In Doing A Business, Hurry Up, Don't Procrastinate!

It is common knowledge in a matter of time, our society is known to like to use the system "rubber watch". Like a rubber, we can stretch it as we please. Likewise with the rubber clock, there is no punctual principle in its application. It's always delayed, delayed, and delayed. For example, when we want to hold a meeting or similar activities related to punctuality, every time it is also postponed from the agreed time, it always happens.

Agreed to meet at seven, arrived at half past eight. Promising to come at ten o'clock, appearing at eleven o'clock, and so on, and so on. And this 'tradition' occurs, leading to the character of the people who are 'hooked' to procrastinate work/time.

~ Rubber Clock ~

Ironically, the case (procrastination) not only affects the lower classes (ordinary people) of this country, however, those who 'sit' in the seat of government (who should be role models) also do the same thing. This behavior that is less than commendable is certainly very concerning, because as a country where the majority of the population is Muslim, we should be more careful in using our time. Why? Because in Islamic teachings, there is no concept of procrastination.

Why delay?

Procrastinating is usually defined as suspending a business for a while, with the guarantee that it will be done at another time. Basically, delaying it is not a problem, with a note, stopping us from these activities, because we are required to fulfill other obligations, which are more important or indeed emergency conditions.

In his book, Fiqh Al-Awwaliyah, Dr Yusuf Qaradhawi explains, Muslims should prefer a job that is considered the most priority, rather than the one with less priority.

The problem, and this is what often happens in our society today, is that they often procrastinate with unjustified reasons, or rather, because they feel they still have free time, are in a bad mood, or the like. This kind of procrastination that "usually" will actually make our work neglected, because to resume activities that we have postponed, it is extremely difficult. This cannot be separated from the interference of the devil, who incidentally is our real enemy.

For example, when we want to study, read, or study the field of science, we often relax on the grounds that there is still plenty of time, "tomorrow can still be continued."Those whispers actually come from the whispers of the devil and lust that are never willing when we do good.

Not only once, twice, demons and passions encourage us to procrastinate, however, they will constantly deceive us, until we succumb to their seductions. And when they (devils and lusts) succeed in turning us around, then, later on, we too will reap the fruit, namely the passing of time in vain. The energetic youth passed away until old age came. Rich times vanish without meaning to be replaced by miserable times. Free time is wasted, replaced by busy times. We go through a healthy period without anything useful, until the time of illness comes. All time passed, without meaning.

And what needs to be noticed, every second count always contains two things, namely: rights and obligations which must be fulfilled.

Neglect of these rights and obligations will bring multiplied harm to the perpetrators. An expert in wisdom said that the obligations at any time are possible to be replaced, but the rights from each time cannot be replaced.

Ibn 'Atha said, "Verily at every time that comes, then to Allah upon you a new obligation. How will you do other obligations, when there is a right of Allah in it that you have not fulfilled!”

Hasan Al Banna said that, “Alwaajibatu Aktsaru minal Auqoot."The obligation that is imposed on us is more than the time we have, when we delay from completing a case. In essence, we are piling up obligations, the more often we procrastinate, the more piles of work we have to complete, so that if we procrastinate, it means we live in piles of obligations to be completed in less time.

In addition, fear is also "sometimes" the reason people procrastinate. Yet to overcome it, we have three choices, namely: to avoid it, to expect it to pass quickly, or to face it to be implemented.

Avoiding, is definitely not a solution because avoiding obligations is the same as running away from reality. While running from reality, means disbelief in Allah's decree. Likewise with empty dreams, so that it (the problem) quickly passes without befalling us, this is clearly a despicable act. The right choice is to face the problem, and solve it.

Also Read: Long wishful thinking only destroys practice

Immediately, immediately, immediately!

Our salaf scholars have written a powerful recipe for treating this chronic disease, namely by educating ourselves to immediately do it and hasten to finish it.

Allah Ta'ala says,

وَسَارِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

"Hurry up to the forgiveness of your Lord and a paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, which is prepared for the pious.(Surah Ali Imran [3]: 133).

The Prophet also said regarding the importance of hastening a business. his words,

"Hurry up to do good deeds, because there will be slander like a piece of a dark night.(HR. Muslim).

In another hadith, he also explains, "Be thou in the world like a stranger or one who crosses the road."Ibn Umar said. "If you are in the evening, then do not wait for the morning to come, and if you are in the morning, then do not wait for the evening to come."Take advantage of the time of your health before your illness, and the time of your life before your death.

Hasan Al-Basri willed, "Never procrastinate because you are today not tomorrow."He also said,"If you have tomorrow, then fill it with obedience, as today you fill it with obedience if you no longer live tomorrow, then you will not regret what you did today.”

Ibn Al Jauzi warned us not to procrastinate. He once said, "Never procrastinate, because he is the largest demon army."Procrastination is the provision of the ignorant and negligent. That is why a pious person wills, "Stay away from 'saufa (later)', procrastination as well as laziness, is a cause of loss and regret.”

At the end of this paper, we can conclude, the habit of procrastinating work, is a bad behavior, which can be a barrier to our success in the future. History has said, not a few of the children of Adam died leaving behind a myriad of ideals that they failed to realize, and that was modified, he often said the word 'later' every time he did any activity. Therefore, we pray that we are not included in that group. Wallahu 'alam bis-shawab

Source : https://hidayatullah.com