The habits summarized below by Franklin Covey are more like everything we have talked about in this book, once again emphasising that Allah gave us all these solutions in Islam, an embodiment of the way to live, let’s embrace it wholly.
Habit 1. Be Proactive – take responsibility for your life
Habit 2. Begin with the end in mind – define your mission and goals in life Habit 3. Put first things first – Prioritize and do the most important thing first Habit 4. Think Win-Win – have an ‘everyone can win’ attitude
Habit 5. Seek first to understand and then to be understood – listen to people sincerely Habit 6. Synergize – work together (in a team) to achieve more
Habit 7. Sharpen the Saw – Renew yourself regularly
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Words of the Wise
The best way to conclude this book, and a dedication to you and our children now and for generations to come after we leave this world, is in the advice of Luqman, the wise man to his son, this advice was so valuable and timeless that Allah put it on record in the Quran for generations and generations to benefit from it – a whole Surah (31) dedicated to just this advice, please go to the Quran to read it thoroughly and contemplate.
Allah says, “And certainly We gave wisdom to Luqman, saying: Be grateful to Allah.
And whoever is grateful, he is only grateful for his own soul; and whoever is ungrateful, then surely Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praised.”
Luqman said to this son,
Oh my son! Do not associate aught with Allah; most surely polytheism is a grievous iniquity;
Oh my son! Surely if it is the very weight of the grain of a mustard-seed, even though it is in a rock, or in the heaven, or deep in the earth, Allah will bring it to light; surely
Allah is All-Knower of subtleties, All-Aware;
Oh my son! Keep up prayer and enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and bear patiently that which befalls you; surely these acts require courage;
And do not turn your face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exulting over much; surely Allah does not love any self-conceited boaster;
And pursue the right course in your going about and lower your voice; surely the most hateful of voices is the braying of the asses;
And the last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W which took place on 9 Dhul Hijjah 10 AH (9 March 632) on Mount Arafat
After praising and thanking Allah, Prophet Muhammad S.A.W said:
“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully
and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.
O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to
their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has
forbidden you to take usury (interest); therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict
nor suffer any inequity. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all
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the interest due to Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived…
Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as
never to be unchaste.
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, perform your five daily prayers (salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in zakat (almsgiving).
Perform Hajj if you can afford it.
All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor does a black have any superiority over a white except by piety and good action.
Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow
Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.
Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born.
Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and my example, the SUNNAH and if you follow
these you will never go astray.
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again;
and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people”.
Disclaimer:
Nothing in this book is from our own creation, it is simply a compilation of lessons from numerous Islamic lectures with references to the Quran and Hadith. We therefore apologize where there is a lack of proper referencing.
All proceeds from this book shall go back into the charity organization to continue to benefit the needy.
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