Ruling on Creating a Schedule to Track Deeds in Ramadan as a Means of Motivation (Answer by Shaykh Sa’d bin Turki Al-Khathlan)
Question: Before Ramadan, notebooks for deeds to be performed during Ramadan become widespread as a means of motivation, by setting up a schedule containing acts of worship, such as: Duha prayer, charity, providing iftar, and then one writes “done” or checks a box next to each deed?
Answer: This falls under the category of organizing one’s deeds. Organizing one’s deeds is permissible; this is narrated from the Salaf (righteous predecessors). A person should not be disorganized because if he is disorganized, days and nights will pass by him without him having performed many righteous deeds. However, if he organizes his time, he will benefit from it.
For this reason, the righteous Salaf used to set conditions for themselves, and setting conditions, in today’s terminology, is time planning. Ubayy ibn Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him) used to allocate time for himself to supplicate to Allah Almighty. Then he wanted to replace that time with sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him: “Then your sin will be forgiven, and your worries will be sufficient for you.” [At-Tirmidhi 2457, Musnad Ahmad 21242] This indicates that Ubayy had an arrangement regarding his time, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) approved him for this.
Therefore, a Muslim should be organized.
Thus, such notebooks, which serve as a reminder to the Muslim of these deeds, are among the good things. This is not an act of worship by which one seeks nearness to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), but it is a means of reminding and organizing time, and in general, it is something reported from the righteous Salaf.
End of the Shaykh’s answer.
(Translated by Mohammed bin Thajammul Hussain Manna.)
Saheehus-Seerah 