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In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most
Merciful
By Shaykh Salman al-`Awdah
A person possessing a true and sincere desire for something
is very likely, with the help of Allah, to achieve it in the end. Perseverance
is the constant companion of those who are successful.
With exam time upon us, our students right now are facing
times of anxiety and stress. It is necessary for parents to keep close tabs on
their children at this time and help them to get through these times
successfully.
I direct the following advice to our students who are
facing their exams:
First of all, you have to get a grip on the anxieties
associated with your studies:
1. Focus on the day at hand. Do not become excessively
bogged down by your concerns. Know that Allah says: “And in the heavens is your
providence and what you are promised.” [ Sûrah al-Dhâriyât : 22]
2. Consider the heavy toll that inordinate worrying has on
your health, your body, and your mind.
3. Do not fret over past failures. Remember that the
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If some misfortune befalls you, do not say ‘
If only I had done such and such… ‘ Instead say: ‘ Allah’s decree and whatever
He wills He does .’ Truly, the words ‘ if only …’ open the way for Satan’s
handiwork.”
4. Reconcile yourself to Allah’s determination and decree.
What Allah chooses for you is better than what you choose for yourself. Allah’s
messenger (peace be upon him) said: “How remarkable is the affair of the
believer. Indeed all of his affairs are for the best, and this is the case for
no one except a believer. If prosperity befalls him, he is thankful and this is
good for him. If misfortune befalls him, he is patient and that is good for
him.”
5. Instead of enumerating all of your worries, fears, and
failures, count Allah’s blessings – which are innumerable. Allah says: “If you
count Allah’s blessings, you will never account for them all. Indeed Allah is
Forgiving, Merciful.” [ Sûrah al-Nahl : 18]
He also says: “If you count Allah’s blessings, you will
never account for them all. Indeed Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Verily, man is
given up to injustice and ingratitude.” [ Sûrah Ibrâhîm : 34]
7. Do not be self-centered, thinking only of yourself. Try
to do something for others. At least manage a smile and try to do something
more for them.
The second task is to distinguish between constructive
worry that pushes you to study harder and more effectively and destructive
worry that merely robs you of your sleep, keeps you from eating and drinking,
befuddles your thoughts, and prevents you from studying effectively.
You need to make sure to get enough sleep. You need to
relax, even on the night before a big exam.
You must also make certain to eat properly, preferably
light meals that are not to oily. Also drink juices. Do not overdo it and do
not resort to excessive amounts of coffee, tea, and other drinks that are high
in caffeine. As for popping stimulant pills, know that this is both Islamically
unlawful and self-destructive. It can lead to addiction and dependency and it
will not help you in your studies. It will only hurt you. Do not be duped by
others who might try to talk you into it saying that it is only for exam time and
then you can give it up.
You need to move around and get exercise. If you are just
too busy, then at least walk around the room while you are studying.
Glorify your Lord. Allah says: “Verily in the remembrance
of Allah do hearts find rest.” [ Sûrah al-Ra`d : 28]
Do not neglect the practical steps to success. You are
supposed to take them. However, do not put your reliance upon then. Instead,
put your reliance in Allah, the Lord of those practical steps and the one who
brings about their effectiveness. Allah says: “And put your trust in Him Who
lives and dies not; and celebrate His praises.” [ Sûrah al-Furqân : 58]
It is reported – though with a weak chain of transmission –
that once a man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked: “Should I
tie my camel or rely upon Allah?”
So the Prophet replied: “Tie it and rely upon Allah.” In
this way, he showed how we must take practical steps and rely upon Allah at the
same time.
Do not forget that life is one big test. Just like it is
necessary for you to pass your tests at school, you are going to have to pass
that big test as well. That exam is as long as your life and the results only
come out at the very end.
Parents, for their part, should pay attention to their
children and to their examinations, their studies, and their homework without
putting too much pressure on them and stressing them out.
We now turn our attention to how to study. This is a
four-step process.
First, the lesson should be given a good, general reading.
This should be done once or twice until the general meaning is clearly fixed in
your mind. You need to assess what you read, determine how difficult or easy it
is, and draw from it its main ideas.
The second step is to get a precise grasp of the material,
understand it thoroughly, and commit to memory what needs to be memorized. Do
not memorize what does not warrant memorization. Many of our youth rely too
much on memorization and not enough on understanding.
The third step is to make sure you have got everything
down. You should repeat to yourself those things you have memorized or
understood from your lessons. Highlight important points in your notes.
The final step is to then go back and review what you have
studied, either on your own or with others.
Do not forget the following:
1. Underline main ideas and important principles.
2. Give yourself time to pause and to rest.
3. Find some little clues in the material that you
want to commit to memory to help you to memorize it.
4. Read out loud sometimes.
5. Rewrite those things that you want to grasp more
firmly.
6. Choose an appropriate time and place to study.
Now we turn our attentions to how to answer the test
questions.
1. There is nothing wrong in trying to figure out what the
test questions are going to be. You can put yourself in your teacher’s place
and write down the questions that you think are likely. Then you can focus
extra attention on answering these questions. However, do not neglect the rest
of the material. Also, get sample questions from others and from the test papers
of previous years in order to get an idea of the types of questions your
teacher or professor is likely to ask.
2. Do not forget to eat breakfast before going to the
examination, even if time is limited.
3. Pay attention to the test schedule. One of my friends
was an excellent student, but he never pursued his studies. Why? Because once
he made a fatal mistake regarding the test schedule. This experience left him
so bitter that he could not continue in his studies. Make sure you know your
test schedule well. Make sure you review on the night of the exam only the
tests that you are going to sit for the next day.
4. Seek Allah’s help and remember Him. Start your test in
his name.
5. Come early to the testing room and make sure that you
are properly equipped with pens and whatever else you will need to take the
test.
5. Read over the questions in a relaxed manner. If allowed,
ask your teacher to explain any question that you do not understand.
6. Answer the easiest questions first. Do not just follow
the order of questions on the test paper. Starting with the easiest questions
makes the whole test go smoother.
7. Put off the things that you do not know and do not
succumb to worry. With Allah’s help, the answer may come to you. Do not become
anxious if you see your fellow students around you starting to write before you
do.
8. Do your best to write your answers neatly, clearly, and
in an orderly fashion.
9. Do not cheat. Keep in mind that deception is unlawful in
Islam.
10. Divide your time sensibly between the test questions.
Do not spend all of your time on one question to the expense of the others.
11. Resist the urge to hand in your test paper as soon as
possible though you may just want to get out of the room as quickly as you can
and consult with your friends about what the right answers were. Take all the
time that you are given. Read over the questions again. You may have forgotten
something. It is better to take this time now than to regret later the easy question
that you missed.
12. Do not leave any question unanswered. Even if you do
not know the answer, try anyway. This is not lying. You are not issuing
official decrees. You are just in training.
May Allah bless you with success!
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