Sometimes, when I
wake up in the morning, I have no idea what to do for that day, go to work, do
something to act busy, wait for the time to clock out, go home, then sleep. I know, that
behavior is the example of a person who is not decisive. When I woke up, I
didn’t decide or even think what I had to do, I didn’t decide what my plans for
the day would be, I didn’t decide how to control the multiple variables that
surround me so that I can lead a productive life.
Decisiveness is the
characteristic of a productive Muslim – because only by making effective
decisions will make me moving forward in my life. The more I linger, and let
evil play with my mind, the more I’ll be slowed down and become unproductive.
I know that making
a decision isn’t the most easy thing to do, especially since I’ll be
responsible for the consequences of my decision. I know that it’s too
comfortable not to make any decision and is actually very convenient to let
others decide for me (after all, I will always blame others if things go
wrong!). But is this how a Muslim should be? Is this why Allah
s.w.t created my brain, my heart, and created logic, emotions and reason
for me?
I try to search and
finding the best method for making effective decisions. At least, even I'm not
fully follow the method, maybe it may help each of us when we have no idea to
decide the important decision in our life.
1. Think!
You’ll be surprised
how many people don’t think before they decide! And by thinking, I don’t mean
spending few minutes staring at the ceiling waiting for a revelation to come!
Thinking means brainstorming, analyzing, drawing from your experience of how
best to go about a certain course of action and really taking the time to
measure the implications of your decision. Always remember, the decision we
made, will effect our future, our life or someone's else future. So, do the
right and reasonable decision.
2. Research/consult
You’ve done the
thinking part, now you’ve tens of questions… no problem, do your research! Look
around, ask around, and consult others, bounce ideas from family/friends and
really exhaust every possible means of understanding the implications of your
decision. Sometimes, we need to asked for others opinion. Maybe their thought
may help or may change our way of thinking before we decide any important
decision in our life.
3. Istikhara
SubhanaAllah, Allah
is so merciful to us, He knew that it would be hard for us to make decisions
easily, so he opened a special lines of communication for us to Him when it
comes to decisions.. it’s called Istikhara prayer! Just read this hadeeth
carefully and understand its meaning:
On the authority of
Jaabir Ibn ‘Abdullah he said: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) would instruct
us to pray for guidance in all of our concerns, just as he would teach us a
chapter from the Qur’an. He would say ‘if any of you intends to undertake a
matter then let him pray two supererogatory units (two rak’ah naafilah) of
prayer and after which he should supplicate:
‘O Allaah, I seek
Your counsel by Your knowledge and by Your power I seek strength and I ask You
from Your immense favour, for verily You are able while I am not and verily You
know while I do not and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allaah, if You know
this affair -and here he mentions his need- to be good for me in relation to my
religion, my life, and end, then decree and facilitate it for me, and bless me
with it, and if You know this affair to be ill for me towards my religion, my
life, and end, then remove it from me and remove me from it, and decree for me
what is good wherever it be and make me satisfied with such."
You’re asking Allah
– the One who knows everything about what’s best for you. If you’ve true certainty
in your dua' do you think Allah will make you take a “bad” decision?
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said, the one does istikhara will not
regret! Imagine someone saying to you, I’ll give you a formula, if you follow
it, you’ll never ever ever regret any decision you make! Will you take up the
offer?!
4. Decide/Action
After you think, do
the research, and asked for Allah s.w.t guidance, then what should we do?
DECIDE! Take action! And jump into your decision full force taking every
conceivable first step you can make, so that you can’t reverse your decision!
You wanted to open a business, and taken the above steps, NOW open it
and invest your money! You wanted to propose to a particular person and you’ve
done the above, pick up the phone and call they now! Make the decision and act
upon it quickly before shaytaan comes to whisper in your mind and puts doubt.
Never delay any good decision you've decided. Just put trust on yourself and
trust that Allah already open your heart to guide and help you to make the
right decision.
5. Dua/Tawakkal
You’ve made the
decision, taken some actions… it’s not over yet. Make dua and have trust in
Allah. You may have made the right decision, but to follow through a decision
correctly needs lots of dua', and trust in Allah s.w.t so don’t give up! And
don’t regret decisions you’ve made after doing all the above, you only have 2
possible scenarios: either you’ve made good decisions and things are working
great, or you’ve made a decision that challenged you which you can either learn
from or you’ve learnt to overcome!
"But they plan,
and Allah plan. And Allah is the best of planners." (Al-Anfal:30)
Yes, making
decisions isn’t easy, but instead of dodging them and suffering the
consequences in this life and hereafter, develop your decision making muscle by
making decisions daily using the above steps – whether for small decisions or
big decisions – just make a decision! Be brave! Be wise! Insyaa Allah,
everything will go smoothly.
In
doubt,
Qusyaimah
Rosman
Reference: Productive Muslim
