Muslim Standard Time

[hakeemad]

Salaams all

Question - What's the difference between a muslim wedding and a non Muslim wedding? Answer - 1 starts on time and the other starts 2 hours late.
So what is it that makes us late to everything, whatever event we organise rarely starts on time and if it does there are always plenty of latecomers. Whether it's a Wedding, an Aqeeqh, an Islamic lecture or even Friday prayers, we see this pattern repeated over and over again. When anyone mentions the lateness, we laugh and say it's Muslim Standard Time bro. Surely isn't one of the wisdoms of having defined times for prayers to make us more punctual and organised. Instead we now seem to be the most un-puctual and dis-organised community in the world. I would be very surprised if the prophet sallahu alayhi wa salaam would be laughing the way we do.
However after studying this phenomenon for some time, I've come to the conclusion that it's not just a lack or respect for time (both ours and other peoples) but it's the inability to manage time. It's this same inability that leads us to enter Ramadan saying that we will

• Read a Juz of the Quran every day
• Go to tarweah every night
• Read a hadeeth every day
• Do Itikaaf for the last 10 days
• Memorise a Juz

Ramadan comes and goes and many of us never achieve any of those goals, it's not because we don't want to, it's because we don't seem to know how to. Ramadan is virtually upon us again lets all make the intention to change our behaviour starting today and then for once we can have a chance of achieving our goals in this blessed month.

Narrated 'Aisha: The Prophet was asked, "What deeds are loved most by Allah?" He said, "The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few." He added, 'Don't take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability." Bukhari

Lets take this advice and start practising what we want to do in Ramadan now, therefore when we get into Ramadan we are ready. There are loads of barriers to starting but I suggest to start with this simple and easily digestible eCourse on time management. http://www.time-mangment.com/. It will not only help you in Ramadan but should give you a general formular for motivation and success.

Lets make Muslim Standard Time and the reasons behind it a thing of the past

Jazakallahu khyran

Abdul Hakeem