I am always amazed how time challenged Muslim are whether as a student, a businessmen or a homemaker. Time management can be daunting as you seek to balance your responsibilities for this dunya and your responsibilities for your akhirah. Staying on target can get easily swept aside if you do not manage your time carefully.
The prophet Muhammad 
said "Take advantage of five matters before five other matters, your youth before your become old, your health before you fall sick, your wealth before you become poor, your free time before you become preoccupied and your life before your death" Narrated by Ibn abbas in the Mustadrak of Hakim & Musnad Imam Ahmad Sahi
said "Take advantage of five matters before five other matters, your youth before your become old, your health before you fall sick, your wealth before you become poor, your free time before you become preoccupied and your life before your death" Narrated by Ibn abbas in the Mustadrak of Hakim & Musnad Imam Ahmad Sahi
1. Be an early Riser
- Go to bed early and rest
After the Isha prayer, the Prophet Muhammad would not like to engage in unnecessary talk and would take to his house to go to sleep.
would not like to engage in unnecessary talk and would take to his house to go to sleep.
"During your sleep, Satan knots three knots at the back of the head of each of you, and he breathes the following words at each knot, ‘The night is long, so keep on sleeping’ If that person wakes up and celebrates the praises of Allah, then one knot is undone and when he performs ablution the second knot is undone and when he prays, all the knots are undone and he gets up in the morning lively and in a good mood, otherwise he gets up dull and gloomy." (Bukhari)
However, Alhamdulillah, we were given the prescription to combat his whispering:
‘All praise and thanks is for Allah who gave us life after having taken it from us and unto Him is the Resurrection.‘
- Perform the prescribed dhikr (remembrance of Allah
) after Fajr
If you still have the urge to jump back into your warm comfy bed after Fajr, remember that the best extension of the prayer is the dhikr that you perform afterwards.
”The angels keep on asking Allah’s forgiveness for anyone of you, as long as he is at his Musalla (praying place) and he does not pass wind (Hadath). They say, ‘O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! be Merciful to him.” (Bukhari)
Plus, the longer you stay up, the less likely you will go back to sleep (and the less likely you will be able to fall asleep).
- Recite / reflect on / memorize Quran
After Fajr prayer is an amazing time to be alone with the Quran. Before the day’s distractions set you off course, use this time to recite, reflect and memorize The Quran. If you are like me, if I do not read my daily dose of the Quran in the morning, I find it incredibly difficult to sit after work or at the end of the day to try to get some quality time with the Quran. Believe me, you will feel the benefit when you start your day remembering Allah.
2. Schedule your day around the five daily prayer
No compromises. The discipline to give up all your work and life’s distractions to perform salah strengthens your willpower to live a purposeful life. Just as you endeavor to be punctual for meetings with your colleagues or project team mates, you should perform your salah on time.
While some of us who are students or working professionals may find it difficult to pray on time, we can overcome this by discussing the issue with your colleagues or friends. If you find yourself constantly finding pockets of time to peform your salah, your khusyu’ will be affected. Performing your salah on time will energize you, once you have fulfilled your most important obligation, the rest will become easy for you.
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah which action is most beloved to Allah? He said: ‘Establishing prayer on time, honoring one’s parents and jihad in the cause of Allah.'” [Sunan an-Nasa’i]
which action is most beloved to Allah? He said: ‘Establishing prayer on time, honoring one’s parents and jihad in the cause of Allah.'” [Sunan an-Nasa’i]
3. Prioritize and Consistent
There are three type:
- Spiritual development
It was typically the late part of the night people would recharge himself spiritually for the next day and boost his resolve to face the next day for the new thing.It was during the night that people can make a wish with his Lord, the Source of all strength and empowerment, through qiyam (night prayer), dua (supplication) and dhikr.
- Family affairs
The prophet was consistent in making time for family matters.
was consistent in making time for family matters.
Anas ibn Malik said: “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the most merciful of people towards members of his family. He had his son (Ibrahim) suckled in part of Madina and the husband of his wet-nurse was a blacksmith. We used to go to him and the house would be full of smoke from the bellows. He would kiss the child and take him in his lap.” [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]
- Personal/Social affairs
Narrated ‘Aisha: that the Messenger of Allah said: “The best of you is the best to his wives, and I am the best of you to my wives, and when your companion dies, leave him alone.” [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi]
said: “The best of you is the best to his wives, and I am the best of you to my wives, and when your companion dies, leave him alone.” [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi]
He consistently made time for his followers so no one felt neglected or had their affairs swept under the carpet. This was the time when men and women would come with their personal, marital, financial, spiritual and even health problems. This is when he would receive delegations from other nations and faith group or attend to nerve-racking issues of politics, conflicts and leadership.
4. Honoring the time of others
Similarly, emphasis the importance of fulfilling one’s promises.
Aim to arrive for meetings, classes and events 10 minutes before they are scheduled to start. If you are running late, inform the other parties. Honoring others’ time is part of fulfilling your promise. Breaking a promise not only causes inconvenience to others, but also causes you to lose their respect. The Quran says:
Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri: Some women requested the Prophet to fix a day for them as the men were taking all his time. On that he promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments. [Bukhari]
to fix a day for them as the men were taking all his time. On that he promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments. [Bukhari]
It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah said: Three are the signs of a hypocrite: when he spoke he told a lie, when he made a promise he acted treacherously against it, when he was trusted he betrayed. [Muslim]
said: Three are the signs of a hypocrite: when he spoke he told a lie, when he made a promise he acted treacherously against it, when he was trusted he betrayed. [Muslim]
As a Muslim we need to what must be done and the direction of our live as a human being who often forget the god who has given us facilities. Even we are busy doing our job in this world we should not forget the important thing, though busy somehow we must remember the duties which are at all time as we must do to fulfill our obligations as a slave.
