I’m sure we’ve all heard of “Muslim Standard Time.” It’s a term we use to “excuse” ourselves or a fellow Muslim for being late. It’s a way of downplaying the importance of being punctual. I would have to admit that if my husband ever found out that I (of all people) am writing about time management, I would never hear the end of it! It’s something I’ve struggled with tremendously.
But now that I have started a brand new chapter in my life, being late is something I definitely want to leave behind. I’ve paid a high price for my chronic tardiness throughout the years, but nothing hurts more than being a mother and watching my kids lose out because mommy still can’t get her act together. Participating in activities is generally not our problem, as we make it to them eventually. The real issue is arriving late which often meant that they would miss the crucial introduction of the class. Or sometimes it meant missing on the whole class altogether, like the one time I drove 25 minutes to get them to a french story time just to have them watch the event packing up (definitely not fun!).
Being late is also not courteous for the other person waiting for us. Many people consider being on time for your appointments as a form of Amaanah (trust), as it shows the other person that you are reliable, and that you stay true to your word and respect them. Just as Amaanah (trust) extends into other etiquettes in Islam, so does it when it comes to being punctual.
The prophet (salallaahu alaihi wasalam) said: “Signs of a hypocrite are three: whenever he speaks he lies; whenever he promises, he breaks his promises; and whenever he has been entrusted, be betrays his trust..” [Bukhari & Muslim]
Being punctual can apply here (and we seek refuge from hypocrisy). How often do we tell our friends that we will meet them but have no intention of going or we tell them we will meet them at a certain time but we take our time and arrive really late? I know it’s happened to me one too many occasions, that I was either the one holding up the party or the one kept waiting again by the “usual suspects.” So what actions can we take in order to rectify our mistakes and hopefully make a change?
With these actionable tips, you may find it easier to improve your own punctuality, or that of someone you may know, who is also suffering from the “tardiness syndrome.”
The habit of Intention
I stopped watching TV and this is what happened
Muslimah Guide to Morning Routine
3 ways to Find Joy in the Everyday Things
30 Day Challenge: Healthy Sleeping Habits
Homeschooling Success depends on 3 Ingredients
Spiritual Habits to Develop in just 10 minutes a day
Simple Morning Routine: 7 Things to do before 7am
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JazakAllahu khair! For sharing this article. wonderful tips especially for a perpetual latecomer like me. My extreme tardiness is getting me into trouble in all aspects of my life be it work, family gatherings or other areas. Just can’t seem to get rid of this habit of turning up late, I am so tired of being the butt of jokes as a result of this one bad habit. Also, i just have one kid and I can’t imagine how you manage four. For me the take away from this article is to “Being on time for your appointments as a form of Amaanah (trust), as it shows the other person that you are reliable, and that you stay true to your word and respect them” I have to work on it and get this fixed asap.
Wa iyaaki sister 🙂 I think alot of us are too laid back about this issue, but if we take the time to work on it, we can say ourselves from alot of trouble further down the road inshaAllah. InshaAllah we both can conquer this bad habit once and for all. I’m sure the people around us would really appreciate it 🙂