Prepare for the REAL Exam

This was written by one of my friends. It’s really an amazing reflection I benefitted from. In the midst of all the stress that’s occupying our lives these past weeks, it’s good to take some time and look at the greater picture.

>>>I think time is valued the most during finals week. You hear people from every corner of the room talking about how they have 10 minutes to eat, 3 hours to sleep, and then two papers to write and an exam to study for.

Something happened today in the library and it made me think. A girl sat in the SINC site for three hours doing a project. For some reason, it didn't save on the computer she was working on, although she said she did hit "Save", and then she exited out. Three hours of hard work…down the drain. And not just during any week, no, during finals week–where every minute is important. Not only would she now not be able to hand her work in on time, it would slow down all of the other things she had to do. She freaked.

So then I thought: what if this week were the final week of the dunya? Or just of our lives? Why do we not freak out when we waste three hours doing something that will in no way help our final grade in the dunya?

We embrace distractions from friends all throughout the year but when finals week comes– "Stay away from me! No, I can't go to the mall with you. No time to waste! No, I can't eat with you either, I already ate a twinkie."

But that's the sad part. We don't know when the final week of the dunya is; or of our lives. So how can we go on and let ourselves be distracted and heedless all year long? The most successful students are those that are eating those quick lunches and refusing to go to the mall with you all year long, because they have high goals they have to meet. Then there are those who are just rolling with the ball the whole semester and wake up during finals week. But at least they wake up and at least pass their classes. But how could someone be distracted all term, and continue to be distracted during finals week and do well? In other words, the only way we can pass this grand test of the dunya…the only way we can get any success in the Hereafter is if we constantly keep ourselves awake. We don't know when the last week will be…so if we're acting like it's not the last week, every week….we're doomed for failure. One of those weeks will be the final week.

And I thought about how Allah (subhanah wa ta’ala) says in the Qur'an that on the Day of Judgement, there will be people, who when they are asked how many years they spent on this earth, they will reply, "probably a day or less than a day". And they won't be lying…they'll really believe this was the truth. Because they will have wasted all of their time on earth. They will be shown their deeds and they will not be able to fathom how they could have spent so many years on earth and done such few good deeds.

Allah (subhanah wa ta’ala) gave us so much time to beautify our hearts, to do good deeds. And on the day of judgment, when we present our hearts to Him 'azza wa jall, it is us who will look at them and our book of deeds and be mortified at how it could take so many years to make something so ugly and worthless. It is us who will look at the empty pages where good deeds were supposed to be and say, "I must have lived only a day then…how else could this be possible?" (but inshaAllah it won't be us. May Allah (subhanah wa ta’ala) protect us and save us from being amongst these people. May He (subhanah wa ta’ala) give us the tawfiq to properly avail the time we are given in this dunya. Ameen)

Let us all insha Allah (myself first before anyone else) take this time management lesson from finals. If we can get so much done for the dunya in this week, why can we not do at least half of this for the akhira during other weeks? Let us race for good deeds not only in Ramadan, but year-round, so that we don't have to look at our book of deeds on the Day of Judgement and think we only lived one Ramadan. There are so many simple things to do that don't occupy much time or effort, like dhikr. Let it occupy your tongue constantly.

And the next time we get frustrated because something really important that shouldn't have got deleted, got deleted…..maybe we should focus our energy on thinking about if we get that frustrated when some of our greatest deeds get deleted (because of insincerity to Allah (subhanah wa ta’ala) or some other reason), and if we would work as hard to retrieve those good deeds as we would to retrieve our deleted project.

Never lose hope, a core part of our belief is to have Tawakkul (trust in Allah t'ala). Many of us believe that nothing can save us but Allah mentions in Surah Talaaq,

"Whoever fears Allah, He brings forth a way out for him, And provides for him (with what he needs) from where he does not even imagine. And whosoever places his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Surely Allah is to accomplish His purpose. Allah has set a measure for everything."

Always have good hope of Allah 'azza wa jal, Allah mentions in a Qudsi Hadith, "I am as my servant thinks I am." if you think Allah is bad then that is how you will be treated but if you make yourself ONE with Allah, than everything is achievable.

Allah says in another Qudsi Hadtih, "...My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have imposed upon him and My servant continues to draw near to Me with superogatory works so that I shall love him. When I LOVE him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask (something) of Me, I would surely give it to him and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it."

If you make yourself one with Allah ('azza wa jal), no examination can break you in half.

Secret Weapons for the Exam Battle: Study Hard, Pray Harder!

Finding it difficult to concentrate on your revision? Is there a killer set of lectures that you just can’t get you head around? Feel the overwhelming urge to sleep, eat, stare at the wall as soon as you start revising? Don't Worry…we have a formula for success!

(Exam – Sins)+ Salah x Duaa = Success (insha'Allah!)

It is that wonderful time of the year again! The time of the year when students start to regret the last few months of lazing about, playing video games and generally sleepwalking through the first two terms; the time of year when you realise that college isn’t just the place where you and your friends hang out during the day. The time of year when it dawns on you that you are not going to get a degree in Pro Evolution, Chicken Cottage or blowing 200 hoops from a shisha. Yes… it’s EXAM TIME!

But before you start spending all your energy trying to think of excuses to tell your parents about why you averaged 13% for a Multiple Choice Exam where even random guessing should give you around 50% - we thought we’d put together a few choice du'aa's to help you in your hour(s) of need. Remember the Messenger of Allah (may eternal peace and blessings be upon him) has said, "Dua is the weapon of a believer."

Du'aa for all of those people who have run out of time and need to be “selective” in their revision:

اللهم انفعني بما علمتني وعلمني ما ينفعني

“Allahumma infa'nii bimaa 'allamtanii wa'allimnii maa yanfa' unii.”
O Allah! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me.

Du'aa for all those people who’ve realised that their brain is like a sponge – i.e. full of holes:

اللهم اني أسألك فهم النبيين وحفظ المرسلين المقربين

“Allahumma inii as'aluka fahmal-nabiyyen wa hifthal mursaleen al-muqarrabeen.”
O Allah! I ask You for the understanding of the Prophets and the memory of the Messengers, and those nearest to You.

Du'aa for all of those facing the make-or-break Exam that has destroyed many before them:

اللهم لا سهل إلا ما جعلته سهلا أنت تجعل الحزن إذا ما شئت سهلا

“Allahumma la sahla illama ja-'altahu sahla wa anta taj 'alu al hazana etha shi'ta sahla.”
O Allah! Nothing is easy except what You have made easy. If You wish, You can make the difficult easy.

Du'aa for the type of person whose mind goes blank during the actual Exam:

اللهم اني أستو دعك ما قرأت وما حفظت فرده علي عند حاجتي إليه انك على ما تشاء قدير وأنت حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل

“Allahhumma inni astaodeeuka ma qara’tu wama hafaz-tu. Faradduhu ‘allaya inda hagati elayhi. Innaka ‘ala ma-tasha’-u qadeer wa anta hasbeeya wa na’mal wakeel.”
O Allah! I entrust You with what I have read and I have studied. (Oh Allah!) Bring it back to me when I am in need of it. (Oh Allah!) You do whatever You wish, and You are my Availer and Protector and the best of aid.

Du'aa for all those facing oral / clinical exams:

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى وَيَسِّرْ لِى أَمْرِى وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِى يَفْقَهُواْ قَوْلِي

“Rabbi Ishrah Li Sadry, Wayassir Li Amry, Wahlul ‘Uqdatan Min Lisany, yafqahu Qawly.”
My Lord, I ask you to expand my breast, make my task easy, undo the knot in my tongue so that my speech will become comprehensible. (Surah Ta-Ha Verse 25-28)

Duaa for all those who feel that their situation is absolutely hopeless:

Remember the Prophet's (peace be upon him) Dua at Ta'if

اللهم إليك أشكو ضعف قوتي وقلة حيلتي وهواني على الناسياأرحم الراحمين أنت أرحم الراحمين أنت رب المستضعفين وأنت ربيإلى من تكلني إلى عدو يتجهمني أم إلى صديق مكلته إمريإن لم يكن بك غضب علي فلا أبالي ولكن عافيتك هي أوسع ليأعوذ بنور وجهك الذي أضاءت له السموات و الأرض وأشرقت له الظلمات وصلح عليه أمر الدنيا والأخره أن ينزل بي غضبك أو يحل علي سخطكلك العتبى حتى ترضى ولاحول ولاقوة إلابك

“O Allah! Only to You do I communicate my weakness, My lack of skill and lack of importance among people. O the Most Merciful who shows mercy, You are certainly the Lord of the weak and You are my Lord. To whom shall you hand me over? To an enemy who will treat me harshly or to a near one to whom You shall give control over me? If You are not angry with me, I care for nothing. All I require is that Your protection should be vast enough for me. In the light of Your Countenance by which multitudes of darkness are turned to light and by which the affairs of this world and the Aakhirah are remedied, I seek protection from being afflicted by Your wrath and displeasure. The causes of your displeasure should be removed until You are pleased. There is no power and no might but with Allah.”

Remember, these du'aa's are to help you study, NOT to use as a replacement for revision. We all know the saying…if you fail to prepare then prepare for a beating!

Also remember that, as a Muslim, we strive to do our best in every aspect of our lives — both for this world and the Hereafter. Please utilise your time wisely, study hard, and above all, make Du’a, for in the end, it is by Allah’s will alone that anything is possible.

I pray Allah the Almighty makes all of our exams easy upon us and one final reminder. I would just like to remind you all of a hadith of the Prophet (May eternal peace and blessings be upon him). He said: 'There is no believing servant who supplicates for his brother in his absence where the angels do not say, 'Ameen and the same be for you'' [Muslim] So if you want success in your exams, make sure you supplicate for your Muslim brothers and sisters as well insha'Allah.

Wassalamu 'alaykum warahmatullah

Taken from: (http://www.isocnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=125&ac=0&Itemid=1)