The Sunnah of Mental Focus

Source: blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com

By: Abdul-Baseer

Everybody has, at some point of time in their lives, woken up in a state of sluggishness, laziness, weakness, fatigue, or felt like a dark cloud has come over their heads.  Perhaps Shaitan visited you during your sleep in a dream or otherwise, perhaps you are ill or perhaps the ebb and flow of life has balanced the abundance of good feeling with some bad.  But we, as active healthy Muslims, must take our affairs into our own hands with the knowledge and strength that Allah  has blessed us with.  Our bodies are a trust that Allah  has bestowed us with, which we must take care of. We must also take our Prophet ﷺ (who was strong, powerful, capable, adaptive and elegant) as the guide whom Allah  sent to remind us. The main difference is that Prophet ﷺ was taught directly by Allah  through the angel Gabriel  while we are blessed in a way that is indirect (through the Qur’an and his Sunnah which has been passed down through generations.)Let us start at the beginning of the day, as that is what generally makes us or breaks us.  ‘Ubaidullah bin Mihsan Al-Ansari  reported:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whosoever begins the day feeling family security and good health; and possessing provision for his day is as though he possessed the whole world.”  [At- Tirmidhi].

How to crush laziness while following Islamic teachings?

Source: http://www.idealmuslim.com/

It is the responsibility of every living Muslim to follow Islamic teachings and perform all the duties which Islam bestows upon them. In addition, following the teachings of Islam is something that a person needs to turn into a Muslim needs to turn into a hobby of theirs. Following the teachings of Islam should be included in the everyday schedule of every living Muslim. However, it is because of the fact that every Muslim follows the teachings of Islam every single day that most Muslims start suffering from laziness whenever the time for them to follow the teachings of Islam comes.

It is important for a Muslim to crush laziness while following the teachings of Islam because if they succumb to their laziness, they will not be able to follow the teachings of Islam, ultimately displeasing their creator. Laziness is the arch nemesis of productivity, which is the reason why every person should crush it. In addition, this is also true in the case of Muslims. Muslims need to crush laziness because if they do not do so, they will not be able to follow Islamic teachings.

10 Tips to Fight Procrastination/Laziness/Self Sabotage/Depression

Source: http://irfi.org/

By: Abdul Malik Mujahid

1. Laziness            – Lack of push or motivation no Intention
2. Procrastination – Intention is there but action is repeatedly delayed
3. Self Sabotage   – Intention, motivation and push is there at start.  Motivation and push collapse before finish.  Start something but are unable to finish.  Sometimes lack of diligence.  Whole effort is wasted due to lack of diligence.  Lack of attention to detail.  Refusal to think it through. Refusal to plan.  Refusal to have plan reviewed. 
4. Depression        – Lack of intention. Lack of self confidence 

10 Tips to Fight Laziness/Procrastin ation/ Self Sabotage/Depression

Feeling down in the dumps, depressed, having the blues: these are just some of the terms used to describe a feeling of hopelessness and despair that can hit even the most optimistic of us at some point in our lives. While clinical depression requires proper professional treatment, the occasional feeling of sadness due to factors ranging from economic difficulty to harassment and discrimination can be helped through some simple spiritual practices. Here are a couple that can help:

Satan Hinders the Slave from Acting by Means of Procrastination and Laziness

Source: http://www.islaam.net/

By: Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar

Concerning this point, Satan has many ways and means. It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

How to Remove Depression and Worries

Source: sunnahonline.com

By: Salim al-Hilali

INTRODUCTION

Mankind comes across many afflictions and trials, sometimes in overwhelming sequences. Removing the darkness of these worries, distresses, depression and grief is a very important matter to which Islam gives serious attention …

Indeed the greatest darkness to envelope mankind and surely his greatest affliction is disbelief in Allah and to associate partners with Him in any form (kufr and shirk).

Shaytaan Hinders the Slave from Acting by Means of Procrastination and Laziness

By: Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar

Concerning this point, Satan has many ways and means. It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

“During your sleep, Satan ties three knots at the back of your Necks. He breathes the following into them, ‘The night is long so keep on sleeping.’ If the person wakes and praises Allah, then one of the knots is unfastened. And if he performs ablution, the second knot is unfastened. When he prays, all of the knots are unfastened. After that he will be energetic and happy in the morning. Otherwise he would get up listless and grouchy.”

Three simple health tips for Ramadan

Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/

By: Mohamad Kadry

Fasting during the month of Ramadan can bring out many changes in those who observe it, but gluttony and laziness should not be among them.

These are problems that many people face each year when fasting from sunrise to sunset, tempted by copious amounts of food at Iftar combined with little to no physical activity throughout the day. But Ramadan should never be an excuse to overindulge.

While fasting, your body’s metabolism essentially slows down which can make you feel lethargic and help pack on unwanted weight. But with some careful planning there are a number of things you can implement into your daily schedule that will help you remain fit and strong throughout the month.

EAT RIGHT

Sharing a meal with friends and family is a vital component of the Holy Month, but that doesn’t mean you should be stuffing your face with unhealthy amounts of food. The temptation to overindulge is so great this month that most people dismiss it as unavoidable, but Ramadan can also be a great time to forge new eating habits. For Suhoor (pre-dawn meal), stick to wholesome foods that will provide enough energy to last during the long hours of fasting. These include a combination of fruits and vegetables that are rich in fibre, slow digesting foods like brown rice and wholemeal bread, and low-fat dairy products. In reality, most people are committing gluttony during Iftar (post-sunset) where fried food and sugary sweets dominate the menu. When your body has been deprived of food and drink all day, it only takes a few minutes of eating to start feeling sick in your stomach. Rather than filling up your plate at dinner time, try eating a few dates and a glass of water to help jump-start your system and replenish your energy levels. This can be followed by a bowl of lentil soup and a slice from all the major food groups including a piece of fruit, a serving of vegetable, brown rice or noodles and a protein like grilled fish or chicken. The most important thing to remember is that your body is in a somewhat fragile condition during this month, so feeding it the right types of nutrients is vital to keeping things running smoothly.

HIT THE GYM

Focusing on your spiritual needs during the Holy Month doesn’t mean neglecting the physical ones. If you already have a workout routine then the most important thing to do is maintain it. That usually means altering your normal workout schedule to a few hours after you break your fast. Make sure you have lean proteins, complex carbs and lots of vegetables. A brisk 45-minute session of low-intensity cardio and weight lifting will make a world of difference for your energy levels and waistline. If you don’t have the time for a gym session, then go for a long walk after Iftar. It’s vital that you do not stop being active, because you’ll regret it once Ramadan is over.

SLEEP WELL

Your sleep schedule risks falling into disarray during Ramadan for a variety of reasons that include staying up all night until Suhoor only to spend the rest of the morning and afternoon in bed. The Holy Month does not give you permission to waste away your days when you could otherwise be productive. While catching up with family and friends during the evening hours is a beautiful tradition for many people, you should end social gatherings at a decent hour and continue to get a full night’s rest. Messing with your body’s natural rhythm will have repercussions long after the month is over.

Q&A: I Don’t Pray, Will My Fast Be Accepted?

Source: OnIslam.net

Question and answer details
Name of Questioner:	Hisham
Reply date:	2014/07/06
Question:	As-Salamu `alaykum! Will the fast of one who abandons prayer be accepted? Or, are the acts of worship all linked together in sense that if one is abandoned, then none of them will be accepted?
consultant:	Yusuf Al-Qaradawi

 

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

 Dear questioner, we’d like to say that we are impressed by your question, which emanates from a thoughtful heart. May Allah Almighty help us all adhere to the principles of this true religion, Islam, and enable us to be among the dwellers of Paradise in the Hereafter, Ameen.

In his response to your question, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states the following:

The Muslim is required to perform all the acts of worship: prayer, Zakah, fasting, and Hajj. Scholars of Islam hold different opinions regarding the person who abandons any of these obligations without an excuse.

Some of them declare disbelief on those who abandon any one of them. Some declare disbelief on those who only abandon prayer, because of its status in the religion of Allah and the hadith:“Between a worshiper and disbelief is abandoning prayer.” (Reported by Muslim) Some scholars say that faith and Islam remain with those people as long as they believe in Allah and His Messenger and what he came with, not denying them or doubting them. Then, the final group is those who declare them as sinning transgressors against the laws of Allah.

I think the last view is the most just of the sayings and the closest to the truth. If this is so, then if a person is not constant in carrying out the obligations because of laziness or desire (not denying or belittling them), then his iman(belief) is deficient. But Allah will not put to waste the reward of any action that he does in a good way. For him is goodness for what he has performed, and a sin will be written for what he has neglected.

Allah says: (And everything small and big is inscribed.) (Al-Qamar: 53) and (So whosoever does an atoms weight of good shall see it, And whosoever does and atoms weight of bad shall see it.) (Az-Zalzalah: 78)

Allah Almighty knows best.