Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

 

You need to ask Allah to grant you firmness of purpose and determination.

 

On a closer reflection, it seems to me that your real issue is due to procrastination and laziness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us to seek refuge in Allah from laziness and sloth.

 

You have learned these habits over the course of time through your heedlessness and life-style. Now you need to break these habits by taking both cognitive and practical steps:

 

For details, let me cite here one of my earlier answers:

 

“You are to be commended for your keen desire to get rid of your negative habits and acquire positive and faith-enhancing habits.

 

Now you need to form the will to change this habit and take immediate steps to reach your goal. Once your intention is sincere and you follow it up with consistent action, trusting in the Lord, success is guaranteed. Allah assures us in the Qur’an: “And those who shall strive for Our Sake, We shall surely guide them unto Our ways.” (Al-`Ankabut: 69)

 

While combating laziness, the first thing to do is to recognize that like all negative habits we have formed, it is a habit that we have acquired through consistent practice. We persist in it because we find comfort and gain pleasure in it. So we cannot be expected to get rid of it entirely unless and until we learn to link this habit with ugliness, pain and suffering rather than glamorizing it. So, list all the negative aspects and dire consequences associated with laziness. List everything you stand to lose if you were to persist in this habit. Do this as many times as possible until laziness becomes automatically associated with pain and suffering in your consciousness.

 

Secondly, every time you have a tendency to feel lazy, take whatever steps you can immediately to counter the tendency and nip it in the bud. By doing these things consistently and repeatedly you will be empowered to overcome laziness.

 

Here are a few more practical steps you can take to fight this all-pervasive habit:

 

1- Think of and list all the successes you could achieve if you were to shake yourself free of this negative habit.

 

2- Think of and meditate on the success stories of the great leaders who, through sheer determination, hard work, and trust in Allah, achieved what was thought to be impossible. Think of the success story of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) who, without hardly any material supports, did what no other person has done. Think of those who have been physically challenged and yet accomplished what others could not do through sheer determination and hard work.

 

3- List all the positive strengths you have which, even the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or those who have been physically challenged or those who achieved great feats, did not possess.

 

4- Until such time that you have overcome laziness, it is important for you to associate with those who are successful or hard working. If you are a student, try to choose a study environment to read or study. Fight the temptation of studying at home until you have succeeded in mastering laziness.

 

5- Last but not least, start your day by counting the blessings of Allah and thus focusing on your strengths rather than on your weaknesses; and pray to Allah to grant you a day of glory, blessings and success. You may consistently make the following du`a’s:

 

Allahumma inni asbahtu minka fi ni`matin wa `afiyatin wa sitr fa atimma `alayya ni`mataka wa `afiyataka wa sitraka fi ad-dunya wa al-akhirah (O Allah! I enjoy this morning Your gift of blessings, well being, and protection, all because of Your sheer favor; so consummate these gifts for me in this world and the next).

 

Allahumma inni a`udhu bika min al-`ajzi wa al-kasal wa al-jubni wa al-bukhl wa a`udhu bika min munkarati al-akhlaqi wa al-ahwa’ (O Allah! I seek refuge in You from feeling of helplessness, laziness, cowardice and niggardliness; I also seek refuge in You from all despicable traits and whims).

 

Allahumma inni as’aluka khayra hadha al-yawmi nasrahau wa fat-hahu wa barakatahu wa a`udhu bika min sharri hadha al-yawmi wa sharri ma ba`dahu (O Allah! I beg You to grant me the best that this day holds out in terms of success, victory, and blessings; and I seek refuge in You from the worst that this day holds out and the day after).”

 

In conclusion, I would urge you to learn to organize your time – if you can – to keep the job and engage in study at the same time. If that is not possible then make up your mind to devote yourself full time to your study – provided you can finance it without working.

 

Once you make up your mind start to work diligently to achieve goal and ask Allah to help you. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Keep your mind focused on goals that are beneficial and strive hard to achieve them by seeking the help of Allah and do not feign helplessness. If after the best of your efforts you are prevented from achieving them, remind yourself: that was the will of Allah, and don’t way: I wish if I had done this, it would have been different, for such thoughts open the door for Satan to play with your mind!”

 

Remember Allah will bless only those who work hard and not those who are lazy and complacent. As the pious Caliph Umar said, “The skies do not shower gold or silver!”

 

Allah Almighty knows best.