By Naseerah Nanabhai
20:04:2022

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

Take benefit of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death. (Al-Bukhari, 40)

As Muslims, we are encouraged to be productive and leave no room for procrastination. Being productive means a person can complete valuable tasks correctly and on time. These tasks would have religious and or societal benefits for a productive Muslim. The five pillars of Islam can be looked at as inspiration for productivity.

Imaan- is described as having faith with conviction and purpose. Several times a day in salaah, we raise our fingers and proclaim that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. The declaration of our faith in Allah (SWT) and His messengers (peace be upon them all) should motivate our daily actions as we aim for rewards hereafter.

Salaah – is our daily prayer that requires consistency and focus. Consistent acts of worship in our day instil a sense of direction that can be transferred perhaps to other areas of our work and social life. It also allows us to detach from our inner worries and find tranquillity in serving Allah (SWT).

Zakat – Whilst our charity is an obligation, it is also a means of purification and also a reminder that we are obliged and under a duty to help those less fortunate than us. The act of giving in charity is also one which reinforces the proactive nature of the Muslim by assisting members of our society.

Fasting – teaches us restraint and discipline and how to slay our desires of the world. It allows our mind to engage in acts of worship and be sincere in this action solely to please Allah (SWT), thereby promoting the mindset we should use to carry out all of our actions and tasks.

Hajj-the journey through becoming productive in Islam is reflected in the difficulties, patience, and efforts expended when going on the pilgrimage to Hajj. Diverse Muslims worldwide are brought together on hajj by their belief in Allah (SWT), a reminder to love one another as Muslims.

As Muslims, Islam requires us to be proactive and have a purpose; therefore, living by the five pillars should inspire and motivate us to be the most productive versions of ourselves.