Ismail Kamdar

Ismail Kamdar is the Founder of Islamic Self Help and Izzah Academy, author of over a dozen books, and the operations manager of Yaqeen Institute.
Ismail Kamdar is the Founder of Islamic Self Help and Izzah Academy, author of over a dozen books, and the operations manager of Yaqeen Institute.
04
Jul
2017

Why vacations are crucial for productivity

Why Vacations

Do vacations make you feel guilty?

Many of us feel guilty to take vacations. After learning time management and personal productivity, we feel like we need to be constantly working on something. It doesn’t help when we see some successful people boasting about how they never took a day off in 25 years. All of this adds to our guilt.

I too used to feel this way until I learned something very important: these folk are the exception, not the norm.

The average person needs regular breaks in order to function at 100%. This includes daily breaks, weekly days off, and at least once or twice a year, a proper vacation.

5 Benefits of taking a Vacation

Vacations are not a waste of time if done properly. A proper vacation will benefit you in the following ways:  (and more)

1. They reduce stress

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of a vacation is that your stress levels are reduced significantly. Being away from the usual stresses of life gives you an opportunity to rebuild, recover, and relax. All helping you get back to your chaotic life with a healthy mind.

 

2. They increase happiness

A proper vacation increases happiness multiple times over. being away from your usual routine, seeing the world, and trying new things (and new food) all help to increase your happiness and overall well being.

 

3. They improve your health

With reduced stress and increased happiness comes improved health. Particularly, the health of your heart. Studies have shown that a good vacation reduces the chance of heart disease.  This makes sense as stress is a major cause of heart problems, and vacations greatly reduce stress.

 

4. They help you rethink your goals and vision

One of my personal favorite benefits of a vacation is that it gives me time to reflect on my goals and vision from afar. Away from stress, business, responsibilities, and daily problems, I have more time and clarity of mind to rethink, reorganize and restructure my goals for the coming year.

In fact, I believe the final day of a vacation is probably the best time of the year to sit and organize your goals for the coming year.

 

5. They recharge your energy levels

Whenever I feel my energy levels dipping, I take it as my body’s natural warning that I need a vacation. Vacations are like sleep and days off, but longer. They allow your body to rest from an entire year’s worth of hard work. This allows you to return to work refreshed, recovered, and recharged.

This is why an intelligent manager will encourage their employees to take vacations when they are not operating at 100%. Because they understand the value of keeping their employees healthy, energized and focused.

You will notice that all five of these things are crucial for productivity. This is why I firmly believe that vacations are crucial for productivity.

In Part Two, we discuss tips on how to gain these benefits from a vacation.
Access Part Two here.

 

Posted by Ismail Kamdar in Productivity
25
May
2017

New Free Course: Ramadan Reminders

Ramadan Reminders

Ramadan Reminders

Islamic Self Help presents an exciting new free course: Ramadan Reminders.

In this free course, we will be publishing a new video every day in Ramadan 2017.

Each video will cover a summarized Tafseer of an important Surah of the Quran.

Join the course today to gain access to all the videos.

This course comes with the following bonuses:
#1: Free eBook – Verse of the Day Collection
#2: Links to our Ramadan Articles
#3: YouTube Ramadan Webinar Series

NOTE: This course is still in development and a new video will be released every day during the month of Ramadan!

Access the course for free here: http://courses.islamicselfhelp.com/p/ramadan-reminders

Other courses by Islamic Self Help

Islamic Self Help offers a variety of excellent courses to help you grow professionally. These include:

  1. 20 Personal Development Tips
  2. 5 Time Management Tips
  3. 8 Fundamentals of Public Speaking
  4. Self-Publishing Your Books
  5. Homeschooling For Success

What students are saying about our courses:

“I was usually late to most places I go. Everyone used to make fun of me and I couldn’t fix myself. Wherever I used to go late I used to think afterward what did I do wrong and what I should not do. I thought in this life I still have another chance to improve but if I end up loosing my time in this world then in next life there is no chance to fix the lose. I wanted to change myself but didn’t know how.

Once I have talked to my brother about my concern he gave me the link to this course. I liked it because it is by Muslim scholar and he made many points from Quran and Sunnah. This course not only gives tips about time management but also tells to prioritize things like reading and spending quality time with your family. I referred this to my brother and sister too.” – Saima Yusaf

“Alhamdulillah, this is the third course I am taking at Islamic Self Help and really enjoying it. I never thought I would have the patience to write a complete book mainly because I didn’t know the sequence and details so it is a big help and encouragement for me. The steps are very detailed, clearly explained and easy to follow and provide valuable information on the whole process of writing and self-publishing. Insha Allah with the help of this course I will be able to publish my first eBook in 2017 and maybe even two or three.” – Muna Bushra

“Brother Ismail takes us through practical and step-by-step pathway backed by real life examples to have the courage to tread the path. While pointing out chronic loopholes in conventional education system, he strikes a great balance between excitement and challenges of homeschooling.” (Bela Khan – Life Coach/Homeschooler)

Join Islamic Self Help today and begin your journey of personal development.

Posted by Ismail Kamdar in Inner Peace
23
May
2017

7 ways to improve the quality of your Taraweh

Taraweh Article

7 ways to improve the quality of your Taraweh

In our previous Ramadan article, we discussed how to set realistic goals for Ramadan. Today, I want to share with you a few tips on how to improve the quality of your Taraweh Salah.

For too many of us, Taraweh has become a ritual that we just try to get through. A lack of concentration and understanding, combined with rushed prayer lead many to have an unfulfilling experience. However, there are many people who really benefit from the night prayer in Ramadan.

These Muslim experience higher levels of spirituality, closeness to Allah, and a deeper connection with the Quran.

How do they do it?

I have summarized this in seven simple tips that any of us can implement this Ramadan. Applying even one of these seven strategies will help you improve the quality of your Qiyam Al-Layl this Ramadan.

1. Renew Your Intention Daily

Any act of worship can become a ritual if we do not check our intentions daily. So the first step to keeping Taraweh relevant is to remind yourself everyday why you are praying it. Remind yourself every single day on the way to the Masjid: “I am praying Taraweh for the sake of Allah to improve my relationship with Allah and His Book.”

A daily reminder about why we pray goes a long way in helping us pray properly.

2. Choose the right Masjid

In some Masjids, the Imams treat Taraweh as a ritual to rush and complete in record time. As a result, the Quran is rushed through, Salah is prayed too fast to be considered acceptable, and nobody really benefits.

But there also exist Masjids in which Taraweh is treated with respect. The Imam recites with proper Tajweed, at a moderate pace, and still completes in a decent time. Choose these masjids over the former for a better experience.

Last resort, if you can’t find a Masjid where they pray properly then consider praying at home alone, or with family and friends. It is better than rushing through the prayer at super-speed.

3. Read the translation

Before heading to the Masjid for Taraweh, browse through the translation of some of the verses that the Imam will be reciting that day. This will help you concentrate better in the Salah and get more benefit from the Salah. Read the translation of key passages before Salah and reflect on them during the prayer, instead of daydreaming.

4. Study The Tafseer

Attend a local Tafseer class, follow an online Tafseer series, join our free online course, or read a Tafseer book. Make an effort daily to understand the Quran a little deeper. This will make the Taraweh experience more beneficial.

Be careful though! Make sure you are studying an authentic Tafseer, and not a misguided Tafseer or even worse: making up your own understanding of the Quran. To be safe, stick to the work of authentic scholars.

5. Pray in the last one third of the night

Depending on which school of thought you follow, Taraweh and Tahajjud are the same thing i.e. they are both Qiyam Al-Layl prayed during Ramadan. Therefore, the best time to pray it is not immediately after Esha, but during the last one third of the night.

This is the time when duas are answered, giving you more reason to pray at that time. There are many ways to work this into your Ramadan. You could pray the entire Taraweh late at night, or leave a few Rakah for late at night. Or even just leave the Witr for Suhoor time. Whichever route you choose, try to pray a few Rakah during the one third of the night for a deeper spiritual experience.

6. Make dua during the last one third of the night

As mentioned in the previous point, duas are answered during the last one third of the night. So you don’t just want to pray at that time, you want to pour your heart out to Allah at that time. Too many of us wake up groggy for Suhoor and sleepwalk through the meal. Instead, utilize that time to make dua for the things you really want. This will lead to a deeper spiritual experience.

7. Avoid Negativity

Focus on your Ibaadah and relationship with Allah this Ramadan.

Avoid negative thoughts: I’m not good enough to pray!

Stay away from controversial discussions: How many Rakah is Taraweh, anyway?  

Keep a distance from bad company: What’s a sinner like you doing praying?

And avoid arguing with your fellow Muslims.

Focus on your relationship with Allah. That is all that matters. Taraweh is not a competition between you and your friends on who is going to pray more, finish faster, or who has the stronger Daleel. It is an act of worship that must be done for the sake of Allah.

Do these seven things and you will, in shaa Allah, experience a more spiritual Taraweh this Ramadan!

To help you improve your understanding of the Quran this Ramadan, get a copy of our exclusive eBook ‘Themes of the Quran‘.

Buy Now

Posted by Ismail Kamdar in Inner Peace
20
May
2017

What is the Fitrah and how can it help you?

The FitrahWhat is the Fitrah?

The fitrah refers to the human being’s natural moral compass. Every human being has a built in guidance system that helps us understand good and evil. Think of it as your intuition or natural instincts. We instinctively know that murder, lies and betrayal are evil. And we also naturally know that kindness, empathy, generosity and love are good.

Even a baby who does not understand language knows that the words “I love you” have a positive meaning. That same baby also knows that yelling and shouting are negative. How does a baby understand this? How does a baby know that smiling is a sign of happiness and that crying is an expression of sadness?

The Evidence

This is the fitrah at work. Islam teaches us that every child is born upon the fitrah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Every child is born upon the fitrah, but it is the parents who make it a Christian, Jew or Magian,” (Sahih Al-Bukhari 1292, Sahih Muslim 2658)

The fitrah is something we cannot see, but we know through revelation and experience that it is there. As per the hadith quoted, the environment, especially parents, play a major role in either nurturing or suppressing a child’s fitrah. But they cannot destroy it completely. Every human has the choice to follow society or follow their fitrah.

The corruption of human morals

A good example of how society suppresses the fitrah is the constant exposure to immoral messages from a young age. Initially, children are shocked and disgusted by the immorality they see in the adult world. Yet over time, they become desensitized towards it. Eventually, they embrace the immoral culture they are raised in.

The shock and disgust is the fitrah’s reaction to evil, while the desensitization is the suppression of our moral compass. Eventually, as teenagers they embrace immorality, yet deep down in their hearts the guilt, inner turmoil and emptiness remains. The fitrah cannot be destroyed completely by society.

How it works

The prophet (peace be upon him) also informed us that this element allows us to recognize something evil without someone telling us that it is evil. Once a companion asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), “What is righteousness and what is evil?” He was looking for a general definition to help him identify good and evil on his own.

The prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “Righteousness is good character, and evil is that which you feel uneasy about inside and would not like others to know about you,” (Sahih Muslim 2553)

This Hadith defines the role that our fitrah plays in our lives. In psychological terms, it can be called the conscious. Psychologists are unable to understand how or why humans have a natural conscious, while other animals do not. As Muslims, we believe that Allah created us with this fitrah, as a means to guide us towards the truth.

The way in which our fitrah operates is that when we do something good, we feel a natural happiness inside of us. For example, if you give someone a gift or charity, you feel happiness deep inside. This is because our actions are in line with our fitrah. So Allah rewards us for this with happiness and inner peace.

The fitrah is also our guilty conscious. When we do something evil, there is this deep sense of guilt and shame inside. This is our fitrah sending us a warning sign that we are straying from the straight path. Whenever you feel this guilt, use it to fuel your repentance. Use it to motivate change for the better.

Its role in Dawah

The fitrah has also been a means of guiding many Non-Muslims to embrace Islam. As well as a means of guidance for many Muslims, causing them to abandon sectarianism for authentic Islam. These people tapped deep inside and discovered that they had inherit beliefs already programmed into their minds from birth, like the Oneness of God, the avoidance of superstition and the conscious awareness of good and evil.

Using this inner compass, they searched through the teachings of different religions and sects and found only Islam confirming every internal belief they already held. These people embraced Islam and finally found themselves at peace with their inner selves.

Acknowledging our fitrah and tapping into it at times or confusion is crucial for our spiritual development and the attainment of inner peace. When faced with a moral dilemma, look deep inside and see whether your inner compass is warning you against it or is at peace with what you wish to do. This will help us live more naturally moral lives, and attain inner peace.

Summary: About The Fitrah

The Fitrah is our natural compass. It helps us to instinctively understand good and evil. Society and the media may corrupt it, but they cannot destroy it. Tap into it to guide you towards the truth. Find inner peace by making your life and actions in line with your natural compass.

Understand the Quran deeper this Ramadan with our exclusive eBook

Buy Now

Posted by Ismail Kamdar in Inner Peace
05
May
2017

The Self-Publishing Revolution: Doing It Yourself

The Self-Publishing Revolution

“What do you mean by the self-publishing revolution?” You may ask. Is it violent? Is it a war? What’s this all about?

Relax, the self-publishing revolution is as peaceful as it gets. Its a revolution in the field of arts. In writing, producing, designing and content creation.

In the beginning

Once upon a time, if you wanted to succeed at any art you needed a publisher. If you were an author, you would take your draft to publisher after publisher, receiving rejection after rejection. Eventually, if you were lucky, someone might give you a chance and publish your book.

Likewise, if you wanted to produce an education course. Or a nasheed album. Even if it was just publishing an article.

Then the internet happened! And with it came the revolution.

Self-Publishing and Beyond

Today, with the internet you no longer need to face rejection. You don’t need to find a publisher. You can publish your latest article straight to your blog. As soon as your book is ready, it can be up for sale on Amazon. And you can even launch your own online learning academy.

I know.

Because I did all three at Islamic Self Help.

In the past two years, Islamic Self Help has been a platform for publishing dozens of articles, 10 eBooks and 5 online courses.

This feature is about one of those premium online courses. And if you are interested in doing what I am doing, then you have to read this.

How to self-publish your works

At Islamic Self Help, we want to help other artists do what we do. We want to help you self-publish your works. This is why we designed a course to teach you everything you need to know about self-publishing.

Launched January 1st 2017, our premium course ‘How to Self-Publish Your Book in 90 days‘ has helped over 50 students learn the ins and outs of self-publishing.

Through a series of 86 video lessons, we take you from the very beginning (idea generation, draft writing) to the higher levels (email marketing, sales).

The good news that this course isn’t just for authors!

If you have anything you want to self-publish, an eBook, articles, poetry, even videos, then this course is for you!

What would you get out of this course?

Imagine being able to turn your passion into a source of side income. Imagine being able to make money from the sale of your product in your sleep!

If you are serious about publishing your art, you owe it to yourself to learn self-publishing.

Self Publishing will:

1- Grant you autonomy

2- Keep you in control of the sales and distribution of your products

3- Help you publish faster

4- Increase percentage of income per sale

5- Protect your copyright over your writings

Can you handle it?

Warning: This course is long and comprehensive. Featuring over 100 lessons (including notes, tests and videos). But it is just the beginning.

Practicing what you learn, and self-publishing your own eBooks and products will be the real challenge.

If you are up to the challenge, then we are offering you a special discount for our Self-Publishing course.

Utilize this link to access the course at an 80% discount!

Do so and not only will you save $400, but you will gain instant access to all 80 videos today!

What are you waiting for?

Your journey towards self-publishing begins now!

Self-Publishing Revolution

Click the picture to grab the 80% discount today!

Posted by Ismail Kamdar in Books, Business