It’s the recipe of our success. It’s the road-map to Paradise. It shows you how to be a winner.

Allah ‘azza wajal tells us: By Time, Mankind is at loss. [Surah al Asr, ayah 1-2] We’re on the clock from the minute we’re born until the day we leave this planet.  But Allah ar-Rahmaan doesn’t just leave us with this— you are at loss— He subhanahu wa ta’alaa gives us an exception, a recipe, a blueprint. There are four simple steps to win in life: except for those who have believed, done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience. [Asr:3]

What is Your Expiry Date?

You have an expiry date— the day your soul leaves your body. Imagine walking down the street and seeing all these expiry dates stamped on people’s foreheads. “Hey, he only has five days left!” It’s from the wisdom of Allaah ‘azza wajal that we don’t know the day we die. One thing we do know is that we have to succeed in the limited time we have. Instead of sleeping and dreaming about Paradise, we need to wake up and strive to achieve Paradise.

Let’s get ready for some great time-management tips insha’Allah!

The Oath of the Greatest

We learn from the Quran and the Sunnah that beginning with an oath is a way to draw attention to a tremendous matter. Allaah ‘azza wajal swears by time (wa’l asr). That’s how we know time is extremely important for a Muslim— for you!  Time is your capital and Allaah tells us in this Surah that if you waste your capital (time) just on the dunya you will be a loser.

Time on the Day of Judgement: A Great Motivator!

The feet of each slave of Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa will not move on the day of judgement until four questions are asked:

1. How did you spend your life?

2. How did you spend your youth?

3. What did you do with your knowledge?

4. How did you make your wealth and how did you spend it?

Let’s learn now how we can answer these questions on that dreadful day before it’s too late!

Do You Consume or Invest?

Time passes quickly, it can never return nor can it be compensated for, and it’s one of the most precious things you’ve ever been given. You can either consume or invest your time.

Consuming your time means doing things that don’t benefit you or others (for example watching movies full of bad language, half-naked people, etc, spending hours on Facebook talking about nothing, or sleeping late for no reason).

Investing your time means gaining new knowledge and doing deeds that benefit yourself and others.Consuming = losing. Investing = winning. Look  at your life— do you consume more of your time than you invest?

Time-management Tips:

1. Barakah– booster
The Prophet salallaaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is our best example of being productive. The sahaaba were extremely productive. There was barakah in their time. To bring barakah back (blessings) into your time start any significant deed with saying the basmalah, bismillaah!

2. Salah comes first
Do you recognize this? You’ve finished all your daily tasks, but prayed all your prayers late, and didn’t even start on your supplications in the morning and evening, nor opened the Quran. That’s not effective time-management. As a Muslim our priority is what Allaah ‘azza wajal likes most.  Focus. What’s the first thing you’ll be asked about on the Day of Judgement? It’s your salah. Try it for one week: pray all your five prayers on time and do your adkhaar (morning & evening supplications) after fajr and ‘asr. See how amazing you feel.

3. Quality Time

The Prophet salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was super busy with a lot of roles to play but he always seemed to give full attention to each person or activity. When he prayed, he concentrated. When he was with family or someone asked him something, he gave them his full attention. You also should only focus on what’s at hand. If you’re going to have a conversation, really listen, really be present. Don’t check your phone while talking to someone. Really pour yourself into it. If you’re going to make dhikr, do it with complete focus, complete dedication.

4. Aim Higher Every Day

Start your day with the intention to make it better than the day before. If you tell yourself you can’t do what the sahaabah did, you’ve already given up. Have full belief that you can do better each day. Every day you have a new chance to either free your soul or destroy it! Make sure you have a long-term goal. Dream of leaving a legacy.

5. Write Things Down!

Only leave room in your brain for the best knowledge. Write down others things and get them off your mind right away so your mind is free for the most important things to think about, like memorizing ayaat of the Quran!

6. Choose Wisely

Don’t just start doing something; give it some thought first. Do you really want to turn on the TV? Do you really want to do that email right now? Is this the most important work task you can be doing?

7. Make Dua to MASTER Time

According to at-Tabaraani, whenever any two Companions of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam met, they would not part, until one of them had recited to the other Surah Al-`Asr and then delivered Salaams upon him. Ash-Shaafi`i said: If the people were to ponder on this Surah, it would be sufficient for them. (Ibn Katheer)

Homework
Now, I can’t help but saying that one of the best things I ever did with my time was to invest nine hours of it in understanding the greatest book ever— the Quran.  So from the bottom of my heart and because of my love for you as my brothers and sisters my greatest tip is: join us in one of the smartest courses ever. And invest your time in the ultimate way. Bismillaah!

I pray you will benefit,

~Khawlah bint Yahya, United Kingdom

THE AYAH JOURNAL, Qur’an & Productivity is a global project with the exciting goal to inspire every Muslim worldwide to open the Qur’an every day, pick one ayah and apply it to your own life by making acting on the ayah your mission for the day. Let’s bring back the message of the Qur’an to our daily life! Check www.ayahjournal.com and follow us on www.facebook.com/ayahjournal for vibrant Qur’an & Productivity tips.