Enthusiasm and Zeal
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To be a productive, dynamic Muslim, it is extremely important that we inculcate a mindset of positivity. A mindset of positivity leads to a productivity and eventually leads to creating a productive life. If the mindset of positivity is missing, and we are negative and self loathing, and have no hope, do you ever think we would have the enthusiasm to do things and be productive?
I decided to write on negative self-talk, since many people complain that they have started being organized etc, only to fail in following through. And some people say that they start off with being so productive, only to get down and out again. The root of this problem is negative self talk.
If you're like most people, you engage in negative self talk quiet a bit. In fact, it happens a whole lot more than you realize. Negative talk puts limitations on your life, it drains your energy, and instead of wanting to feel productive, you give up feeling despondent.
One of the greatest secrets to being a productive person is letting go of your negative self-talk, and switching to positivity. Behind that door of negativity, there is a brighter, happier, productive life waiting for you.
Where does the negative thinking come from?
First and foremost, negative talk comes from shaytaan. He is your enemy, though you may not believe it - shaytaan makes you procrastinate and detours you from your mission. He stalls you, puts you off from your mission, and makes you find reasons for why you can't do a certain task and finds every way to sabotage you.
Secondly, being in judging mode all the time is where negative talks stem from. We are always judging ourselves, others, those we know personally and those we don't. We judge everyone, and in turn continuously judge and criticise ourselves (e.g., 'I'm not good enough, I'll never succeed, I hate my life').
It eventually becomes an unconscious habit...that we dont realize we are doing.
Enough is enough
There are wonderful things you want to do with your life, but the negativeness in your mind is deeply rooted in to you and holding you back. The good news is you have the power to switch to a positive mindset! And it is possible and not so difficult!
1) Make Du'aa
Ask Allaah to protect you from shaytaan. The Prophet [p] frequently made the following supplication:
The Prophet [p] used to say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ.
"O Allaah! I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by (other) men." (Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree)
2) Have a soft compassionate approach.
We need to develop and cultivate a mindset of compassion, which encourages us and motivates us to do more. Have compassion on ourselves instead of continuously criticising and harshly judging ourselves and others. Take note that I am not suggesting a mindset that allows us to be too easy on ourselves and allows us to slack. That is far from my message and that is from shaytaan. I am suggesting a mindset of compassion, where if we fail, we pick ourselves up, and try again. A mindset where we honestly scan our lives, see our faults and make commitments to improve and follow through with improving even when we stumble and make mistakes. A mindset where we talk positively to ourselves and strive to be better. We should never let our negativeness, or anybody else's negativeness stop our worthy purpose and affect our lives. Having this compassion, and hope, sets the wheels in motion to a productive life.
A small child who becomes frustrated while trying to learn, is encouraged with kind words, encouragement and compassion. Critically judging and picking on the child, would stifle his ability to learn, yet by being compassionate and encouraging, he blossoms and becomes more enthusiastic and productive. This is the type of gentleness and compassion you should exercise on yourself and others. Give yourself the highest praise for the smallest bit of progress you have made.
As you integrate this new habit in your life, you will see amazing changes that happen. The less you judge others, the less you will judge yourself.
You need to stop being negative and fuel your life with a compassionate persistance. You need to give up negative self talk today, right now. Get off that coach, pick yourself up, your life is waiting. Have hope in Allaah, have hope in yourself and switch to a positive, proactive mindset. Then Allaah will empower you to reach your goals and help you create for yourself a productive dynamic life.
Remember life is a blank canvas, you have the choice to paint it with beautiful, bright colors; or dead,dull colors. Whatever it is my dear brother/sister, you have the choice!
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It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr that the Messenger of Allah (p) said:
أَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا
وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صَلاَةُ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَنَامُ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَيُصَلِّي ثُلُثَهُ وَيَنَامُ سُدُسَهُ"
"The most beloved fast to Allah is the fast of Dawud, for he used to fast one day and not the next. And the most beloved of prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawud; he used to sleep half of the night, pray one-third of the night and sleep one-sixth of the night." (Sunan Ibn Majah, Saheeh)
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Allaah the Almighty Says (what means):
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
"This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [Quran 5:3]
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Aboo Hurairah [may Allaah be pleased with him] narrated that the Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] said:
"Allaah shall raise for this Ummah at the head of every century a man who shall renew (or revive) for it its religion."
[Sunan Abu Dawood, Book 37: Kitab al-Malahim [Battles], Hadeeth Number 4278.]
By Sheikh Tawfique Chowdhury:
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The status of the Muslim woman in Islam is a very noble and lofty one, and her effect is vey great in the life of every Muslim. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the initial teacher in the building of a righteous society, providing she follows the guidance from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam). Since adherence to the Qur'an and the Sunnah distances every Muslim male or female from being misguided in any matter. The misguidance that the various nations suffer from, the path of Allah the Most Perfect, the Most High, and from what His Prophets and Messengers, may Allah's peace and prayers be upon them all, came with. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "I am leaving behind two matters, you will not go astray as long as you cling to them both, the Book of Allah and my Sunnah." [Hasan: Related by Malik in Al-Muwatta (2/899) and Al-Hakim (1/93), from Ibn 'Abbas radhiallahu 'anhu. It was authenticated by Al-Albani in As-Sahihah (no. 1871)]
The great importance of the Muslim woman's role - whether as wife, sister or daughter, and the rights that are due to her and the obligations due from her have been explained in the Noble Qur'an, and further details of this have been explained in the purified Sunnah.
The secret of her importance lies in the tremendous burden and responsibility that is placed upon her, and the difficulties that she has to shoulder. In terms of responsibilities, some of which not even a man can bear. This is why from the most important obligations upon a person is to show gratitude to the mother, and kindness and good companionship with her. And in this matter, she is to be given precedence over and above the father. Allah, the Most High, says:
"And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and good to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness upon weakness and hardship upon hardship, and his weaning is in two years. Show gratitude and thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination." [Al-Qur'an 31:14]
Allah, the Most High, said:
"And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship, and she brings him forth with hardship. And the bearing and the weaning of him is thirty months." [Al-Qur'an 41:15]
A man came to Allah's Messenger( sallallahu 'alayi wa sallam) said: O Messenger of Allah! Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me. He replied: "Your mother." The man asked: Then who? So he replied: "Your mother." The man asked: Then who? So the Prophet replied again: "Your mother." The man then asked: Then who? So he replied: "Then your father." [Related by Al-Bukhari (no. 5971) and Muslim (7/2), from Abu Hurayrah]. So this necessitates that the mother is given three times the likes of kindness and good treatment than the father.
As regards the wife, then her effect in making the soul tranquil and serene, has been clearly shown in the noble ayah (verse), in His - the Most High's - saying:
"And from amongst His Signs is this: That He created for you wives from amongst yourselves, so that you may find serenity and tranquility in them, And He has put between you love and compassion. Indeed, in this are signs for those who reflect." [Al-Qur'an 30:21]
Al-Hafidh Ibn Kathir (d. 774H) (rahimahullah) said, whilst explaining the terms mawaddah and rahmah which occur in the above verse. "Al-Mawaddah means love and affection, and ar-rahmah means compassion and pity, since a man takes the hand of a woman either due to his love for her, or because of compassion and pity for her; by giving to her a child from himself ... " [Tafsir Qur'an al-'Adhim (3/439) of Ibn Kathir]
And the unique stance that the Prophet's (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) wife Khadijah (radhiallahu 'anha) took, had a huge effect in calming and reassuring Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam), when the angel Jibril ('alayhis-salam) first came to him in the cave of Hira. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) returned to Khadijah with the first Revelation and with his heart trembling and beating severely, saying to her, "Cover me! Cover me!" So she covered him until his fear was over, after which he told Khadijah (radhiallahu 'anha) everything that had happened, and said: "I fear that something may happen to me." She said to him: "Never! By Allah! Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good ties with relations, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generouly and assist those who have been affected with calamities." [Related by Al-Bukhari (1/22) and Muslim (1/139), from the lengthy narration of 'A'ishah (radhiallahu 'anha)]]
And do not forget about 'A'ishah (radhiallahu 'anha) and her immense contribution. Even the eminent Sahabah (Companions) used to take knowledge of Hadith from her, and many of the Sahabiyyat (female Companions) learnt the various rulings pertaining to women's issues from her.
And I have no doubt that my mother (may Allah shower His mercy upon her) had a tremendous effect upon me, and has a great excellence over me, in encouraging me to study, and she assisted me in it. May Allah greatly increase her reward and reward her with the best of rewards for what she did for me. And there is no doubt also, that the house in which there is kindness, gentleness, love and care, with the correct Islamic tarbiyyah (education and cultivation) will greatly affect the man. So he will become, if Allah wills, successful in his affairs and in any matter whether it be seeking knowledge, trading, earning a living, etc. So it is Allah alone that I ask to grant us all success and to guide us all to that which He loves and is pleased with. And may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his Family, his Companions and his followers.
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