High performance isn’t just about being productive at work; it is about striving for excellence in all aspects of life. In my previous post about how to become a high performer, I shared some insights and tips to help you operate at your best and unlock your full potential.
On the other hand, high performance is a key aspect of our creator’s guidance. The Quran and Hadith encourage believers to strive for excellence in all areas of life- professional, personal, and spiritual. By adopting certain habits drawn from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), humans can achieve a greater level of success and prosperity in this life and the hereafter.
Here are key high-performance habits from an Islamic perspective:
1. Intention (Niyyah)
Intention is the foundation of any action in Islam. Whether in worship or other ordinary actions in our daily lives, the purity and sincerity of intention define the value of the action. Developing high-performance habits begins with aligning intentions solely for the sake of Allah.
Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said in narrated authentic Hadith:
إنما الأعمال بالنيات ، وإنما لكل امريء مانوى ، فمن كانت هجرته إلى الله ورسوله ، فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله ، ومن كانت هجرته لدنيا يصيبها ، أو امرأة ينكحها ، فهجرته إلى ما هاجر إليه
(The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it. A man will be rewarded only for what he intended. The emigration of one who emigrates for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH), and the emigration of one who emigrates to gain a worldly advantage or for marrying a woman is for what he has emigrated)
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Allah says in the Quran, An-An’am-162:
“قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ”
(Say, “Surely my prayer, my rites, my life, and my death are all for the sake Allah—Lord of all worlds)
In the above-mentioned Hadith and Quran verse, Allah and the prophet (PBUH) guide us to make a habit of setting the right intention before every action, that is, the intention that our actions are sincere for the sake of pleasing Allah and asking for his rewards. Whether that action is working to make a living, caring for our family, exercising to strengthen our body, or worshiping Allah. In this mindset, every little action we do is rewarded if we set the right intention ahead of it.
So next time before you start any task, pause and make a conscious intention for why you are doing it. Ask yourself how this action brings you closer to Allah and serves others.
2. Excellence (Ihsan)
Ihsan is an Arabic word that means excellence or the pursuit of doing every act in the best possible manner. The Quran and Sunnah place a strong emphasis on this habit, pushing believers to go beyond the minimum and strive for perfection in all areas of life.
Allah says in the Quran, An-Naḥl, Ayah 30:
” وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ مَاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا ۗ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌۭ ۚ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌۭ ۚ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ”
(And ˹when˺ it is said to those mindful ˹of Allah˺, “What has your Lord revealed?” They say, “All the best!” For those who do good in this world (in an excellent manner), there are good deeds and rewards, and far better is the ˹eternal˺ Home of the Hereafter. How excellent indeed is the home of the righteous)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) defined Ihsan when The messenger Angel Gabriel asked him about it:
” أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ ”
(To worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, believe that he surely sees you)
(Sahih Al-Bukhari 50)
This Hadith teaches us that when we stand in prayer before Allah, we should do it with the best effort and sincerity, as though we are standing directly before him and seeing him. And if we cannot achieve that sense, we should remember that he is watching us. Imagine if each one of us approached every action with this mindset- wouldn’t our action be nearly flawless?
Applying Ihsan in your daily routine means putting forth your best effort, whether in prayer, work, or relationships. High performance comes from consistently striving to exceed expectations and aiming for a higher standard of excellence in every aspect of life.
3. Time Management (Utilizing Time Wisely)
The Quran and Hadith emphasize the importance of time as one of the most valuable resources in life. To perform at a high level, you must manage your time wisely and effectively.
Allah says in the Quran, Al-‘Aser:
“وَٱلْعَصْرِ*إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ *إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰالِحَـٰاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ”
“By time through the ages, indeed mankind is in loss, except for those who believe, do good deeds, urge one another to the truth, and urge one another to steadfastness”
In this Surah, Allah takes an oath by the very essence of time, underscoring its profound value and the necessity of dedicating it to righteous deeds. Truly, there is no greater loss than the wasting of such a precious gift.
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“ اغتنِمْ خمسًا قبل خمسٍ : شبابَك قبل هَرَمِك، وصِحَّتَك قبل سَقَمِك، وغناك قبل فقرِك، وفراغَك قبل شُغلِك، وحياتَك قبل موتِك”
(Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death)
(Al-Hakim)
Developing the habit of structuring your day, setting clear goals, and avoiding time-wasting activities leads to higher productivity and efficiency. Use your time purposefully in activities that bring you closer to Allah and help you grow in knowledge, skills, and character.
4. Consistency (Istiqamah)
Both the Quran and Hadith encourage steady, consistent actions, even if they seem small, as these bring about greater progress and lasting success over time than occasional, intense efforts.
Allah said in Quran: Hud 112:
“فَٱسْتَقِمْ كَمَآ أُمِرْتَ وَمَن تَابَ مَعَكَ وَلَا تَطْغَوْا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ”
(So remain on the right course as you have been commanded, as well as those who have repented (from disbelief) have joined you, and do not cross the limits. Surely, He is watchful of what you do)
In this Aya, The Quran encourages believers to remain steadfast and be persistent and consistent on the straight path.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“أَحَبُّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى أَدْوَمُهَا وَإِنْ قَلَّ “
(The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are small)
(Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
This Hadith teaches the power of building small, sustainable habits. Whether it’s consistently reading or memorizing a portion of the Quran, engaging in daily remembrance of Allah (Zikr), or improving in a specific area of work or personal growth, consistency compounds into meaningful results over time.
5. Self-Discipline (Mujahada)
High performers exercise self-discipline, especially in controlling desires and maintaining focus on their goals. The Quran emphasizes striving in the way of Allah, which includes the internal struggle for self-discipline:
Al-‘Ankabut-69:
“وَٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ”
(And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways)
In the context of high performance, self-discipline means resisting distractions, maintaining focus, and pushing through challenges in both spiritual and worldly pursuits.
6. Gratitude (Shukr)
Gratitude is a powerful habit that leads to contentment and motivation for further success. By being grateful, you acknowledge Allah’s blessings and open the door to receiving more.
Allah said in Quran, Ibrāhīm- 7:
“وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ”
(And ˹remember˺ when your Lord proclaimed, If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe)
High performers focus on the positive, appreciating what they have while striving to improve. Gratitude helps maintain a positive mindset, reduces stress, and enhances resilience in the face of obstacles.
7. Reflection and Self-Accountability (Muhasabah)
Taking time to reflect on your actions, progress, and intentions is a key habit of high performers.
The Quran invites believers to reflect on their lives: Ar-Rūm-8:
أَوَلَمۡ يَتَفَكَّرُواْ فِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۗ مَّا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗىۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرٗا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِلِقَآيِٕ رَبِّهِمۡ لَكَٰفِرُونَ
(Have they not reflected upon their own being? Allah only created the heavens and the earth and everything in between for a purpose and an appointed term. Yet most people are truly in denial of the meeting with their Lord)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised self-accountability:
“حاسبوا أنفسكم قبل أن تحاسبوا”
“Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account.”
(Tirmidhi)
Reflection allows for regular self-assessment, helping you identify areas for improvement, adjust your goals, and maintain focus on your long-term vision.
8. Patience and steadfastness (Sabr)
Patience and steadfastness are essential habits of high performers. Challenges, failures, and setbacks are inevitable, but those who are patient remain steadfast in their pursuit of goals.
Allah says in Quran, Al-Baqarah-153:
“یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسۡتَعِینُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِین”
(O believers, seek help through steadfastness and prayer, for God is with the steadfast)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“وَمَنْ يَتَصَبَّرْ يُصَبِّرْهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَا أُعْطِيَ أَحَدٌ عَطَاءً خَيْرًا وَأَوْسَعَ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ”
“Whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience.”
(Sahih Bukhari)
Mastering steadfastness results in maintaining faith, staying calm under pressure, and continuing to push forward despite difficulties.
Conclusion
The Quran and Hadith provide a comprehensive framework for high performance, one that goes beyond worldly success to include spiritual and moral excellence. By adopting these habits—intention, excellence, time management, consistency, self-discipline, gratitude, reflection, and steadfastness—you can achieve a balanced, high-performing life that pleases Allah and contributes to both personal and professional growth.
These principles form the foundation of a truly successful life, one that leads to fulfillment in this world and rewards in the Hereafter.
MashaAllah! These are great facts and thoughts to share so everyone who is determined to be successful, in this life and in the one after, should follow and embody. Please continue to illuminate the brains and hearts with beautiful insights.
Thank you, Senan, for your kind words. May Allah Guide us and help us guide others to the right path.
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