Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 36
Recognise Your Waste!( LEANING OF ________!)
By Dr. Muhammad Azeem Ashraf( Phd) Six Sigma Black Belt Cummins Emission Solutions Cummins Inc, Columbus, Indiana USA
When considering the topic of ' lean-ness ', we always consider manufacturing industry. However, leanness, consciousness and elimination of waste is supposed to be in every avenue of life. Often ignored in our society, ' time ' is the root of all wastes. I would like to state some quotes from the most influential person, who being the Prophet Muhammad( sallallahu `alayhe wa sallam) in regards of time. It should be noted that using the time for legitimate work, improvement, service for humanity, development and even enjoyment does in no way go against the teachings of Islam. Rather we are encouraged to avoid any kind of waste.
The Prophet( sallallahu `alayhe wa sallam) always demanded that work should start early in the morning. On the authority of Sukhr Al-Ghamidi: " The Prophet said, ' O Allah, bless my nation ' s early rising.' If he dispatched an army or a division, he did that early in the morning." [ Abu Dawud, Ibn Hibban ]
‘ Aisha( RA) reported; the Prophet( sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, " Rise early to earn your living and do your affairs, for it brings about blessing and success." [ at-Tabarani ]
Fatima, the Prophet ' s daughter, said that when he saw her still lying in bed one morning, he told her, " My daughter, get up and witness your Lord ' s bounty, and do not be among the indifferent; Allah distributes daily bread between the break of dawn and sunrise." [ al-Baihaqi ]
Islam encourages the followers to care for time, to utilize it to the best legitimate benefit and not to waste it. Besides, it holds them responsible for their time. The righteous predecessors were aware of that responsibility, so they acted accordingly. Describing their care for time, Hassan Al-Basry said, " I saw those people and how they were more careful about their time than about their Dirhams and Dinars [ i. e. their money ]." [ Abdullah Ibn-Al-Mubarak, " Az-Zuhd "( Asceticism), p. 51.]
I wanted to start this piece as " Lean Manufacturing ", but soon realized waste is a problem not limited to manufacturing only- it is in every sphere of life.