- One of the most crucial skills a person must acquire to achieve success is time management.
- What makes young people value their time the most is having a goal in life and then setting priorities.
- Any nation that appreciates the value of time will rise, while any nation that wastes it will weaken and decline.
In a world overflowing with triviality and gradually losing the value of time, it has become a significant challenge for Arab and Muslim youth to manage their time and balance their daily tasks amidst distractions and diversions targeting their time above all else. It is not only their values and principles that are being attacked but their time—the most precious asset they own and can offer to their Ummah if spent wisely.
So, how can we balance and utilize time better? How did Muslim scholars become the most diligent in valuing their time? How can our youth today manage their time and achieve accomplishments? This and more are covered in this report by “Al-Mujtama.”
Time management is one of the most critical skills that a person must acquire to succeed in all aspects of life. By effectively organizing time, many benefits can be achieved, including increased productivity and accomplishment, reduced stress and anxiety, improved focus, and achieving balance in life. Moreover, proper time planning can transition you from a chaotic to an organized and practical life.
The most significant factor that makes young people value their time and lives is having a goal in life. After that, they can set their priorities and organize their daily activities, as a large part of success lies in daily planning.
Then comes the role of monitoring and comparing what was planned with what was executed to identify deviations, benefit from positives, and avoid negatives. Old bad habits quickly return when some young people face difficulties in implementing the daily plan. Therefore, reviewing and being patient with the change is essential.
Muslims and Time
Any nation that values time has risen and become strong, while any nation that has wasted time has weakened and been crushed by the strong. This was the case for the Islamic Ummah and its people, as Islam greatly values time. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Take advantage of five things before five: your youth before old age, your health before illness, your wealth before poverty, your free time before being occupied, and your life before death.”
The Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab was very keen on utilizing his time in serving Islam and Muslims. He slept little and divided the night into three parts: one for sleeping, one for prayer and worship, and one for managing the affairs of Muslims. He said, “If I slept during the day I would have neglected the people, and if I slept during the night I would have neglected myself. How can I sleep when I have these two concerns?!”
The companion Abdullah ibn Masud was known for his diligence in utilizing his time in obedience to Allah. He said, “I have never regretted anything more than a day that ended, my life span decreased, and my deeds did not increase.”
It is narrated that Imam al-Shafi'i was extremely diligent with his time. He always carried writing tools with him, and if he heard something new and did not find something to write on, he would write on his sleeve or the palm of his hand, fearing that he might forget or waste time. He said, “I accompanied the Sufis and did not benefit from them except for two sayings: 'Time is a sword, if you do not cut it, it will cut you,' and 'Yourself, if you do not occupy it with truth, it will occupy you with falsehood.'”
Ibn al-Jawzi complained about the many visitors who wasted his time. He said, “I then prepared tasks that do not prevent conversation but are necessary, so as not to waste time. I postponed cutting paper, sharpening pens, and bundling notebooks for visiting times so that no time would be wasted.”
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah was so keen on his time that if he wanted to enter the bathroom, he would tell his grandson or one of his sons to read a book aloud so that he could hear it. It is said that he wrote his famous book “Zad al-Ma'ad” while traveling for Hajj on his mount.
Youth Models
Among the youth of our Ummah, many spend their time in what benefits them and try to manage their time to achieve accomplishments despite the challenges and distractions of the era. “Al-Mujtama” spoke with some distinguished young people who manage to achieve and manage their time despite the challenges, to learn the secret of their success in time management.
Ibrahim Houari, a consultant in project establishment and management and the director of the “Omran” platform, tells us, “A successful day for me starts with the Fajr prayer in congregation, followed by starting my daily activities immediately after the prayer. The best time for work and accomplishment is from dawn until the forenoon, so I organize all tasks before the morning work meeting. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'Blessed my Ummah in its early mornings.'”
He pointed out that what helps him most in managing his day is linking tasks to prayer times and dividing the day into four phases: individual work from dawn to forenoon, then team meetings from forenoon to Dhuhr, from Dhuhr to Asr for calls and client relations, and from Asr to Maghrib for social relations outside professional work. He added, “The best thing is to sleep immediately after Isha prayer because every hour of staying up late affects the next day.”
Houari also said that what helps him organize his time is trying to complete specific tasks before the prayer time begins. There is ample time from Fajr to Dhuhr without obligatory prayers, which is part of the wisdom in the division of prayer times in Islam.
Mohamed Ali, the president of the Egyptian Students Union at the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) in 2022, believes there is no fixed model for a day. However, there are fixed pillars in the day that should not be overlooked, such as the five daily prayers, adhkar (remembrance of Allah), exercise, and maintaining family ties. Then, daily variable tasks are scheduled, such as attending university, studying a specific subject, or completing certain tasks.
He said that what has helped him manage his time the most is realizing the greatness of his goals. “A person feels ashamed to waste time if they have significant goals. But if the goals are small and require little time, a person won’t mind wasting the rest of their time.”
Ali added, “What has also helped me make good use of my time is involving myself in activities that serve my goals and committing to them. This compels a person to accomplish tasks regardless of their inclination. For instance, someone who wants to exercise should join a gym to compel themselves to commit. Likewise, a student who engages in student activities becomes responsible and is compelled to complete their tasks.”
He pointed out that what disrupts his daily management the most is failing to determine the tasks that need to be accomplished during the day or if less important tasks replace important ones. Therefore, understanding the priorities is essential for organizing tasks.
Ali advises young people to value their time and not waste it cheaply because it is their most valuable asset. They should also feel accountable for their time before Allah.
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