Is Procrastination a Sign of Weak Faith? How To Get Over It?


18 June, 2021


QI read somewhere that Umar warned against procrastination. Procrastination is all that I do. Does that mean I have a weak faith? How to get over it?


ANSWER

Dina Mohamed Basiony


18 June, 2021


Short Answer:  Time is a valuable asset we will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgement and procrastination is a seriously bad habit. First sincerely ask Allah Almighty to help you overcome this habit. Second make good planning and make sure you start your day early. Make sure you are surrounding yourself with righteous companions to avoid directing your time in wasteful activities. Finally, if you don’t yet have enough self-mastery, then definitely explore faith-based coaching services.

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Salaam Alaykum waRahmat Allah Dear Questioner,

Thank you so much for sending us your question.

First of all, it is a great sign that you send us a question asking for help and showing worry about the state of your Iman (faith).

We ask Allah to help strengthen your Iman and keep you steadfast and help you grow and prosper and reach your highest potential spiritually, personally and socially.

Allah Is The Most Patient


Allah Is The Most Patient


Ameen

Second of all, procrastination is a seriously bad habit.

It means that one is not in control of his/her time and wasting their lifetime instead of investing it on what will benefit them in this life and the next.

We are warned about that, like in this hadith for example:

Abu Barzah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

“Man’s feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection before he is asked about his life, how did he consume it, his knowledge, what did he do with it, his wealth, how did he earn it and how did he dispose of it, and about his body, how did he wear it out.” (At-Tirmidhi)

So, we will be asked about our health, wealth and time.

We need to be in control of these aspects and making sure we are investing them properly and in a halal manner.

The Importance of Time


Allah Almighty also swore by time in the Quran, which shows the critical value it. He said:

“( 1 ) By time,


( 2 ) Indeed, mankind is in loss,


( 3 ) Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.” (103: 1-3)

So, reclaiming one’s time and investing it properly is a serious matter that one has to be concerned about.

What Happens When We Rely on God


What Happens When We Rely on God?


The advice here is to first and foremost sincerely ask Allah Almighty to help you overcome this habit and direct your time, energy, qualifications and talents into what would benefit you in this life and the next.

Allah taught us to daily seek His Help as we recite in Surat Al Fatihah in every prayer, “It is You we worship and You we ask for help.” (1:5)

So, seek Allah’s Powerful help regularly in every prayer sincerely and earnestly.

Start With Good Planning


Second, if you think you can make a plan for yourself to follow, then definitely do that.

Make sure you start your day early, as the Prophet says:

“O Allah, bless my nation in their early mornings (i.e., what they do early in the morning).” (Hasan)

So, start your day early.

You may start before Fajr: pray Qiyam, read Quran, pray Fajr and then plan your day and what needs to get done urgently, then move on to less important tasks.

You can also have an accountability partner/trustworthy friend who reminds you and holds you accountable for the important tasks you have to complete.

Make sure you volunteer or engage in important activities.

This will help you direct your time in what’s beneficial for yourself and others, and will also put barakah (blessings and Divine prosperity) in your own time as the Prophet of Allah says:

“Allah helps His slave as long as he helps his brother.” [Related by Muslim]

Also, make sure you are surrounding yourself with righteous companions to avoid directing your time in harmful/sinful/wasteful activities.

Faith-Based Coaching


Turn Your Lemon into Lemonade & Calamity into Blessing


Turn Your Lemon into Lemonade & Calamity into Blessing


Now, if you don’t think you will be able to do that on your own and/or you don’t have enough self-mastery yet, then definitely explore faith-based coaching services.

I personally work with Productive Muslim, a faith-based self-development company that helps Muslims live the best version of themselves spiritually, physically and socially.

You can make use of all the free resources on our website on procrastination by typing ‘procrastination’ in the search bar, you’ll get articles, videos, doodles, info-graphics that give you guidelines to follow and inspiration to keep you going.

If you think this will only motivate you for a short while and you might fall back into procrastination and if you think you need personal/direct help to overcome bad habits and replace them with healthier ones, then you could explore Productive Muslim and coaching services.

You can also check if there are other trustworthy services near you wherever you are.

The most important thing is, be honest with yourself, have self-mastery and do not let your life slip out of your hands.

The choice is yours and many tools are available for you to reclaim your life.

So use what suits you and do not waste time or dwell on regret, fear or complaints.

Narrated Ibn `Abbas, the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said,

“There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) Health and free time for doing good.” (Sahih Al Bukhari)