Flying time, especially if it’s more than a few hours, can be extremely boring since you’re disconnected from the world and you can’t really go anywhere. However, if you think about it, this ’idle’ time is actually what you’ve ALWAYS wished you had whenever you get busy in your real life. How many times have we caught ourselves saying, “If only I had a bit of free time, I’d do X”?Shaytaan is very good at trying to make us waste the treasure of free time on a flight; but with some preparation and pre-planning, we can convert it to the most productive time ever!
Below are 10 ProductiveMuslim tips to make the most of your flights:
1. Try to have your wudhu before boarding the flight. This will help you avoid performing gymnastics in the tight airplane toilets!
2. Upon boarding the flight, take out from your bag the following:
Quran,
Tasbeeh,
Reading Book/Kindle,
Pen & Pocket Notebook/Journal,
Laptop/iPad
Everything else should be kept in the overhead compartment.
3. Before take-off read the dua for traveling + write down your intentions for this journey in your pocket journal, as well as a rough plan of what you want to do when you arrive (this could be for your entire journey if you’re on vacation, or if you’re returning home, these could be things you need to get done in the 1st three days from arrival).
4. When the plane has lifted and the seat belt signs are turned off, if there’s a row of empty seats nearby, move to them: OR if it’s a packed flight, see if there are any empty seats near the emergency exits which offer more legroom. (Of course, you need to be courteous and allow the elderly or those with children to have priority on such seats).
5. Start your productive flight with a bit of Spiritual Productivity and the longest, most enjoyable set of dhikr you could ask for. Here’s an example:
SubhanaAllah x 100
Alhamdulillah x 100
Allahu Akbar x 100
la hawla wa la quota illa billa x 100
La ilaha illa Allah x 100
la ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahulmulk wa lahulhamd wa huwa ala kulli shay’qadeer x 100
SubhanaAllah wa bihamdih SubhanaAllah Al-Atheem x 100
Astaghfurullah wa atoub ilayh x 100
Astaghfurullah lilmo’mineen wal mo’minaat x 100
Allahumma Salli wa Sallim Ala Sayyidina Muhammad
The above should take you roughly 1 hour.
6. Read Surat Al-Baqarah + Aal-Imran. This should take you 3 hours. You don’t have to do this in one sitting – you can spread them over 3 sittings, 1 hour each.
7. Perform loads of Duas, for at least 30 minutes. Remember the significance of making dua while travelling!
8. If you’ve got a nice spot to sleep, aim for 3 sleep cycles (90 minutes/sleep cycle) = 4hrs + 30minutes.
9. Of course, do not forget Salah (even Witr if you want to). On some flights, you can ask to pray in a spot in the back close to the kitchen area, which has enough room to stand and pray normally – but do ask permission from flight attendants first.
10. If you do the above, you’ll probably knock out 8-10 hours. So you’re now left with a few hours which you can spend reading/writing/eating and watching the sunset/sunrise!
BONUS TIP:
Download all your e-mails to your desktop e-mail software before flying out, and spend 1 hour composing replies ready to send them out once you’re back on the ground.
With the above, your long-haul flights will not feel so boring and you’ll actually feel very productive once you land, inshaAllah!
Jazaak Allaah khayr. This is a very beneficial thread.
The last time I flew I spent so much time packing that I was unable to get enough sleep the night before so I spent almost half the flight time catching up on sleep.
However I was able to say some words of thanks to Allaah for the blessing of being able to travel such a huge distance with such great ease. And asked Him to help me show gratitude for it.
When the food arrives taste it and point your finger towards the food and say 'this is the bomb!' loudly, a lot of things will happen after you say that and it would appear that time is flying.
^^ lol you tried that ya Abd-Allah?
if there weren't such good advise here already I'd share tips on how I survive it but people are taking the highroad so why would I advise of the poor one..
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
^^ lol you tried that ya Abd-Allah?
if there weren't such good advise here already I'd share tips on how I survive it but people are taking the highroad so why would I advise of the poor one..
I have to watch what i say even if it's in soliloquy, after being shamed up in front of all passengers by two female security officials, but Alhamdulilah i kept my cool, even when one of them said i should apply for jobs abroad instead of in England.
Give me a job abroad, and i will go tonight without a second thought.
I thought I would share a few of my tips for long flights:
- Listen to downloaded talks, quraan with translation (dont forget to carry your ear-plugs : ) )
- In-flight videos are only good for documentaries.....some of the best and most memorable documentaries that I have ever watched, has been during a flight.
- Chat to your neighbour (not if its the opposite gender : ) ) .....you may be fortunate enough to be seated next to someone from the country that you are en-route to, with useful tourist tips (or vice versa).....or just learning about anothers culture and thoughts.
(Ps. A talkative neighbour may be a problem if you are trying to fall asleep, while he/she is still in the middle of their conversation....).
- Sleep
--> Dont leave home without sleeping pills (esp. if you are like me and struggle to sleep on long flights).
(I usually dont recommend sleeping pills, but this is an exception to the rule! : ) )
- When booking your seats, ensure that you are not seated next to the toilets or a family with kids <-- these are proven sleep breakers :/
If its a very long flight, it may also be better not to be seated on the aisle (as you are bound to be frequently disturbed by those who need to use the bathroom).
wow .... is it just me that I dont get bothered by any of the pointers to avoid mentioned above as long as I reach my destination safely? :s
yea but i defo wont like the smell coming from the toilets.
Help me to escape from this existence
I yearn for an answer... can you help me?
I'm drowning in a sea of abused visions and shattered dreams
In somnolent illusion... I'm paralyzed
you are right. But ive been on many >14 hr flights. Canada to Saudi and to Pakistan. Sometimes in olden days about 20 hours?
i usually spend 6-8 hours sleeping. rest of the time, some good music *cough cough*. or some dua. or some book.
Last edited by CosmicPathos; 09-29-2012 at 09:46 PM.
Help me to escape from this existence
I yearn for an answer... can you help me?
I'm drowning in a sea of abused visions and shattered dreams
In somnolent illusion... I'm paralyzed
^ The truly fortunate ones are those who can fall asleep despite the awkward posture and no leg room (Im usually the one watching everyone else sleep ; ( ).
allhamdulillah Allah has blessed me and have no sleep problems.
and yea forgot to mention, dont empty your bladder during travels. public washrooms are .... hmmm
a prophylactic loperamide pill or 2 before leaving for the airport also helps.
Last edited by CosmicPathos; 09-29-2012 at 10:18 PM.
Help me to escape from this existence
I yearn for an answer... can you help me?
I'm drowning in a sea of abused visions and shattered dreams
In somnolent illusion... I'm paralyzed
When the food arrives taste it and point your finger towards the food and say 'this is the bomb!' loudly, a lot of things will happen after you say that and it would appear that time is flying.
looks like you uttered some words that's a little.. explosive!
Please Make Dua' For Samiun..
“Whoever records a biography of a believer, it is as though he has brought him or her back to life.” - Imam Al-Sakhawi
I am Christian so do drink alcohol, though moderately.
On a long flight, I would have a couple of glasses of red wine or a couple of brandies .... then take some anti-hystamine tablets .... and wake up for breakfast
Though looking at those powdered eggs often makes me wonder why I actually woke for breakfast
I am Christian so do drink alcohol, though moderately.
On a long flight, I would have a couple of glasses of red wine or a couple of brandies .... then take some anti-hystamine tablets .... and wake up for breakfast
Though looking at those powdered eggs often makes me wonder why I actually woke for breakfast
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Baarak Allaahu Feeki. Will deffo try this next time I'm flying.
looks like you uttered some words that's a little.. explosive!
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