The common cause of delay work is there is no clear goal from our activity. We do not know what we will get if we do it or what effect our work for others. This confusion makes us slothful to do a task. So, we should make it a priority. Sort your duties from the hardest or the most important. Then, start from the highest priority. Insha Allah, you will have the motivation to do your duty and you do not delay again. Allah says:
وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا
“The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say words of peace.” (Surah Al-Furqan 25:63)
Procrastination (delay) in doing good things is as same as planting a regret in Doomsday later. How many people will regret at that time because their habits always delay good deeds and arrange their times well? Indeed, time is the main capital of our lives. Our lives are judged according to what we did, and not according to how many years we lived. Life is very short. Allah says:
وَهُمْ يَصْطَرِخُونَ فِيهَا رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ أَوَلَمْ نُعَمِّرْكُم مَّا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَن تَذَكَّرَ وَجَاءَكُمُ النَّذِيرُ فَذُوقُوا فَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ
And they will cry therein, “Our Lord! Bring us out; we will do righteous (deeds) other than (that) which we used (to) do.” Did not We give you life long enough that (would) receive admonition therein whoever receives admonition? And came to you the warner. So taste, then not (is) for the wrongdoers any helper.” (Surah Fatir 35:37)
When you meet a hard task, do not be panic and stressed. Moreover, do not delay doing it. Please try to keep calm and take a breath. Then try to do what you have to do at that time. Get rid of bad thoughts from your mind. If you do not get sufficient sleep, you will be weak and stressed. Allah says:
بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
“Nay, Allah raised him towards Him. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:158)
You cannot focus to finish your task. Finally, you will postpone your task. Many people are fearful to take a rest and get sufficient sleep because they think that it is as same as spending their time. Indeed, by getting sufficient sleep, someone can be more competent to do their tasks.
Here are some things not to delay in Islam to do good deeds in our daily lives:
- Clear your mind from many information
- The arrival of seven unexpected things
- Preparing the deceased for burial
- Forced yourself to do your work
- Getting a virgin girl married
- Never work without priority
- Repentance before death
- Get sufficient sleep
- Work as your rhythm
- Give a reward to yourself
- Stay away from distraction
- Take a breath, try to keep calm
- Delay to do good deeds is a soldier of evil
- We do not know that there is still the next day
- A sureness, the death will come sooner or later
- The mercy of Allah is not something that must be waited
Islam is centred on time. What Muslims do, including our daily prayers, gains more meaning if it is done on time. Good deeds that are not done in the right place at the right time can lose the meaning and benefit that they are expected to provide. It is necessary to hold the hand that is stretched out to us for aid, not when it is convenient for us, but when the other party is in need. Otherwise, all our good deeds and efforts that we do later on might distance us from the spirit of the edict. Allah says:
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفًا وَشَيْبَةً يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ
“Allah (is) the One Who created you from weakness, then made after weakness strength, then made after strength weakness and grey hair. He creates what He wills, and He (is) the All-Knower the All-Powerful.” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:54)
The responsibility, like the necessity to perform more actions that lead to personal maturation, make us aware that not delaying good deeds, to the best of our ability, in the social dimension is not a luxury and that those who need such acts deserve them. Allah says:
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ كَأَن لَّمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلَّا سَاعَةً مِّنَ النَّهَارِ يَتَعَارَفُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ قَدْ خَسِرَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِلِقَاءِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ
“And the Day He will gather them, as if they had not remained except an hour of the day, they will recognize each other between them. Certainly, (will have) lost those who denied the meeting (with) Allah, and not they were the guided ones.” (Surah Yunus 10:45)
Evils are very happy if they see many humans who fall into procrastination. So we need to fight our lust and desire to delay good deeds. Sometimes, we will be confused when we have to choose the information that we must accept first. Many people will turn their attention to easy things. So, their important work cannot finish on time. They should choose the most important information to do their work. So, their work will be not delayed.
The virtues and characteristics of the Quran are stated as follows in verses:
- “This Quran is guidance and glad tidings for those who believe.” (Sad, 38:29)
- “The Quran is guidance and glad tidings for those who believe.” (Al-Baqara, 2:97)
- “And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad PBUH) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.“ (Quran, 59:7)
- “Do they not ponder on the Qur’an (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy.” (An-Nisa, 4:82)
- “And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy.” (Al-Anam, 6:155)
- “The Qur’an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong)…” (Al-Baqara, 2:185)
- “And this is a Book which We have sent down, bringing blessings and confirming (the revelations) which came before it: that thou mayest warn the Mother of Cities and all around her. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in this (Book), and they are constant in guarding their prayers.” (Al-Anam, 6:92)
Sometimes, finishing the work is not the hardest thing, but starting to do it is the hardest thing. However difficult your work is, you must force yourself to start it. If necessary, start from the easiest work. If you can force yourself to start it, then there is a big chance to finish it, too. Feel your right to get happiness. Do something that can make you happy. If there is no one who appreciates your work, you can start from yourself. Allah says:
قُل لَّئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَىٰ أَن يَأْتُوا بِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ لَا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا
Say, “If gathered the mankind and the jinn to [that] bring the like (of) this Quran, not they (could) bring the like of it, even if we’re some of them to some others assistants.” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:88)
So, we must organize our time wisely, being very careful about what we use it for. We must consider the free time that we have, in which we could do good deeds, as a precious resource, guarding it against waste or misuse. So, as faithful, we should not delay doing our works because Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala does not like people who delay their works.
