10 STUDY SKILLS FROM AL-QURAN
1. HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND PATIENCE
Spend the night awake in prayer, except for a
little bit of sleep. (73:2)
When you’re driven with intention, Allah tells
us we don’t have time to sleep. You’re living to make your dreams a reality, while others
are sleeping to glimpse at dreams during the night.
2. GET TAQWA = GET KNOWLEDGE
If you are conscious of Allah, Allah will give
you knowledge. He will teach you. (2:282)
He will help you, if you are conscious of Him.
Stay away from things for His pleasure, and do things for Allah’s sake—and
Allah will teach you. Feeling the burden? Worried about impossible situations
and difficulty? Taqwa – yourself up. As Allah says:
Whoever is conscious of Allah, Allah will make
a way out for them. (65:2)
3. LOWER YOUR GAZE = GET INSIGHT
The Qur’an (24:30) tells both men—and *ahem*
yes, women too, to lower our gaze and avoid staring at the opposite gender
beyond the first immediate glance. Ibn Qayim[2] reminds us that we can never
have insight and depth without the proper use of our sight. Use your sight
properly, and Allah will give you insight.
4. MANAGE YOUR TIME
On the Day of Judgement, our entire life will
seem just like a few hours:
We only lived for a day, or part of a day.
(23:113)
The Qur’an tells us that our life will fly by, just
like this exam period will fly by. Our exam period, or semester is a metaphor
to our life on earth—there’s a beginning and there’s an end. So just as there’s
“life after death” and that’s what we’re looking forward to—remember, there is
“life after exams,” and that’s what you’re looking forward to.
5. DON’T GET DISTRACTED = TURN AWAY
Allah describes believers (mu’minuun) as:
And they who turn away from anything that’s not
important, wasteful. (23:3)
Know what your weaknesses are, where your time
gets lost, when and with whom. Allah also mentions a gentlemen’s (or
gentlewomen’s) caveat, they:
Turn away honourably, with poise and elegant
dignity. (25:72)
6. GET HELF, STUDY TOGETHER
Allah tells us in the Qur’an to get extra help
from our teachers, TAs, RAs, or anyone else:
And ask the people who remember, if you do not
know yourself (16:43)
To really test the depth of your knowledge, ask
deeper questions. ‘Rattle the cages’ of assumptions, test the limits of
theories and contemplate on alternative approaches.
7. COMPLAIN TO ALLAH
When he lost two of his beloved sons, Yaqub
'alayhi'l-salām (peace be upon him) said.
He said I only complain, cry, beg and plea to
Allah about my circumstance (12:86)
Let this exam period be a chance for you to cry
before Allah, talk to him and complain to him about your worries and
fears—don’t complain in front of others. Sometimes Allah sends things in your
life, only so you can turn back towards Allah. He misses your voice and wants
you to call Him in times of difficulty and happiness.
8. PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE
And the life of the world is nothing but a
temporary deception. (3:185)
Allah puts our exams into perspective: it’s
nothing but a temporary deception. In the long run, it probably won’t matter as
much as it does right now. So take it with a grain of salt and trust Allah,
it’ll be okay. Inshā’Allāh. Be patient. Breathe.
9. ACCEPT QADR
Allah extends rizq (rizq could include
provisions like wealth, jobs, and by extension even marks) to whoever he wants;
and He gives in perfect, calculated measure (limiting it to others that He
chooses). (13:26)
Sometimes if it’s not meant to be, it’s not
meant to be. Islam is beautiful and perfect, the education system is not. Allah
is so merciful He knows the outcomes are beyond our control, that’s why you’re
only judged based on your efforts and your intentions.
10. MAKE DU’A
So who else besides Allah, can help the one in
difficulty, and alleviate from him the pain, suffering and harm? (27:62)
A measure of your relationship to Allah is your
du’ā’. A lover never gets tired of conversing with their beloved, so ask
yourself how often and for how long do you make du’ā’? Set aside quality time
daily for du’a.
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