What’s Your Morning Routine?

I hate routine. Except when it comes to morning routines :) That’s something I try and stick to! ;)

There’s something about starting your day on a number of pre-planned actions that really set your day straight. Below I describe the ‘ideal’ ProductiveMuslim morning routine. (Note: I assume that Fajr Athan is at 5.00am and that work starts at 8am, feel free to ‘adjust’ the routine below to suit your timetable inshaAllah)

4.00AM – 5.00AM: 5 Essential Actions

1. Wake up!

Perhaps the first and most important step to having a great morning routine is waking up early! And it is in that moment of indecisiveness – whether you should wake up immediately or enjoy your nice comfy bed for ‘5 more minutes’- wherein lies the secret to either a great day or a crazy one. Here’s a tip that always works with me for waking up: You know how shaytaan whispers in your ears “just sleep for 5 more minutes”… I simply whisper back to myself “just wake up for 5 minutes” ;) Yup, you can imagine the rest. As soon as you’re awake and begin reciting the Adkhar and making wudhu, you can imagine what happens to sleep – (Gone! Left the building!).

2. Make the Dua(s) for waking up and recite last 10 verses of Surah Al-Imran

Alhamdulillah, we have a beautiful set of “waking up” supplications which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us. A collection of Wake Up Supplications can be found on MakeDua.com. My favorite is the recitation of the last 10 verses of Al-Imran (Chapter 3 of the Quran). You can almost feel your heart coming to life and being ‘juiced’ when the first thing you do as soon as you wake up is remember Allah & recite His Glorious Words from the Quran.

3. Make Wudhu

We can all agree, there’s something about wudhu that really focuses your positive energy and cleanses you inwardly as well as outwardly. I had a friend who used to call this feeling “WuBuzz!” short for the “Buzz” you feel after wudhu ;) Don’t forget to say Bismillah before starting wudhu and the dua after finishing wudhu! The 8 gates of Heaven will be opened for you, (not a bad way to start your day ;) and you’ll feel refreshed and ready for the day ahead.

4. Tahajjud & Witr

Tahajjud or Qiyaam has been described as the “honour of the believer”, because who else would go through what you just did (wake up, wudhu..etc) just to stand up and pray? The beauty of Tahajjud is hard to describe; from the feeling of tranquility in your heart and understanding the Quran better at this time, to feeling closer to Allah at a time of isolation from others and wishing that you would never get up from that prostration, to self-reflection moments that we rarely get a chance to exercise in our busy world… all of them and more come from Tahajjud! Finally, praying Witr after Tahajjud and making sincere dua to Allah is a true booster to your day!

5. Istighfar moments

Don’t forget to use the last 5-10 minutes before Fajr to ask Allah for forgiveness and making lots of istighfar so that you are among those Allah mentioned in the Quran: “And in the hour of early dawn, they (were found) praying for Forgiveness” (Quran, Chapter 51, Verse 18).

5.00AM – 5.05 AM: Fajr Athan

Say as the muaddhin (The person who calls to Prayer) says and don’t forget the Dua after athan. Supplications Related to Athaan can also be found at MakeDua.com

Feature Article: 18 sources of Barakah!

If we were to look for an Islamic definition of Productivity, it can probably be summarised in the word “barakah” or Blessing. Being able to achieve more with few resources, doing much in little time, and generating a lot with little effort is surely a blessing from Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala). Yet Barakah has somehow become a lost treasure these days; everyone’s looking for it, but no one seems to find it! You always hear people complaining that there’s no barakah in their time, no barakah in their sleep, no barakah in their money and the rest of it.

In this article, we’ll solve this mystery inshaAllah: we’ll find out what Barakah is and where you can find it!
What is Barakah?

A Well-known daee explains it as follows:
والبركة: هي ثبوت الخير الإلهي في الشيء؛ فإنها إذا حلت في قليل كثرته، وإذا حلت في كثير نفع، ومن أعظم ثمار البركة في الأمور كلها إستعمالها في طاعة الله عز وجل.

“Barakah is the attachment of Divine goodness to a thing, so if it occurs in something little, it increases it. And if it occurs in something much it benefits. And the greatest fruits of Barakah in all things is to use that barakah in the obedience of Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala)”

Sources of Barakah

I’m a firm believer that Barakah is not a lost treasure, rather, it’s right in front of our eyes! This treasure is only available and ready to be handed over to the one who works for it. Below, I list some of the sources of Barakah. It’s not an exhaustive list, therefore, I do hope you can contribute to it with your comments inshaAllah so we can all share and extend our understanding of this great treasure at ProductiveMuslim.com!

1. Good Intentions

If you want something to have barakah attached to it, have good intentions for it. More specifically, make sure that deed is intended for the sake of Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala). Looking again at the definition of Barakah, you may guess that without us intending what we have or do for the Sake of Allah, the “Divine goodness” won’t be found in our deeds.

2. Piety and Belief in Allah

Allah says in the Quran: “If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (All kinds of) blessings from heaven and earth…”(Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 96). And He says in the Quran: “And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out. And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine” (Surah Al-Talaq, Verses 2-3).

3. Putting your trust in Allah

Allah says in the Quran: “And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose. Verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion” (Surah Al-Talaq, verses 3)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “If only you relied on Allah a true reliance, He would provide sustenance for you just as He does the birds: They fly out in the morning empty and return in the afternoon with full stomachs. (Ahmad, An-Nasa’I, Ibn Majah, Al-Hakim and At-Tirmidhi)

IU Bergabung di Instagram Dengan Posting Foto Tanpa Make-Up

Pada 6 Februari, penyanyi IU menjadi idola yang baru-baru ini bergabung di Instagram! Postingan pertama IU di akun Instagram-nya adalah foto yang agak misterius yaitu burung hantu.

Penggemar yang bingung maksud dari foto karena hanya terdapat kalimat”Bagaimana …?”. Kemudian IU mengunggah foto kedua, yang menunjukkan selca dirinya tanpa riasan wajah, ia lalu dipuji oleh banyak penggemar karena kecantikannya yang alami.

Sejauh ini, IU telah memposting tiga foto di akun Instagram-nya, dan telah di memiliki lebih dari 85.000 pengikut dalam waktu kurang dari dua hari. Penggemar dapat melihat berbagai aktivitas IU di akun Instagram-nya yaitu @didlwlrma

 source: Koreaboo

http://koreanindo.net/2015/02/07/iu-bergabung-di-instagram-dengan-posting-foto-tanpa-make-up/

Taylor Swift's '1989' spends 10th Week at No. 1

Taylor Swift's '1989' spends 10th Week at No. 1
Taylor Swift's '1989' is back at no.1 in America for the 10th non consecutive week. Taylor is the second female recording artist of all time to have two albums at no.1 in America for 10 weeks. Taylor followsWhitney Houston as the only woman with multiple albums for 10 weeks at No. 1. Houston self-titled debut Album spent 14 weeks in 1986. Her second album, 'Whitney' spent 11 weeks in 1987 and 'The Bodyguard' was no.1 for 20 weeks in America in 1992 and 1993.

Taylor spent 11 weeks at no.1 with her second album, 'Fearless' which was released in 2008. Her third Album 'Speak Now' spent six weeks at no. 1 in 2010, and her fourth Album 'Red', released in October 2012, spent seven weeks at the top of the US charts.

Only seven acts have had more than one album for 10 weeks at no. 1 apart from Taylor and Whitney including The Beatles who have had four,The Kingston Trio who've had three, Henry Mancini who's had two together with The Monkeys and ELVIS PRESLEY who's had three.

'1989' is back at no.1 this week after selling 71,000 copies. Ed Sheeran's 'x' rises 4-2, Meghan Trainor's 'Title' remains at no. 3, SAM SMITH's 'In the Lonely Hour' rises 9-4, Ne-Yo's 'Non-Fiction' debuts at no. 5, Fall Out Boy's 'American Beauty/American Psycho' slips to no. 6, Mark Ronson's 'Uptown Special' rises 10-7, Nicki Minaj's 'The Pinkprint' slips 6-8, Maroon 5's 'V' is up 11-9 and the 2015 Grammy Nominees compilation album closes the Top 10!

https://www.facebook.com/worldmusicawards?fref=nf

[Productive Youth] 11 Business Tips for the Muslim Youth

Seeking a lawful earning is our duty as Muslims and utilizing the energy to strive for such a living is a means of worship and a path to blessed monetary rewards. Muslim youth can take some productive steps to learn about business in Islam, invest in great ideas and generate some profit. This article aims to offer such steps, with practical tips on how to achieve them.

Starting out in any business can be very daunting. In the case of youth, your parents may become worried about your financial future. This, in addition to many uncertainties, only serves to increase your limiting beliefs, until you are ready to quit even before you start! When you actually make it to launch period and beyond, you continue to face challenges every day.

A productive business is purpose-driven, with goals and outcomes for this world and the hereafter. It is a business that earns you lawful profit, personal fulfillment and adds value to your life as well as that of others. But it is not without its fair share of tests.

“O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent”  [Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 29].

Why Engaging in Business is Important

“The truthful, trustworthy merchant is with the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi]

Doing business is important for several reasons, ranging from personal to professional. This is especially true for Muslim youth. Some of these reasons are:

1. Utilizing knowledge and energy in a productive way
2. Using money in a productive way
3. Exploring passion, skills and creative talents in a beneficial way
4. Benefiting the Ummah (Muslim consumers) with specialized goods and services
5. Creating jobs for others (within an Islamic environment and in accordance with Islamic principles).
6. Providing opportunities for halal trading and ethical investment options
7. As a means of livelihood: earning provisions from halal sources
8. Opportunity for da’wah in the community by providing excellent prices, products and services
9. Generating profit to help the growth of the Muslim economy
10. As a means of worship and a permissible way of life by building a framework governed by the shari’ah

Steps to Doing Business Productively

Although there is no simple success formula for setting up and running a business, you can take productive steps when starting out, and with each step as you progress. With these steps, you can achieve a lot with your business and build a strong connection with Allah .

1. Sincere IntentionConsider your business an act of worship, so every action is done sincerely for Allah’s  sake and according to the shari’ah.

“The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention…” [Sahih Bukhari & Muslim]

Try it:

Check yourself with these three questions:

1. Why am I really doing this?
2. Is it purely for Allah’s  pleasure?
3. Is it to gain popularity or conform to societal pressures?

[Better Habit-Making – Part 2] A Scientific Perspective

In Part 1 of this series, I explained how in the Islamic worldview the success of forming a new habit depends on the state of the heart. By keeping the heart clean from vices and full of remembrance of Allah , it is in man’s nature to change his actions for the better.

In this part, I will explain habit formation from the perspective of Western science and how we can utilize this knowledge to help us build our habits.

The Role of Basal Ganglia

In the 1990s, several researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences began looking into a part of the brain close to where it meets the spinal column: the basal ganglia. They made initial observations that animals with injured basal ganglia tended to have problems with tasks such as learning how to run through mazes, while they had no problem doing so previously.

They then launched a series of lab experiments and concluded that the basal ganglia was “central to recalling patterns and acting on them,” [1] which meant that while the rest of the brain goes to sleep after enough repetitions of an act, the basal ganglia stores them as habits and takes over the process.

The hijacking done by the basal ganglia is the reason why we sometimes find ourselves driving straight home when we actually wanted to make a detour to the store. It is also why we find ourselves halfway through prayer before realizing that we did not actually register what we were doing; the basal ganglia has automated the process!

The Three-Step Loop

According to Charles Duhigg, author of the best-selling book “The Power of Habit”, the automation of the process within our brains occurs in a three-step loop:

Step 1: Cue — a trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode and informs it of what to do next.
Step 2: Routine — the behavior itself, which can be physical, mental, or emotional.
Step 3: Reward — helps the brain figure out if this particular loop is worth remembering in the future.

Overtime, this loop — cue, routine, reward; cue, routine, reward — becomes more and more automatic. The brain latches on to a cue and associates it with a corresponding behavior and reward. The cue and reward then become intertwined until the basal ganglia relate them together, creating a powerful sense of anticipation.

Eventually, a habit is born.

The 3-step loop might seem too simplistic to some, but the truth is that the knowledge of the loop is so powerful that huge corporations actually implement it when shaping their products to make us (consumers) addicted to using them.

Nir Eyal, in his book “Hooked”, explains how product makers, through consciously deciding triggers for their users (cue), actions that they want the users to take (routine), and the variable reward that the users will receive (reward), create a product that users cannot help but return to time and again. And we wonder why we are so addicted to the likes of Facebook and Instagram!

[Productive Professionals] Qualities of a Productive Manager

The Prophet Muhammad  was reported to have said: “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock …” [Abu Dawud]

As described in the hadith above, all of us are answerable to our subjects. As managers, we are shepherds too and are answerable in two ways:

1. As a servant who is a guardian over the property of his master (the employer).
2. As a caliph who is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (the subordinates).

This two-way balance is a tight rope to walk on, which often results in one of the two sides being offended. A manager who is productive leads his team to realize the vision of the organization that they all are a part of. He has to direct his sheep in the right direction, guarding them and not allowing them to go astray. On top of that, there may be ‘black sheep’ that he needs to identify and prevent from leading others astray.

Productive Team, Productive Manager

For a manager to be productive, he should have a productive team. However, that is not always possible since, in most cases, teams are composed of individuals with varied levels of qualifications and experience. It becomes imperative for a manager to groom his team members so they can fulfill their fullest potential. You are a manager because you are considered to be most qualified and experienced among your team members. Below are some of the qualities a manager should possess to make himself and his team more productive.

Lead by Example

Your team works under your guidance. At times when they are stuck, you need to roll up your sleeves and get involved to solve critical issues. While doing so, you should not be boasting your contribution or belittling theirs.

The companions of the Holy Prophet  were die-hard soldiers and never wanted any pain for him. Yet many a time, the Prophet  joined them in digging trenches, toiling in the battle grounds and even in building Al-Masjid an-Nabawi brick by brick, “… The Prophet  himself started carrying unburnt bricks for its building …” [Bukhari]

You need to build your team, task by task, project by project. If there is something on which your team is at odds with you, but you know your decision to be correct, you need to persuade others.One of the ways to do this is to start doing the action yourself. They will automatically follow suit, In sha Allah.

A similar thing happened when most of the companions did not agree with the concessions given to the opponents in the treaty of Hudaibiyya. They were reluctant to come out of the state of Ihram without performing the Umrah. The Holy Prophet  continued with what he thought was right. He then “… slaughtered the sacrifice and called his barber who shaved his head. Seeing that, the companions of the Prophet  got up, slaughtered their sacrifices, and started shaving the heads of one another …” [Bukhari]

Integrity is Better Than Intelligence

This is a management saying and generally applied by recruitment specialists who are faced with a trade-off between the intelligence and honesty of a candidate. Many of them prefer a honest candidate over an intelligent one.

Managers can apply this concept to themselves too. Being intelligent is a part of your job because your position demands so, but you need to be honest while executing your affairs dealing with your subjects.

The Holy Prophet  said: “Any man whom Allah has given the authority of ruling some people, and he does not look after them in an honest manner, will never feel even the smell of Paradise.” [Bukhari]

5 Ways to Ensure a Productive Family Trip

Trips with the family are an opportunity to get away from the daily humdrum and spend beneficial quality time together. However, without adequate care, such trips may turn into an unpredictable chaos.

In this day and age, the use of apps and the Internet have facilitated many aspects of planning a trip. This includes the possibility of having — almost — an exemplary family trip. In this article, we will share some tips on how to plan for an enjoyable, stress-free holiday with your family.

1. Research to be Prepared

Having a productive holiday means planning from the get-go. Families usually have a horrible habit of “winging it”. Proper planning is key to ensuring relaxation and enjoyment during your trips. Make sure you do your research on the destination well in advance. List out all the places you and the people you are traveling with want to see. While doing your research, you might want to try the following:

• Talk to friends and family about the places you wish to visit. Firsthand experience is always the best.
• Note down opening and closing times, so you do not travel for an hour only to find the place you are looking forward to visit is closed.
• Avoid standing in long queues to some tourist attractions by buying tickets online.
• Be realistic. Visiting 100 odd places within a 3-4 day time frame is impossible. Make sure you pick activities the entire family will enjoy. Ask each member of the family to list out where they would like to go and pick a few places from each list. This way, even though each member has to compromise, at least she/he will get to visit a few choice attractions as opposed to none.
• List everything out clearly and brief the family. This way, everyone knows what to expect and changes can be made if necessary.

10 Key Elements of a Successful Project

Photo by Cindy Cornett Seigle: flickr.com/photos/cindy47452/

So you have a bright and wonderful idea; you’re going to change the world, or perhaps start a bit smaller. But how do you see your idea through to success, as opposed to letting it dwindle away as an ephemeral vision in your mind, or giving up altogether half way through?

We have all been there. We have been inspired to, say, learn the Arabic language, start a fundraiser, write a book, start a business, complete a dissertation or even plan and execute a huge family dinner! And we’re all looking for the best way to go about it.

So if you’ve been meaning to get started on a new project, below are 10 fundamental elements that you can implement to see any of your projects through to positive results and success, In sha Allah:

1. Trust in Allah 

Our Creator always takes the top spot. Once you have chosen to embark on a certain path, place your trust in Allah  that he will see you through. Believe in yourself firmly with this principle of tawakkul (total reliance on God while doing your part, of course).

Allah  says in the holy Qur’an:

“If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely.” [Qu’ran: Chapter 3, Verse 160].

“And you do not will except that Allah Wills. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.” [Qu’ran: Chapter 76, Verse 30].

2. Purify Your Intentions

Guard your motivations behind an act. Remember that there is no harm or benefit except with Allah’s  permission, so prevent yourself from falling into vain pursuits and ostentation.

Stop and really ponder over your intentions behind taking on a project, particularly a devotional act such as memorising Qur’an, seeking Islamic knowledge or raising funds for charity. Are you sure you are not doing it for praise from others, or for any other worldly gain?

If your intentions are pure, your reward is certainly with Allah . If you seek reward from others, that is the only reward you will get. Unfortunately, seeking reward from others leads to disappointment and low self-esteem. Furthermore, if you do not reach your goals, you will not fear the criticism of others if your pursuit was purely for the sake of Allah  to begin with.

What may be considered a non-devotional pursuit, such as starting a business or hosting an event, may also earn you rewards just by having the right intentions. Perhaps you intend to seek Allah’s  pleasure by benefiting the community, or earning to spend on your family and give in charity.

A hadith narrated by ‘Umar bin al Khattab  attests to that fact. He narrates that the Messenger of Allah  said:

“The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention. So whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger, his emigration will be for Allah and His Messenger; and whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration would be for what he emigrated for” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Real life application: When founding Sweet Apple Publishers, I had a very strong and clear vision of representing Muslim children and families in a positive light in children’s books. My primary intention was to teach good values to children of all backgrounds and to provide insight into Muslim families to the wider world in a very warm and fun way.

My other intention was related to my earnings. At the time, I was doing sufficiently well working as a secondary school science teacher and was not in need of money but rather wished to give a lot in charity, intending to do work for the community. I also loved the idea of doing this in secret.

[SISTERS] 5 Ways to a Healthier Diet

We live in a time in which almost everyone knows the importance of a healthy diet, yet most consider their own way of eating far from the ideal. Unfortunately, when many of us decide it is time to take care of our bodies, we throw ourselves into a super strict regime which places the goal of being ‘healthy’ (no chocolate or sweets… ever) at the centre of our lives, where it eventually begins to dominate it. This approach is rarely effective in the long term and usually results in us burning out (eating nothing but chocolate and sweets…). So, we end up back at the beginning. What now? We take inspiration from this: “The deeds most loved by Allah (are those) done regularly, even if they are small” [Muslim].

With the right intention, caring for our body can be an act of ‘ibadah and taking this approach allows us to put the goal of a healthier diet back in its place, with Allah  firmly in the centre. Instead of overwhelming ourselves with impossible goals of flawless (aka joyless) eating, let’s instead focus on bringing some easy habits into our lives which, if maintained, can have a big and positive impact on our health.

Hunger-directed eating

Allah  has created our bodies in the most perfect way with an in-built system, which tells us when and what we need to eat and when to stop eating it. However, most of us are so used to ignoring these cues that we no longer recognize them. Instead, we outsource this function of our body to things, such as diets which dictate when and what we can eat. Often we are told we need to eat a small meal every 3 hours to avoid becoming hungry and overeating, but hunger is not to be feared – it is simply our bodies communicating their needs to us. The eat every 3 hours ‘rule’ likely originated in the fact that most ‘naturally skinny’ people, i.e. hunger-directed eaters, tend to eat more frequently as they only eat what they need to and stop when they are full. The Prophet  himself said: “The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few mouthfuls, to keep him going. If he must do that (fill his stomach), then let him fill one third with food, one third with drink and one third with air” [At-Tirmidhi].