Ilm Fruits

ABCD Life Management

This article by Steve Pavlina explains how to effectively manage your life by focusing on tasks based on their long-term effects.

The article defines three categories of tasks, and allocates your daily time to each of them proportionally based on their expected benefit.

1. "A" tasks yield benefit in five or more years, such as learning a new language.
2. "B" tasks yield benefit in two or more years, such as training for a marathon.
3. "C" tasks yield benefit in 90 days or less. This includes day-to-day tasks, like checking email.

He supports a 50-30-20 method of time-sharing: allocate 50% of your time for A tasks, 30% of your time to B tasks, and 20% of your time to C tasks.

As Muslims, we know the hadith of the Prophet, (صلي الله عليه وسلم): "There are two things humans are decieved by: their health, and their time."¹ In addition, we focus long-long-long-term, on the Akhira (afterlife). How do you categorize tasks like praying salaah?

I suggest a fourth category of "D" Tasks: tasks that bear fruit in the Akhira mainly, and in the dunya (world) marginally. D tasks are usually fard (obligatory: you get rewarded if you perform them, and punished if you abstain from them) and mustahab (you get rewarded if you do them, but no punishment if you abstain from them). Therefore, D tasks should be first-priority, over A tasks.

Wallahu 'alim. I find this form of time management helps you complete those mundane tasks on your to-do list that idle for days and weeks.

Related Posts: Timeboxing, MultiTimer

(1) Sahih Bukhari. MSA-USC Hadith Database. 1 Jan. 2006 <http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/076.sbt.html#008.076.421>.

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Islamic Work: A Lifestyle

"Islamic work isn't something we do for a hobby--it's our life."

Work for the cause, don't abandon it. Don't neglect it to play video games or watch TV or surf the internet. It isn't a hobby. It isn't part-time. It's full-time, all out, no holds-barred work for the cause of Allah.

If you consider the illustrious sahaba, radiallahu 'anhuma ajma'een, they all gave their all for the cause. Their wealth, their health, their free time, even their very lives.

Why? They understood the contract. Check it out for yourself, in Surah As-Saff, among other places:

Translation: O you who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty? That ye believe in Allah and His Apostle, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew! He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the Supreme Achievement. And another (favour will He bestow,) which you love -- help from Allah and a speedy victory. So give the Glad Tidings to the Believers. (Al-Quran, Surah As-Saff, 61:10-13)¹

So, what are we waiting for? May Allah make us of those who succeed in this transaction, ameen.

(1) Pickthall, Muhammad M., trans. Al-Qur'an Al-Kareem: Parallel Arabic text with English Translation. One Ummah Network. 28 Dec. 2005 <http://www.oneummah.net/quran/quran.html>.

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Few Things Are Worth Crying Over

"Very few things in life are worth crying over."

Ponder it. Very few things in life are worth throwing a fit over or complaining about. In Islamic work, especially, people attach importantance to things that aren't issues, tempers rise, fights break out, and brotherhood dies. And in the end, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) controls over all things.

So sit back, chill out, and let it run by you. No harm done, right?

Wallahu 'alim.

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Genesis

Today, I created my new blog. I hope, by the permission of Allah, you will all learn and grow and benefit from it. For more information on what it is and why it exists, check the About page.

Feedback can only make you stronger.

I borrow from the inaugaration speech of Abu Bakr as-Siddique, radiallahu 'ahn. He said: "Support me, if I am in the right, and correct me if I am in the wrong."¹ So if you find anything great, then it is from Allah, and share it. And if you find anything incorrect, let me know so I can correct it. And remember, the best muhasaba (accountability) is private.

Wallahu 'alim.

(1) Nadvi, Shah M. Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddique. 1st ed. New Delhi: Idara Isha'At-E-Diniyat (P) Ltd., 1997. 46.

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