08 - Creating an Action Plan for Dhul Hijjah
Action is the universal language of success.” — Dr. Steve Maraboli
Assalamu alaikum.
How are you doing? It's day 3 of Dhul Hijjah already, SubhanaLlah (because islamically, a new day starts after Maghrib)
How was day 1 and day 2? (Please be honest with yourself)
Did you do great? Just okay? Or not well enough?
Whatever you grade yourself, we still have 7 days to go. 7 days of opportunities to do as many deeds as we can, bi'idniLlah.
I'll be sharing how to create an action plan so that you can benefit maximally from the days left.
1. Purify your intentions.
Ask yourself questions like “Why am I doing this?” “What do I hope to get?”
If Allah isn't at the centre of your answers, you need to look at your intentions and reset them.
2. Outline all the good deeds you'd like to do.
Good deeds like;
Fasting the first nine days (and if you can't, fasting the 9th which is the Day of Arafah)
Praying the 5 daily Salah
Praying the voluntary prayers
Waking up for Tahajjud
Reciting the Qur'an, practicing tadabbur or learning tafseer.
Constant dhikr (Allah Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha ill-Allah, Allahu Akbar, Wa Lillaah il-Hamd)
Seeking some form of deen knowledge
Giving charity
Preserving ties of kinship
3. Create routines.
Routines are everything. As a student or a worker, most of your day doesn't belong to you. But your mornings and evenings/nights do.
So you can create a routine for these pockets of time.
E.g
Morning Routine;
• Wake up for Tahajjud
• Recite the Qur'an // Practice Taddabur
• Dhikr
Evening Routine;
•30mins seeking deen knowledge (listening to a podcast, reading a book)
• Recite the Qur'an // Practice Taddabur.
This is just a rough example of a morning and evening routine you could create for yourself if you're usually very busy.
4. Be accountable.
You could get an accountability partner to help you stay on track.
If you're self motivated enough, you could just track your daily progress yourself either in a book or on your phone(Google Sheets).
I hope this was helpful. I pray Allah subhanahu wa t'ala makes it easy for you (and I) to worship Him. Allahumma Aameen.
Your sister in faith,
Nusaybah,
Community lead,
LFJ Tribe.