By the time...Part 1

As the year has just started, reviewing our achievements during the year and the level of productivity, most of us will feel that they missed a few things and believed it could’ve been better if it had been planned well.

This article is dedicated for those who want to use their time wisely and get close to their dreams and goals insha’allah. 

For most of us, when we hear about time management, the first thing that crosses our mind is planning, when really planning is only a part of the process. I can assure you that throughout my journey of time management, reading books, listening to motivational speeches and researching were all crucial elements. 

The trap that I was falling into was ‘Planning’, which most of the time left me achieving only one or two points from my daily list. 

So contemplating deeply into this topic and putting my experience into consideration, I have concluded in order to use your time effectively, you need to follow these steps; 

1: Awareness 

This is the first step, ‘awareness’.

When you are aware, it’s easier on your brain to focus and make a move towards changing. 

Ever heard the quotes

“Time is money”

“Time is gold”

I bet you are nodding your head, we hear those. Phrases so many times right?

You know deep inside you that time is a valuable resource if managed properly. By knowing the importance of time it means your are making your life worth living. 

Each day is valuable and every hour, minute and second that passes without value until the day ends means a day of your life has ended and will never come back. Meaning you will be closer to your final destination. Now don’t  you agree that time is a life investment? 

It is worth more than millions of dollars because simply, it’s your life.

It’s in your hand to waste that time or use it wisely.

It was no accident that Allah سبحانه وتعالى made an oath upon most of his creations such as the moon, the sun, the stars, the angels and time.This shows that time is vital, as an oath of Allah سبحانه وتعالى is great, and when He swears at something specific it means that it has an immense value and needs special attention. 

If we ponder on Surah of Al Aser:

Allah سبحانه وتعالى says:

{وَالْعَصْرِ (1) إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ (2) إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ (3) } [العصر: 1 - 3]

Interpretation of the meaning: “By time (1) Indeed, mankind is in loss(2) Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.(3)” [Al-Asr: 1-3]

In this Surah, Allah swears by time for its value and states that all mankind is in loss, except those who have believed but what’s after that? Just believe and do nothing? 

No, they were different and deserved to be mentioned, as they have work to do good deeds and advised each other about actions that kept them steadfast in this world. As you can see, the three things mentioned in the Surat requires movement, awareness, planning, and being surrounded by people who will assist you to achieve these deeds.

Allow me also  to remind you of a Hadith that will unveil the importance of time in Islam. 

Ibn Abbas narrated that Prophet Mohammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

"There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) health and free time for doing good." 

(Bukhari 8/421)

In this Hadith the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, wants us to to be aware of those vital blessings Allah سبحانه وتعالى has bestowed upon us, health, and free time that most people will regret or realise its importance once they lose it. 

Let me elaborate one one thing, and I hope you put it at the back of your mind that there’s no free time in the dictionary of successful people at all. Most of their time is spent performing deeds that will benefit them in this world or the one after. Yes they have time off from work or other responsibilities to rejuvenate and be able to continue, but still, their free time is not wasted on nonsense pastimes or actions that will in turn get them to fall in to sin.

To be continued...

In part 2, I’ll address two important steps; change, and planning towards having better productivity in your life insha’allah. 

Fawzia Abdul-Rahim Mohamed