningful?
8.  What are the benefits of this thing? (Break this up into worldly and Hereafter categories)
9.  What are the risks / dangers of this thing? (Break this up into worldly and Hereafter categories)
10.  Does this harm my acts of worship and relationship with Allah ?

Use the worksheet to think through each question and record your answers. Be honest with yourself – and do this either completely in private, without sharing it with anyone (if you prefer it that way), or with someone else (if you think that’s more beneficial).

3. Root cause analysis

 Get to the root of your weaknesses / problems.

First, consider your answers and then identify and list your weaknesses or problems you feel you need to address.
Next, write down each issue’s outward symptoms that you notice, and try to find the root causes of the issue by interrogating it. Look at the issue or the symptoms and ask yourself “why?” Keep asking “why?” of each answer until you get to the root cause.

4. Solutions

 Come up with practical methods to overcome those root causes.

With the problems diagnosed, the symptoms identified, and root causes found, now think of practical ways to solve those problems from the root. Brainstorm and list practical ways to solve the issues from the root. While doing this, consider the following questions to help you come up with solutions:

1.  If I give up / reduce my usage, what benefits could I gain?
2. What would I like to achieve in life that I haven’t / haven’t tried – because I feel I don’t have the time?
3. What small steps could I take towards fulfilling those ambitions, if I were to have more free time?
4. What safety mechanisms and physical steps can I take to cut down on my habits?
5. Can I arrange my time to be more self-disciplined in these habits?
6. Can I use any technology applications to block my usage of websites I’d like to leave?
7. Can I set aside a day or two per month to live completely without these things?

For example, in question 4 (safety mechanisms / physical steps), when you need to do something important, you could move your computer / other distractions to somewhere not so accessible. And in step 5 (time management), you could set specific times in the day when you’ll check email – and stick to it. Or set times each day where you ban yourself from using the Internet / the medium of distraction.

5. Planning and implementation

 Set up a realistic plan of action to implement those solutions gradually in the coming months, then at a higher pace in Ramadan.

With solutions identified, now analyse what your life is like at this moment, and come up with a realistic plan of how you can implement the solutions over a period of time. Remember to keep the plans realistic and achievable – what you can manage, even if it means baby steps over a long period. Doing things gradually – in small and consistent steps – is the best way to achieve sustainable, permanent solutions.

Also include, in your plan, the ways you’d like to intensify your efforts when Ramadan comes.

If, after a while, you find that you’ve incorrectly estimated your ability to follow the plan, simply make adjustments as needed. The goal for this month, and the four that follow, is to implement steps that are realistic for you – what you can manage, and not what will overburden you.

Worksheet

To help with this month’s exercise, you can download and use the following document: RamadanEarlyBirdworksheet.

Resources

To help you with this month’s focus, check out the following:
• Article: From Facebook to God’s book
• Technology blockers: To block sites you want to avoid, use LeechBlock for FireFox; StayFocusd for Google Chrome; or in Internet Explorer just add the in your blocking-settings.

And remember that the most important resources of all are the right intentions, sincere dua asking for success in this venture, and then consistent effort to do your best.

Your contribution

If you know of any good Islamic resources (e.g. lectures, applications) that are freely available online, please suggest them in the comments section.

Read the other parts of this series: Part 1  | Part 3 | Part 4

The post The Ramadan Early Bird Series! (Part 2) appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.