Stress About Exam?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

It is exam time...here is some good advice.

In times of difficulties, confusion, stress, panic or the like, quickly go and make wudu' and pray. Remember, the delight of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is in the prayer. Prayer is an absolute tranquility and peacefulness, and wudu' burns off sins to ashes. Make lots of istighfar (asking Allah for forgiveness), dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and salawat (sending peace and blessings) upon the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and recite some Qur'an.

Realize that you are not God; you are a servant of Allah and you are powerless; and you depend on Him in everything; and He has planned and determined everything for you. When you realize this, that will benefit you beyond your imagination, more than passing your exam. Among other things, it will enable you to put things into perspective and should reduce the anxiety levels you might have, you become more relaxed and productive. But this doesn't mean you sit back and do nothing--you have to take the means and work very hard to excel in your studies, and at the same time not neglecting your duties toward your parents, your family and other people who have rights upon you.

Anything you do, and all the sacrifices and hard work and you put into seeking and learning knowledge--choosing the school/college; living away from the comfort of home; patiently dealing with bureaucracies, inefficiencies and people's idiosyncrasies; going to and attending classes in scorching heat or freezing cold with perseverance; diligently studying and preparing for the exam; going to the exam; taking the exam; etc, the whole goal is to become beloved to Allah.

If you are seeking religious knowledge, make sure you have the correct intention.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever seeks knowledge not for the sake of Allah the Exalted but rather for some worldly benefit, then he will never know Paradise on the Day of Resurrection,” meaning its fragrance. [Sunan Abu Dawud]

Likewise, if you are seeking secular knowledge, it should also be for His sake. Then, everything you do to gain this knowledge is worship of Allah which you be rewarded and Allah will put barakah in it.

Umar bin Al-Khattab narrated: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “The deeds are upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever’s emigration for worldly benefits or for to marry a woman, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.”

And Success is with Allah Alone. May Allah grant you success. Ameen.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Arvhive: The Coolness of My Eyes