WE ALL HAVE the same 1440 minutes in a day. Not one minute more, not one minute less. And yet, some people seem to accomplish so much, while others struggle to achieve even a little.
People often talk about managing time. But time itself cannot be managed. What we manage is ourselves, how we use these minutes, how we organise our actions, and how we seek the barakah of time. This is a vital skill, and the sooner we grasp it, the better prepared we will be for life.
Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate how much salah, the most fundamental act of worship in Islam, teaches us to manage ourselves effectively.
1. Prioritize
We’ve all seen it: an exam or a critical work presentation is tomorrow, yet someone is worrying about what to wear to a friend’s wedding.
Salah teaches us to prioritise. The five daily prayers take precedence over all else—they are performed on time, before other voluntary acts or worldly activities. The Friday jumuah prayer emphasises this even further: no matter where you are or what you are doing, men are required to attend the congregation at a set time.
Salah also teaches us the importance of order. Just as we wouldn’t pray maghrib at fajr, we learn to act in the right sequence at the right time. Islam guides us to place obligatory actions at the top, recommended actions next, and permissible actions after that. By internalising this structure, prioritising tasks in our daily life can become natural.
Salah also reminds us of the consequences of not prioritising. A salah missed is to lose out on an opportunity to gain Allah’s mercy and instead earn Allah’s displeasure and wrath. Similarly in life, everything has a place and time. By not prioritising or ordering correctly we can close doors to further opportunities and lose out in the dunya and akhirah.
2. Prepare
Salah also teaches preparation. In London, for example, prayer times vary widely throughout the year. In winter, maghrib may be as early as 3:54 pm, while in summer, fajr can begin at 2:39 am. How do I ensure I wake up for fajr? How do I fit in dhuhr, asr and maghrib in a short period of time in winter? Attending jumuah during the work or school day requires planning: Where is the nearest mosque? How will I get there on time?
Preparation is essential in all areas of life. Many people procrastinate until the last minute and then wonder why they fall short. By planning ahead, breaking challenges into manageable steps, and arranging logistics, we set ourselves up for success.
3. Simplify
Each salah consists of smaller units called rakat. We complete the salah through repetition of these rakat.
This teaches an important principle: complex tasks should be broken into smaller, achievable steps. Studying for an exam, for example, can be divided into chapters or topics, each tackled in focused 30–40-minute slots. By simplifying tasks and tracking progress, even one day can feel productive, and success builds confidence and motivation.
4. Focus
Salah is a conversation with Allah ﷻ. It demands khushu, full attention and a mindful heart.
Likewise, any activity in life requires focus. Why am I doing this? What is my goal? Am I achieving it? Focus allows us to eliminate distractions and engage fully with the task at hand, multiplying our effectiveness.
Conclusion
While salah is primarily a spiritual act performed to seek Allah’s pleasure and obey His command, it naturally builds discipline, self-management, and the ability to use our time wisely. Islam provides not only guidance for worship but also a framework for realising the barakah of time itself.
As Allah ﷻ reminds us:
وَٱلْعَصْر. إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ
By time, indeed, mankind is at loss. Except for those who believe, do righteous deeds, and encourage one another to follow the truth and to be patient. (al-Asr 1–3)
We all have the same 1440 minutes each day. The difference lies in how we prioritise, prepare, simplify, and focus.
Reflect on your daily schedule: which actions will you give precedence to? How will you plan and simplify your tasks? How will you focus today to make tomorrow more meaningful?
Time is limited, but with discipline, intention, and iman, every minute can count.
Living For Islam 