Structure your Day around Prayer
It’s easy to lose track of time when your day is spent at your desk or at the library. One minute you’re revising, the next it’s maghrib time, and you haven’t gotten up from your desk all day.
Structuring your days around prayer not only allows you to stay on top of your prayers but also acts as a much-needed break between you and this world (dunya). Take some time to talk to your Creator, realise your blessings, and how you once prayed to be in the position you’re in today.
Prepare to the Best of your Ability (Tie your Camel)
While it’s great to trust Allah and pray you pass your exams, it is important you remember to tie your camel.
Making sure you study as best as you can, as well as praying that you do well, ensures you feel prepared rather than relying on a “bismillah” before starting your exam.
Duas for studying and exams
Once you have studied as much as you can and feel like there’s not much you can do, include these two duas as much as possible.
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Transliteration: Rabbi zidni ‘ilma.
Translation: My Lord, increase me in knowledge. (Surah Ta-Ha, 20:114)
اللَّهُمَّ لَا سَهْلَ إِلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلًا وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلًا
Transliteration: Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja’altahu sahla, wa anta taj’alu l-hazna idha shi’ta sahla.
Translation: O Allah, there is no ease except in that which You have made easy, and You make the difficult, if You will, easy. (Ibn Hibban)
For more duas to help you through exam season, check out our recommended list here.
Fuel your Body
Feeling good is related to eating well. Fuelling our bodies is an essential part of making sure we have energy for longer periods of time and are not crashing on sugar or feeling fatigued.
Exercising, eating well and including certain foods mentioned in the hadith in your diet can help you optimise your energy levels to aid your performance.
Importance of Dates in Islam: Sahih al-Bukhari 5445 states that eating seven dates a day will protect you from harm. Eating an odd number of dates is also sunnah, following in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Not only will you be rewarded for the intention, but you will benefit from a natural source of energy, antioxidants for brain health and fiber. This positively impacts your health, which in turn enhances your productivity.
Remember Allah
Your intentions are vital to collecting good deeds. Shifting your mindset when studying can allow you to be productive while worshipping Allah if done with the right intentions.
Starting a task with a simple bismillah can add so many blessings (barakah) to what you’re doing. If you’re feeling anxious about an exam, asking for forgiveness (istighfar) can ease your anxiety and allow you to perform better. Doing your morning and night remembrances of Allah (athkar) can allow you to start and end your day protected from harm and laziness.
It can feel like you’re the only one struggling or that you’re alone this exam season, but remember that Allah is always with you and that other students are in the same boat, even if they may seem at ease.
All the best to everyone sitting exams!
I pray that your results reflect all the hard work and effort you put in.
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