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.
07
Feb
2017

Surah Maryam: 4 Powerful Family Lessons

Surah Maryam

Surah Maryam

Surah Maryam: 4 Powerful Family Lessons

The 19th chapter of the Quran, Surah Maryam, is one of the most powerful Surahs in the Quran. With a strong focus on the prophets and their families, this Surah is full of amazing lessons for families.

Here are four important lessons from this story:

1. Miracles can happen

The opening story of Surah Maryam is about Prophet Zakaria (AS) and the miraculous birth of his son Yahya (AS). Prophet Zakaria (AS) prayed for a son and was granted one as a miracle at an old age. The lesson here is to never give up, and to never lose hope in Allah’s Mercy.

No matter what family problems you are facing, remain positive and optimistic. Continue to make dua to Allah for assistance. And never lose hope. Miracles happen all the time, we just need to stay strong.

2.Respect Your Elders Even When disagreeing

The third story of Surah Maryam focuses on Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and the Dawah he did to his father Azar. Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) father was an idol maker. So he called him to Tawheed.

The main point to note in this passage is that no matter how astray his father was, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) continued to address him in the most respectful manner.

Too often, young Muslims speak to their elders very disrespectfully when trying to correct them. In doing so, they cause more harm than good. Remain respectful no matter what, as that is what Islam teaches.

3. Your family are a gift

In multiple places in Surah Maryam, Allah mentions a family member as a gift to another, even using the word ‘wahaba’ which means to gift. Prophet Musa (AS) was gifted with a brother Prophet Harun (AS). Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was gifted his sons and grandson. Maryam was gifted with Prophet Eesa (AS).

The lesson for us all here is that righteous family are a gift. Cherish them and thank Allah for them. Avoid conflict, and patch things up when you slip up. Do not allow the devil to cause problems between you and your family.

4. Righteousness isn’t guaranteed

After mentioning all of these prophets, Allah says, “And after them, there came a generation who abandoned prayers and followed their desires. So soon they will be meet punishment.” (Surah Maryam 19:59)

This verse should teach us a very important lesson. Because you are a good Muslim and striving to raise your children properly, you may think they will also become righteous. However, their righteousness (and the righteousness of future generations) is not guaranteed.

Your job is simply to show them the right way, teach them and to pray for them. Whether they choose the right way as adults or not is not something you control. This is the hardest lesson for many of us to swallow, and pray to Allah not to test us with offspring that go astray.

However, it is crucial to know this so that we can prepare ourselves to deal with the tests of life.

These are four important lessons related to family taken from Surah Maryam.

For more Tafseer lessons, check out our eBook: Themes of the Quran.

Themes of the Quran

Posted by Ismail Kamdar in Inner Peace
02
Feb
2017

How To Handle Stress At Work – 7 Practical Steps

How to handle stress at work

So you want to know how to handle stress at work? I get it. Work is one of the primary causes of stress in life, especially if you have to deal with difficult people. How to handle stress at work

Stress at work comes in all different forms and shapes. Some of it is actually good stress like deadlines and potential promotions. These motivate us to work harder and actually get things done.

Then there are the crises. An angry customer. A broken machine. The grumpy boss. An unanticipated blunder.

Too many of us go into panic mode when dealing with these issues. But there are many ways to deal with them for productively. Try these 7 things instead:

1. Be Prepared

If you expect your work-life to ever be 100% stress-free, then you are setting yourself up for disappointed. Stresses are a part of life, and especially a part of work. After all, doesn’t the word ‘work’ indicating doing something stressful?

The first thing you can do to leverage work stress is to be prepared for it. Make mental notes of things that can possibly go wrong. Now make mental notes of how you will deal with each situation should they ever arise. This way, you will prepared and ready when such situations occur.

2. Focus on your priorities

When facing a work crisis, it is very easy to get lost in the drama and forget priorities. The key here is to remain focused on what matters: your priorities. Forbes Magazine also recommends prioritizing as a way of dealing with work stress.

Simply put, no matter what the crisis is: figure out your priorities for the day focus on getting those done.

3. Practice Relaxation Techniques

Muslim Matters has a really awesome article on Sunnah relaxation techniques. Adopt the ones that work best for you and utilize them during such stressful situations. Even simple steps like washing your face, taking a walk (my favorite) or breathing exercises will go a long way in helping you stay calm under pressure. Research the topic further and find what works for you. (Just make sure to keep it halal, so no smoking!)

4. Work on long term deadlines in advance

One easily avoidable cause of stress are looming deadlines. This usually happens when we procrastinate and leave work until a few days/hours/minutes before the deadline. An easy way to overcome this is to simply start working on a project as soon as you receive it, and don’t wait for the deadline.

In my time management eBook, Getting The Barakah, I explain an easy method to do this. I call it chunking. Basically, you just break the project up into easily done daily tasks and work on one such task a day until the entire project is done. In this way, you get things done ahead of the deadline with minimal  stress. Check out my eBook Getting The Barakah for more details.

5. Deal with a crisis one step at a time

A simple answer to the question: How to handle stress at work? One step at a time!

The crisis is in front of you, you have choice: stress about it or roll up your sleeves and get to work. The productive option is obviously. Figure out what needs to be done to avert the crisis and start working on it, one step at a time. Don’t stress about the entire solution, just focus on the step at hand until it is done. Then move on to the next one.

In this way, step by step you will solve the problem and avert the crisis.

6. Remind yourself that it will pass

A new day, a new work crisis. Nothing lasts forever, and every work crisis will pass. Remind yourself of this whenever you feel overwhelmed. Whatever we are dealing with today will pass if we stay focused on the solution. So there is no need to panic. And no benefit in losing our minds.

Remind yourself about this every time you face a work crisis, and you will be able to tackle it with a clearer mind.

7. Learn from the experience

In my Self-Confidence eBook Best Of Creation, I dedicate an entire chapter to the importance of learning from one’s mistakes. Mistakes and crises are important work experience. How you deal with them will reflect on your resume.

When people say they are looking to hire someone with experience, this includes having experienced work stress and crises and dealt with them appropriately. At the end of the day, how you deal with crises shape the kind of worker you are. These are the experiences that make you valuable, so embrace the challenge and tackle it with a positive mindset and the humility needed to learn!

And that is how to handle stress at work!

Shaykh Ismail Kamdar is the author of multiple eBooks and the founder of Islamic Self Help. Check out our blog for more articles by him.

Posted by Ismail Kamdar in Stress Management
25
Jan
2017

7 Time Management Mistakes You Might Be Making

Time Management Mistakes

Time Management Mistakes

7 Time Management Mistakes You Might Be Making

Time Management, like any other skill, requires proper implementation. Too often, we learn a time management tool and implement it incorrectly. We then think that the system is faulty. It isn’t. We just implemented it incorrectly. Here are 7 time management mistakes you may be making:

1. Making your To-Do List in the morning

The To-Do List is the ultimate symbol of Time Management. Every time management book stresses the importance of To-Do Lists. Yet many people struggle with them.

One major cause of such a struggle is trying to make a To-Do List every morning. Mornings are usually busy and rushed, and barely anybody has time to make a To-Do list when rushing off to work. Furthermore, the brain is still tired and cannot recall every task for the day.

What you should be doing instead: Make your To-Do List every evening as you wrap up your work for the day. Get into the habit of making your To-Do list the day before, so that you start the day knowing exactly what needs to get done that day. And so that there is no rush or confusion.

2. Answering emails first thing in the morning

NOTE: If answering emails is YOUR JOB, then this doesn’t apply to you. Please focus on your job.

The latest research indicates that most productive people answer their emails later in the day. This serves multiple benefits. For one, it allows you to get some creative work done before getting bogged down by email.

Another benefit is that your early morning mood isn’t spoiled by a nasty email. Finally, you are not distracted from your core work by unnecessary emails.

What you should be doing instead: Answer your emails in batches at set times, preferably at 10am and 2pm daily.

3. Setting Tasks for the wrong time of the day

Continuing on the same theme, we must choose the best time of the day for each task we do. Generally, our daily tasks include some high concentration work and some low concentration work. Many of us start our days with low concentration work and don’t have the energy (or time) for high concentration work later.

What you should be doing instead: Figure out your optimal times. Do your high concentration tasks only during peak times of the day. Leave low concentration tasks for times of the day when you feel weak or lazy.

4. Overlooking Family Time

Time Management is not about work, work, work!

It is about attaining life balance. This means you need to schedule in family time. Make time for your spouse, your kids, your parents and anybody else that matters.

It is easy to get carried away with new time management tools and to use them to work all day long. However, this is not wise. Make time for family, or you may risk losing them.

What you should be doing instead: Scheduling in family time as needed to maintain balance and keep your relationships strong.

5. Overlooking ‘Me Time’

On the same theme as above, you need to maintain work/life balance. This means making time to take care of yourself. You need time to rest, sleep, enjoy Halal fun, and recharge daily.

Failure to do so that lead to health complications. Overworking also generally leads to burn out and abandoning your goals all together.

What you should be doing instead: Schedule in ‘me time’ especially when you feel your productivity levels slipping. Take care of yourself to maintain momentum throughout the year.

6. Piling on too much at once

We get it. You are excited to have learned some new time management principles and want to accomplish all your life long dreams at once.

But you are not a superhero. You must recognize your human limitations and be realistic about your daily To-Do List. Don’t pile on too much every day, be realistic and focus on what is possible.

What you should be doing instead: Schedule in enough tasks to get done per day, with some breathing room for things that may go wrong.

7. Not having a long term goal

Even if you have learned all the famous time management tools and tips, you may not be able to maintain momentum without a long term vision. Short term goals are good and part of living a productive life. However, long term change requires a long term reason.

If you do not have any long term goals, you may lose momentum and stop applying your time management tactics after a few months.

What you should be doing instead: Decide on where you would like to be in 10 years. Set goals that align with that vision. Your daily tasks should be such that they take you one inch closer to that vision every day.

So there you have it. These are 7 common time management mistakes. Avoid them to achieve maximum productivity!

Are you ready to take the next step in your time management journey?
Choose below between our online course and eBook to continue!

Time Management eBook

Time Management Course

Posted by Ismail Kamdar in Time Management
23
Jan
2017

Why can’t I manage my time? Here are 4 possible reasons

Why can't I manage my time

Why can’t I manage my time?

Why can’t I manage my time?

Time Management seems so easy for some people, yet so hard for others. I often get frustrated emails from readers asking me “Why can’t I manage my time?”. For these readers, I usually take them through my private coaching program, or suggest they enroll in our Time Management course.

Time Management Course

Click the image to check out the course

However, I have noticed that they tend to have similar reasons. There are four primary reasons why many people are unable to manage their time. Once you identify your reason, it is easier to overcome it and master the art of time management.

1. Lack of motivation/Long Term Goals

This is the common trend I have found among people who are unable to manage time. Changing one’s lifestyle to be more productive requires great effort. Nobody can make great effort at anything without real motivation. Therefore, having motivation is essential for learning time management.

I am not talking about short term goals like completing this semester of study, or complete reading this book. I am referring here to long term motivation like “I want to establish a means through wish I can help the orphans in my country,” and “I want to build an Islamic center that focuses on helping young Muslims.”

It is a strong noble long term goal that will propel you to manage your time better.

2. Bad Habits

The second obstacle to managing time are bad habits. In my book, Getting The Barakah, an entire chapter is dedicated to this topic. As overcoming bad habits is crucial for learning effective time management. Here is an extract from the book:

The Habit Trap

As time management is primarily about forming new habits, the toughest thing in the beginning is maintaining the new habits until they become a part of who you are.
Bad habits are hard to quit, but not impossible. The key is to have a clear reason to quit and a good habit to replace it with. In terms of time management, this would mean replacing the habit of procrastination with the habits of planning, chunking and working in advance.

However, without determination and commitment, it is difficult to maintain momentum so it is important to be awareness of this and take measures to avoid falling back into bad habits.
Here are some methods you can use to stop yourself from falling back into bad habits:

(Click Here to Purchase the eBook to read the full chapter)

3. Not realizing the priorities in your life

Another common cause about which an entire chapter has been written in my eBook. Too many of us don’t understand what our daily priorities should be. Here are few examples:

  1. Are the five daily Salah a priority in your life?
  2. Is reciting Quran on a daily basis a priority to you?
  3. Have you made time for your children a priority?
  4. Is personal development a priority to you? 

You know something is priority if you are willing to spend both time and money on it. There is simple proverb in Time Management: “If you make time for the big things, you will find time for the small things.”

4. You just haven’t studied Time Management yet

If this is the case, then you simply need to study one of our time management resources. At Islamic Self Help, we offer two methods to learn time management:

  1. Join our online course for $44
  2. Purchase our eBook for $9.99

But we are making you a special offer today on our eBook.

If you use this link to purchase our eBook Bundle for $13.99, you will get our Time Management eBook and our Goal Setting Workbook, along with two FREE eBooks worth $10! 

Click here to get this special offer now!

Time Management eBook

Click this image to get the bundle offer!

 

Posted by Ismail Kamdar in Time Management
21
Jan
2017

7 Awesome Study Hacks You Don’t Want To Miss!

Study Hacks

7 Study Hacks

7 Awesome Study Hacks You Don’t Want To Miss!

Studying for anything is a major cause of stress for most people. Too many people stress, study all night and still perform poorly. But have you ever noticed that some people rarely study, yet still ace their tests? What study hacks do they know that you don’t?

As someone who rarely needs to study anything twice, I’m going to share with you just a few of my favorite study hacks. These are things I’ve been doing all my life that help memorize and remember things fast.

Here are my seven favorite study hacks!

1. Watch a YouTube video about it

This simple technique has helped me understand remember things much faster than cramming over a textbook. I used this technique especially when studying psychology. Whenever a new theory is covered, I would simply watch a short YouTube video about it. YouTube videos tend to be short, colorful, fun and memorable.

This helps you understand and remember a new concept much faster!

Commonly used for: Summary Of Theories, Practical Demonstrations, Book Recaps.

2. Make Your Notes Exciting

Notes don’t have to be boring. Find ways to spice them up. Use a variety of colors. Use mind-maps. Draw pictures and diagrams. Write in multiple languages. There are so many ways to make note taking more exciting. The more fun you have taking down notes, the easier it will be to remember and recall those notes when needed.

Next time you are taking down notes, get creative and spice them up!

Commonly used for: Terminology, Theories, History

3. Teach It To Someone

This is my personal favorite method to remember anything. As soon as I learn something new, I find someone to explain it to. This serves three purposes: If you can explain, it means you understand it. Explaining something out loud actually helps you understand it better. And once you teach it, it is difficult to forget it.

Having a tough time remembering a new concept, try teaching it to a friend or family member!

Commonly used for: just about anything!

4. Reward Yourself

Treat yourself! Tell yourself if I learn this, I will treat myself to ______ (insert your favorite thing here). This has a huge psychological impact and will motivate your brain to remember it faster!

Just be careful not to treat yourself too often to unhealthy snacks. You want a big brain, without a big belly to accompany it!

Commonly used for: subjects you hate studying!

5. Take A Nap

I love this tip because it is so completely opposite to what most of us expect!

I discovered this when studying psychology. Sleep helps solidify information in long term memory. So if you nap straight after an intensive study session, your brain will transfer the information from your short term memory to your long term memory where it could last a lifetime!

Finding it hard to remember something, literally sleep on it.

Commonly used for: any subject you have a hard time remembering

6. Study in 20 minute Sessions

One key reason you are not remembering your work is because you push your brain to study for too long. To remember things faster, simply break up your study sessions into 20 minute blocks. Each block followed by a short 5-10 minute break to do something fun (or nap!).

This applies to work as well, by the way. Work in 20-50 minute blocks to keep your brain functioning optimally throughout the day.

Commonly used for: intensive study sessions

7. Never cram or pull an all-nighter

We’ve all experienced it. We stayed up all night studying for an exam, only to go blank the minute the paper starts.

What happened?

Cramming stores information in our short term memory, so it may last until after the test or just before it. Either way, you are not going to remember it a week later, leave alone for life.

Cramming also affects our brain’s capacity by not giving us enough sleep. Without enough sleep, not only is information not transferred to long term memory, but your brain doesn’t get enough rest. Leaving you not functioning optimally exam time.

Avoid cramming. Studying for 20 minute sessions with naps and reward breaks over a one week period instead. This will help you remember things better, not just for the exam, but for life.

Posted by Ismail Kamdar in Life Hacks