We all are familiar with the most famous proverbs “Time is money” and “Time is Gold”. Time has great importance in the life of human being. Humanity has always been anxious with time, the passage of time, the measurement of time, and the scientific qualities of time. Time is a blessing on all of us. We should concentrate on how we use time according to Islamic perspective. Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa), theAlmighty, has clearly stated the value of time in Quraan. We should make the use of time wisely to increase our faith in this life and the Aakhirah (Hereafter) too.
Our beloved Prophet, Hadhrat Mohammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said about time in a Hadeeth: “There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) health and free time for doing good.” (Bukhari)
From this saying, we can conclude that we should utilize our time for doing good deeds for the sake of Almighty Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa)’s pleasure. We order our lives around time.In Islam, lives are structured around the daily Salaah (Prayers). We should offer Salaahon time which are obligatory on every Muslim. In Islam, believers are encouraged to be certain of time, to know its importance and to organize it intelligently. If human beings do not waste or abuse time, but rather think of it as a blessing from Lord, the Almighty, then they have every reason to hope for success both in this life and in the Aakhirah.
Importance of Time in Quran
Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa), the Almighty, has mentioned everything in Quraan which is the source of Guidance for us. Similarly, Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa) has stated the importance of time in Holy Quraan that we will discuss below: Indeed, we displease Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa), the Most High, when we misuse time. We must remember that time must be spent to fulfill our very purpose in life that is to worship Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa) during our lives. Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa) makes the importance of time very clear in the Quraan when He says:
وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ (56) مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنۡهُم مِّن رِّزۡقٖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطۡعِمُونِ (57) إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلۡقُوَّةِ ٱلۡمَتِينُ (58)
“I did not create the Jinns and the human beings except for the purpose that they should worship Me. I do not want any sustenance from them, nor do I want them to feed Me. In fact, Allah is the All-Sustainer, Possessor of power, the Strong.” (az-Zaariyaat 51:56-58)
From this Aayah (Verse) we can say that we should use our time to worship Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa) instead of doing some other useless things.
For every true believer knows that life on earth is temporary and its eternal accomplishment lies in terms of pleasing Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa) and living its life according to His Commandments. The Almighty Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa) says in the Holy Quraan in SoorahAl-Asr about the importance of time:
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ (1) إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَفِي خُسۡرٍ (2) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ (3)
“(I swear) by the Time, man is in a state of loss indeed, except those who believed and did righteous deeds, and exhorted each other to follow truth, and exhorted each other to observe patience.” (al-‘Asr 103: 1-3)
The Aayaat explain the worth of time in life of a Muslim. Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa), the Creator of the world of the worlds, declares time as a great measure of one`s success or failure. The Exalted One says that with every advancing moment of existence, human has a great warning that is associated with it.
Time is one of mankind’s most precious resources since it can never be replaced or renewed once it has passed. When we waste our time it is much like someone investing his capital impulsively and not using it to generate profit. Invest time in Good deeds, our beliefs form the basic foundation of our life, and those, whose beliefs are established on the Quraan, are normal to act on those beliefs by giving themselves to doing good deeds or we can say by investing their time in doing good deeds. Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa), the Almighty, says in Holy Quraan:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبۡطِلُوٓاْ أَعۡمَٰلَكُمۡ (33)
“O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and do not nullify your deeds.” (Muhammad 47:33)
From this Aayahwe can say that we should do our best to utilize our time in doing good deeds instead of wasting in useless deeds.
Importance of Time According to Sunnah
We have so many examples from the life of our Beloved Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) to know about the importance of time. Below we will discuss some of them so we can take lesson and can utilize our time in best manner.
The Prophet Mohammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) used to call on Muslims to take the initiative to do good deeds before any obstacles arise. He said: “Lose no time to do good deeds before you are caught up by one of seven calamities awaiting you:
a starvation which may impair your wisdom;
a prosperity which may mislead you;
an ailment which may damage your health;
an old age which may harm your senses;
a sudden death;
the Dajjal (Antichrist);
orDoomsday, which is indeed the hardest and most bitter.” (At-Tirmizi)
The Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) also said in one of his Ahaadeeth: “Take advantage of five matters before five other matters:
your youth before you become old;
your health, before you fall sick;
your wealth, before you become poor;
your free time, before you become preoccupied,
and your life, before your death.” (Musnad Imam Ahmad)
The whole Hadeeth is about the limited nature of our life and how the time is running out. We should utilize the time in best manner before it’s too late.
In another Hadeeth, Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said: “Allah said, ‘The son of Adam wrongs me for he curses Ad-Dahr (Time); though I am Ad-Dahr (Time). In My Hands are all things, and I cause the revolution of day and night’.” (Bukhari)
The one who is misusing the time is doing things that are beyond Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa)’s commandments. And those who act against Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa)’s commandments will be in loss in this life and in the Aakhirah, too.
In short, humankind is told to be conscious of time. Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa), the Almighty, reminds us that life in this world is but temporary and we do not know our appointed time of death. We should utilize our time in doing good deeds in best manner. As believers we must never waste or misuse time, instead we must value it as a blessing from Almighty Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa’aalaa). We must all understand that wasting even a single moment is an opportunity gone, never to return. We are accountable to everything that we did in this life and when our time in this world will be up we can’t do anything because our time in this world is up and that time will never going to come back. Time is precious we should try to invest it in best manner!