Procrastination: The Evil Companion

Procrastination file photo

The English writer Edward Young, is famous for having coined the  saying, "Procrastination is the thief of time".

Before we commence the discussion, it would be nice to properly understand what this word means to avoid any confusion.

Definition: Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task that needs to be accomplished by a certain deadline. It could be further stated as a habitual or intentional delay of starting or finishing a task despite knowing it might have negative consequences.

Many at times we put important things off because we feel they are not so pertinent, this is a tell-tale sign of laziness. It is a chain reaction, the more we procrastinate, the lazier we become.

An example if when some people cling to the Ayat and Ahadith about Allah's Forgiveness and Mercy, and regard it as an excuse for abandoning the obligatory acts and doing the prohibited ones. They use this to procrastinate on doing the right thing. They might mischievously claim that they do that out of their thinking positively about Allah or that Allah considers only the hearts of people.

These are thoughts manufactured by shaitan. Hoping and thinking positively of Allah should be accompanied by exerting efforts and working hard to please Him.

Allah says: Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." Suratul Kahf (18:110)

Yahya ibn Mu`adh said: “As for me, the greatest form of delusion is persisting in committing sins hoping for forgiveness without repentance, expecting being closer to Allah without performing acts of obedience, waiting for the rewards of Paradise while planting the seeds of sins in Hellfire, seeking Paradise by committing sins, waiting for rewards without working, hoping for Allah's reward without abiding by Allah's Commands.”

The Evil of Procrastination

The Qur'an mentions repeatedly the danger of procrastination:

“Until, when death comes to one of them, he says: “My Lord! Send me back so that I may do good in that which I have left behind” Suratul Muminun (23:99-100).

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.” Source: Shu’ab al-Imān 9575

The scholars and pious predecessors warned Muslims vehemently against procrastination.

Ibn Rajab said: "The believer should embark on doing good deeds before being unable to do them due to illness or death. Also, they may be afflicted with anything with which no good deed is accepted." (Jami` Al-`Ulum wal Hikam)

Ibn Mubarak narrated: "We were informed that the majority of the inhabitants of Hellfire say: How much procrastination is awful!"

What Causes Procrastination?

A number of things could cause this mental disease; some of them will be discussed.

1. Being engrossed with worldly pleasures

Allah in His infinite Wisdom warned Muslims concerning distractions in worldly life. When we get so comfortable with the worldly life, it often leads to complacency which then ends in procrastination.

“O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that - then those are the losers.” Suratul Munafiqun (69:9)

2. Forgetfulness

Some people often have bright ideas on ways to please Allah, but the human weakness of forgetfulness frequently defeats them. Forgetfulness is not a desirable quality.

Abu Huraira reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, I hear many traditions from you and I forget them.” The Prophet said, “Spread open your garment.” I spread it and then he placed something from his hand into it, saying, “Wrap it.” I wrapped it around me and I never forgot a tradition ever again. Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3448

If there was nothing wrong with being forgetful, Muhammad (SAW) would not have made a way out for Abu Huraira.

3. Being out of touch with reality

This is similar to the first cause but a bit different. Some people have little knowledge of things happening across the world especially to Muslims. They don’t know about the Uighur Muslims in China, the Rohingya Muslims in Burma, the Palestinians, the Muslims of Central African Republic, the several famines affecting Muslims across the globe, the number of Muslims getting killed on a daily basis and so many other calamities that don’t bear repeating. 

People like this feel so comfortable with their condition that they see no urgency in striving to make the world a better place. A Muslim should always want to know the condition of his brothers and sisters wherever they might be.

Al-Nu’man ibn Bashir reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5665, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2586

What are the Effects of Procrastination?

1. Laziness

Laziness is a mental disease that prevents the mind from reflecting and contemplating on the greatness of everything created by Allah and His graces. It also stops an individual from considering the matters that improve the stance of mankind in the life and the Hereafter. 

Laziness leads to slackening in performing the acts of obedience and the acts of worship in the way prescribed by Shari`ah. Laziness leads to bad consequences as it hiders the person from carrying out their ambitions, prevents them from performing their missions, and inhibits the beneficial deeds, fruitful thinking, and good endeavor. 

Allah has described it is one of the attributes of the hypocrites.

Allah says: “Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little” Suratul Nisa (4:142)

Even the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) would often pray, “O Allah! I seek Your protection from anxiety and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from stinginess and cowardice, and from the burden of debt and domination of people.” [Bukhari]

2. Depression

Nothing can come from missing out on opportunities than depression. A student who procrastinates on his studies will likely fail their exams. When they see their colleagues celebrating their bright results, they are drowned in sorrow.

3. Weakness of faith

Procrastination makes a believer postpone acts of worship. The fewer acts of worship you engage in and the more awkwardly you carry them out, the weaker your faith will become. In extreme cases, weakness of faith could leads to apostasy.

4. Betraying the trust of Allah

The health, wealth, abilities, status and other advantages Allah has given you are a trust from Him. We have been given these gifts not to earn us some boasting rights, but to advance the cause of Allah. If we refuse to use our God-given talents for the betterment of mankind because we keep procrastinating then, we would have betrayed the trust of Allah. It is a law of existence, evil wins when the good people do nothing.

“O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence]. And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allah has with Him a great reward.” Suratul Anfal (8:27-28)

5. Losing out on the bounties of Allah

A believer postpones reciting the Qur’an, observing nawafils (either salawat or fasting), going for Jihad, visiting a sick friend; he loses the reward for these acts and this will limit his status in the sight of Allah. Al-Harith Al-Muhasiby said: "Procrastination prevents a person from doing good deeds.”

6. Delays repentance

This can be said to be the deadliest effect of procrastination. Some people are perpetual sinners, whenever they are asked, ‘when will you repent?’ they give a reason to delay. Why don’t you observe salah? They reply, I will start on Friday. It’s disheartening.

Ibn Al-Jawzy said: "Postponement in hope is a form of delusion; and there is no attribute worse than it. Except for it, you would not find any negligence. A person may indulge in sins and desires and delay repentance due to postponement in hope."

How to shun Procrastination

Spiritual Steps

1. Meditation: Occasionally seclude and isolate yourself from people.

2. Always remind yourself

• Do you not know that in the morning of every day your lifetime becomes shorter than the previous day.
• I may get up and die at night.

3. Get closer to Allah: The closer you are to Allah the farther away the devil.

4. Make abundant dhikr: Supplication makes things easier. Muhammad (SAW) taught us the du’a for when things seem to be getting difficult.

Allahumma laa sahala illaa maa ja’alta sahlan wa anta taj’alul-huzna itha shitta sahlan

“O Allah there is nothing that is easy except that You made it easy, and You can make this difficulty easy if You so wish to”

Physical Steps

1. Get to know why

It could be that you have genuine doubts about the necessity of the action. Meditating on the issue will help you understand why you are procrastinating on an issue thereby helping you make up your mind.

2. Start easy

Some people want achieve a great height within a rather unrealistic time frame. When you take too many things at a time, your mind will develop some apathy for that activity; procrastination will be the end result.

3. Break it down

This is related to the step above. Break down projects into segments and bits that can be mastered within a reasonable time frame. This gives you the chance to ruminate on one segment at a time.

4. Have to-do list

There are chances that other activities will try to eat into the time you have set aside for your project, having a to-do list help you stick to schedule.

5. Confide in a close friend

It sometimes helps to let a pal or buddy of yours know your battles against procrastination. That way, they will always keep you on your toes by constantly asking for feed backs on your project.

6. Set a few daily compulsory tasks

It is sometimes inevitable to have periods when focusing on your project proves difficult due to other pressing demands. However, if this continues for a long time, you will lose steam on your pursuits. You can beat this by having a few compulsory daily tasks on your project.