7 Tips on How to Stay Up after Fajr

Nothing kills productivity like waking up at 10am to start your day, or waking up with just enough time to sloppily get dressed and race to work, arriving frantically and foggybrained. You try to get through your To-Do List but before you know it, it is time for dinner, and then Isha prayer, and you are feeling quite unaccomplished. The problem is that you had a good 2-5 hours during which you could have achieved maximized productivity, but you slept through it! What time am I talking about? The time right after Fajr prayers. It is a blessed time that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) made dua for, He said: O Allah, bless my Ummah in its early hours. Here are 7 ways to help you stay up after Fajr to become a beneficiary of blessings and success inshaAllah:

1. Go to bed early and rest

After the Isha prayer, the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) would not like to engage in unnecessary talk and would take to his house to go to sleep. This is the similar life-style for many communities where electricity has not created a false sense of daylight. Societies that maintain going down with the sun inevitably rise with the sun, making the most of their morning to do ibaadah or secure their livelihood. If you need to fit in more sleep, try taking a nap before or after Zhuhr.

2. Untie your three knots

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) It is not a surprise that Shaitan is trying to prevent us from the worship of Allah and prevent us from a productive morning. However, Alhamdulillah, we were given the prescription to combat his whispering: a. Celebrate the praises of Allah by saying: Alhamdulillahi allathee ahyaanaa bada maa amaatanaa wa ilayhin nushoor. All praise and thanks is for Allaah who gave us life after having taken it from us and unto Him is the Resurrection. b. Perform ablution

c. Pray Then after you have prayed, do not allow yourself to get back into bed. Perhaps splashing your face with cold water, having a bite to eat, or drinking some water or fruit juice will help brush off any drowsiness.

3. Perform the prescribed dhikr 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 Allahs 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). You can find the dua to say after prayer and in the morning in Fortress of a Muslim, or online at www.makedua.com

4. Aim to pray Duha

Duha prayer is an extra voluntary prayer you can pray approximately 20 minutes after sunrise until 45 minutes before Zhuhr prayer. In the morning charity is due from every bone in the body of every one of you. Every utterance of Allahs glorification is an act of charity (Subhan Allah). Every utterance of praise of Him is an act of charity (Alhamdulillah), every utterance of profession of His Oneness is an act of charity (Laa ilaha ill Allah), every utterance of profession of His Greatness is an act of charity (Allahu Akbar), enjoining good is an act of charity, forbidding what is distreputable is an act of charity, and two rakahs which one prays in the forenoon will suffice. [Muslim] Who wouldnt want that reward? By the time it is allowed to pray Salat-ul-Duha, you will be more awake and will have already completed your morning dhikr

5. Recite/reflect/memorize Quran
After Fajr prayer is an amazing time to be alone with the Quran. Before the days 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. Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Quran of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed. (17:78)

6. Exercise
An early morning walk or stretches will get your blood moving and you will find that you have the energy to stay up and make the most of your day inshaAllah.

7. Have a list of tasks ready

Has this ever happened to you? You are awake, bright and early, feeling particularly productive. You look aroundand you begin to ask yourself what to do. If you do not have a plan for your morning, then you will inevitably waste time wandering and halfcompleting tasks. Use the morning wisely by writing your To-Do List first thing after Salat-ul-Duha, or even better, the night before. Aim to complete 3-5 tasks before you set off to work or school. You will energized and fantastic having recited Quran, remembered Allah (dhikr), performed an extra prayer, and knocked off items from your To-Do Listall before you go to school or work! And you will still have the whole day ahead of you inshaAllah. O Allah, help us benefit from the beautiful morning hours. Ameen. Link: Whats your Morning Routine? About the Author Amira Murphy is an educator and aspiring writer who has been benefitting from Productive Muslim since the website was first launched. She enjoys writing about forgotten and neglected practices from the Prophets Sunnah, Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as well as health and nutrition and green and sustainable living.

Productive Jumuah Activities

Its Jumuah! The most blessed day of the week! So how do we make the most of it?

Depending whether Friday is a day off for you or not, weve covered below some key activities to make most of your Jumuah which you can judge how best to fit in your life inshaAllah. The important thing to remember is that this day is truly special and you should give it due consideration.

THE TIMING OF JUMUAH

Many people forget that Jumuah starts from the Maghreb of Thursday, i.e. the night before and ends with maghreb of Jumuah. So as soon as the maghreb for Thursday hits, remember its Jumuah and you should try and fill up your hours with sending blessings upon the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him), recitation of Quran, Tahajjud and extra remembrance of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala).

THE MORNING HOURS

During the early hours of Friday, we recommend you to follow the ProductiveMuslim Morning Routine, with the only difference being that for the reading Quran part, youll be reading Surat Al-Kahf as advised by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) (Find out why weve been asked to read Surat Al-Kahf every Friday with this ProductiveMuslim presentation

PREPARATION FOR SALAH

Plan your preparation for Salatul-Jumuah early on; and my message here is for our brothers who are obligated to attend Jumuah prayer. Your preparation for Jumuah shouldnt be a simple quick shower and dashing to the Masjid but it should be as youre going to meet the King of kings (which you are!). So start early, prepare early and really get into the mood of Jumuah. Here are a few things I recommend you to do: 1. Get super clean -

Remember that day you had that big event and you spent hours in the bathroom cleaning every part of your body and putting every sort of perfume on? Thats exactly how you should prepare for Jumuah! Take a good clean shower, make sure you perform the Sunan Al-Fitra from cutting nails, removing hair from armpits and removing pubic hair, putting loads of perfume, etc. Make sure your Jumuah thobe or clothes are neat, clean and pressed and not something you wore 2 days ago and is stained or crumpled! Also, take special care of oral hygiene: spend the recommended 4 minutes brushing your teeth, use alcohol-free mouthwash, miswak/siwak basically, get squeaky clean! Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudr: I testify that Allahs Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, The taking of bath on Friday is compulsary for every Muslim who has attained the age of puberty and also cleaning of teeth with Siwak and using perfume, if available. [Translation of Sahih Bukhari] 2. Go to the masjid early No, I dont mean 10 minutes before the Khateeb enters the masjid, but really early like a couple of hours and try to go there walking instead if the masjid isnt too far. Try to be the first one there and remember this hadeeth: Narrated Abu Hurairah: Allahs Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) said,When it is Jumuah, the Angels stand at the gate of the masjid and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the masjid in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the masjid in the earliest hour is that of one offering a camel (in sacrifice); the one coming next is like one offering a cow; and then a ram; and then a chicken; and then an egg respectively. When the Imam comes out (for Jumuah sermon) they (i.e. Angels) fold their papers and listen to the sermon. [Translation of Sahih Al-Bukhari] The above two points about being clean and going early are combined beautifully in this hadeeth: Narrated Salman Al-Farisi: Allahs Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) said,Anyone who takes a bath and cleanses himself as much as he can and puts oil or scents himself; and then proceeds for the Salat and does not separate two persons sitting together in Mosque for the Salaat-ul-Jumuah and offer salat as much as is written for him and remains quite when the Imam delivers the Khutba, all his sins in-between the present and the last Friday will be forgiven. [Translation of Sahih Al-Bukhari] 3. Dont forget your prayer and rememberance Fill up your time at the masjid with prayer and abundance of remembrance, especially sending salutations upon the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him).

Narrated Aus bin Aus: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) said,Among the best of your days is Friday; so supplicate Allah more often for me in it, for your supplications will be displayed to me. He was asked: O Messenger of Allah! How will our blessings be displayed to you when your decayed body will have mixed with the earth? He (Peace and blessings be upon him) replied, Allah has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets. [Abu Dawud]

THE KHUTBA AND AFTER KHUTBA

When the imam arrives at the pulpit, listen attentively; dont fidget, get distrated, or worse, talk! Its amazing how many people forget the warning of our Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) in this hadeeth: Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:If you say to your companion when the imam is preaching on Friday, Be quiet and listen, you have engaged in idle talk. [Bukhari and Muslim] After the khutba & prayer are finished, armed with a pen and paper, try to summarize the main key points of the Imams speech for that Friday and either share it with your friends on Facebook or via e-mail or simply take it home and share it with your family and children so that they benefit as well. Its sad to see so many of our mothers and sisters not having basic knowledge of Islam, and it would be beneficial for husbands/brothers/fathers to share the weekly lessons they learn every Friday.

WORKING AFTER JUMUAH

This might sound weird to some of you, especially those of you who have days off on Jumuah, but remember the ayaat of Quran that talk about Jumuah: O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumuah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew. And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah , and remember Allah often that you may succeed. [62:9-10] I wont say that its a religious requirement for you to work after Jumuah, but somehow that verse sounds encouraging in terms of doing something productive after Jumuah and engaging in some kind of work so that you can seek the bounty of Allah. So even if youre free on Jumuah, try to spend a couple of hours after Jumuah in a productive pursuit inshaAllah.

DUA, DUA, DUA

Finally, a very valuable thing to do during Friday hours is dua! Try not to waste the day or night of Jumuah in trivialities, postpone any engagements around Jumuah to after the day of Friday and spend any free time making dua. You dont know when youll hit the

hour in which prayers will be answered, and your dua will be answered!(Here is a link to an authentic explanation to this) I hope Ive covered everything that you can do to make the most of your Friday. As I said in the beginning, Jumuah needs preparation and planning so you can make the most of it. So whether you have a day off on Jumuah, half a day, or it will be a normal working day for you, make extra preparation for Jumuah to make the most of it inshaAllah.

Top Energy Foods to Increase Productivity

Some swear by natural foods, others are more adventurous and try out genetically modified foods that promise to possess super nutrients required in the right amounts. The relationship we share with foods is unique. Love them or hate them, we sure cannot

live without them! Although some latest scientific research has thrown immense light on the marvellous benefits that different types of foods provide to our body, did you know that these properties were discovered hundreds of years ago by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions? Even with enormous advancement in technology, we are battling a larger number of diseases than what our grandparents had to deal with. So, where exactly are we going wrong? Let us turn back the pages in history and rewind 1,400 years to discover the amazing health secrets Prophet Muhammad (S) and his civilisation were applying in their lives through the types of foods they had incorporated in their daily diet. Listed below are five super foods you will find may affect your productivity levels:

Honey:

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Healing is in three things: A gulp of honey, cupping, and branding with fire. But I forbid my followers to use (cauterization) branding with fire. (Sahih Bukhari) The Quran testifies to the healing nature of honey, when Allah says: And your Lord revealed to the bee saying: Make hives in the mountains and in the trees and in what they build: Then eat of all the fruits and walk in the ways of your Lord submissively. There comes forth from within it a beverage of many colors, in which there is healing for men; most surely there is a sign in this for a people who reflect. (Surah An-Nahl, Verses 68-69) Did you know that honey could be used for treating stress, anemia, burns, insomnia, osteoporosis, and abdominal pain? It can also kick off fatigue, digestion related problems; relieve symptoms of sore throat and nasal congestion. So instead of pumping your body with artificial supplements to boost your immune system, utilize this supplement to cure your physical and psychological ailments.

Dates:

These were an indispensable part of the Prophetic diet. Packed with high quality sugars like sucrose and fructose, dates act as instant energy boosters. They are easy to digest and have a plethora of water-soluble vitamins along with crucial minerals like calcium and iron. Dates have been mentioned more than twenty times in the Quran under various situations, highlighting the immense importance these wonder foods possess. It is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: If somebody takes pressed dates every morning, he will not be effected by poison or magic on that day till night. (Sahih Bukhari 7:663)

Milk:

If you were thinking milk was purely meant for children, think again! As a drink, it was the custom of our Prophet (S) to have a combination of dates and milk to get the best out of both. Apart from being rich in calcium, did you know that milk provides several vitamins and minerals in the right proportions, helping your stomach digest and utilize them to the maximum? They are extremely rich in proteins too. These build up your immune system, helping you fight off microorganisms.

Whole grains:

After the hullaballoo of fast foods, people have gone back to traditional methods of including whole grains in their diet. Brown bread has become the latest fad with every diet conscious person swearing about the numerous health benefits. Whole grains are packed with nutrients, vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates and fiber.

What does this mean for you? Well, by including whole grains, you are giving your body a perfect concoction of super beneficial nutrients. In other words, you are keeping obesity, nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, digestive problems and cancer at bay inshaAllah. Whenever a person of the family of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) fell sick then it was ordered that the barley gruel should be prepared for him. Then he used to state: It removes the grief of the patients heart, removes its weakness as any of you removes the dirt from your face after washing it. (Ibn Majah). Barley, oats, brown bread and whole wheat are some options you can consider.

Olive oil:

Scientists vouch for it, nutritionists cannot get enough of it and it holds an enviable place in the family of cooking oils. Allah also mentions it in the Quran. (See Chapter 24, Verse 35) Olive oil is power packed with antioxidants that can prevent cancer and premature aging. It is extremely rich in unsaturated fats, preventing the possibility of you developing cardiovascular diseases and cholesterol related problems. One of the Companions, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stated: Eat the olive oil and apply it (locally), since there is cure for seventy diseases in it, one of them is leprosy. (Abu Naim) In the above article on Blog Action Day I hope to have inspired you to revive your intake of some of these super energy foods with multiple benefits. Its evident that the Islamic civilisation and history offer practical ways forward in consumption of food. What scientific discoveries are revealing today was understood and exploited hundreds of years ago! With the verse of Allah which means: Oh mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth (Chapter 2, Verse 168) it is not surprising to learn that the Prophet and Muslims have been using several foods for curing mild to severe forms of sickness. I hope the aforementioned foods will be a part of your daily diet and youll share tips below on other super energy foods you love!

Productive Mums: Establishing an AfterSchool Routine

During the three months of summer, many of us abandoned or at least neglected a routine. We basked in the summer laxness. As the school year begins, it is most definitely time to get back on track! Whether you are homeschooling or your children are attending school outside of the home, routines have to be established for our children to be productive and successful students! After-School Routines pave the way for success. What are your children doing after school when they come home? Do you have some order set at home? There are several ways we can get our children in the habit of following a routine and making the most of after school time.

1) Making the Transition

The transition from being at school all day to coming home should be a smooth process. Upon returning home, children should settle down by putting their things away this teaches organizational skills, cleanliness, and the beginning of a routine. Here is a perfect opportunity to teach them a sunnah to establish as part of their life the sunnah act is to use the miswak upon returning home. The children should get out of their school clothes and ready to have a snack. Take this snack time to catch up with your child there is much importance in the words: How was your day? If you want your children to have a good relationship with you in their teenage years, establish open communication and a good relationship now. Show you are interested in what they have done all day, how they felt, what they learned. This prepares you and the child for the next step.

2) Homework/Studying/Review

This is where some parents slip up some children are allowed to lounge for long periods of time and then hurriedly do their homework just before bedtime. The sooner they do their homework, the better. We are teaching to our children now that it is not okay to procrastinate, and that once we handle our responsibilities, then we can afford the luxury of other activities. While the school lessons are fresh in mind, take time to work with your child on their homework; if your child did not understand the days lesson, take the time you spend working on the homework together as time to also help them understand the lesson. This is a time that requires patience and positive affirmation. It is difficult for you or the child to understand the lesson/homework if its being rushed, so it is advisable to do this in the earlier part of the routine.

3) Preparation for the next day

The key to success (in dunya and akhirah) is preparation. Teaching our children to prepare for the next day will make the next morning smoother and calmer inshaAllah. Help children prepare their book-bags. As a mom and teacher I have found children coming to school with missing books, homework etc. Take time to help children have everything ready for the next day, even clothes. Laying clothes out in a designated place is important. When children jump out of the shower in the morning, everything is set for them, down to the socks!

4) Family time
Make dinner a time to have that quality bonding time and memorable moments. Growing up I have many memorable moments at the dinner table. Also take this time to explain to your children what will be happening next that after dinner you will do x, y, and z (the night time routine, whether that includes story, bath, brushing teeth, etc.). This way, everyone will know what to expect and it will become a habit and what we strive to teach as aspects of being future successful adults: routines, preparations, time management. Homeschooling moms such as myself should alter this list to their homeschooling schedule and also teach the importance of keeping a routine. While this is not included above, activities should be scheduled around the prayer times so that you teach the importance and establish the practice of praying punctually inshaAllah. Also pray as a family, the hearts are joined together when we pray together. As well, it is beneficial to schedule some time even if it is just 15 minutes or half an hour to have deen time here are some ideas: you can teach them Arabic/tajweed (how to read The Quran), read a Prophetic story, discuss an Islamic character trait/virtue, explain the basics of Islam, memorize a short surah with them, listen to an Islamic video. Treat this as an exciting activity to similarly inspire enthusiasm among your children, and ensure that this time is particularly enjoyable and engaging

(discussions, questions, quizzes). You can incorporate Islamic learning during After School Routines, reciting duaas at the dinner table and ending the day by reciting Ayatul Kursi before sleeping, and making duaas for the ummah/family/friends. Its easy to add acts of ibadah all throughout the day, and turn are actions into ibadah. Establishing good habits starts from an early age. My four year old has his schedule on the wall that was made by Creative Motivations and so he is able to check off for himself the things he did that day. His schedule includes home-school, breakfast, potty time, bath, etc and this helps him to learn the same important steps that will help him in the future. Raising productive successful children is part of our mission; lets do that in the best way! Implementing these simple steps is a good start on our road to productivity inshaAllah! About the Author Ameera Rahim is part of the parenting team known as Habeebee Homeschooling (http://habeebeehomeschooling.wordpress.com) and is seen often providing support, resources, and sharing her familys homeschooling journey on facebookwww.facebook.com/habeebeehomeschooling. She resides with her loving husband Ameer Idris in New York where they homeschool their three boys and love sharing their hands-on learning experience. Ameera advocates early learning, family bonding, and early literacy in the homes.

How to a be a Productive Member of your Masjid

The masjid is the center of a Muslim community. Although masjids are specifically made for the worship of Allah, it is also a meeting point for Muslims to gain knowledge therein and recite The Quran, to seek counsel and to meet other Muslims, to remember Allah (The Exalted).

Whether you live in a Muslim society with a masjid around every corner, or in a non-Muslim country where the masjid is the lifeline of the community, you should appreciate your masjid and support it. Here are some top tips on how to be a productive member of your masjid:

1. Be Aware:
Find out whats happening at your masjid, and how you can support the projects already in place. You can simply e-mail, call or visit the masjid and say you would like to volunteer and offer your help if they need it. Dont consider any task too small, for Allah is Ash-Shakur (The Most Appreciative) and we will need every good deed we can get on the Day of Judgment. If your masjid is not a very vibrant one, think of how your masjid can go beyond serving the spiritual needs of your community and support its educational and social demands too. Perhaps your community needs a series of classes on seerah (biography of the Prophet, Peace and blessings be upon him), or Muslim youth activities; identify what your community needs and send this suggestion to the Management/Board of the masjid and volunteer yourself for the project.

2. Teach Basic Islamic Studies or Quran:

If you have verified authentic knowledge, you can use the masjid to teach the basic principles of Islam to young Muslims, and nurture a love and attachment to the masjid from a young age. Similarly if you are qualified, you can teach tajweed to attendees of the masjid and help them recite The Book of Allah (The Exalted).

Holding halaqas are a great way to encourage members to participate and get more involved in the masjid.

3. Donate Regularly:
Another essential way to be active in the masjid is by donating regularly. The masjid is the place where so many Muslims belonging to different backgrounds meet and worship Allah in congregation. It is your duty to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the masjid. Therefore, donate to the masjid, and keep the spirit of sadaqah in your life all year round.

4. Keep the Masjid Clean:

The masjid is a place in which Allah (The Exalted) is being worshipped it is important to keep it clean. This task may seem off-putting or petty, but it is a noble one. It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that a black man (or a black woman) used to clean the masjid, and he died. The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked about him, and they said that he had died. He said, Why did you not tell me? Show me his grave. (Or he said, her grave.) So he went to her grave and offered the funeral prayer for him/her. (Bukhari and Muslim) Ibn Hajar commented, The hadeeth indicates the virtue of cleaning the masjid, inquiring after servants and after friends if they are absent.

5. Give Dawah Pamphlets

You can print or pick up dawah pamphlets from an Islamic website/organization, and distribute them to brothers or sisters (topics can be on the importance of salaah, virtue of sadaqah, obligation of modesty, etc). You can also print and distribute flyers to publicize the upcoming event or class your masjid will be holding.

6. Meet your brothers or sisters in faith

Spread and return the Islamic greeting of Assalaamu alaykum. Ask how others and their families are doing; if someone is absent from attending prayers, inquire about them. Create a sense of love and community among each other.

7. Make note of any lonely or poor members of your community

This way it will be easy to reach them when you want to invite them for iftar, a wedding, Eid, or just perform an act of kindness.

8. Utilize vacations
Why not initiate a summer program for the kids? During the school vacations, the masjid can be of great benefit and service by gathering the young (and old) and making them memorize The Noble Quran, or teaching Islamic manners and character. At the end of the summer vacation, you can distribute desserts or prizes to encourage and reward the children.

9. Reach out to the Youth

It is important to involve the youth. Organize appropriate activities for the young brothers and sisters. For the younger children, you can organize certain trips to lovely places where the kids can enjoy their time. During such a trip, you can teach them more dua found in Fortress of a Muslim Dua Book (i.e. the dua of mounting a vehicle, the adhkar (remembrance) of the evening, etc.).

10. Back-to-School Support for Youth

When it is time to go back to school, help your masjid organize tutoring services in different subjects either for free or a small donation. Either before or after the tutoring sessions, a small Islamic reminder can be given and Quran recited. These are just some ideas of what you can do for your masjid. Now, say bismillah and go for it! How are you involved in your masjid? Anything missing in the list above? Let us know! About the Authors Hijab al Faisal works at Quran Reading (www.quranreading.com) as a Web Content Writer for 5 years. She writes unique articles for them related to religion, education, distant learning, online classes, and more. Nahla Said is an Egyptian wife and mother of 7 children, so she thinks the best way to call to the path of Alah is through the internet. Although she was raised in a French Missionary School, she completed her studies at Al-Azhar University where she learned about Islam. I think that dawah through the net is a good hidden job which we ask Allah to accept it and make it in the scale of our good deeds, Ameen.

7 Productive Steps To Balance Your Study Schedule

If you live in an Islamic country, your morning likely begins with the adhaan for Fajr. After the Fajr prayer, it is time to start your day in preparation for classes at university. The classes are held till mid-day (Zuhr time), or even till late evening (Maghrib time). Add to that the traffic congestion (in some countries), and what you have is an exhausted student who can only think of endless hours of sleep.

7 Productive Steps To Balance Your Study Schedule How can an individual balance his/her time to engage in community service, develop extra-curricular activities, complete school assignments on time, prepare for exams, increase in worship, focus during prayers, spend quality time with friends and family, and work on a part-time basis?

1. Understand Your Intentions

Every step that you take towards the masjid is rewarded. Every morsel that you feed your spouse is rewarded. So, what about all the halaal activities that you toil with throughout the day? Your first step is to avoid despair, because falling into the trap of despair, and feeling overwhelmed actually reduces your stamina. Keep your intentions clean, and increase your focus by remembering the reasons behind your studying. Say Bismillah and proceed.

2. Set Your Priorities

This is worn-out advice, but that is only because it is, by far, the most important aspect of time management. An average Muslim youth has the following activities to balance:

Obligatory prayers and fasts (during Ramadan) Obligatory charity and community service Studies (both secular and Islamic) Extra-curricular activities (ECAs) Part-time job

A student usually divides the day into time slots (specific number of hours), and apportions a couple of hours to each activity. However, what if you do not have enough hours for one activity, and/or a conflict of interest arises? This is when you should prioritize. If you have two activities at hand obligatory prayers and studies then, needless to say, you must offer your prayers first. Similarly, you need to put studies above ECAs and jobs, because better opportunities for ECAs and jobs usually come and go, but you will not get a second chance to sit for your exams. Also, studies are important if you want to get a good job to earn a living, to give in charity, to influence others positively, to initiate social development projects, or even to visit the House of Allah. Reduce activities which are not priorities, such as chatting endlessly on Skype/Facebook. Surprisingly, these not-so-important activities take up most of our time. Why? Because we lose focus, and do not prioritize. Before taking up any project/activity, ask yourself: a. Is it important/obligatory? b. Can this be done later? Prepare your list of priorities based on the answers of the above two questions.

3. Do Not Procrastinate
Do not wait for the last minute. A time clash usually occurs when you let your work pile up. If you have exams next week, start preparing now, so that if you have an exciting competition/project taking place at the same time as your exams, you can easily participate without fretting over your exam preparation.

Similarly, if you plan to develop a particular hobby, do it during your vacation way before the exam pressure kicks in. If you are eager to participate in a competition an essay writing competition for instance then write as many essays as possible, or at least create some basic plots for your essay, during your vacation. That way, if there is a competition taking place when you are already reeling with exam preparation, you can easily participate by turning in an essay which you have already written (if it suits the criteria of the competition).

4. Control the Number of Projects Youre Involved With

Taking fewer projects often means controlling the quality of commitment you can offer. If you are running numerous projects, and a few of them are taking a toll on your health, and other prioritized duties, then keep those projects inactive for the time-being (according to the order of priorities). Alternatively, you can appoint a trusted friend to run the projects temporarily on your behalf. Join time management training programs (both secular and Islamic ones). Productive Muslim and Productive Ramadan have some great resources on time management. Learn More, Study Less, conducted by Scott H. Young, provides great resources, too.

5. Understand Yourself
Understand your capacity! Do not think you can take up 24 projects because you have 24 hours. Many projects require, for example, 8 hours of work. Therefore, decide wisely, and remember to leave sufficient time for all other activities. Remember, stretching yourself very thin may impact the quality of the services/volunteer work you offer. Choose your participation wisely and commit yourself completely when you do offer your time and energy.

6. Keep a Day Planner/Log

This is something many of us (including myself) trivialize, but once we start using it, we really understand its importance. A day planner/log/list (of priorities, appointments, and other commitments) helps you to:

avoid missing deadlines and appointments take up only as many projects as possible according to your capacity and time avoid a time clash (too many assignments / more than one appointment at the same time) prepare early for an excellent outcome

7. Make Duaa
Did you prepare a list of duaa to make during Ramadan? Well, incorporate this list during the rest of the months of the year! Include prayers for time management, too. Ask Allah to grant you the skills of time management, and to bless your time and effort. About the Author Khadeejah Islam is a philanthropic Muslimah and is currently enrolled in a secular degree program in Business Administration and in various Islamic programs. She is a contributing writer at Habibi Halaqas (www.habibihalaqas.org), Productive Muslim (www.productivemuslim.com), and now at Working Muslim (www.workingmuslim.com). Apart from the Quran, Sunnah, and Islamic literature, she learns from personal experiences and social interactions. She loves reading, writing, working, and engaging in beneficial causes. She believes that each one of us has the potential to bring about a positive change to this world, which will be beneficial in the Hereafter.

Top 6 Tips to Strengthen your Memory

The capacity of memory in the brain to store, process and recall information is truly a wondrous blessing of Allah. We use our memory to gain beneficial knowledge; we also use our memory to recall the mistakes weve made in the past and learn from them to

become better.

For instance, remembering how we may have spent time during Ramadan unproductively last year may motivate us to utilize time fruitfully this Ramadan. Many associate aging with memory loss, but it doesnt have to be that way as demonstrated by +80 grandparents who complete memorization of The Quran! The following are some tips to strengthen your memory:

Use it or Lose it
Treat you brain as a muscle if you want to keep it fit and agile, you have to use it. Reading books, memorizing Quran, memorizing beneficial knowledge, and prayer are all the best way for Muslims to exercise their mind. The sense of being closer to Allah (The Exalted) will also protect us from depression which has negative effects on the mind. If you like, you could also try other academic exercises or mental challenges for fun.

Brain Food
A well-balanced diet is beneficial to keep your memory at its best. A recent study conducted in France has found that use of olive oil improves visual memory and verbal fluency. The virtue of the olive is also mentioned in The Quran, and Allah (The AllWise) takes an oath by this special food (95:1). Foods that contain high omega-3 content, such as salmon, are also important for the memory and brain function. Furthermore, your memory needs adequate sugar and vitamins that most of that will naturally be in your diet (if its not, try honey, dates, blueberries, and almonds).

Healthy Body for a Healthy Mind

Physical exercises, especially aerobic ones, are beneficial to keep the mind alert and healthy. If you cant do aerobic exercises, the good news is that a moderate amount of walking on daily basis can keep the mind healthy too. Indeed, walking for most people is pretty easy to maintain as a regular activity (even taking the stairs instead of the elevator exercises your body).

Rest
Taking a nap improves memory and mood, promotes physical well-being, and sharpen senses. Napping has many benefits so taking a 15-30 minute before or after Zhuhr should significantly affect your intellectual performance, energy level, and plus its sunnah!

Get an Adequate Amount of Sleep

Recent German research lab finds that sleep helps memory shaping. Sleep is needed to clear the brains short-term memory storage and create space for new information. Sleep and nighttime is yet another mercy and blessing from Allah, The Most Generous: It is out of His Mercy that He has put for you night and day, that you may rest therein (i.e. during the night) and that you may seek of His Bounty (i.e. during the day), and in order that you may be grateful. [28: 73]

Ask for it
If you want a good memory, ask Al-Mujib (The Answerer of Prayers). Ask Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) for what you need beneficial knowledge, understanding, good memory. Our memory is indeed a true blessing of Allah, and we should be grateful for it. To show our appreciation, let us keep it healthy and use it for beneficial purposes that lead us to get closer to Allah, The Most Merciful. References : 1. Rauchs, G. et al. 2011. Sleep contributes to the strengthening of some memories over others, depending on hippocampal activity at learning. J. Neuroscience. 31 (7): 2563-2568. 2. The Memory Cure How to Protect Your Brain Against Memory Loss & Alzheimers Disease by Majid Fotuhi, M. D., PH. D. McGraw- Hill, 2003. 3. Keep Your Brain Young by Guy McKhann, M.D & Marilyn Albert, Ph.D. John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2002. About the author Rushda Abraham is a French Muslim Woman Magazine journalist.

Stop Making Excuses and Get Productive Today

What is it that keeps us from being the best Muslims, the best human beings possible? Excuses. Excuses are an enormous part of the internal struggle we engage in on a dayto-day basis. The most common excuses are related to having too many responsibilities, intending to do it later, not having enough energy, or time to get it all

done. Now is the time to take control over our excuses.

How To Stop Making Excuses

You want to become a better Muslim. You want to start exercising. You want to read and increase your knowledge. You want to engage more in dhikr. But although you may intend for these things, you cant seem to ever get to them. Why? It could be because you are letting your excuses control you. So how does one overcome excuses? The process begins with identifying the type of excuse that is keeping you from performing the act and then using a tailored approach to break it. So lets identify the most common excuses that keep us from doing good and see what we can do to break them: Theres something else I need to do right now This excuse is perhaps the most prevalent when it comes to engaging in an act of dhikr such as reading the Quran or performing nafl (extra voluntary) prayers. It is rare that we will consciously say such-and-such activity is more important than this extra prayer, but we either subconsciously believe that or follow waswasah (whispers from Shaytan).

Ask yourself, what is the alternative that you are focused on right now? Is it something important, like helping your parents, or is it something leisurely, like watching TV or surfing the Internet? If it is a matter of fulfilling a responsibility to your parents or another commitment, then perhaps it makes sense to see this not as an excuse, but as a valid reason. While limited leisurely activities are fine, it is important not to make them the focus of your day. More importantly, do not forgo good deeds for them. The solution to this would be to be very conscious and very wary of such whispers from the Shaytaan and the nafs. When the thought of opening the Quran is immediately followed by this whisper, your mind should stand upright. Seek refuge in Allah, The Exalted, and just dive in. Ill do it, just not right now. Ill do it later. This is closely connected to the excuse of having other things to do, but it should be listed separately because it is perhaps an even more deceptive excuse. By using this reasoning, one is putting a task to an indefinite unwarranted future. The best way to break this excuse would be to focus on the fact that one has the most control over the present. Realizing the importance of making the most of the present also involves reflecting on the fact that we could be taken from this dunya at any time. Some of the early scholars of Islam used to say, If the remembrance of death leaves our hearts for an hour, our hearts will become rotten. [Dham Qaswat al-Qulub Ibn Rajab) If we want to strive to be intelligent Muslims, we must reflect on death, and as we do that we realize how important it is to not put off until later what we have the ability to do right now. I dont have the resources. Ill start learning about fiqh when I can make hijrah and study with scholars. I need my own room to concentrate and study, and until that happens I cant study the Quran. My laptop is dying, and until I get that fixed I wont be able to do the research I was supposed to do. To break your excuses, remind yourself that where there is a will, there is a way. Are there too many distractions at home? Go to the library. Waiting on a book or any other resource? While you are waiting, look elsewhere to start learning about the topic before you receive it. By making excuses due to your circumstances, you are putting yourself in a state of mind that is not ready to accept knowledge, iman, or self-improvement. If you find that you are lacking something you need to be a better person, pray earnestly to Allah (The

Exalted), and at the same time refuse to be dissuaded and actively seek alternative means. I dont have the energy. Physically speaking, low energy is often caused by not getting enough sleep or exercise, or by having a diet that is too rich in carbohydrates. To gain physical energy, you owe it to Allah to be in a good state of physical fitness. You also need to tap into the resource of spiritual energy so that one is charged and fired up and ready to do a good act, regardless of ones level of physical energy. I find that the most efficient way of breaking the low energy excuse to think of those who are in an incredibly high state of iman. Such people do not get drained by worship and good deeds; they are energized by it. Just like you shouldnt think that giving zakat or sadaqah reduces your wealth, you shouldnt think that engaging in good acts and improving yourself as a person will sap your strength. So you can try and emulate such people and make dua that Allah make good deeds a source of nourishment for you. InshaAllah the more effort it takes for you to complete an act, the greater the reward you will receive for it. I dont have enough time Have you ever noticed how some people manage to do so many things? How do you think they do it? Its because they have made the most of the barakah in each given day. If you follow the general steps to being a more productive Muslim,you will find that time is something that can be in great abundance and barakah.

3 Steps to Stop Excuses and Finally Start Being Productive

Go to bed and wake up earlier. When you sleep after Isha and stay up after (Tahajjud or) Fajr, you will feel that there are much more hours in the day. By giving yourself extra time in the morning before work or school, you do the things you are usually too tired to do in the evenings: recite and reflect on the Quran, doing extra dhikr, exercising, etc. Be efficient in your tasks Is something that should take you only 30 minutes taking you 2 hours? Beware of time wasters; focus only on the task at hand and cut yourself off from all possible distractions, whether they involve instant messaging, browsing, or talking on the phone. Know when to say No

Have you shouldered more than you can handle, or doing any extra activity that will not benefit you in the long run? When the above steps dont work, you might need to examine your activities and make a decision about which one you will have to let go. It is not until the ummah understands these excuses, and the power to overcome them, we can truly start benefiting from Allahs immense mercy and bounty. To end, I would like to remind us of Surat-ul-Asr: By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss, Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience. (103:1-3) Have you recently stopped making excuses and started getting things done? Share with us how you did it in the comments section below. About the author Sarah Farrukh is an Information Studies graduate student at the University of Toronto. Her interests include books, publishing and the digital age. She blogs at A Muslimah Writes. amuslimahwrites.wordpress.com

Know your Past

I want to take you to a point in time when the Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) has returned to his Creator, and his best friend had also followed suit. One of their closest friends is left as a guardian over the Muslims. He needs no introduction, he is

Umar Ibn al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him).

The Productivity of our Past

He was the leader of the believers, and inherited his position from the best friend of the Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him). He was committed to his own worship, generating his own income, spreading Islam, ensuring the development of Islamic understanding of his people, and meeting the needs of every single one of his people, quite literally. When he was patrolling the streets of the city one night, he came across a wool tent on one of his that had not been there before. He finds a man sitting outside of the tent, while a woman in the tent was moaning in pain. So Umar Ibn al-Khattab asked the man: Whats going on? The man said May Allah reward you; carry on with your business. He didnt know that this was Umar Ibn al-Khattab who said I insist on you to tell me what is happening. He said, This woman, my wife, is giving birth. Umar Ibn al-Khattab asked: Is there anyone with her? He said No, she is alone. Upon learning this, Umar Ibn al-Khattab immediately left and he went back home. He went to his wife Umm Kulthum, and said: Come with me, there is a woman who is delivering. He then carried some flour and animal fat shortening. So they returned to the tent and Umm Kulthum went in to help the woman. In the meantime, Umar Ibn alKhattab sat outside and he told the man: Set a fire for me and then began cooking. While he was cooking his wife called him from inside the tent and said: Ya Ameer AlMumineen, congratulate your friend, Allah has blessed him with a boy. Obviously happy to hear the news, he was on the other hand anxious to have learnt that he was in the presence of Ya Ameer Al-Mumineen, so he started walking away from Umar wondering to himself how great the giant he was dealing with was! Umar Ibn al-Khattab said: Dont be afraid, come back, come here, help me, take this pot and you

have your dinner and take it to your wife. So the man put the pot next to the entrance of the tent, Umm Kulthum took it and began feeding the woman who had just delivered. Before they left, Umar Ibn al-Khattab told him: Tomorrow morning you come to me and Ill give you the pension (or the payment) for your newborn child. SubhanAllah, an amazing story and lesson from our past this was a night in the life of Umar Ibn al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him). He was indeed a super productive Muslim. He made use of every moment of his day and night to serve others, to truly lead this Ummah. He understood productivity, and therefore it is key to walk through the pages of history and look at the lives of these people.

Bringing Productivity to our Present

Brothers and sisters this brings me to the key message of this article, we must know our past, as through it we find a blueprint for leading the most productive lifestyle possible today. Walking through the corridors of time is one of the most amazing experience for any aspiring productive Muslim. By reading about the lives of the prophets (Peace be upon them), companions, and pious predecessors (May Allah be pleased with them) you will find things that stir your soul and make you love them. Consider the life of Umar again, and you will find a blueprint of things that will boost your performance. His day was one blessed with Quran, salah in jamaah, acts of charity, and the night prayer, and so much more. And it was those things, which facilitated him to do so much. Your rise in productivity will emerge from knowing and then imitating the lives of those who Allah Himself was pleased with. Now, if you for some reason feel you cannot relate to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and feel that their abilities were linked to the time and the company they had, stop to remember they were there to be examples for you and people today who take them as examples are able to achieve amazing productivity.

Practical Tips:
To help you take action on the above, here are some practical tips: 1. Reflect on The Quran. Ponder on the verses, and try to implement its lesson in your life. It took Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) several years to memorize Surah Baqarah because he would work to enact each verse that he memorized he strove to carry the Quran in his heart and mind, speech and actions. 2. Learn from the pious predecessors

They arent just people or stories we hear about and say wow, mash Allah, and then go on with our lives as usual. We should take inspiration and lessons from the lives of the Sahaba (May Allah be pleased with them). 3. Look out for opportunities to do good deeds We should not overlook small kindness or underestimate its value. On the Day of Judgment, we will need every good deed we can get. So whether its giving up your seat on the bus, donating some spare change, or greeting your brothers/sisters with a smile, we should look out for opportunities to do good deeds and race to them. 4. Care about the well-being of your neighbours and community Get involved in your community, whether its online, at the masjid, or at a seniors home. Indeed, you will find barakah in your time and increased productivity when you engage yourself in acts that bring good deeds inshaAllah. Therefore, know your past, know those illustrious examples, whom you may even be named after, and imitate those lives which will guarantee an exponential growth in your productivity. About the author Azim Kidwai is an aspiring ProductiveMuslim and General Manager of Mercy Mission.

Five Ways to Control Your Tongue

Fasting during Ramadan does not only consist of refraining from food and drink, rather we must also protect ourselves from using bad language, backbiting, lying, and anger.

Unfortunately, for many of us, refraining from food also means an increase in anger and irritability, causing us to say some things we probably do not mean to. Here are some tips on how we can control our tongues (applicable outside of ramadan) and increase in patience both in our communication with others and within ourselves:

1. Think
The phrases think before you speak and if you dont have something nice to say, dont say anything at all seem clichd, but hold a lot of weight in the life of Muslims. It has sadly become common to be irritable when we are fasting, so we tend to snap quicker and say things we dont really mean. In order to combat this, think about what you are about to say before you open your mouth. It sounds simple, but we have become so accustomed to speaking without thinking that words just seem to fly out of our mouths before we know it. Tip: Try to take a couple moments before you speak to evaluate whether what you are about to say is beneficial or necessary. Use your hunger, weakness, tiredness (whatever it is that youre feeling) to prevent you from opening your mouth unnecessarily!). Spend more time doing dhikr, or thinking, or contemplating than wasting time on unnecessary speech, which is not beneficial and potentially harmful.

2. Apologize
Hard as it may be, if we do happen to say something that is hurtful to someone, just simply apologize. Whether it was what you said or how you said it, remind yourself to apologize for your misbehavior if you feel like you stepped out of line (regardless of whether or not the other person shows that they feel hurt or upset). This can have nothing but positive effects. Many of us have trouble apologizing to people and accepting our mistakes so it will both humble us and also ensure that we are more careful next time, because it can be pretty uncomfortable to accept your mistake and verbalize it. Secondly, it can help better your relationship with the other person, because you are showing that you are aware of their feelings and that you care about them.

3. Environment
If you are going to be with people, surround yourself with good company. It takes two to gossip. Most people who engage in backbiting and slandering will not do it all the time and with all people, in fact they may have a select group of friends who share this habit. If you find that certain people make it easier for you to engage in this, steer clear of this crowd! If you tend to be the person who begins it, find new friends or keep to yourself. Ramadan is the time to resolve these issues and improve control of your tongue, not just from eating!

4. Remind
Backbiting and lying are big sins, and forbidden in the Quran and as mentioned in various ahadith. Research and learn the punishment for backbiting one of the punishments is in the grave, so you can keep away from this sin by trying to visualise and sense how that would feel. If its swearing or cursing you want to leave behind, it is helpful to remind ourselves of the angels who write down all that we utter. Do we really want to make the angels record profanity? Do we want such vile words to be our last if the angel of death were to take our soul in that moment?

5. Reinforce
Lastly, a means of keeping ourselves on track is the old jar trick used by parents in past generations. The idea is essentially to keep a jar in the house in which you are required to drop a certain amount of money per failure to control your tongue, for example every time you swear or gossip. The amount of money should be significant enough to make you feel bad and regret your speech it costs more in the Hereafter! At the end of ramadan you can donate the money to charity, but the real purpose is to give you a physical representation of how serious it is and how much you need to improve. It helps to ask someone to hold you to your promise and remind you if you slip up.

Often we do not realize how many negative things we say in a day, but this blessed month is an opportunity to improve our character which can extend into the rest of our lives. About the Author
Asma Malek is a university student who attempts to follow her own advice in managing her time and keeping her level of imaan high.

Have you Forgotten Yourself?

Youre young (Islamically ones youth ends at 40), passionate and want to do something great! Alhamdulillah, you just joined the dawah scene, whether its at a Masjid, MSA/ISoc or Islamic organisation as volunteers and the work has begun Youre active, having fun, busy, occasionally stressed, and loving it. We are all working for the sake of Allah to help our community. Whatever you may volunteer for or partake in, is a great avenue to acquire good deeds and attain the pleasure of Allah, The Exalted. However, sometimes we help and we help, only to realize that whilst helping our community we find a deep hole is being dug inside of us and its only getting deeper and wider. Were doing all of these things involved in the Dawah and learning the Deen occasionally, but our Salah has lost its khushoo, and we dont make time to read the Quran.

Ask yourself:
a) When was the last time we cried making dua or reading Quran? b) When was the last time we really enjoyed our salah with full concentration? c) When was the last time we made Dua for those suffering around the world, or for our own families? We know we should pick up the Quran and just recite it, understand it, memorise it, but we dont make the time, because we allow ourselves to become so busy in our endeavours. However, even though weve been helping for such a long time, how have we helped ourselves to excel on a personal level? Your Akhirah matters, so you need focus on two elements the services you provide others and the things you have to do for your own tarbiyyah (spiritual wellbeing, growth). You need a balance between both of them, and not neglect either!

You need to be:

a) The ones who are your best in terms your conduct, the nicest, the ones who have the confidence to defend Islam. b) You need to make time for yourself as you are role models. c) You need to have the most Taqwa, fear the most, and reflect the most in hope of bettering yourself. This verse in the Quran scares me: Do you command people to righteousness and forget yourselves whilst you recite the scripture? Have you then no sense?! (Surah Baqarah, Ayat 44.) How can we save others, when we are suffering ourselves? Take time out today to: 1. Make Dua for yourself In reality you your success matters! And in the midst of the greatest storm no one can help, except the One who created you. 2. Increase eman through knowledge If youre involved in an educational institute, make a timetable to go over your notes and benefit from the knowledge that you pass on. If youre involved in the Isoc/MSA/Masjid enrol yourself on an Islamic seminar and focus on bettering yourself. 3. Focus on your salaah When we raise our hands to say Allahu Akbar, remember that this is an act of worship and that Allah is Greater than whatever happened at the MSA/ISoc meeting or the fundraiser youre planning. Take whatever steps you need to make sure you can focus in your salaah (read books on salaah, make wudu, get ready before salah time comes in, etc.) 4. Make time to read Quran Its guidance and mercy from Allah. We need it. 5. Cut back if you need to I know this may be difficult for some and I know being involved in A through Z is fun but if we cant even get our salaah right nor have personal time with the Quran, then something is not right. If your own ibaadah is suffering, it might be time to do istikharah and cut back; if youre involved in 5 activities, why not cut back to 3 and see if that is manageable for you.

Say Bismillah to another day and show Allah how much you love Him! About the Author Alima Ashfaq is a young aspiring author, coach, entrepreneur, and speaker. She is the founder of i am Alima and currently the Ameerah of Qabeelat Fawz, a student body of AlMaghrib Institute. She is the author of Love Unveiled and Duas of a Superstar. Her mission is to assist sisters to attain superstar status in the life and the hereafter, neglecting neither! Visit iamAlima at www.iamAlima.com Or check her out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/IamAlimaOfficialPage

Creating a Habit of Fasting After Ramadan

The blessed month of Ramadan gives us tremendous opportunities to seek for forgiveness and ask for Allahs mercy. Special prayers and excess charity becomes a norm in many households. However, once Ramadan comes to an end, some people go back to their old ways of skipping a few prayers, or delaying them and committing sins

without a second thought. While the blessed month of Ramadan comes to an end, we can continue to engage in the beautiful ibadah (act of worship) of fasting. Allah (the Exalted) said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him except fasting. It is done for My sake, and I will give a reward for it (Sahih Muslim).

Fasting: A Muslims Shield

If you were given a shield to protect yourself from sins in this life, and Hell Fire in the next, you would on to it and not want to let go. This shield is fasting let us not overlook it, but rather use this blessing, this gift given to us by Ar-Rahman. The hadith quoted above continues: fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, I am fasting. By Him in Whose Hands my soul is The unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting. (Sahih Muslim). Fasting should prevent you from backbiting, slandering, speaking rudely or involving yourself in idle or false talk. This time can be redirected to performing dhikr, Quran, or something more productive to pile up your good deeds.

When to Fast
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Deeds are shown (to Allah) on Mondays and Thursdays, and I like my deeds to be shown when I am fasting. (alTirmidhi). In another hadith, Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to me: If you fast any part of the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth. (al-Tirmidhi). Note: there are some days which it is forbidden and disliked to fast on, so please ask an imam or scholar if you are unsure. So let us follow the Sunnah of our Prophet and fast on Mondays and Thursdays of every week and/or on the 13, 14 and 15th of every month. By the way, once you do this for a while, performing voluntary fasts will become a beautiful habit and routine in your life.

5 Tips to Make Fasting throughout the Year Easier:

1. Make the intention:

Make the intention now that you want to sincerely fast for the Pleasure of Allah, and seeking His reward. Until you get used to this, set up a weekly/monthly reminder in your phone, day planner, laptop, or just on a sticky note to remind you what days you will be fasting.

2. If you need to, find fasting buddies:

While you want your fast to be private and sincerely for Allah alone ( not for show or praise), you can get extra reward by encouraging others to join you in this sunnah act. You can encourage and motivate one another, and race for good deeds. Perhaps you wont feel like fasting one Monday, but if you remember your friend you will be fasting, you wont want to miss out on the reward and will want to also earn Allahs Pleasure, Reward, and Forgiveness, inshaAllah.
3. Involve your Family Members:

If you do not find a fasting buddy or if you live in a non-Muslim area, simply involve your family members. Educate them about the countless virtues of fasting, and you can volunteer to buy dates or cook iftar. InshaAllah by encouraging your family to do this extra good deed, more blessings and mercy will enter your household.
4. Build Family Ties:

Ramadan is a time when all the family members get to sit and eat together, sharing what they learnt or experienced, and feeling like a family. After Ramadan, we slip back into our normal routine rushing off to complete tasks, attend meetings, so on and so forth we might neglect the essence of spending quality time with each other. Lack of communication between parents and children or between spouses is also blamed on not finding sufficient time together. What better way to rekindle the love and affection between family members by fasting at least twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays) or thrice a month (13, 14 and 15th days of the Islamic calendar). You will feel love for the sake of Allah, and feel connect by the rope of Islam.
5. Make it fun:

Make this fasting routine interesting. To add a bit of fun to the occasion, organize quizzes and give away prizes to encourage fasting amongst youngsters. You can give each family member a chance to discuss about a (simple) Islamic topic or Muslim manners, preferably 30 minutes to an hour before iftaar. This would increase awareness about Islamic principles and character that need to be inculcated in each individual and in the family as a whole. This is a great method to identify what knowledge your family is missing and how to gain it, and to build family ties. Keep in mind that topics should be simple and within your capacity (eg. Most of us are not qualified to interpret and give commentary on hadith); if researching topics would not be an effective option for your family, one can show a lecture by a Shaykh or read a

passage from a book/commentary. The key here is to make time for yourselves rather than complaining about not having time. I would like to conclude with quotes by scholars who bring up points we should keep in mind: Al-Fudayl ibn-Iyaad said: Know that if you cant pray at night and you cant fast during the day, you are prevented and what prevents you is your number of sins, so look into your heart. Solution: Avoid sins, seek forgiveness, make dua, and push against your nafs Ibn Qayyim Al-Jaqziyyah said: The Shaytaan has misled most people by beautifying for them the performance of certain voluntary acts of worship such as voluntary prayers and voluntary fasting while neglecting other obligatory acts of worship such as enjoining the good and eradicating the evil, to the extent that they do not even make the intention of performing them whenever they are able to. Solution: We should strive to not neglect the obligatory acts of worship. Dear brothers and sisters, let us push ourselves to pursue the Hereafter by performing nafl fasts. Make an effort to please your Lord and learn about Islam together. It is a great way to train your mind, body, character and nafs all year round. Doing extra voluntary acts of worship is a means of gaining the Pleasure of Allah (The Exalted), if He Wills so let us take up this noble routine of voluntary fasting. What are some of your tips that help you stay committed to fasting well beyond Ramadan?

Practical Tips to Stop Wasting Time in Gossip

Whats gossiping? Have you ever met someone guilty of cannibalism? Probably not, yet if many of us who gossiped were to go by any name it would be this. This is the way backbiting is described in Islam and many of us know it. Allah warns us: O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear God, verily, God is the one who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. (49: 12) As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us, backbiting is to say something about your brother that he would dislike. Someone asked him: But

what if what I say is true? The Messenger of Allah said: If what you say about him is true, you are backbiting him, but if it is not true then you have slandered him. Why do people gossip? When someone loves to gossip, it is usually for one or more of the following reasons:

Ignorance Low Self-Confidence Envy Boredom/Wasting time Trying to impress you Low faith

What to do when people gossip? Sometimes we feel we have been dragged into it and really want to avoid situations where gossip takes place, and though we really want to do it, we dont know how toget out of the conversation let alone put a stop to it. Here are some tips to help you out inshaAllah: 1. Praise the person being talked about Witness your imaan increase up as you defend them as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: whoever defends his brothers honour, Allah will protect his face from the Fire of the Day of Resurrection. (Tirmidhi) There may be that moment just before speaking up in which you hesitate, but muster up some courage: once you get the first few words out, you will feel good about doing the right thing and people will realize that they are engaging in wasteful talk. 2. Invite truth from each other Though it might be quite an outrageous act at first, you could ask the one who is gossiping to actually come with you and check the truth about what they are saying in the presence of the one they talked about! You dont really need to go and verify but this is an action which is really part of the Sunnah, for we should prevent lying about one another and tarnishing peoples reputation especially if it is based on rumours. 3. Explain its none of your concern: This is probably the hardest part we stumble upon when a group of friends slip into gossip, however we should imply that its none of the gossipers business to discuss other people affairs unless it is in a permissible manner. If you can encourage someone to not speak about others badly, then you can also tell them that it does not interest you or is irrelevant to you instead find a mutual topic of interest to discuss other than people!

Al Hasan Al Basri said: A sign that Allah has turned away from a servant is that He makes him busy with matters that are of no concern to him. 4. Put yourself in their shoes Asking the person gossiping( or even ourselves for that matter) the question: How would I feel if this vicious rumour was said about me? should make one regain some sense of integrity and put himself in the position of the one he just spoke against, hopefully repelling him/her from talking about another. 5. Change the topic If youve tried the steps above and still find someone engaging in gossip about useless matters, find something else to talk about; take the lead in bringing up a subject you know they are interested in, or ask them to tell you about themselves. 6. Leave If all else fails and youve tried to pull out all of the above tips simply excuse yourself and leave the gathering. For Allah has advised us in the Quran: When you see men engaged in vain discourse about Our Signs, turn away from them unless they turn to a different theme. If Satan ever makes you forget, then after recollection, do not sit in the company of those who do wrong. [Al-Anam 6:68] How to stop yourself from gossiping? What about if its you whos responsible for the vain talk? Hold your breath and recall these tips before saying a word. 1. Remember backbiting is a major sin in Islam and is one of the causes for entering the Hellfire. 2. Ask yourself: Would the person I am about to speak of like what Im going to say? Would I say it if the person was present? Will I feel good about myself after saying it? You can save yourself some guilt ridden apologies later by simply asking these questions to yourself. In addition, you can try to think about how you felt the last time you found out that people were speaking badly or falsely about you. 3. Is it useful for anyone to know? Allah Most High has said: Successful are the believers, who are humble in their prayers, and who turn away from pointless talk [23:1-3] And Those who do not bear witness to what is false, but when they pass by pointless talk, pass by with dignity [25:72], When they hear pointless talk, they turn away from it [28:55]

These verses describe the characteristics we should embody in speech. A top tip to help you is to cut short telephone conversations and keeping chat to essential things. 4. Is it necessary for anyone to know? Even if it is, does it require your intervention? Often it is the trick of shaytan when we indulge in backbiting, as we seem to feel better about ourselves if we downgrade others. Instead ask yourself how we can improve our own character and lives. 5. Imagine that the person you are talking about can hear everything you are saying. However, know that Allah Taala is The All-Seeing, All-Hearing, and All-Knowing. We should not forget about Day on which we will be held accountable for our deeds. Remember backbiting is a bad reflection on your own character. 6. Be mindful of the company you keep Keep away from people who usually turn to gossip. Recall the times in which you usually find yourself gossiping and keep yourself busy during that time with other tasks or even better invite friends to learn about the grave consequences of gossiping! 7. Are you 100% sure about it? Spreading false information is slander as it is creating discord and problems between Muslims. As we are told in the Quran: Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of themselves [i.e. one another] and say: This is an obvious falsehood? [24:12] 8. Rejoice at the time and reward youll gain by stopping this nasty habit not to mention the good deeds you will accumulate to efface the bad ones. Youll be surprised about the time, energy, and faith boost you will gain in this life, and the reward that awaits you in the akhirah inshaAllah. 9. Look for positive qualities in people. If you really have to talk about someone whos not there, talk about how great, hardworking, funny, humble they are instead of deficiencies; as I often say we are always quick to find imperfections in others but not ourselves. 10. If you feel you have to say it to someone and that you cant keep the news for yourself, write it in your diary or on a private piece of a paper. Reread it after a couple of days and evaluate if you still want to let the world know you are not trustworthy enough to keep a confidential fact to yourself! Discard of the paper, and of the thought in your mind disciplining your thoughts to be good of others should be instilled instead. 11. Repent and make the intention to stop, you could keep the verses and ahadith about the punishment of this sin on your wallpaper or screen to remind you at work (where people politics can enter!). Lastly make duaa to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala)to help you and while it takes effort, dont give up:

Whosoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, then let him speak good or remain silent. [Al-Bukhari] And the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) was asked: O Messenger of Allah, which of the Muslims is best? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe from. [Al Bukhari and Muslim] What about if someone is gossiping about you? Send them a gift. They are providing you with rewards! Someone was told: So-and-so has gossiped about you so he sent him a dish of dates, with the message: I heard that you had given me your rewards as a gift, and I want to return the favour; please excuse me for not being able to pay back in full! Whilst this is amusing, it bears great dignity for one to befriend the one who has backbitten him To conclude, make the intention to purify your heart today by applying these practical tips to stop wasting your life on a grave act. Share other tips you have here below! About the Author Sister Jihan Anwar is a university student and a journalist working at the National Yemen Newspaper

Review: UnderstandQuran.com
The Quran is the final revelation and guidance for mankind. It is for people no matter where they are in the globe and will be preserved until the Last Day. The Quran makes clear The Straight Path, shows the path of righteousness in contrast to the path of falsehood, teaches us the commands and attributes of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala). Many Muslims today recite and perhaps even memorize the entire Quran without understanding anything or very little from it. If we dont understand it, how can we learn and live by it? The Quran is the most widely read and the most memorized Book in the world.. but now what if we could understand it too? Many Muslims have the zeal and enthusiasm to read and understand the meaning of what their Lord has Revealed, but end up relying on translations since they dont know Arabic; but translations can never match the original text, and you simply cannot truly appreciate the outstanding beauty of the Quran without knowing at least some basic Arabic. Learning the Arabic language as much as one possibly can has been encouraged by our scholars of the past, so that is something we are all encouraged to seek out and commit to.

Often though, people have excuses such as: I dont have enough time, there are only how to speak Arabic courses in my area, courses are too costly, or I dont have a good Arabic learning centre in my city. What if someone told you that you could learn the basic grammar and vocabulary of the Quran for free, from your bedroom? Well, that is exactly why Im going to tell you about UnderstandQuran.com! Alhamdulilaah, Understand Quran Academy has designed some really wonderful and helpful courses that enables a person, who does not understand Arabic, to directly understand the elementary grammar and vocabulary of the Quran in a short span of time! The courses are designed by Dr Abdul Azeez Abdur Raheem, the Director of the Understand Quran Academy which is based in Hyderabad, India. These courses really make it easy for someone who does not understand Arabic language to read and understand the Quran inshaAllaah. These courses are short and concise and do not take up much time. The courses are available on their website in various languages and the material, which includes texts, audios, videos and power point presentations, is all for FREE! The Understand Quran Academy conducts this course regularly in various cities and it is also aired on Peace TV Urdu. The courses help you memorize oft-repeated words in the Quran, from basic duas and short Surahs which generally most Muslims already know. This means a good portion of memorizing is already done and you only have to remember and relate the meanings of the words. Further, this then adds to the Khushoo in your Salaah right from the first session as you would understand what you recite in your Salaah. Along with these set of words, which make-up up to 70% of the Quranic text, the course explains basic essential grammar, and all this, using a very interactive learning method known as the Total Physical Interaction (TPI). TPI gets you physically involved while learning, making it quite a fun and lot easier to remember, rather than memorizing terms like first person singular masculine and third person plural feminine. The use of hand gestures makes the whole learning and remembering process much simpler, easier and faster. However, I believe it would be very useful to have their courses translated into more languages and conduct regular live courses. With the help of Muslims we can create more publicity and awareness about these courses and use social networks to inform more people who could benefit from their courses. Further, the site lacks a FAQ or Help section, which could be inconvenient for amateur users but as the site is getting a face-lift, we can be hopeful of improvements inshaAllah. All-in-all the courses are really helpful for one who does not know Arabic and for some reason cannot learn it. So if you want to understand the meaning of the Quran, and thought you do not have any way to learn the beautiful Arabic language, then this course is for you! (it could also be a supplement to someone learning the Arabic

language). With less than 30 minutes per session, this course does not take much time and can be completed pretty quickly, inshaAllah. It is free and you can access the classes from the comfort of your own home. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and inshaAllaah UnderstandQuran.com, the easy way! About the Author: Farhan Kazi am passionate about Islam, an active member and associate of a socioreligious organization in the city and a regular volunteer at others. I am into reading current and socio-religious issues and a rather sporadic writer. And, I am pursuing Engineering in Mechanical faculty, from Navi Mumbai city. Visit his blog here

Productivity Goldmine: Beginning with Bismillah

For those of you looking to reach the ultimate peak in your personal and professional lives, try beginning each act, deed, or intention with the basmalah and see the immediate difference it brings. Beginning your action by invoking the name of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala is a blessing that has been bestowed upon our ummah by our Creator, Most High. Invoke Allahs Subhanahu wa Taala name with a sense of sincerity and reliance. This will help in warding away Satan, mans biggest enemy, whom we have been ordered to seek constant refuge from. Satan can very easily place a wrong intention in your heart, change your way of thinking and mould your thoughts according to his evil plots, making you lose out on the numerous benefits and advantages that you could have easily achieved had you started your work by invoking Allah Subhanahu wa Taalas name. Cutting out evil is one of the most effective ways to stay focused and concentrate on the task ahead. Reciting Bismillah before performing any action will immediately make you conscious and ponder over whether the deed/action you want to do is righteous or not, sincere or not. This is a hugely effective method to prevent oneself from committing sins irrespective of how big or small the sin may be. Beginning in the Name of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala opens up the doors of mercy and blessings from our Lord as it is pleasing that we, His slaves, remember Him before performing an action. Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah . Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured. (Quran, Chapter# 13, Verse#28)

Remember Me and I will remember you and be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me. (Quran, Chapter# 2, Verse#152) Lets go back to the seerah for a moment the first verse revealed to our beloved Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) was Read, in the Name of your Lord (96:1). This verse clearly shows the immense importance of not only the word bismillah but the entire principle in itself. The verse makes us understand why Allah Subhanahu wa Taala chose the words ..in the Name of your Lord before revealing the subsequent verses of The Noble Quran. This directly corroborates the basic and fundamental Islamic etiquette that every (good) action, thought and intention is made in His name and begins with His name. The above Quranic verses should weigh heavily on our minds at all times. Success can only be achieved through the Will and Grace of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. However, there has to be a constant effort on your part to reach that level of success. By saying Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim, we are invoking Allah and if Allah wills, He will impart barakah in that thing. Begin with bismillah, remember your Lord and strive to achieve excellence. Ward off laziness and procrastination (both being byproducts of the Satan). Achieve success with the perfect frame of mind. Thank Allah Subhanahu wa Taala much to obtain His mercy and Blessings in everything you wish to perform. You will soon come to realize that invoking Allahs Subhanahu wa Taala name will become more of a habit, helping you in remembering and glorifying Allah Subhanahu wa Taala at all times. Start your day with a positive frame of mind and remember Allah Subhanahu wa Taala to achieve super productivity in everything you want to achieve in life. In fact, the mere remembrance of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala will put a sense of awe and discipline in your hearts. Dhikr will automatically make you humble, placing self-discipline in our lives. For more on The Basmalah and its Blessings About the Author: Nasmeera Firdous is enthusiastic about eating healthy for a happy living and likes to write articles that would help people understand how they can lead a productive life by eating the right type of foods. She has undertaken postgraduate studies in Nutrition and Health.

Are you sleeping for the akhirah?

One of the major issues of productivity that people face is how many hours should they sleep. Those who love their sleep argue that its important to sleep at least 6-8

hours each night for a long healthy life, whilst those on the other side believe that sleep is a waste of time and we should sleep the bare minimum to keep us going. Recently Ive started thinking about sleep in a different way which helped me resolve this dilemma; the answer seems to be the intention of sleep; if youre sleeping for dunya (that is to be completely relaxed at work, home, family and to have a long healthy life), then sleeping would be very important to you and you would ensure that you sleep a minimum of 6-8 hours each night. Sleep will become sacred and the overruling factor in most of your decisions, e.g. Should I wake up for tahajjud or sleep? Sleep! Should I wake up early to work on this important piece of work or sleep? Sleep! However, if youre sleeping for akhirah, or sleeping for the sake of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala), youll be sleeping just enough to give your due right to your body whilst not neglecting the fact that youre here in this world for a temporary period and youll soon return to your Lord. You would try to minimize your sleep so that it doesnt affect your worship i.e. if youre asking yourself whether you should sleep or wake up for tahajjud, you would choose to sleep less, you would choose the akhirah, where you would enjoy eternal rest. And this is the description that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) gives about His slaves: They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allah) and praying, with fear and hope]. (Adh-Dhariyat, Chapter #51, Verse #17) Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allahs Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. (AsSajdah, Chapter #32, Verse #16) Having said that, I would like to emphasize that giving due right to your body is partof the concept of sleeping for akhirah. This is evident in the hadeeth of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him): (39) Narrated Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As: Allahs Apostle said, O Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast all the day and stand in prayer all night? I said, Yes, O Allahs Apostle! He said, Do not do that! Observe the fast sometimes and also leave them (the fast) at other times; stand up for the prayer at night and also sleep at night. Your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you and your wife has a right over you. (Sahih Bukhari, Book #62, Hadith #127) Subhan Allah, how balanced and practical is a true Muslims way of life! So you should listen to your body; some days you may feel energetic and happy to sleep 3-4 hours, and youll be fine. However, some days your body will want you to sleep for 6-8 hours whilst not neglecting your obligatory duties such as salah or tending to your parents and familys needs and thats fine. Here are some practical tips regarding sleep: 1. Always prepare for sleep, check out ProductiveMuslims sleep routine.

2. If you can, have a nap before or after Zhuhr prayer to reduce the amount of sleep you need at night. 3. Record your sleep time over a course of a week to understand your sleep pattern and how to optimize it. Hope this helps! Have you been thinking about this issue? How did you resolve? Whats your sleep pattern like? And how can you make your sleep for akhira?