Laziness, Procrastination and Lack of Self Discipline

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: As salamu alaikum wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatuh,

I really want to better my life, gain knowledge and become a better muslim but I am very very weak…I have no self discipline, I am very lazy and I procastrinate a lot. As soon as I decide to really change or do something I end up doing the opposite or I keep procrastinating. It’s driving me crazy yet I can not change.
Could you please give me some advice?
Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
The following are some of the main issues you should strive to resolve as soon as possible:
(1) Purpose: write a list of your religious goals in life. If difficult, consult a scholar about the kind of goals that one can set for oneself.
(2) Spiritual Routines: Have some daily, weekly, monthly, and even yearly routines that you set for yourself. For instance, begin reciting one page of the Qur’an daily, then gradually increase; recite a number of prayer on the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) weekly; and so on.
(3) Good Company: Seek out some righteous believers in your area. If there is nowhere to gather, consider taking the initiative and being the means by which others can meet and fall under the traditions (hadith) mentioning the virtue of those who sit together for the sake of Allah.
(4) Knowledge: Take a class and increase your knowledge of the religion. Begin with that which is personally obligatory (fard `ayn), and then consult about what one should progress to.
And make it a point to ask Allah daily to put blessing (baraka) into your time. Once you take the means, Allah facilitates.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that Allah says, “When My servant draws near to Me by a handspan, I draw near to him by an arm’s length, and when My servant draws near to Me by an arm’s length, I draw near to him by two arms’ length, and when he comes to Me walking, I rush towards him.” [Bukhari]
Please see: Is There a Special Supplication to Recite to Overcome Laziness? and: Understanding Laziness in Islam – Shaykh Abdallah Adhami and: The Prayer for Drinking Coffee – The Power of Purpose and High Intentions and: A Reader on Sincerity, Intention, and the Purpose of Spiritual Routines and: Smoking Marijuana and the Importance of Keeping Good Company
And Allah alone gives success.
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani