Sunnah Revival
about their parents or siblings can go a long way. Try to be as supportive as possible and help others deal with their struggles. If they need somebody to pick them up, be that person for them. If they are sick, visit them. If there is a death in their family, let them know that you are there to listen. Make sure they know that they can count on you at any time. Give without expecting in return – this is what true kindness is all about.
4. Be a Good Listener Aisha( RA) said: And this is how Allah’ s Messenger( SAW) used to utter( so distinctly) that if one intended to count( the words uttered) he would be able to do so. [ Muslim ]
We have been given two ears and only one mouth for a reason. Whenever somebody wants to share a story or just wants to talk to you, turn to them and listen to them attentively, as if only the two of you were in the room. Needless to say, don’ t interrupt them or get distracted during the conversation. Focus entirely on the person speaking, nod and smile from time to time, ask a couple of questions related to the topic or add your two cents once they have finished talking. When somebody talks to you, really make them feel that you are interested in what they are saying.
5. Be Humble As narrated Iyad ibn Himar( al-Mujashi’ i): The Prophet( SAW) said: Allah has revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one oppresses another and boasts over another. [ Abu Dawud ]
7. Appreciating Others“ When a man loves his brother, he should tell him that he loves him.” [ Abu Dawud ]
I’ m sure we all have people in our lives who we really appreciate. They can be family members, friends or co-workers – those who make our lives a little more enjoyable. But when was the last time we actually showed how much they mean to us and not take them for granted? There are multiple, simple ways to show our appreciation for those who have impacted our lives in a positive way. These include writing a thankyou note to your friend, baking cookies for your teammates, inviting your co-worker out for a cup of coffee after work, going out on a date with your spouse, volunteering to cook dinner for the entire family, giving a hug, slipping a little love note into your spouse’ s jacket or bag, sending an e-mail of appreciation to your employees, giving your child a gift without an occasion, buying your mom a bouquet of flowers – as you see, the possibilities are endless. Just be creative.
I sincerely hope that it will be easy for you to build productive relationships yourself or maintain them if you already have. If it seems overwhelming at first, start off by practising just one of the seven principles and add the others as time goes by. More and more people will want to be in your company and it won’ t take long for you to realize the positive effect it will have on your productivity, in shaa Allah.
WRITTTEN BY: Naima Asma Cherfaoui source: productivemuslim. com
Each and everyone of us has a special talent, something we are incredibly good at. It could be public speaking, math, drawing, your leadership abilities – you name it. However, don’ t let it get to your head or be selfish with it. Remind yourself that it is a gift from Allah( SWT) so you can do good, benefit others and offer a helping hand whenever possible. For example, you can tutor a friend who is facing difficulties with his homework. Alternatively, if you are a professional, you can mentor youths who are interested in joining your industry.
6. Don’ t Criticize“ Whoever conceals the( hidden) fault of his Muslim brother, Allah( SWT) will conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever exposes the fault of his Muslim brother, Allah will expose his faults, until( so that) He shames him, due to it, in his( own) house.” [ Ibn Majah ]
We all know these people who are never pleased with anything and constantly feel the need to criticize. Nobody wants to spend excessive time with them because they tend to drag you down with them and put you in a bad mood as well. People dislike being criticized, so be gentle. I’ m not saying to ignore mistakes or never advise anyone. But there is a big difference between criticizing and advising. Picking on somebody’ s flaws won’ t get you anywhere in most situations. Instead, make constructive suggestions and thus increase the probability that your advice will actually be accepted and put into practice, in shaa Allah. Also, it is always better to talk to the person concerned in private instead of disclosing their shortcomings in public.
42 | Ihsaan | Issue 3