The 10 Best Days Of Your Life Ark D Hijja 1430

The 10 Best Days of Your Life & Making it Happen at an Extraordinary Level in Dhul Hijja Asad R Khan

Prelude
The following material was shared during a presentation delivered to people attending a talk on Dhul Hijja (The 12 th month of the Islamic calendar) and using its power to create a change in ones life.
Although the material here will be useful, many of the anecdotes, examples and stories shared will not be contained here.
It is usually more useful to attend a talk/seminar and hear the information first-hand and keep notes to supplement the live learning.
Non-the-less, I hope this instigates a desire in you to make the change necessary to establish a life pattern of superior quality and real satisfaction.

Outcomes
To learn the importance of following the ‘best way’
To learn strategies that help create a lasting change
To develop some action points to take life to the next level from here-on

3 Types of Knowledge
It is related from ’Abdullah ibn ’Amr ibn al-‘As that the Prophet said, “There are 3 types of knowledge – any other knowledge is superfluous
a precise ayah (verse of Qur‘an),
an established sunna or
a just share (of inheritance).”

(1) ALLAH & THE QURAN

Essence of Worship
Allah says,
“ Say: if your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your tribe and your possessions you have earned, the commerce you fear may slacken, dwellings you love – if these are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and to struggle in His way, then wait until Allah brings His command.” (9:25)

Core of Belief & Worship
What – or who - do you worship?
Status, Privileges, Contacts & Connections,
Home life, Children, Creature Comforts,
Economy, Money, Possessions,
Idols, Heroes, Saints, Leaders,
Technology, Abilities, Self, etc.

Worship
An entity or being that is the centre of one’s devotion, calling, trust, attention and true passion.
This devotion overrides all other aspects in times of need as well as pleasure.
It is believed that the object of worship will deliver good and prevent evil from befalling the worshipper.
Protection and deliverance are seen as key qualities of the deity.

Allah Loves You…
Allah says, “Say: if you love Allah, follow me and He will love you and forgive you your wrong actions.” (3:31)
“ Believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet who believes in Allah and His words. Follow him, perhaps you will be guided.” (7:157)

(2) OUR BLESSED PROPHET (S) & THE WISDOM OF HIS WAY

The Beauty of the Sunnah
Umar ibn Abdul Aziz said, “The Messenger of Allah made a Sunna and the people in command after him made sunnas . To adopt them is to confirm the Book of Allah and to act on them is to obey Allah and strengthen the deen of Allah. It is not for anyone to change the Sunna or alter it or to look into the opinion of those who oppose it. Whoever follows it is guided. Whoever seeks help by it will have victory. Whoever opposes it and follows other than the path of the believers, Allah will entrust him to what he turns to and will roast him in Jahannam , which is bad ending.”

Power of Sunnah
Al-Hasan ibn Abi‘l-Hasan (r) said,
“ A little action following a sunna is better than a lot of action following an innovation.”
Ibn Mas’ud (r) used to say,
“ Doing a little of the Sunna is better than striving hard in innovation.”

Obligation to follow the Sunna
‘ A’isha (r) said, “The Messenger of Allah (s) did something as an example in order to make things easier for people but some people refrained from doing it. When the Prophet heard about that, he praised Allah and said, ‘What do you think of people who refrain from anything that I myself do? By Allah, I am the greatest of them in knowledge of Allah and the strongest of then in fear of Allah.’ ” (Muslim & Bukhari)

Obligation to follow the Sunna
It is related (in ad-daylami) that the Prophet said, “The Qur‘an is hard and difficult for anyone who hates it. It is judgment. Whoever clings to what I say & understand it and retains it, then it will be like the Qur‘an for him. Whoever considers the Qur‘an and what I say unimportant and neglects it loses this world and the next . My community is commanded to take my words and obey my command and follow my sunna . Whoever is pleased with my words is pleased with the Qur‘an. Allah says ‘Take what the Messenger bring you.’ ” (59:7)

Best Action are Those of Sunna
Ubayy ibn Ka’b said, “You must follow the path of Allah and the Sunna . There is no slave who is on the path of Allah and the Sunnah, remembering Allah, his eyes overflowing out of fear of his Lord, but that Allah will never punish him. There is no slave on the earth who is on the path of Allah, but that he is like a tree whose leaves are dry. In the same way that a tree loses its leaves when a strong wind hits it, his errors fall from him as the leaves are shaken from the tree . A minimal course in the path of Allah and the Sunna is better than striving hard in a path contrary to the path of Allah and the sunna and consenting to innovation. See that your actions – whether they are striving or minimal – are on the path of the Prophets and their sunna .”

Model the Prophet (s)
“ You have a good model in the Messenger of Allah for one who hopes for Allah and the last day.” (33:21)
Muhammad ibn ’Ali at-Tirmidhi said, “To take the Messenger as a model means to emulate him, follow his sunna and abandon opposition to him in either word or action.”
“ The right action, He raises it up” (35:10)

3 for: Sweetness of Belief
Anas reported (Abu Dawud) that the Prophet (s) said, “There are 3 things which cause anyone who takes refuge in them to experience the sweetness of belief :
that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else;
that he loves a man only for Allah ;
and that he dislikes the thought of reverting to disbelief as much as he would dislike being cast into the Fire.”

(3) LOVING THE BLESSED PROPHET (S)

Reward for Loving the Prophet
Anas (RA) said that a man came to the Prophet and asked, “When will the Last Hour Come, Messenger of Allah?” He said, “What have you prepared for it?” He said, “I have not prepared a lot of prayer or fasting or charity for it, but I love Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet said, “You will be with the one you love.”

The Signs of the Love of the Prophet
Know that someone who loves a person prefers them and prefers what they like. Otherwise, he is a pretender, insincere in his love.
Someone who has sincere love of the Prophet (s) will emulate the following signs.
(1) 1 st sign is that he will emulate him, apply his sunna , follow his words & deeds, obey his commands and avoid his prohibitions and take on his adab (etiquettes) in ease and hardship, joy and despair .

(2) He will prefer what the Prophet (s) has laid down as law and encouraged, over his own passions and appetites. (59:9)
(3) His anger against people will only for the sake of the pleasure of Allah. Anas ibn Malik said, “The Messenger of Allah said to me, ‘ My son, if you can be without any grudge in your heart against anyone in the morning and evening, be like that.’ Then he added, ‘My son, that is part of my sunna. Whoever gives life to my sunna has loved me and whoever loves me is with me in the Garden .”**

True Love: Gateway to Heaven
** Anyone who possesses this particular quality has perfect love for Allah and His Messenger. Anyone slightly lacking in it is imperfect in his love while not entirely devoid of it. The proof of this in what the Prophet (s) said about the man who was given the hadd – punishment for drinking. A man there cursed him and the Prophet said, “ Do not curse him. He loves Allah and His Messenger .”

(4) Another sign is to mention him often. Whoever loves something mentions it a lot.
(5) Another is great yearning to meet him. Every lover yearns for their beloved.
(6) On of its signs is that as well as mentioning him often, someone who loves him will exalt and respect him when he mentions him and display humility and abasement when he hears his name.
Ishaq at-Tujibi said, “Whenever the Companions of the Prophet (s) heard his name after he died, they were humble, their skins trembled and they wept. It was the same with many of the Followers. Some of them act like that out of love and yearning for him, others out of respect and esteem.”

(7) Another of its signs is love for those who love the Prophet and the other people of his house and his Companions, both of the Muhajirun and Ansar, for his sake. Such a person will also be hostile to those who hate them and curse them.
Whoever loves anyone, loves those he loves.
The Prophet (s) said about al-Hasan and al-Husayn, “O Allah, I love them, so love them.”
In al Hasan’s variant, “O Allah, I love him, so love the one who loves him.”
He also said, “Whoever loves them loves me. Whoever loves me loves Allah. Whoever hates them hates me. Whoever hates me hates Allah.

(8) Another sign is hatred for anyone who hates Allah and His Messenger, having enmity towards all who have enmity towards him, avoidance of all those who oppose his sunna and introduce innovations into his deen, and finding every matter contrary to his shari’a burdensome.
Allah says, “You will not find any people who believe in Allah & the Last Day who are loving to anyone who opposes Allah and His Messenger.” (58:22)

(9) Another sign of it is love of the Qur’an which the Prophet brought, by which he guided and was guided, and whose character he took on so that ‘A’isha said, “His Character was the Qur’an.” *
Part of the love for the Qur’an is its recitation and acting by it and understanding it, and loving his sunna and keeping within its limits.
Ibn Mas’ud said, “No one needs to ask himself about anything except the Qur’an . If he loves the Qur’an, he loves Allah and His Messenger.”
The Believer who recites the Quran and applies it, is like the (uttruj) fruit, whose smell is fragrant and taste is sweet” Al-Bukhari

What Do We Really Love?
* Sahl ibn ‘Abdullah said,
“ The sign of the love of Allah is love of the Qur’an. The sign of love of the Qur’an is love of the Prophet (s) The sign of love of the Prophet is love of the sunna. The sign for the love of the sunna is love of the Next World. The sign for the love of the Next World is hatred of this world. The sign of hatred of this world is that you do not store-up any of it except for provision and what you need to arrive safely in the Next World.”

(10) One of the signs of love for the Prophet is having compassion for his community, giving them good counsel, striving for their best interests and removing what is harmful from them just as the Prophet was “compassionate, merciful to the believers.” (9:128)

(11) One of the signs of perfect love is that the one who aspires to it does without in this world and prefers poverty.
The Prophet said to Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, “Poverty for those among you who love me comes quicker than a flood from the top of the mountain to the bottom.” (Tirmidhi)

(4) KNOW YOUR BLESSED PROPHET (S) & HIS SUBLIME CHARACTER

About The Great Prophet (s)
From Imam Ali (RA):-
Al-Husayn said, “I asked my father about how the Messenger of Allah (s) was at home .
He said, ‘It was allowed him to enter his house for his own comfort. When he retired to his house, he divided his time into 3 parts – one part for Allah, one for his family and one for himself. Then he divided his part between his people and himself. He used the time for the people more for the common people than for the elite. He did not reserve anything for himself to their exclusion.
Of his conduct in the part reserved for himself was that he would show preference to the people of merit, and would divide the time according to their excellence in the deen .
Some people needed one thing, some needed two, and some had many needs. He concerned himself with them and kept them busy doing things that were good for them and the community. He always asked about them and what was happening to them.

He used to say, “Those who are present should convey things to those who are absent and you should let me know about what is needed by people who cannot convey their needs to me.
On the day of Rising, Allah will make firm the feet of a person who conveys to a ruler the need of someone who cannot convey it himself.”
This was all that was mentioned in his presence and he would only accept this from people.’ ”
The hadith of Sufyan ibn Wukay’ says, ‘ They entered as seekers and only parted after having tasted something, leaving as guides,’ i.e. as men of fiqh .

Al-Husayn said, “Tell me about when he went out and how he behaved then?”
His father replied, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, held his tongue except what concerned people. He brought people together and did not split them. He honoured the nobles of every group of people and appointed them over their people.
He was cautious about people and on his guard against them, but he did that without averting his face from them or being discourteous. He asked about his Companions and he asked people how other people were. He praised what was good and encouraged it, and disliked what was ugly and discouraged it. He took a balanced course, without making changes.
He was not negligent, fearing that people would become negligent or weary. He was prepared for any eventuality. He did not neglect a right nor did he let his debts reach the point where others had to help him.

The best and most preferred people in his eyes were those who had good counsel for all. Those he most esteemed were those who supported and helped him.”
Al-Husayn then asked him about his assembly and how he behaved in it?
He said, “The Messenger of Allah (s) did not sit down or stand up without mentioning Allah. He did not reserve a special place for himself and forbade other people to do so. When he came to people, he sat down at the edge of the assembly and told other people to do the same.
He gave everyone who sat with him his share so that no one who sat with him thought that anyone was honoured more than he was. If anyone sat with him or stood near him to ask for something, he put up with that person until the person turned away. When someone asked him for something he needed, he either departed with it or with some consoling words. He had the kindest and best behaviour of all people, being like a father to them. They were all equal of their rights with him.

“ His assembly was one of forbearance, modesty, patience and trust. Voices were not raised in it nor were shortcomings made public nor lapses exposed. Its members were attached to each other by fear of Allah and were humble. The old were respected and mercy was shown to the young. They helped those with needs and showed mercy to strangers.”
Al-Husayn then asked about how the Messenger of Allah behaved with his companions.
‘ Ali said, “The Messenger of Allah (s) was always cheerful, easy-tempered, mild. He was neither rough nor course. He did not shout nor utter obscenities. He did not find fault with nor over-praised people. He ignored what was superfluous and left it.

He abandoned 3 things in himself :
Hypocrisy
Storing things up
What did not concern him
He also abandoned 3 things in respect of other people :
He did not censure anyone
He did not scold them
Nor try to find out their secrets
“ He only spoke about things for which he expected a reward from Allah. When he spoke, the people sitting with him were as still as if there were birds on their heads. When he was silent, they talked, but did not quarrel in his presence.
When someone talked in from of him, they kept quite until he had finished. Their conversation was about the first topic broached. He laughed at what they laughed at and was surprised at what surprised them. He was patient with a stranger who had course language. He said, ‘When you find someone asking for something he needs, then give it to him.’

He did not look for praise except to counterbalance something. He did not interrupt anyone speaking until that person had himself come to an end by either speaking or getting up from where he was sitting.’ ”
This is the end of the hadith of Sufyan ibn Wukay’.
Someone else asked ’Ali what the silence of the Messenger was like?
He said, he was silent for four reasons :
Forbearance
Caution
Appraisal
Reflection

His reflection was upon what would endure and what would vanish. He had forbearance in his patience. Nothing provocative angered him.
“ He was cautious about four things :
In adopting something good which would be followed
In abandoning something bad which would be abandoned
In striving to determine what would be beneficial for his community
In striving to determine what would combine the business of this world and the next.”

(5) HABITS

So What Did He (s) Do?
In Morning, Evening & Night
At Home, In Private
In Public, In an Assembly
With Companions
What was he cautious about?
What was he (s) silent about?
What did he (s) abandon for himself & others?

Key to life: Understanding Habits
There is 1 organ in the body, if it is wholesome the whole body is good, & if it is corrupt, the whole body is bad - verily, it is the heart. Therefore,
To get a “White Heart” =
Frequency, Consistency & Quality of Good Actions
To get a “Black Heart” =
Frequency, Consistency & Quality of Bad Actions

So Your Life...
Is a sum total of your habits
∑ Life = My Habits
Your habit of sensing, perceiving, judging, calculating, processing information, talking, eating, dressing, walking, relating, working, playing, PRIORITISING (worship, work, rights, roles and duties), Time in public, private time, etc.

Best of Actions
The most beloved action to Allah is that:
Which no matter how small
Is done regularly (consistency)
e.g. saying ‘Bismillah’ before eating/drinking. Because each and every time you do it you are remembering Allah, linking yourself to Him, al-akhira, fulfilling the sunna, saving yourself from sin and harm, prevent wasting time, and having good recorded in your favour.

Constant Improvement
The Prophet (s) warned us: He is not amongst us (*the believers*) whose -
“ 2 days are equal”
i.e. there is no desire or effort to better oneself, only resting on laurels and allowing a sense of complacency to set-in. Remember – no-one knows what their last action will be, so there are no such guarantees as automatic success!

Natural Order
From life & nature we know that the opposite of growth = decay
If we are not spiritually growing, we are DYING!

The Ultimate Goal
Anas reported that the Prophet (s) said,
“ Whoever brings the sunna to life has brought me to life. Whoever brings me to life will be with me in the Garden.”
So do you want to be him (s), or do you love and follow someone else more??

(6) Dhul Hijja

The Wonder of Dhul Hijja
Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." The people asked, "Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?" He said, "Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing." (Bukhari).

Revive a Sunnah!
The Prophet (s) commanded us to recite a lot of Tasbeeh ("Subhan-Allah"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillah") and Takbeer ("Allahu akbar") during this time.
‘ Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (r) reported that the Prophet (s) said: "There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal of Tahleel ("La ilaha ill-Allah"), Takbeer and Tahmeed." (Ahmad)

Say It Out Loud!
Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them) used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them.
In the masjid, the home, the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allah and mention His name out loud, as an act of worship and as a proclamation of the greatness of Allah, exalted is He.

Prayer in Dhul Hijja
"Upon you is to increase in your prostration to Allah, for verily you do not prostrate to Allah with even one prostration, except that He raises you in degrees and decreases your sins because of it." [Muslim]

The Beauty of Dhul Hijja
Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allah (s) said, "There are no days more loved to Allah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijja. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [i.e., Lailatul Qadr]." [at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi]

Fasting on 9 th Dhul Hijja
Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allah (s) said, "Fasting on the day of 'Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of 'Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it." ["the group"]
"Be content with the fact that Allah will expiate for you your sins for the year before (the day of 'Arafah) and the year after (the day of 'Arafah)." [Muslim]

Why 10 days?
Consistency of Action
Habit
A good force of habit =
A grand recompense on DoJ
Shaytan is NOT locked-up and now you have an extra battle on the hands, unlike in Ramadan!

Why Are They So Blessed?
Because Allah swears by them:
"By the dawn; by the ten nights" [al-Fajr 89:1-2]
Prophet (s) testified by them

Why Else?
Ibn Hajar says in Fath al-Bârî:
“ The most apparent reason for the ten days of Dhul-Hijja being distinguished in excellence is due to the assembly of the greatest acts of worship in this period, i.e. salawât (prayers), siyâm (fasting), sadaqah (charity) and the hajj (pilgrimage). In no other periods do these great deeds combine .”

Big Task
Nafs + Shayateen + -ve habits = Treble Trouble
So, what are you going to do?

Start Making A Change By
REACHING OUT FOR ALLAH’S MERCY –
THE GREAETEST OF WHICH DESCENDS ON THE DAY OF ARAFAT (9 th Dhul Hijja).

Allah Perfected Our Religion
These ten days include Yawm ‘Arafah (the Day of ‘Arafah), on which Allah perfected His Religion . Fasting on this day will expiate for the sins of two years.
These days also include Yawm al-Nahar (the Day of Sacrifice), the greatest day of the entire year and the greatest day of Hajj, which combines acts of worship in a way unlike any other day.

Some Actions to Consider
Fasting
Takbeer
Performing Hajj / Umra
Doing More Good Deeds in General
Sacrifce
Sincere Repentance
Upholding the Ties of Kinship
Etc.

(7) CAPTURE TIME & You’ll Never Live in Regret

Night & Day
“ You Are But Night & Day. As Each Day Goes By So Does A Part Of You.”
Imam Hasan Al Basri

Creating an Extraordinary Quality of Life THE QUICKEST WAY TO CHANGE YOUR FOCUS IS THROUGH QUESTIONS.
What’s my OUTCOME : What do I really want?
What’s my PURPOSE : Why do I really want it?
What specific ACTIONS must I take to make this happen?

Quality Questions = Quality Life {1} What are you happy about right now? What could you be happy or excited about? {2} What are you proud of in your life right now? What could you be proud about? {3} What are you grateful for? What could you be grateful for? {4} o do you love? Who loves you? Who could you love? Who could you allow to love you?

How Do You Take Control of Your Focus? Step 1: See the situation as it is, not worse than it is Step 2: See the situation better than it is Step 3: Take action & make it the way you see it

Successful People Run Their Own Mind
They Know WHAT They Want: THE TARGET First, they know the target they’re going for – the measurable results they’re seeking, and thus they don’t get caught up in the process. They understand the outcome they are after, and that there are many ways to achieve it . The more clear you are about the result you want, the easier it is to find a way to make it happen. So the first question you must answer in life is “What do I really want? What is the target I’m after? What is my real outcome?”
They Know Why They Want It: THE PURPOSE Those who succeed not only understand the specific outcome they are after in a given situation, but they also have unleashed the driving force of purpose. So often in life we know what we ‘should’ do, but we don’t have compelling enough reasons, a significant ‘why’ to get ourselves to do whatever it takes to achieve what we really want. Once you know what it is you really want, you must ask yourself, “Why do you want it?” “What will it give me?” “How will it make me feel to produce this result?” “What is my purpose?” This will give you the critical missing link that all traditional time planning methods fail to provide. ‘To-do’ lists don’t give you the why, and without a strong enough why, we rarely follow through.
They Know What IT Will Take to Make It Happen: They have an ACTION PLAN Finally, successful people understand that if they know what they want specifically, and why they want it, they can figure out how to create or achieve anything on which they focus. They ask themselves the critical question, “What specific actions must I take in order to achieve this outcome/result that I am committed to?” Remember, when your outcome is crystal clear, and the reasons you must achieve it are providing you with enough emotional drive, discovering the best way to get the job done becomes obvious. Remember, there are many ways to achieve any result! If one way doesn’t work, and you know your outcome and have a strong enough purpose, you’ll easily find another way.
Those who truly succeed in life, and more importantly, achieve fulfilment, have 3 things in common:

The Power of Focus
Fear We will avoid anything that we believe has the potential to give us PAIN. All human beings have a need to avoid pain-it’s a survival instinct. When we believe something might lead to pain, we focus on it. The challenge is that if we focus on what we fear, we feel it today and experience it as it has already happened. Remember, the coward dies a thousand deaths, the courageous man only once. Living in fear does not equate to a proactive life-it will guarantee drama, stress and reactivity rather than fulfilment.
Demand From Other People Really, this a form of pain too. We don’t want to disappoint people, and we recognise that in order to maintain relationships with people we must meet their needs. So often in life, we know what to do, but we don’t do what we know. The OPA system will help you to change that mindset because it will show you how to move yourself in the direction you want to go to rather than looking for someone else to motivate you. To do things for your reasons will give you a lasting sense of drive instead of just a momentary feeling of motivation. Remember, motivation is temporary; drive is permanent .
Pleasure Most people live their lives in such an extreme state of stress that they simply long for a sense of relief. So what gets our attention? Little things that make us feel good immediately, like having something to eat or drink or smoke or play, or maybe doing something we know will give us an immediate sense of accomplishment like cleaning off our desk rather than working on a report or project.
There are 3 areas that consistently demand our focus in the absence of a plan:

The Power of Focus The Reasonable Man Adapts Himself to The World; The Unreasonable One Persists in Trying to Adapt The World to Himself. Therefore, All Progress Depends on The Unreasonable Man. - Sir George Bernard Shaw

Make it Happen For You
“ Do not let the self in you rush madly after inordinate desires, because it will drive you to the path of wickedness and vice, or oppression and tyranny.” ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib
The path of the people of faith comprises knowledge of the truth and adherence to it in their conduct.” Ibn Kathir
The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his reaction, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he is always doing both. James Michener

Master Yourself
So that you are:
You are running on track
Living the life of your dreams, in accordance with the Principles & Practices of Islam
Are not perturbed by external influence & triggers
Can respond to environmental stimuli with action based on preferred choice and better practice
Have a heightened sense of self-awareness
Can deliver your best most of the time
Adapt the world around you such that others are benefited in the long term

What Is the Focus of Your Life? Not Urgent, Not Important Urgent, Not Important Urgent & Important Important Not Urgent The Zone The Dimension of Fulfilment The Dimension of Distraction The Dimension of Demand The Dimension of Delusion

The Dimension of Distraction: Not Important & Not Urgent.
The Dimension of Delusion: Urgent but Not Important.
The Dimension of Demand: Urgent & Important.
The Zone: Very Important But Not Urgent.

Time Targets
If you want to be fulfilled and achieve at a much higher level, you must spend an average of 40-70% of your time in the Zone of Fulfilment

Stressed People
As a Successful Person You MUST Spend LESS than 5-10% in the Dimension of Distraction and spend more than 45%, at least, in the Zone of Fulfilment.
Stressed people spend more than 80% of their time in the Dimension of Demand (Urgent & Important)
They have an Urgency Addiction

Control Model 80 % is Psychology / 20% is Mechanics Things You Can’t Control or Influence Things You Can Influence Things You Can Control ( i.e. Your Emotional State)

The Power of Vision The Circle of Life 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Spiritual 0% Physical Financial Work Family Emotional Shade in area according to level of satisfaction

… ..which direction are you going?
Everyone is on a Success Cycle… People’s potential is almost unlimited. But, do most people’s results reflect the level of potential they have? Potential Action Results Belief / Attitude

(8) STRATEGIES FOR LASTING CHANGE & LIFE MANAGEMENT

Decisions
The only thing that changes your life is Decisions
If you get more knowledge, that’s nice
If you get inspired, that’s nice
What’s really needed is decisions
Not just any decisions, but time-related, schedule-based decisions
This is what we are doing here…today

Decisions shape Destiny
The moment you DECIDE on something,
You got to give it MEANING * – which gives emotion to it
& in turn this creates ACTION
* Meaning : e.g. asking yourself what would happen to my life if I actually did this? What would happen to my life if I let it go and didn’t carry through? What would I get if I achieved it?

2 Invisible Forces that Shape Us
In the ‘moment’ = Our ‘State’ (psychological / emotional). You are in different states when you are:
Driving, eating, sitting, talking, waiting, arguing,
Walking, playing, reading, cleaning, bathing, praying, designing etc.
Longer-term = Our model of ourselves and the world
Including beliefs, values, judgements and practices

Strategies For Change
Whole-System Change:
Mind, Body, Heart & Spirit
Determination & Faith:
Having the Will to Succeed
The Power to do what we want lies in decisions, followed through with a commitment to a plan of action.

Key Outcomes
What do you want out of life?
Imagine your ideal life-style
Represent it on paper

Areas of Major Concern
What’s holding you back?
Which one thing if you let go would help you to change your life more than anything else?
What drives you?
Which one thing properly adopted and executed would excel you in most of the key areas of your life?
Think about different areas of your life and categorise them for simplicity, such as…

Spheres of Reference Work Personal Relationships Spiritual

In Other Words To Live To Learn To Love To Leave A Legacy

The Power of Effective Decision Making
Remember, every decision carries a consequence
Your brain is constantly making 3 decisions:-
What am I going to focus on?
What does this mean?
What am I going to do?

4 Reasons Why People Put Off Decisions
Fear
fear of failure, but the only failure is failing to decide
Uncertainty about the future
Decisions must be based on the greatest probability
People have weak decision-making muscles
Decisions must be based on the greatest probability
The way to get good at decision-making is to make more of them
People feel overwhelmed
Decision-making requires a system that will cause us to focus more on our outcomes and produce the results that will benefit us most in the long-term.

Don’t Worry About Making Mistakes Success is the result of good judgment. Good judgment is the result of experience. Experience is often the result of bad judgment.

4 Rules for Decision Making
All important and/or difficult decisions must be made on paper . Do not do it in your head! This causes a “Looping Process” that makes effective decision making difficult to impossible , and makes people crazy!
The most important first step in all decision making is to be clear about what you want (your outcome) and why you want it (your purpose). How will you know when you’ve achieved your outcome? What is your evidence procedure?
Remember, decisions are made based on probability. Rarely will you have the luxury of absolute certainty. All decision making carries some consequence-that’s its power. However, failing to make a timely and intelligent decision can also carry sever consequences to individuals and organisations.
All decision making is Value Clarification. Often, you will have several outcomes you want to achieve simultaneously. Therefore, you must be clear about the order of importance of all these outcomes.

(9) Constant Improvement & Consistency of Actions

Save Yourself from Yourself!
Whoever conquers the passion of his soul has conquered all men. No one has any power over him, since goal of his enemies is to try to annihilate his body, yet that person lives his spirit. Whoever dies to his passions in this life will live in his death. Al Ghazali
Abu Dharr (r) said that the Prophet (s) said:
“ The best form of jihad is a man who fights against himself and his desire.”

Sensual Gateways of Shaytan
Mind
Tongue
Heart
Eyes
Feet
Hands
Stomach

Sins & -ve Actions:
Personal
Procrastination
Arrogance/Pride
Egotism/Self-worship
Holding grudges
Unlawful looking/gazing
Rancour/Jealousy/Envy
Miserliness
Shamelessness
Insincerity
Lying
Public
Backbiting/Gossiping
Slandering/Name-calling
Cheating/Fraud
Showing off
Humiliating/Insulting
Cutting Ties of Kinship
Brutality/Violence
Breaking Trusts/Promises
Failing to Pay-off Debt/s
False Accusations/Spying

Specific Times & Places
Morning
Evening
Night
Travel Time
Home
Work
Masjid / Centres of Learning
Community

Good Deeds & +ve Actions:
Personal
Cleanliness/Thankfulness
Modesty/Humbleness
Letting go/Forgiveness
Good Perception/Intention
Noble Nature/Generosity
Loving for Allah’s Sake
Loyalty/Trustworthiness
Seeking Allah’s Help/Du‘a
Sending Prayers upon P (s)
Reading Quran/Dzikr
Sadaqah/Taubah
Public
Assisting Others/Birrul Walidayn
Spreading Salaams/Cheerfulness
Giving Good Advice/
Khidmat-ul-Khalq/ Hospitality
Inviting to Good/to your Home
Keeping Ties of Kinship
Giving Gifts/Fulfilling Rights
Honouring Trusts/Promises
Earning Halal / Feeding Others
Keeping Good Company
Listening Well/Campaigning

As Before, Work Out Your Goals
Which one thing can you think of if regularly done will make you excel in other areas of your life?
You Must Adopt 3:
Prayer: salah, dikr, tilawah
Fasting
Charity
Which one thing can you think of if regularly challenged will make you excel in other areas of your life?
You Must Drop 3:
Lying
Getting Angry
Being Proud

Key to Success
Combine Good Deeds with Repentance
"But as for him who repented, believed and did righteous deeds, then he will be among those who are successful." [al-Qasas 28:67]
Faith & Practice
Goods Deeds & Worship
Self-Sacrifice & Steadfastness
Good Company & Repentance

And Never Forget These 3
LOVE ALLAH THE MOST
Call Him to Mind & Heart Regularly
LOVE HIS MESSENGER NEXT
Emulate and Model his practices
LOVE THEM BOTH THROUGH LIVING THE QUR‘AN
Set-aside specific time to read it, understand it, and then go forward by applying it…

In Conclusion
In Whatever business you may be, and whatever portion you maybe reciting from the Qur‘an-and whatever deed you (mankind) may be doing – We are witness thereof when you are deeply engrossed therein. Nor is hidden from your Lord (so much as) the weight of an atom on the earth or in heaven. And not the least and not the greatest of these things but are recorded in a clear record.
Behold! Verily on the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor shall they grieve.
Those who believe and (constantly) guard against evil (10:61-63)
Follow the inspiration sent unto you, and be patient and constant, till Allah does decide: for He is the Best to Decide. (10:109)

The 10 Best Days Of Your Life Ark D Hijja 1430

by Asad Khan on Nov 25, 2009

Accessibility

Upload Details

Usage Rights

1 Embed 233

Statistics

The 10 Best Days Of Your Life Ark D Hijja 1430 — Presentation Transcript