Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in the Quran:
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّـهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّـهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little.
[Al-Nisa, verse 142]
Laziness is addressed in the Quran, because it is a serious disease of the heart, which is linked to our mental and physical responses. This is something we all need to fight, and we need to choose being active over lazy. This all starts from our thoughts, we think positive and active, our words will be the same, our words will become positive actions, our actions will become our habits, and habits form our character and character determines our destiny.
Just as laziness destroys aspiration and determination, being positive and active will help us achieve our goals and complete task in the best and beautiful manner
In this ayah laziness is associated with salaah, because it is the most difficult of the daily obligations that a Muslim must complete. It has to be done every day, 5 times a day, on time, with no excuse. So whoever is lazy in their salaah will be lazy in other acts of worship and whoever is NOT lazy in their salaah, he/she will not be lazy in all other actions.
Our beloved Prophet Mohammad صلى الله عليه وسلم used to seek refuge in Allah سبحانه وتعالى from laziness daily;
‘O Allaah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being over powered by men.’
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6369]
This shows how seriously we need to remove laziness in our lives. First we will look at types of laziness then summarise how they can be treated.
Imam Al-Ragheb, رحمه الله تعا لى defines laziness as;
“Lack of energy and enthusiasm of doing something that you should not lack energy/enthusiasm for”.
Types of Laziness
Community
When individuals in the community are lazy than the community at large will become lazy. This also arises, when individuals in the community do not participate in the community or work to solve its own problems, and mainly rely on the government for solutions.They are not united as community, there is an increase in crime, poverty and unemployment afflicting the entire community. Community laziness also appears if its people do not forbid evil and encourage the good, which has detrimental consequences.
Educational:
This is the laziness of learning and developing ourselves. Laziness in gaining knowledge will limit the success level and the potential to grow and achieve.
Family:
The family is the unit of the community, so if the families are lazy it will not have a positive effect to the community. It starts from the parents, if they are lazy to fulfil their duties towards their children then the children will be lazy to fulfil their duties not just in their homes, outside as well. Results in a weak family relationship and even more concerning a broken Islamic home.
Physical:
Laziness towards exercising and moving our bodies for physical activities. Being physically active improves physical and mental health, and promotes a positive attitude.
Financial:
It is associated with earning and spending money. If we look at our prophets, they each had a trade: Prophet Nuh عليه السلام was a carpenter, Prophet Idrees عليه السلام was a tailor, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was a shepherd, and then he became a trader. They earned their living with their own blessed hands and did not rely on government pay cheques or employment benefits. A Muslim should not succumb to unemployment but strive through life to secure his financial position.
Narrated Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه : Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “By Him in Whose Hand my life is, it is better for anyone of you to take a rope and cut the wood (from the forest) and carry it over his back and sell it (as a means of earning his living) rather than to ask a person for something and that person may give him or not.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1470).
We also become lazy in spending on our family and giving in charity despite numerous opportunities. We should have that hope that giving will not reduce our wealth, but in fact increase it, Insha’Allah
Employment:
When employees are lazy from fulfilling their duties, hence hurting suppliers, customers, investors and all those involved will bring harm to the employer and his business. This includes wasting time, not performing the task properly, turning up late, and being dishonest. He also harms himself, as he will not be considered for promotion or pay rise. Employment laziness sometimes comes after retirement as well, when the retiree simply submits to an inactive lifestyle, waiting for death.
Religious:
This is laziness from acts of worship such as praying, fasting, reciting Qur’an, etc..Laziness in these acts means that they are not fulfilled properly therefore, will not attain the full benefit from these acts or improve their spirituality or get closer to Allah سبحانه وتعالى. This is the source of all laziness’ as those who are lazy from worshipping Allah, Allah سبحانه وتعالى will make them lazy in other aspects of their lives.
Treatment of laziness
1. Turning to Allah سبحانه وتعالى often and asking Him for protection from laziness and lethargy and seeking his help, being patient and seeking refuge from shaitaan.
2. Have high aspirations and noble intentions and think BIG! Do not limit yourself, and put your trust in Allah with whatever result you get.
3. Read the biographies of great men and women to help increase your aspirations.
4. Spend time with those who have high aspirations and not with lazy people.
5. Look after yourself and feel responsible for yourself and those around you and get involved in your community, to increase your purposefulness.
6. Fill your idle time as much as possible.
7. Find out what excites you and what you enjoy doing and work hard at it.
