Discipline means we set certain rules and limits for ourselves to be followed and not to be stepped on. The spirit and reality of the disciplines of Islam dictate that every individual must take the rules, regulations, and convention of laws. Not only that discipline is a secret of the success of great men, but our universe also stands on the same foundation. Discipline, one of the most significant personality traits in everyone’s life refers to a set of rules and regulations which are to be followed while undergoing any task or activity. It is a way of being honest, hard-working, motivated, encouraged while doing any work and the role of discipline in our life is to set orderliness, efficiency, punctuality, organization, and focus on our tasks. The importance of discipline in life cannot be ignored as “Life without discipline is just like a ship without radar.” Discipline is an idea which everyone is aware of, but very few truly understand the true meaning of it. It is very important for every individual to be disciplined on a daily basis as it helps an individual to focus on all of the positive attributes. Islam encourages Muslims to display responsible behaviour in life. It disallows drinking alcohol, gambling and other vices which take people towards indiscipline and laxity. Discipline makes our lives easy, enable one to realise his/her goal in life and by discipline overall, society becomes caring and law-abiding. The regulation of man’s conduct within one system of life is one of the most important reasons of success and stability, and the absence of this regulation is one of the greatest crises a man suffers from in his life. This happens when man is left without guidance from Allah (S.W.T.) and under these circumstances, man’s life becomes miserable on this earth and Hereafter. By being discipline, we make sure that every time that passed is worth spent, and we left no regret in there. As Allah (S.W.T) said in the Holy Quran, those who waste their time is living their life in vain. Be discipline in doing prayer in the pleasure of Allah, you spent your time under His blessing. Be discipline in working hard, you harvest the fruit in the world in no time. A disciplined person is focused and know how to schedule the time properly. He always has the time to complete all the tasks within given deadlines as he understand the value of time and don’t believe in wasting time on unnecessary things. The great leaders follow a very tight schedule and maintain discipline in their life to become good leaders. Good discipline generates a positive feelings towards society, creates confidence and eagerness to do something great. Disciplined people are more focused both mentally and physically. They are better able to align their body and mind with their ideas and goals. Disciplined people always have time to revise their work and improve their decisions as they finish their work within the given deadlines. The disciplined people are more motivated and concentrated. Therefore, they achieve more when compared to a person who are not disciplined with the activities they undertake. With discipline, comes stability in all the tasks as it helps to schedule and organize the activities and tasks in a proper structure. A person is sure to succeed in his/her life, if he/she is focused and regularly follows that particular structure. The great responsibility comes with great discipline. It is very important to regularly follow and fulfill the responsibilities as only by making schedules and timetables a person cannot become successful. In every society, a disciplined person is always respected and He/ She are looked upon as role models and mentors. Modern society suffers a lot from anxiety and depression. Disciplined life will help an individual them to reduce stress and take control of their tasks. They would be able to overcome their fears and also control their emotions. Disciplined people are like assets to society as in absence of law and order, discipline is required to prevent bad activities in the society. Disciplined people have time to do every activity in the schedule and they plan their schedule in such a way that improves both their academic/ institutional performance and also their physical health. The disciplined individuals know what is good and bad for them and thereby have good eating habits, exercising habits, sleeping and waking up patterns, etc. The holy Qur’an teaches us about the nations of people and individuals that were blessed with financial wealth, and physical strength, but they refused to live their lives according to the regulations of Allah (S.W.T.), so He destroyed them and their wealth. This happened in the past it is happening now, and sure it will happen in the future until the Day of Judgment. Allah (S.W.T.), did not leave man without a system to regulate his conduct and behavior as He (S.W.T.) sent legislation to make man’s life the best on this earth so that he will be happy in this life and in the Hereafter. Allah (S.W.T.) says about Qur’an in surat At-Takwir, (verse 27&28), “Verily, this (the Qur’an) is no less than a reminder to (all) the Alamin (mankind and jinn), to whomsoever among you wills to walk straight.” Allah (S.W.T.) ordered His prophet (S.A.W.) and the believers to be disciplined based on Islam and taught them not to transgress: Allah (S.W.T) says in surat Huod, (verse 112), which is translated as, “So stand (O Muhammad) firm and straight (on Islam) as you are commanded and those who are with you (your companions) and do not transgress…” Ibn Abbas (R.A.) said: “There was no verse in the Qur’an harder on the prophet (S.A.W.) than this verse.” For this reason, when the companions of the prophet (S.A.W.) said: “Your hair is getting gray early”, he replied: ” Surat Hood and its sisters made my hair gray.” Allah (S.W.T.) ordered His prophet (S.A.W.) in another verse in surat Ash-Shuora, (verse 15), which is translated as, “So unto this (Islam) alone then invite (people) (O Muhammad) and stand firm and straight (on Islam) as you are commanded…” Reported by Imam Muslim, a man said O Messenger of Allah; tell me something of Islam, which I will not ask anyone else about it. He (S.A.W.) said: “Say, I believe in Allah and then be steadfast.” Imam An-Nawawi said: “This hadith is one of the great ones that Islam is based on.” To be steadfast is to abide by Islam and it is a high degree that shows complete belief and great strength. Omar (R.A.) said: “Steadfast is enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil and not deceit like the deceit of the fox.” This means discipline according to the Islamic system. Islam teaches us how to regulate our behavior and conduct in all aspects of the Deen; in the Aqeedah, in the Ibadat, in human relations, and in the rules of Halal and Haram. In the Aqeedah, We must believe what Allah (S.W.T.) requires us to believe without additions, deletions, or changes. Islam teaches us how to perform Ibadat, person cannot worship Allah (S.W.T.) in whichever way he chooses, nor can he worship Allah (S.W.T.) whenever he wants. The prophet (S.A.W.) says: “Pray as you see me pray.” He also said: “Take from me your rituals of Hajj.” Islam also clarified to us the rules of Zakah and fasting. If we take, as an example, Salah, which is a frequent Ibadah one that is performed 5 times a day, we will find it to be a set of specific acts that were handed down to us from the prophet (S.A.W.). So, it is not allowed for anyone to add to it, or delete from it. This teaches us to discipline our life because Ibadat is to follow and not to invent. If we look into the prayer of Jama’ah (prayer in congregation) and its rules, we will find a great lesson of discipline. Islam also taught us to be precise with the time of all Ibadat. Allah (S.W.T.) did not order us to perform prayer only, but He (S.W.T.) ordered us to perform it at specific times in surat An-Nisa’, (verse 103), which is translated as, “…Perform As-Salat. Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed times.” Jibreel clarified to the prophet (S.A.W.) the beginning time and the ending time of every prayer. If someone wanted to pray prayer only minutes before it is due, it will not be accepted. This is a great lesson. It occurs five times a day and teaches us discipline. The same thing applies to fasting. Allah (S.W.T.) ordered us to fast the month of Ramadan. The prophet (S.A.W.) told us how to begin fasting the month of Ramadan and how to end it. He also forbade us to start fasting the month of Ramadan before it is due and forbade us to fast the day of Eid. He specified to us that fasting is from dawn to sunset. The prophet (S.A.W.) commanded us to delay Souhoor (special meal before dawn) till sometime before dawn, and commanded us to break fast immediately after sunset. All of this injunctions aid to the disciplining process. The same thing applies to Zakah. If it is the Sadaqatal fitr (breakfast charity), the prophet (S.A.W.) specified the time when it should be given away, and that it must be paid before the prayer of Eid. He also specified all the kinds of things from which we can give Sadaqatal fitr. If it is the Zakah of Money, he (S.A.W.) specified to us that it be once a year upon the rich. He also specified to us the amounts of Zakah prescribed for gold, silver, farm, animals and all kinds of monetary possessions. Islam specified to us whom Zakah should be given to. So, none of us can spend it as he wishes. This teaches us discipline. As to the Udhiah (sacrificing animal), Islam specified its rules to us all. It is to be done after the Eid Salah, and if it is done before the Salah, it will not be accepted. As to Hajj, it is an obligation that cannot be performed except within a certain period of time and in a specific place. If someone wanted to perform Hajj when it is not due or in a different place, it will not be accepted. This teaches us discipline.
These examples show that Islam teaches us to discipline ourselves and to regulate our actions, sayings, conduct and behavior so that we become disciplined individuals, families, and societies within the system of Islam. Islam taught us to abide by all its rules concerning human relations, and business transactions. Islam also taught us to discipline ourselves through its political system that is followed by the Islamic state, starting from electing the ruler, his conditions, qualifications, and responsibilities, to appointing governors, judges to their positions, responsibilities and how to terminate them and so on. Islam is the Deen of Allah (S.W.T.) and it is a complete way of life to all humanity. Whoever believes in it and acts accordingly will be raised to discipline his life and regulate his actions and stay away from chaos. Every individual must be disciplined based on the principles of Islam derived from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Muslims are expected to behave with self-discipline and noble conduct in every situation. Discipline differentiates humans from beasts. It is a sign of Allah’s care when a person tries to change himself and develop. A discipline behaviour had been shown by every Muslim’s role model in life. Every human desires success in life, but success depends on strictly following the path of discipline. Training ourselves to think of Almighty Allah, to see the beauty of Allah’s signs in the world, to feel gratitude for this existence and the good things Allah has provided for us, is an important discipline indeed. Seeking knowledge is inescapable aspect of the discipline of Allah. Rather than wallowing blindly and ignorantly in our own little cocoons and being concerned only with the limited aspects of creation that help us satisfy our desires, we should seek knowledge of Allah and knowledge of His creation for its own sake. Knowledge is its own reward, but to attain it we must submit to the discipline of knowledge-seeking. We must establish the habits of Salah, fasting, charity, thikr, and so on. And we must discipline ourselves to seek Islamic knowledge. That does not mean that we should study nothing but Fiqh and ignore literature, philosophy and science. Instead, we should study all of the creation, including human beings and the societies they live in, beginning with the postulate that the things we are studying are signs of Allah, and that divinely revealed guidance can help us in our search for truth. We need a knowledge grounded in the basic principles revealed in the Quran, not a random assortment of “facts” without purpose or meaning. In this sense Islam provides a discipline (in the academic sense of “set of ordering principles” or “methodology”) that could be seen as the meta-discipline that embraces and informs all of the lesser disciplines of knowledge and practice. To be disciplined means to follow the teachings of a guide, whether that guide is a person, an ethic, a community, a historical tradition or a set of ideas and to organize one’s behaviour and attitude according to those teachings, as per the Encyclopaedia of Religion. Discipline is one of the most important requirements if a nation is to progress as it leads man to the path of success, be it in any field or institution. Without adhering to a strict sense of discipline, achieving success becomes very difficult. Discipline, of course, does not just consist of rewards and punishments. It also means doing things regularly, on time, and in an orderly manner. Discipline means submitting the self to a kind of harmony whose ordering principle is outside the self, beyond the vain desires of the body and ego. It is very important, as seen, at both levels: individually and collectively for the society as it helps people to showcase their attitude and represent their character and thinking. Both the body and the mind are honed by discipline. Discipline helps to address individual problems and develop a society that is both peaceful and respectful. Therefore, it would be right to say that without discipline there is no life at all. We need a knowledge grounded in the basic principles revealed in the Quran, not a random assortment of “facts” without purpose or meaning. In this sense, Islam provides a discipline (in the academic sense of “set of ordering principles” or “methodology”) that could be seen as the meta-discipline which embraces and informs all of the lesser disciplines of knowledge and practice. May Allah (SWT) help & guide us all towards true path (Aameen!).
(The author write regularly on “ Islamic topics” exclusively for “ Kashmir Horizon”. Views are their own)
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