Time is the most precious commodity and should not be wasted on trivial matters or pursuits that could harm our spiritual journey. Instead, it should be used to develop good character, learn knowledge, practice good deeds and spend time with family and friends. This will help us build a strong relationship with Allah ﷻ and reap the rewards of His blessings throughout our lives. Ultimately, when we put in effort to make use of our time, it will be a source of great Barakah for us and give us a sense of contentment.
Being productive is much more than just completing what’s on your to-do list. Being productive means that you’re utilizing your time in a meaningful way, and reaping the rewards of greater efficiency, creativity and satisfaction at the end of each day.
But how do we, as Muslims living in the West, increase the Barakah within our time?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Allah made the early hours blessed for my Ummah.” – Ahmad
We should therefore always strive to wake up early in the last third of the night, beseeching our Lord and engaging in acts of devotional worship – even if it’s just 10 minutes before Fajr kicks in.
If not then at the very least we shouldn’t miss the Fajr Prayer. Starting the day off right by standing and bowing in front of our Lord will definitely bring immense barakah into our day.
We should also try to stay awake after Fajr instead of jumping back into bed. The Muslims of the past would refer to the sleep after Salatul Fajr as “Naum an-Nadamah” or the “Remorseful Sleep.” This is because scientifically it is considered ‘negative sleep’ and the day feels like it’s going by much quicker.
However staying up after Fajr can be a great way to boost productivity and start the day off with barakah. This is especially true if you spend this time in the remembrance of Allah, by reciting Quran, making Dua, or engaging in Dhikr. Additionally, this is a good time to organize and plan your day, so that you can make the most out of each minute. Being productive with this time will help you achieve success in both this world and the hereafter.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “The best of deeds in the sight of Allah is Salah at the beginning of its time.” – (Bukhari)
Praying on time is also an important factor when it comes to having barakah in one’s time, as it ensures that all of our daily tasks are organized around the 5 daily prayers. It gives us a sense of purpose and teaches us discipline. We are constantly reminded of our purpose in life, and this allows us to remain grounded, washing away any sins between the prayers.
The Companion of the Prophet, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RadiAllahu ‘anhu) would write to the governors during his time as Khalifah warning them to guard their prayers. The one who guards his prayer will be sure to guard everything else, he would say. Protect your prayers, and Allah ﷻ will protect everything else.
A student once asked his Shaykh how he could receive more Barakah in his time. He replied with “read more Quran.”
The more Quran one reads the more barakah they will receive in their time.
It’s no surprise then, that when we read about the lives of the Salaf (pious predecessors) we find that they were people who read the Quran a lot. Some of them recited the entire Quran from cover to cover once every two months! Some completed it once every month, some every two weeks, some once a week and so on.
Engaging the Book of Allah ﷻ on a daily basis can only bring about blessings in our time and lives as well as clear instruction and guidance.
So start reciting regularly, even if it’s just half a page a day. Especially with Ramadan around the corner, now is the best time to start.
One of the easiest ways to get Barakah in your time is to simply ask Allah ﷻ to bless and expand your time.
There are also many Prophetic Supplications you could recite such as the ones we’ve listed below.
“Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min al-‘ajzi wal kasal” – Oh Allah, I seek Your protection from incapacity and laziness.
“Asbahna ‘ala fitrat il-islam wa ‘ala kalimat il-ikhlas wa ‘ala deeni nabiyyina Muhammadin salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallim wa ‘ala miilati abeena Ibrahima hanifan musliman wa maa kaana min almushrikin” – We have risen this morning on the original pattern of Islam, upon he Word of Sincerity, on the religion of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and upon the confession of Ibrahim, who was upright, a Muslim and not an idolator.
Allahumma inni asaluka khayra hadha al-yaum fathahu wa nasrahu wa barakatahu wa hudahu Allahumma inni asaluka khayra hadha al-yaum wa khayra ma fihi wa khayra ma qablahu wa khayra ma ba’dahu – Oh Allah, I ask You for the good of this day, its openings, victories, lights, blessings, and right- guidance. Oh Allah, I ask You for the good of this day and best of what is in it, and the best what came before it and the best of what comes after it.
The person who obtains the biggest treasures is the one knows how to organize their precious time in the day and the night. They arrange specific tasks for each time and do not give preference to other things over them in that time. Through this their time attains Barakah.
May Allah ﷻ place Barakah in our time.
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