Time Management from an Islamic Perspective: An Exploratory Study

                 by Obed Khan- Teacher / Trainer / Life Coach Vowel Education Academy)

                                                                               

                                                      

      One of the critical issues in management today is the management of  Time. Time is a very unique commodity. It cannot be borrowed, rented, or bought. Time management is very vital for our overall well-being. While Time management books and seminars often place their focus on business leaders and corporations, Time management is also crucial for students, teachers, factory workers, professionals, and home makers etc.

      Linking the concept of traditional Time Management with the Islamic views might help motivate Muslims to be more effective and efficient in their activities. Most of the existing guidelines on time management are developed by Western scholars some of which may not be consistent with the teachings of Islam. The main purpose of the article is to develop some guidelines on Time management from an Islamic perspective.  

     If you look through the Qur’an and the Sunnah, it is visibly clear that Time Management is one of the most important issues that has been prescribed in Islam. In Surah Al-Asr, Allah used the time to swear on, which means time is very important. Allah says: By the time, verily man is in loss, except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and calls towards the Truth and  patience and constancy. (Al-Asr,1-3)

    In line with the above Qur’anic message, Muslims are required to discipline themselves by underscoring the importance of time. A person’s time is a trust for which he or she will be accountable on the Day of  Resurrection. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “On the day of  Resurrection, the feet of the son of Adam [man] will not move away till he is questioned about four matters: how he spent his lifetime, how he spent his youth, from where he acquired his wealth and how he spent it, and what he did with his knowledge.” Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also said: "There are two blessings which many people lose (they are) health and free time for doing good" (Bukhari 8/421)

     If you study the seerah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), with specific focus on his daily and regular routines, it is an eye-opener. We can draw many lessons on Time Management from the Prophet’s enormously productive and purpose-driven life.

                                             

1. Be an Early Riser- The Prophet (pbuh) said: “O Allah, bless my nation in their early mornings (i.e., what they do early in the morning).” (Ibn Majah)

    Schedule your important tasks earlier in the day, especially those which require mental exercise, and watch the barakah (blessings) from Allah  descend.

2. Schedule Your Day Around the Five Daily Prayers- It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) said, “I asked the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) which action is most beloved to Allah? He said: ‘Establishing prayer on time, honoring one’s parents and struggle in the cause of Allah.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i]

     The discipline to give up all your work and life’s distractions to perform Salah strengthens your will-power to live a purposeful life. Performing your salah on time will energize you  and once you have fulfilled your most important obligation, the rest will become easy for you.

3. Prioritize and Be Consistent- Figure out the real priorities in your life. What is worth spending an hour on? What comes first? What is a must-do and what is good-to-do? Allocate time consistently to activities that matter.

4. Hasten in Doing Good- The dangers of Procrastination…. Procrastinators do not appreciate time nor the means and the opportunities that Allah  gives them to be productive. The Prophet (pbuh) advised to: “Take benefit of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death” (Narrated by Ibn Abbas and reported by Al Hakim)

5. Master your resources before the resources master you- Make sure you dictate your own rules to accomplish your day to day work and try to implement your rules in the most effective way by using whatever resources available to you.

   The life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was an example to us in every way. This article has looked at just a few of those. Transforming your life into one that is much more productive, meaningful and enjoyable depends on one instantaneous decision: Managing your time the way our beloved Prophet  taught us…….  START NOW!

Obed Khan- Teacher / Trainer / Life Coach

VOWEL EDUCATION ACADEMY

Educate…. Train….. Consult

vowelhelpdesk@gmail.com / obedkhanin@gmail.com

Students Suicide....Time to wake up

Student suicide …a serious issue
    On Wednesday, January 31, a 15 year old school girl committed suicide at her Kandivali home in Mumbai due to anxiety over her upcoming class X Exam. According to 2015 data (the latest available) from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), every hour, one student commits suicide in India,. In 2015, the number of student suicides stood at 8,934 of which 1230 suicides ie 14% occurred in Maharashtra . In the five years leading to 2015, 39,775 students killed themselves. The number of attempted suicides, many unreported, is likely to be much higher. India has one of the world’s highest suicide rates for youth aged 15 to 29, according to a 2012 Lancet report, which calls for urgent interventions for this demographic.
     Education is perhaps society’s most critical responsibility. Educational institutions impart knowledge to students, lay emphasis on their physical well-being and prepare them for social challenges. But unfortunately, many educational institutions and teachers are not yet fully equipped to understand the mental health issues of students.
      Psychological concerns in children are on the rise, especially behavioural issues and suicides. Children and young adults have complicated emotional eco-systems that are easily afflicted by behavioural, emotional, learning or mental disorders, including – depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, etc. The problem and the solution, both, lie in students, teachers and parents – all 3 playing an active part in ensuring mental well-being. Suicides is a result of feelings of helplessness or extreme frustration. These deaths result from poor relationships with parents, excessive expectations from parents and society, the feeling of being unwanted, poor understanding of their peer relationships etc.
         Pressure from parents to perform well in exams can affect a child’s mental health. Being bullied by other kids can act as a trigger. And the real reason behind a student’s difficulties with concentration and learning may be ADHD. Conversations with counsellors revealed that young people find it difficult to cope with failure in examinations and careers and neither families nor other social institutions offer adequate support or solace or are ignorant about the issue. In India, parents often go into denial mode when it comes to their child’s mental health, resorting to statements like, “My child has no such problems!” This attitude must go. Parents must understand how fragile their children’s mental well-being is and be proactive in assessing it.
     Even the Teachers play a major role in this matter. Their approach to teaching, should not be marks oriented or result oriented, rather it should be imparting knowledge. Academic success follows learning, but it should be made clear that academic success shouldn’t cost a life. It’s not that worth and academic excellence alone does not guarantee success in life. Teachers certainly need to be trained in identifying symptoms  patterns of mental issues and take a proactive role in handling this problem.  Also, educational institutions must have psychological counselling programs in place to help students deal with their problems. The remedy lies in raising awareness about mental health in schools and colleges
               And Students should freely discuss their issues with Parents and Teachers for solutions to their problems. They shouldn’t depend only on friends or Internet or self analysis. They should spend quality time with their families and less on social media. According to an October 2016 study conducted among Indian university students, students from “happy” families suffer from less depression.
       So, lets get together, parents, teachers, school managements and students to prevent this great problem of student suicide.
What is the Islamic perspective-
      Those who contemplate suicide do so to escape the suffering and pain of this world. They mistakenly think that by ending their lives they will end all their sorrows. But what they don’t know, according to the Islamic belief, is that by committing suicide their troubles have only just begun. Anyone who has ever read the noble Quran can see the transient nature of this world. This world is a testing ground to see who is the best in faith so that they may reap the rewards in the next life to come. This world is full of tragedy, pain and heartbreak. Depression and suicide are common maladies these days but killing oneself is never the answer. All humans must trust in Allah no matter what calamities befall them. The Islamic view is that suicide is Haraam, prohibited…it’s a cowardly act, it’s a useless act which benefits nothing.
    An excellent example is in the life of Ayyub (AS). He had everything, a good family, wife, children, property etc and suddenly he loses all. He is even affected by a terrible skin disease. But he never loses hope in Allah, he prays to Allah and after sometime he gets all that which he had lost and much more.
     Therefore dear students never entertain such evil thoughts to commit suicide. But, be brave and trust Allah to overcome all and any kind of problems. Be good students now and good leaders in the future.
Obed Khan
Vowel Education Academy