Priority List

 Asalam elkum, Dear brothers and sisters, 

This topic is very dear to me: “Priority List.”

As I go through my daily life, I meet many people. I often realize how much time we lose focusing on things that do not truly impact our lives. And, we spend a great deal of energy on them.

The reason, I believe, is a lack of self-awareness and a lack of a clear picture of what we want and where we are heading. In simple words, we do not have a clear “priority list” for the day or for life. Because of this, everything we see and hear distracts us.

Many of us waste time without even realizing it, engaging in activities that are neither beneficial nor helpful to any cause we care about.

Nothing changes unless we take real action. Otherwise, we risk becoming part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

And if you feel this concern in your heart, then take action to change it. And if not, then at least reflect on this:

When we face challenges in life, we have three choices.

Either we agree,

We disagree,

Or we want to remain silent.

Let me paint a simple picture.

Imagine a man who wakes up early in the morning. From the moment he opens his eyes, he is busy checking his phone, rushing to get ready, replying to messages, handling work, and solving problems. His entire day is filled with meetings and tasks.

By the time night comes, he is exhausted. He sits down and asks himself:

“What did I really do today?”

And the answer is… not much.

Not because he was lazy, but because he was busy with the wrong things.

This is the reality for many of us today.

We are not short on effort.

We are not short on energy.

We are short on priorities.

When we don’t have a clear priority list, the urgent takes over the important. Small matters consume our attention, while the big things, our purpose, our values, our akhirah, are pushed aside.

This is where we must remind ourselves:

As Muslims, our number one priority is our Deen Islam.

Not only in major decisions, but even in the smallest actions.

A person who prioritizes his Deen will think twice before doing something wrong, even something as small as taking a pen from the office that does not belong to him.

Because his priority is not convenience.

His priority is accountability.

When Deen becomes our top priority, something beautiful happens.

Our time gains purpose.

Our salah is no longer rushed; it becomes a meeting with Allah.

Our fasting is no longer just hunger; it becomes discipline and self-control.

Our daily life transforms into ibadah.

With this comes clarity.

Clarity about what truly matters and what does not.

Clarity about our goal and where we are heading.

And then comes something even more powerful:

Consistency.

You show up even when you don’t feel like it.

You stay strong even when life becomes difficult.

You keep moving forward, not because it is easy, but because you know your purpose.

Brothers and sisters,

This is what we must pass on to the next generation.

Not just through words, but through our actions.

They should see in us what it means to live with priorities,

to live with discipline, and to live with purpose.

Insha’Allah, if we correct our priorities today, we will not only transform our own lives, but we will raise a generation that stands firm, no matter what challenges come their way.

May Allah guide us to put our Deen first in every aspect of our lives.

Ameen.