Discover ways to enhance productivity using Islamic methods based on the Quran and Sunnah. This guide includes practical steps, tips, and inspiration from Islamic teachings for a more blessed life.
Introduction
Productivity is the path you must take to achieve any goal or dream you have.
But currently, most people are struggling to be productive. This happens because many of them only want to lie down, scroll through social media, watch dramas, and engage in activities that provide no real benefit at all.
If you are one of those people experiencing this, then this article is written specifically for you. So that you can become a productive person, to achieve any of your dreams.
Do you know that God has given guidance to humanity... so that we can make the most of the time and energy God has given, for the well-being of your life?.
A person's time, or their age, is the most valuable asset and is truly priceless.
When your time runs out... it means you will experience death. Therefore, this asset of time is very rare for each individual. This asset is limited and cannot be increased, not even by a single second.
Many people value money and wealth more than their time.
In reality, time is an asset that is far more valuable than any amount of wealth.
When you lose wealth—regardless of the amount—it is something you can recover. You can restore it to its previous state.
But your age?
Can you turn it back, even for a moment—an hour, a minute, a second? Then why don't you value your time, which can never be restored once it is gone?
Can you go back to the past? Can you return to your youth once you are old?
Not even a second ago can be returned, no matter how much you cry, even if it were blood.
I hope you understand the fact of how valuable your time is, more than any amount of wealth.
Now, I would like to share with you tips on utilizing time according to God's guidance, so that you can always be productive and not waste your life in vain.
Productivity often becomes our main focus, especially amidst the fast-paced pressures of life. But what if we could achieve more than just worldly productivity? In Islam, productivity is not only about completing tasks or reaching targets, but also about how every effort we make becomes a path toward blessings and closer to God.
Have you ever felt that time passes by without any meaningful results? Islam has an answer to that! In the Quran, Surah Al-Asr, God reminds us that humanity will be at a loss if they do not make good use of their time.
With the guidance of the Quran and Sunnah, humanity is taught to manage time effectively, so that it can be beneficial and lead to success in the journey of life in this world.
This article will discuss practical steps to enhance productivity according to God's teachings, with an approach that brings life improvement, inner peace, and blessings. Ready to start the journey toward productivity with divine guidance? Let’s dive in!
1. Productivity in the Islamic Perspective: What’s the Difference?
Productivity in Islam is not only measured by how much work can be completed, but also by how that work brings us closer to God. In the Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah: 185, God mentions that the Quran is a guidance for mankind. Therefore, it is wrong to think that the Quran is only for those who follow the Islamic faith.
The Quran is like a manual or guidebook from the Creator of the universe... to be used as guidance for all of humanity, the descendants of Adam — on how to live life in a way that brings success and victory in this world and the hereafter.
The Quran is God's guidance for you! No matter who you are, the Quran was revealed to guide you toward victory and success in this world and the hereafter.
Now, let me explain how you can be productive in achieving any goal you desire.
First, we are taught to begin every activity with a good intention.
"Indeed, actions are judged by intentions, and every person will be rewarded according to their intention." (Hadits riwayat Muslim No. 1907).
With sincere intention, done for the sake of God, any daily activity—whether household chores or professional work—can become an act of worship.
2. Practical Steps to Increase Productivity Based on the Quran and Sunnah.
a. Start your day with Fajr prayer and reading the Quran.
اَللّٰهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْاَ نْفُسَ حِيْنَ مَوْتِهَا وَا لَّتِيْ لَمْ تَمُتْ فِيْ مَنَا مِهَا ۚ فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِيْ قَضٰى عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَ يُرْسِلُ الْاُ خْرٰۤى اِلٰۤى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۗ اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَّتَفَكَّرُوْنَ
"Allah takes the souls (of people) at the time of their death, and the souls of those who have not died when they sleep; then He holds the soul of the one whose death has been decreed and releases the other until an appointed time. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought."
(Quran Surah. Az-Zumar 39: Ayat 42)
When you sleep, your soul is in the grasp of God.
And when you wake up in the morning, it means your soul has just returned from the side of God.
It's like a cellphone...
When your soul is in the grasp of God...
It means your soul undergoes restoration, renewal, transformation, and optimization.
Your soul is recharged by divine energy.
Therefore, the time in the morning after you wake up is the most optimal time—your body and soul are in the best condition, having been recharged with divine energy.
Therefore, if you are able to make use of that time in the morning for things that benefit you, you will be able to achieve productivity many times greater than at other times.
Because at that time (when you just wake up), your brain waves are in the alpha/theta state. These brain waves represent your subconscious mind, where when you input any suggestion at that moment, it becomes easier for your subconscious to manifest your desires.
That is why it is important to immediately respond to God's call (the Fajr prayer).
Because when your subconscious mind is open (in the alpha/theta brainwave state), it is the best time to give suggestions for goodness and success.
And praying to God is one way to suggest to your subconscious mind.
Through prayer, deeply reflect on whatever comes out of your mouth, as it is truly a prayer for goodness for yourself.
Do not let your mind wander. Simply focus on what you are reciting in prayer and its meaning.
Feel every movement of your body in your prayer!
That is the way to pray with focus (khushu), so that you can experience its real benefits in your life.
Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the golden time in the morning, after you wake up, is used to immediately respond to God's call (to recharge your soul’s battery)... through prayer, supplication, and reading the Quran.
Not immediately opening social media.
Because when you use your golden time in the morning to consume "garbage" posts on social media, you will not be productive at all that day, as your brain automatically enters a hypnotic phase of dopamine addiction (only wanting to scroll through social media, without doing anything).
So, do not open any social media after you wake up! If you don't want to waste your golden time.
And by reading the Quran in the morning, you will go through the day with God's protection.
God will make a shield (a wall of protection) for you, against the wrongdoers.
وَاِ ذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْاٰ نَ جَعَلْنَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الَّذِيْنَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِا لْاٰ خِرَةِ حِجَا بًا مَّسْتُوْرًا
"And when you recite the Quran, We place an invisible barrier between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter."
(Quran Surah. Al-Isra’ 17: Ayat 45)
Unfortunately, it is unclear who first determined the divisions of the Quran into Juz, which resulted in parts of the Surahs being split across different sections.
And God has warned those who divide the Quran according to their own will, while God has arranged the Quran, Surah by Surah.
So why did they make the divisions (Juz) that cut through the Quran (for example, they made Juz 1 as Surah Al-Baqarah from verse 1 to verse 141, cutting part of Surah Al-Baqarah)?
Does anyone have the right to divide the Quran, when God has gathered it in one complete Surah?
It is important for you and all of us not to follow what is wrong, even if many people are doing it.
Let us not become part of those whom God has warned with punishment for dividing the Quran.
“كَمَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡمُقۡتَسِمِينَ ٩٠ ٱلَّذِينَ جَعَلُواْ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ عِضِينَ ٩١”
"As We have punished those who divided (the Quran), those who made the Quran into parts."
(Quran Surat Al Hijr – ayat 90-91)
You must read the Quran with the correct divisions of Juz.
I refer to the book by Sheikh Imran Hosein (The Qur'an and the Moon).
You can get it for free on his website. Click here!
Through that guidebook, you will be able to know the correct ajza for reading the Quran.
When you read the Quran correctly every morning...
With that, God will make an invisible shield of protection for you... to protect you from the sinful and the wrongdoers.
Because in fact, we have been in the end times since the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
Thus, the greatest trial of the end times, the emergence of the Dajjal, is also near.
Therefore, the followers of Iblis and the Dajjal today openly invite humanity to misguidance, injustice, corruption, and abomination on earth, to prepare for the arrival of their leader, the false Messiah, Al-Masih al-Dajjal.
If you want God to protect you from the followers of Iblis and the Dajjal, then make the Quran your shield of protection by reading it every day (complete it, then start again from the beginning, and continue this every day until you pass away).
I also initially struggled to read the Quran...
In the past, I had never once in my life read the Quran cover to cover.
But Alhamdulillah, at the age of nearly 30, I am now able to read it every day (there is no arrogance in this statement, rather I want to make you realize that you too can, even if you are a beginner).
Do not worry if you are not able to read the Quran yet, there is no need to despair!
In fact, the Quran has been designed by God with ease for its readers... so everyone can definitely read the Quran.
So begin your Quran reading lessons, there are many free resources available on the internet.
- Then, when you read the Quran, choose one that contains only the Arabic text without translations in other languages.
This will help you focus on the original recitation.
And it will allow you to contemplate and feel the original words of God's message to you.
- When reading the Quran, use a moderate voice (not shouting, nor just in your heart).
It means use a voice that can be heard by your own ears.
This is because the recitation of the Quran carries blessings of healing and mercy from God, both for the reader and the listener.
Let at least your own ears experience the blessings of your Quran recitation!
And even better if your children can hear your Quran recitation.
When you recite the Quran, you are chanting the vibrations, frequencies, and waves of healing and blessings from God.
So when your ears hear it, your soul will feel tranquility. Even if there is water around you, it will absorb what it hears and become a medium of healing for those who drink it.
If you don't believe that the recitation of the Quran has a miraculous effect on the listener, you can check the research journals by Dr. Masaru Emoto, who studied water crystals.
You will be amazed at how merciful God is to you, even granting the Quran with effects of healing, guidance, protection, and more.
- If you want to study the Quran... you can buy a Quranic interpretation (for example: Ibn Kathir's Tafsir), and when you read the interpretation, you will fall in love with God, who created you and sent down the Quran as the path to your salvation.
Because you understand its meaning, not just a word-for-word translation (tafsir is not the same as translation).
Tafsir will explain each surah in detail, while translation only translates word by word from Arabic to Indonesian, English, or any other language.
And sometimes it is difficult to understand without tafsir.
That is why it is better to buy a Quranic tafsir, rather than a translated Quran.
b. Manage Time by Following the Prayer Schedule
Have you ever been about to go somewhere, for example, attending a wedding or going to the market... and the timing coincides with almost prayer time?
If you can delay it... then delay your departure for a moment until you have finished performing the obligatory prayer.
This habit will help you always remember God, wherever and whenever you are.
Remember that only by being close to God... will you be able to do anything with full blessings and protection.
So, do not abandon your prayer, just for the sake of going to the market, or for anything else.
Through prayer, God provides a clear framework of time through the five daily prayers. This teaches you to be disciplined and manage your time effectively.
c. Set your intention in every activity.
You are judged by God based on the INTENTION in your heart.
And that intention is known only to you and God.
You cannot deceive God.
This is also God's mercy for you... even the smallest of your actions... whatever you do, if you intend it sincerely for God, you will find a reward of goodness.
So no matter what you do, intend everything for God.
If you work for someone else, view your work as a means to give your best for the benefit of God's creatures. Not because you want to be praised by your boss or be seen as an exemplary employee.
Do everything for God. Isn't it true that God loves those who do good and spread benefits?
God is the Most Good, who loves goodness.
So, be a good servant of God as well.
Isn't God always good to you?
Then why don't we want to share goodness with others?
Everything done with good intention can be considered an act of worship. When working, visiting, studying, sleeping, EVERYTHING... intend it for God.
Intend that you want to do good and bring benefits to others or to yourself... for God. Not for anyone else.
With a sincere intention for God, everything will become an act of worship.
Thus, whatever you do... you will focus more on the quality of the work rather than the quantity.
d. Maintain balance with adequate rest.
Productivity does not mean working endlessly. The Prophet Muhammad set an example of maintaining a balance between work, worship, and rest. One practical way is by adopting a good sleep pattern, such as sleeping early and waking up before dawn. As mentioned in the hadith:
“Setiap malam Tuhan kita turun ke langit dunia pada waktu sepertiga malam terakhir, Allah berkata: siapa yang berdoa kepadaku maka akan aku kabulkan, siapa yang meminta kepadaku akan aku berikan, siapa yang mohon ampun padaku maka aku akan memberi ampunan kepadanya. (Muttafaq alaih)
3. Avoid Productivity Barriers: Tips Based on Islam
a. Avoid Procrastination
Procrastination is one of the major barriers to the blessings of time.
The Prophet said:
"Utilize (take advantage of) five before five: your youthfulness (before old age), your wellbeing (before sickness), your richness (before poverty), your free time (before being occupied/busy), and your life (before death)."
(Hadits. Al-Hakim No. 7846).
b. Reduce Technological Distractions
Technology addiction can be one of the biggest barriers to achieving optimal productivity. Every notification that pops up, endless scrolling on social media without purpose, addiction to online games, or binge-watching never-ending series (Korean dramas/Netflix), addiction to pornography... unconsciously, these have made your brain increasingly addicted to instant dopamine.
You will not be able to achieve any of your desires, dreams, or life goals... if you are still addicted to those dopamine-driven things.
Meanwhile, your time is limited.
Youth will not return to you twice.
You are getting older, not younger.
You are moving towards death day by day...
If your time is filled only with fleeting pleasures that are illusory (dopamine addiction)... that steal all your time, attention, and focus...
Then you will experience great regret at the end of your life.
You will not be able to achieve and realize your desires.
Your youth will pass by without you realizing it.
You will regret wasting your time—time that will never return to your life—on things that offer no benefit in your real life.
"There are two blessings that most people are deceived by: health and free time." (Sahih Bukhari, no. 6412)
To help you stop dopamine addiction and increase your productivity multiple times over, I have written an ebook. “30 days, be Productive” .
InshaAllah, this ebook can help you stop your dopamine addiction, allowing you to be multiple times more productive than before, to achieve whatever your dreams may be.
This ebook is specifically designed to provide practical steps to help you escape the trap of technological distractions (awakening you from the hypnotic mode) and focus on what truly matters.
Don't worry, it's free.
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Make the next 30 days the starting point for a more productive life! To achieve whatever your dreams may be.
c. Stay Away from Laziness
In a prayer, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) sought protection from laziness:
(Ya Allah, aku berlindung kepada-Mu dari kelemahan, rasa malas, rasa takut, kejelekan di waktu tua, dan sifat kikir. Dan aku juga berlindung kepada-Mu dari siksa kubur serta bencana kehidupan dan kematian).”
(HR. Bukhari no. 6367 dan Muslim no. 2706)
The only person who can block your success is yourself.
And that is laziness and procrastination.
Take one step every day, and sooner or later, you will reach your life's goal.
But if you don't do anything, don't be surprised if your life stays the same. There will be no change, let alone improvement.
The way I overcome laziness, which you can follow:
- Imagine your biggest dream every day before going to bed.
- Then, imagine the consequences if you don't achieve that dream (for example, being humiliated by your family, going to prison, or whatever it may be).
- After that, imagine that you have achieved your dream. Visualize it clearly, even how you would feel when you have reached it. Feel the happiness and genuine gratitude. (This visualization will make your subconscious mind work faster to realize your goals.)
- When you feel that happiness and gratitude... your brain is in an Alpha/theta brainwave state.
So, instill in yourself that you MUST achieve that goal, no matter the circumstances.
- Start and go through your day by taking any step you can, RIGHT NOW!
- Be consistent and improve your steps by 1% every day.
- With that, you will create... compounding effect (A snowball effect that keeps growing larger).
- Big results... start from small, consistent steps.
Realize that whatever activity or habit you do every day, whether good or bad... if you keep doing it continuously, it will create... compounding effect.
Even if it's just lying down and scrolling through social media, but if you keep doing it continuously... because... compounding effect —In time, you will see the result, which is the decline of your life.
So, be wise in choosing your daily activities, and make sure they are only activities that you want the best results from in the future.
Laziness can cause someone to lose valuable opportunities. Get used to filling your free time with beneficial activities, such as reading books that enrich your life, attending online/offline seminars, or watching videos that help you grow and become better.
Or if you are confused and don't know what to do to fill your free time, because you feel mentally exhausted, and you feel like you've done so much, you want to rest...
Tapi dibanding menggunakan waktu istirahat tersebut untuk scrol sosial media tanpa batas…maka lebih baik anda gunakan untuk tidur atau membaca Al Qur’an.
Believe that the Qur'an can be a source of peace and healing for your soul and body. Biidznillah.
You will not feel exhausted when you hear the healing frequencies from the verses of God that you recite yourself.
4. Managing Stress with Islamic Principles for Optimal Productivity
God provides guidance to face stress, depression, and all mental illnesses that often hinder your productivity and life. Eliminating all anxiety and mental illness can be achieved through dhikr (remembrance of God).
Dhikr (remembrance of God) with your tongue—through specific recitations—will provide you with peace and a sense of security.
God says:
"Remember, only by the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace." (Translation of Qur'an, Surah Ar-Ra'd: 28).
Make it a habit to do dhikr and understand the meaning of your remembrance...
(For example, the dhikr "la hawla wa laa quwwata Illa Billah" — There is no power and strength except with God/from God). By understanding the words you are reciting in your dhikr, you will feel peace in whatever scenario you are going through right now. If you don't believe it, feel free to prove it yourself. You can recite any phrase you like or find easy (but remember... dhikr is a phrase of glorification to God, so it is not appropriate to make any creation, like Jibril or anyone else, a rival to God).
And when your tongue becomes accustomed to dhikr, you will feel that dhikr is truly a calming remedy, from God, that is very powerful for you.
Conclusion: Achieve Blessed Productivity.
Productivity without divine guidance is like a car without fuel.
It feels like you've been everywhere... you feel like you've been busy all day...
But when asked, what is the result of your busyness today?
You might feel confused. "What have I accomplished?"
That’s what happens when you’re busy without God’s guidance—you may be busy with activities all day, but in reality, you haven’t achieved anything that day. Because you’ve lost its blessings.
So, carry out your productivity... with divine guidance, as I have explained step by step above. This way, you will not only be productive, but whatever you do will also become a source of blessings and worship.
Wallahu a’lam bissawwab ( and God knows best).
All truth comes from God's guidance. And all mistakes are from myself (and may God forgive).
Author's note :
If you would like, please leave your suggestions, reviews, and constructive criticism in the comments section 😊.
I value every opinion you share, and I thank you.
You can also share the progress of your productivity in the comments :) Who knows, I might be able to help with any difficulties or challenges you’re facing.
My contact :
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