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Islamic Time Management (1) : The Ultimate Hack in Islam – Sidi Tushar Imdad

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The Ultimate Hack in Islam

Did you know that any good deed you do could be rewarded anywhere between one, to 10X, to 700X or ‘even more’?

Two people could both be working at a task, let’s say writing a report for work. One gets the reward of 1 and another gets 700!

The reality could be even more extreme. One person could be getting a NEGATIVE, by committing a sin through this report (for example, by recommending a haram transaction) and the other could be getting MILLIONS of hasanat (good deeds) for the same amount of effort.

The reason for the difference is the ultimate hack in Islam. And it’s something we all know, but seldom utilize to its INFINITE potential.

I’m talking about INTENTION (niyyah).

In one of the most foundational hadiths of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), we learn that ‘Actions are judged according to their intentions.’

Now we all know that we must make an intention before fasting, or getting married, or praying a particular salah. But do we make strong intentions for all the other actions which make up 95% of our time?

Imagine, if you knew a friend doing the same job as you. You both put in the same hours, the same effort and actually do the same thing. Yet you get paid £10/hr and she gets paid £100,000/hr! Talk about not meeting your potential! You’d feel utterly cheated, squandered and robbed of your time, right?

Well this could be happening to us right now! Imagine if for 95% of our time – our sleep, our eating, our 8-10 hours of daily work – we were only gaining 1 or even 0 good deeds (because we had no intention – just going through the motions). When we could have been gaining 700X for all of these same deeds!

The bottom line: if you don’t actively make good intentions then you are literally firing blanks on most of your days, most of your nights and most of your life.

The good news? This incredible gift from Allah is the most powerful hack imaginable as it means you can gain tens, hundreds and even 1000X more profit in this world and the next – with the same deed.

Think of it as the amount of return on investment (ROI) for your deeds. Someone puts £1 in a bank and it stays the same. Another person invests it into a halal enterprise and gains £1000s from the same £1.

You can do this with your deeds, and it’s much more valuable than money.

Now the question remains, HOW do you ensure a deed gets 10X or 100X or 700X or more?

That’s too much to answer for now, but it requires an understanding of the issues of QUANTITY and QUALITY of intentions – in order to cover all your bases. We’ll look into that in the next installment of this mini-series on ‘The Ultimate Hack in Islam’.

This is the type of knowledge what I term ‘Islamic Time Management’. It’s priceless and that’s why I’m so passionate about it.

If you enjoyed this article, you can sign up to Tushar’s mailing list for his weekly Jum’a articles, free content about Islamic Time Management as well as updates for exciting courses or services: https://mailchi.mp/5879bd7982eb/tusharimdad

Biography:
Tushar Imdad (aka Tushar Mohammed Imdad-ul-Haque Bhuiya) is an Islamic Time Management Coach and Educational Entrepreneur. Professionally trained as a high school English teacher, Tushar has taught or managed prominent Islamic schools in Leicester, UK, between 2007-2016. With a flair for managing multiple roles, Tushar is also a GCSE English examiner, a teacher trainer for AMS UK; professional proofreader; former lead instructor at Madrasa Manara; and is currently the Director of Shaykhspeare’s Online English Academy and High Impact Tutors.  
 
A long-term student of knowledge, Tushar has studied a range of Islamic sciences at the feet of scholars such as Shaykh Nuh Keller, Umm Sahl, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, Maulana Ilyas Patel and Ustadh Tabraze Azam. In 2015 he completed Level 5 of the Classical Arabic Program from the prestigious Qasid Institute, Amman.   
 
Throughout his varied career, Tushar has always been driven by a passion for time management. Starting in 2009, he has delivered a mixture of workshops, webinars, web-coaching and client visits, attracting delegates as varied as CEOs, corporate professionals, housewives, dentists and scholars from places spanning the UK, US and Middle East. Tushar has published articles and delivered training for ProductiveMuslim.com, SeekersGuidance.org and Qibla.com (now Kiflayn). In recent years he has immersed himself in  productivity systems, learning from world-class experts such as Demir Bentley, the authors of The One Thing, Leo Babuta and James Clear. His recent courses have included  ‘Principles of Islamic Time Management’, ‘Time Tactics 101’ and ‘The Breakthrough Habit’.

Apostasy and Good Deeds

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Ustadh Salman Younas unpacks the question of the deeds of an apostate who returns to Islam.

My question is on the deeds of the apostate. I know that apostasy invalidates good deeds but I want to know the opinion of the majority of scholars and maddhabs; whether they are returned to him when he repents and reverts back to Islam?

Also, when he or she does return back, is it necessary to repeat Hajj because I find it against the mercy of Allah Most High to wipe out all good deeds and keep his sins even if the apostate repents because apostasy is very easy to fall into so how can one word of kufr destroy all hard work even if one repents?

The first thing to point out is that apostasy is absolutely not a very easy state to enter into. While some people and texts may give such an erroneous and dangerous impression, scholars are quite clear that the conditions for deeming a person out of the fold are extremely stringent. When it comes to supposed acts or statements of kufr by a person, any excuse or interpretation that keeps him or her inside the fold of Islam is favored over those that do not.

As for the deeds of the apostate – someone who is shown to have decisively left the faith – there are two main positions on the issue:

  1. The deeds of the apostate who returns to Islam are not invalidated. Thus, he or she would not be required to repeat Hajj if they had already performed it before their apostasy and while Muslim.
  2. The deeds of the apostate who returns to Islam are invalidated. Thus, he or she would be required to repeat the Hajj even if they had already performed it before their apostasy while Muslim.

There is also a difference on the reward for previous acts. Some scholars stated that the rewards for the actions an apostate performed while Muslim are also nullified (and this was stated even by those who opined that such a person does not have to repeat acts the apostate did while Muslim, such as Hajj), while others stated that if he returns to Islam, he or she may continue to possess these rewards in some form. (al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim; Ibn al-Arabi, Ahkam al-Qur’an; Ibn Abidin, Hashiya; al-Shafi‘i, Kitab al-Umm)

Salman

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.

I Think I’ve Committed Apostasy. How Do I Repent?

Priorities in the Age of Apostasy & Argumentation – Sh. Ibrahim Osi-Efa (11 video extract)

Misgivings Regarding Apostasy and How to Deal with Them

Charity in Ramadan – Ustadh Abdul Muhaymin

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In this video, Ustadh Abdul Muhaymin speaks about the merits of giving sadaqa (charity) and how we should go about giving it in this blessed time, even if we don’t have that much money.

Sadaqa, or charity, is one of the pinnacle aspects of our actions this Ramadan. It can be in the form of money or something tangible, but it doesn’t have to be. For example, it can be removing something dangerous from the road, smiling at someone, a word of kindness–anything of benefit.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, was known to be the most generous, and his charity would increase in the month of Ramadan. We know that the rewards for our good deeds are multiplies this Ramadan, so we should strive to do as many good things as possible. It’s amazing how much Allah is giving us this Ramadan.

With gratitude to Tayba Foundation.

Resources for Seekers

O Seeker! – Habib Ali al Jifri

Join The Prophetic Spring – Become a SeekersHub Helper.

Day 8: Random Acts of Kindness-30 Deeds 30 Days

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Day 8: Do a random act of kindness

The notion of random acts of kindness, is not foreign to our culture. We are encouraged to show kindness to a stranger, and expect nothing in return. In Surah al-Ma’oun, we are encouraged to do small deeds of kindness to the orphans, the destitute, and others who do not have people to help them. random act of kindness

This Ramadan, try to incorporate these acts into your life. Whether it’s paying for a stranger’s coffee, or helping someone with their shopping, perform that act and be sure of Allah’s reward.

Bring new life to this Ramadan by enrolling in a FREE On-Demand course.

Iman Beyond the Masjid by Shaykh Ahmed Abdo

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What is Iman beyond the masjid? Look to the Messenger of God, peace and blessings upon him, and he will light the way, says Shaykh Ahmed Abdo.

If the light of the sinning believer was revealed the light would envelop the entire universe, what then of the light of the Muslim who is in obedience? And what is the source of this light?

It is the sacred way and tradition of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. His living is good for us, and his death is good for us.

Allah, Sublime and Majestic, granted his noble Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, the concern and authority to view the actions of his Umma and when he sees that which is good he praises his Lord, and when he sees other than good, our noble messenger seeks forgiveness on our behalf.

Step One: Go to the Highest Authority. Go to Allah’s Messenger

We take example from the noble lady Fatima al Zahra who went to her father for all things that happened in her life. In times of worry, in times of pain or suffering, Fatima went to the noble messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.

When in need go to the Messenger of Allah. He will bring you ease and solve your problems. Go by means of sending blessings. Remember him, send peace and blessings upon him, and he will seek assistance for you.

Follow in his footsteps, and he will light your way. Adorn yourself with his manners and you will be illumined. Then the light of Faith sets in the heart and manifests in every place and action.

Step Two: Seek to become like him

In following in his noble footsteps one learns to live fully. One learns to live faith. Footstep by footstep, day by day one remembers Allah. Faith is the everyday when fueled by intentions.

Every moment is an opportunity to illuminate all of your affairs. An opportunity to bring blessings into your life.

In following in his noble footsteps, in uttering his blessed words and doing what he has done, blessings and peace be upon him, one becomes alive to the reality of existing for Allah. Rejoice in the illumination of faith.

Resources for Seekers:

We are grateful to Othman Bin Affan Cabramatta Mosque for the video.

Does Failing to Pray Asr Cancel All Our Good Deeds?

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

I want to understand the following hadith: “Whoever does not pray ‘Asr, his good deeds will be annulled”.

Does it mean all goods are annulled from beginning? Or all the good deeds are annulled for that specific time?

Answer:Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

The scholars differed on the interpretations of the tradition (hadith) you mention.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “If someone fails to pray the ‘Asr prayer, his actions will come to nothing.” [Bukhari]

Ibn ‘Allan states that some of the possibilities of the “come to nothing” are as follows:

(1) an actual annulment of his actions, given that he left the prayer out of rejection and disdain,

(2) an annulment of its reward, given that he didn’t pray,

(3) an annulment of the [potential] benefit of the action he engaged in instead [of praying],

(4) a deficiency or decrease in the righteous works of his day, or

(5) it is simply as if he has annulled his works, given the gravity of missing prayers.

Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari preferred (2) as did other commentators, such as Tibi and Qastallani. They add that this prayer was specifically mentioned given that it is often to be prayed in the business of the daytime, and hence, has the potential of being delayed, or even missed entirely. This is also aided by the preference of some Qur’anic exegetes who hold ‘Asr to be the “middle prayer,” [2:238] as specially referenced in the Qur’an.

The upshot is that missing prayers is far from the way of the believers, and a sure sign that one is missing the point. We ask Allah Most High to grant us all facilitation, success and the ability to attain unto the felicity of both worlds.

[Ibn ‘Allan, Dalil al-Falihin li Turuq Riyad al-Salihin; Qari, Mirqat al-Mafatih Sharh Mishkat al-Masabih]

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.

The Ummah Is Off Balance, by Shaykh Waleed Mosaad

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“To the casual observer looking at the state of the Muslims today, one would be remiss not to realize that something is wrong.”

If we look at the faith that the Prophet Muhammadﷺ restored, we realize that we are given many opportunities for renewal. We are given weekly opportunities with the Friday prayer, and yearly opportunities with the month of Ramadan.

But things still go wrong. Why?

The Ummah Off Balance

If we look at the testification of faith, it starts with a negation and the command to refrain. In addition, restraining yourself from doing something is known to be better than doing good. A man who does much good and much evil is better than one who does little good and little evil.

This is why we see people who fast and pray and make Hajj, but still harm others with their jealousy, rancor, and gossip. The sad thing is that this is a very common occurrence.

Suffice to say, the Ummah is off balance.

In this insightful sermon, Shaykh Walead Mosaad tells us about one of the most destructive ills of out community, and how to fix it.

We are grateful to the New Brunswick Islamic Centre for this recording.

Eager to restore the balance? Sign up for one of our FREE Online Courses, where you can learn reliable knowledge from qualified scholars.

Resources for Seekers

Turning to Allah, by Sidi Uthman Bhally

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Turning to Allah begins with a sincere investigation of our hearts and intentions.  We can all claim to love Allah, but the question is does Allah love us? Turn to Allah for the answers, say Sidi Uthman Bhally.

There is an authentic and oft repeated Hadith narration by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which states, “When Allah loves someone He calls Angel Jibril and He says I love this person…”
We can all state to love Allah, but the question is does Allah love us? If so, how do we know? Who is this person that Allah loves? We turn to the book of Allah, the Quran, for the answer. Allah states: ” Innallaha yuhibbu Tawwabeen… Verily God loves those who turn to Him.”
Tauba (repentance)  comes from the word taaba which literally means to turn; this movement implies a turning away and moving forward. So the question is what are you turning away from? And where are you turning to?

The answer is very beautiful: you turn away from disobedience and turn to your Lord.

The door of repentance, is open for you. Since this blessed door has opened for you…do you have the right to close this door for anyone else? The acceptance of repentance closes the door to judgement and opens the doors of Mercy.

Remove judgement of others, pray for the individual you witness in a state of disobedience, for the door that once opened for you may now open for them and close for you.

Be very careful in dealing with the creation of God. Those who strive towards God are accepted; but those who fall into mistakes are accepted as well. How does this work? Those that come with deeds relied on their efforts, and God accepted; while the sinner relies on Divine Mercy as the Saving Grace.
Turn to Allah sincerely and He will accept you. Turn to others with love and Allah will turn to you with love. We are all trying our best, and there are numerous challenges, hold fast to the good and Allah will facilitate openings.

Resources for Seekers:

 

We are grateful to the Ha Meem Foundation for this recording. Cover Photo by girift duha.

Say I Love You And Say Why (30 Days, 30 Deeds), by Shaykh Muhammad Adeyinka Mendes

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:23 — 12.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts

Say I Love You And Say Why (30 Days, 30 Deeds), by Shaykh Muhammad Adeyinka Mendes

30 Days, 30 Deeds
Sacred Acts to Transform the Heart

Every night, our scholars in residence explore one simple deed that could have a far-reaching spiritual impact on our lives – and the lives of others. Every day we’ll make the intention to put that teaching into practice. Whether it’s forgiving someone who’s wronged us or putting service to others at the top of our list of priorities, these powerful lessons will remind us of the great gift the Prophet ﷺ‎  gave us: the best of character.

Daily at 8:10 pm EST. Attend in person at SeekersHub Toronto or watch live. 

Let’s #GiveLight to Millions More

We envision a world in which no one is cut off from the beauty, mercy, and light of the Prophetic ﷺ example. A world where the dark ideology of a few is dwarfed by radiant example of the many who follow the way of the Prophet ﷺ. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support. This Ramadan, we need you to help us #GiveLight to millions more. Here’s how.

Beneficial Knowledge and Intentions, a khutbah by Habib Hussein Al Saggaf

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Making the intention to gain beneficial knowledge through daily readings of the Qur’an and hadith collections is the key message in this Friday Sermon given by Habib Hussein Al Saggaf. He goes on to encourage us to make sincere intention to do good deeds because Allah rewards us for good intentions even if were unable to carry it out later due to unforeseen circumstances.

Habib Hussein Al Saggaf

Seeking Beneficial KnowledgeHabib Hussein Al Saggaf is a descendent of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 1971. His father raised him on the love of seeking knowledge, love of the spiritual scholars, love of the righteous and saints of Allah. He memorized the Holy Qur’an before reaching his teenage years. He spent much time in the company of the people of knowledge, religious scholars and the righteous. It was with these kind of people that he was raised, nurtured, and protected under the guidance of Al Habib Al Imam ‘Abdul Qadir bin Ahmad As-Saqqaf, from whom he was given the ijazah (permission to carry on the knowledge attained). He was also given special attention by and received ijazah from Habib al-Imam Ahmad Mash-hur bin Taha Al Haddad, through whom more than 500,000 individuals came into Islam. He was also given ijazah from Al Habib Al ‘Alamah Yahya bin Ahmad Al ‘Aydrus, Al Habib Omar bin Zain  ‘Aydid, Al Habib Abu Bakr bin ‘Ali al-Mash-hur and the respected Habib Omar bin Muhammad bin Salem bin Hafith, who gave him permission to teach and call people to Allah. Habib Hussein then went on to study at Al-Azhar University in Egypt in 1992 for six years in the faculty of Shari’ah, Islamic Law, from where he graduated with a degree in Islamic Shari’ah. After his graduation he traveled to the city of Tarim in the Hadramawt valley of Yemen, which is known as the city of scholars and saints. There he became a student of Habib Omar bin Hafith, and studied in Dar Al Mustafa Institute in various Islamic sciences.

Resources on Beneficial Knowledge and Intentions:

Cover photo by Maica Pineda.