ACTION PLANNING BY PARTICIPANTS

Dear Participant,

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu.

We pray to Allah (SWT) to accept our efforts and help us serve His Deen better. Aameen.

While we believe that we are responsible for the quality of training inputs provided by us, you will agree that the onus of learning, remembering, practising and implementing the training inputs rests on the participants, i.e. on each of you.

The true success of any training programme depends on the actions taken by participants after receiving the training. To help us systematically achieve this objective, please list down on a sheet of paper, all valuable learnings that you have gained from this training programme along with your resolution of actions to be taken by you against each point of learning.

Now from the list drawn out by you, please choose five most valuable learnings and set for yourself 'SMART' goals for each of these five learnings.

A 'SMART' goal is one that is:
Stretching
Measurable
Agreed
Realistic
Time-bound.

Make sure each goal satisfies these five criteria. For example if you set a goal that, "I will get one new non-Muslim every week to IRF", this will be:

Stretching (if it is challenging enough to retain your interest and enthusiasm).

Measurable (if the goal has a specific quantity - one gent, once a week; and has a standard of quality - new person who is a non-Muslim).

Agreed (if you are committed to it and you promise to achieve this goal to your organizational head or a close friend).

Realistic (if it is attainable; if you are in contact with non-Muslims).

Time-bound (what is the deadline? e.g. every week).

This is a simple example that satisfies all five criteria.

Please share with us a copy of both these above-referred sheets prepared by you with your names written on them so that Inshallah, in future, we may conduct a review of actions taken by you. These sheets will help you continuously review your own Islamic activities and provide material for introspection.

Moreover, the very fact that you chose to apply for this training and were selected, in preference to several other applicants, puts an additional moral responsibility on you to vindicate your applying for this training. You also have to vindicate IRF's faith in you and your abilities, on the basis of which you were selected for this training. You will Inshallah do so by continuously making efforts to achieve the goals chosen by you.

May Allah (SWT) help all of us in these efforts. Aameen.

Jazakallah.

For the ISLAMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION



Dr. Zakir Abdul-Karim Naik
President