I want to share an important subject that has affected all of us in one way or another, and has negatively effected the productivity of the Muslim Ummah as a whole and individually. Something I have realized about time thieves (such as watching TV which is more harmful to the Iman than we think, notice or justify to ourselves) is that it changes us, whether slowly or quickly but surely.

If you are reading Qur’an or listening to a beautiful lecture and your Iman feels high, great and pure, then shaytan tells you “hey watch a show for only a half an hour”. Thinking that there is no harm in it, you go to watch it. But it doesn’t end there. You cannot switch your Iman on and off like a light switch. You cannot do something wasteful and then expect afterwards that you will go right back to feeling the light in your heart that you did just before that 30 minute show. I am talking about shows that have been so widely spread and have become so normal in today’s society that they aren’t considered “bad”, just normal. You too may not consider it “bad” but I intend to explain why it has such a harmful effect on our productivity and Islam.

The Prophet said:”A believer is neither a defamer nor a curser nor coarse nor obscene.“

It is a severe loss to our time watching shows with the opposite sex, music, bad language or dirty jokes that the Prophet would not ever say. Abu Huraira said:

The Prophet was told, “O Prophet of Allah, you are joking with us.” He said, 

“I only say what is true.” (Tirmidhi)

People acting in such ways that are against Islam such as dating, disobeying the parents, and disrespecting spouses cause you to laugh about it, and believe that it is nothing. When you laugh about such things, you are agreeing to things that Allah hates and you are becoming more lenient to this sort of activity when it is around your daily life. This makes the Iman so low, makes us lazy and makes us lose a large amount of productivity, even though it is such a temporary joy, and there are so many wonderful replacements!

In order to rid yourself of such a time waster, try replacing the harmful with the the following:

1.  Watch things that don’t destroy and starve your Iman

You are happy the 30 minutes that the show is on, and when it is over, it’s over. So you watch another and another to try and feed false happiness. But reciting the words of Allah and reading a wonderful Islamic book, or hearing an inspiring story gives you happiness for life. You always feel full and feel light inside of you, and feel content.

Keep the innocence in your life and keep feeding your Iman healthy things, don’t use your Iman as a payment for a TV show, or negative movie, because if you watch it, that’s exactly what you are doing. You are exchanging purity for dirt.

Sometimes when people attempt to stop watching TV they begin to feel that they are missing out on it, and want to watch it, and that is because if you are surrounded by TV your whole life and use television as “family time” you will always feel a need for it. So be aware parents, set a good example, limit your TV viewing and foster healthy habits that would help children make better choices in their life because what I have learned and understand, Alhamdulillah is that WATCHING TV makes us actually MISS OUT. Not the other way around. The Prophet said:

“Man’s feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection before he is asked about his life, how did he consume it, his knowledge, what did he do with it, his wealth, how did he earn it and how did he dispose of it, and about his body, how did he wear it out.” (Tirmidhi)

It is Impossible to be completely like the Prophet and his companions and wife , if you are watching this nonsense. Save yourself and don’t risk losing your life away to a thing that will never benefit you.

Tips to help you avoid falling into the TV trap

a) Think

If you are in the mood to watch a show, ask yourself first if that show has anything in it that could lower your iman, such as bad language, inappropriate jokes, music etc. If you stop and think first if that show would please Allah or not, you have made yourself aware of it, always filter what you allow to enter your heart, because your heart is a sensitive treasure that has to be protected from harm.

b) Remember

If you are about to sit and watch a show that you know displeases Allah , try and read just one verse from the Qur’an before you sit, see if your heart suddenly prefers to read a little more Qur’an, or watch the show. I can guess your heart will urge more for Qur’an and it will make you more aware that Allah is watching you.

c) Act

Think of productive things that interest you, watch a show about it, and then put it into action. Watch a cooking show, and try out a recipe, watch documentaries about other countries and make a plan to travel, gardening, sports, art, the sky is your limit.

d) Pray

Filter out your cable channels, get rid of any show that could tempt you later, get rid of any movies in the house that should not be watched. As we know, if you repent for something and are determined to change, the first step is to get rid of the items that caused your Iman to get weak in the first place, after you have done that, turn to Allah and ask him to strengthen your heart against time wasters and that you did it purely for his sake so ask to keep you steadfast. If you do these things, I promise Insha’Allah you will see an improvement in Iman, productivity and happiness.

2. Read!!

Sadly, another thing that this Ummah has forgotten is what it means to pick up a book and read. Read inspiring stories from other Muslims and non-Muslims alike, read a book pertaining to your specific personal development, career or Islamic needs. Read a book for inspiration and boost your creativity.  Reading is an activity that will engage your mind, whereas TV does not.

I will leave you with a final thought InshaAllah! Just like you are what you eat (if you eat fattening foods, you become overweight and tired, eat healthy foods, you become healthy and energetic.) YOU ARE WHAT YOU WATCH. If you watch negative, wasteful shows, you become a negative, wasteful person, if you watch shows insulting religion, you become lenient in religion. Good, pure shows make you a good, pure person. It is as simple as that. Would you prefer to have ‘watched the most TV’ or ‘memorized the Qur’an’ in your lifetime? Which is more productive?

Question: What do you do to avoid the TV trap?  Share with us your tips and tricks, remember no idea is too small to share! We look forward to reading your comments.

About the Author:

Kara Regan accepted the beautiful religion of Islam in 2007, and since then she strives to do her best in developing correct Islamic knowledge through study and other means. It has become beloved to her to share her experiences with other Muslims in hopes that they better themselves through the lessons she has been blessed to learn. She has written many articles all intended to inspire and encourage fellow Muslims.

The post You Are What You Watch appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

I want to share with you how living in disorganized spaces has a bad affect on our Iman and happiness.

I call these little messes ‘silent destroyers’- they go unnoticed until the affects have already taken place. Personally, I am a very organized person and it has been the utmost important thing to me since I can remember, but, after marriage and having a child, the utmost important things on someone’s list tend to change. I began noticing the piles of clothing stacked on chairs, the toys hidden under the couch, the unopened mail stuffed away in a drawer out of sight. I realized at that moment how I had been feeling down, how the focus in my Salaah decreased, and how my inspiration and energy to do everyday tasks diminished.

Sakeena is supposed to be in every Muslim’s life, in everything that they do, because peace of mind and peace of heart help us get through our days and focus on our obligatory worship. Living in a world of clutter takes a person’s sakeena away, without them feeling it until it is gone. It can lower the Iman to the point of taking away the khushoo’ in your salaah, your mind aimed at the mess surrounding your place of prayer. How can one be fully happy, satisfied, and productive if they come home to a place chaotic with disorganization? I have always lived off of the saying “a cluttered desk is a cluttered mind” because there is so much truth in it.

Cleanliness in Islam is not only about keeping our hygiene good: it is also about being clean in every aspect in our lives. Allah’s Messenger said, “Cleanliness is half of Faith,” so if half of your faith is disorganized and messy, why wouldn’t your Iman decrease with it?

Narrated Abu Malik Al-Harith bin Asim Al-Ash’ari : “Truly, Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean” [Qur’an: 2:222]. Iman increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience. Have you realized that by living messily, you are living in state that is also a disobedience to Allah ? No wonder why our Iman gets so low in such circumstances! Take a second and imagine yourself sitting to read Qur’an, or starting Salaah, and you are surrounded by a messy house. Every Muslim should make an effort to keep a clean home to please Allah and have a peaceful home environment.

6 Steps to Help You Get Organized

• It starts within. You must have the desire to obey Allah when he ordered us to be clean. By doing so, you are getting reward (insha’Allah), so start with your intention to create a solid foundation that lasts a lifetime, not a week.
• Create a plan of organization with your family to maintain a clean home. Help them understand that it is an act of worship. Teach children to keep their own rooms clean and make them feel it is an accomplishment. This will also instill good character for how they take care of their own homes in the future.

• Create simple solutions. Something such as a coat stand for the living room can go very far.  Family members are encouraged to hang their items in one place rather than on chairs and couches.

• Create a nice-smelling environment.  Scent has been proven to give people energy and optimism, so I suggest buying a plug-in air freshener or candles to keep the house smelling nice.

• Keep the bathroom wiped down everyday.  Having nicely stacked towels or a comfortable bathroom mat gives us a peaceful place to do wudu and it clears the mind in preparation for worship.

• Create a special area in the living space designated for worship. Have a prayer mat or two lying neatly or folded. Have all of your tools in that area – Qur’an, Islamic study books, etc. It will give you more khushoo’ having an area designated for prayer and worship, and as we know, having strong Iman and heart makes us more productive in everything else.

I hope you gained benefit from this article and if you did it is purely from the blessing and guidance of Allah . May Allah facilitate this Ummah, keeping us forever productive, InshaAllah.

How do you avoid the clutter and stay organized?  Share your helpful tips and thoughts below!

About the Author:

Kara Regan accepted Islam in 2007, and since then has strived to develop correct Islamic knowledge through study. Kara says Islam has encouraged her to share her experiences in hopes that other Muslims may better themselves. Kara has written many articles intended to inspire and encourage Muslims. May Allah bring us all together and increase us in knowledge.

The post Why Being Disorganized is Detrimental to The Iman and 6 Steps to Get Organized appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.