The ManicaPost
TIME is such a valuable asset that not even the biggest treasure can be compared with it.
Time is an irreversible resource which has the greatest value. We are created in a place which is bounded by time and space therefore we also have a limited time to be here, in this very world. Islam has laid great emphasis on the useful utilisation of time.
To emphasise the significance and value of time, Allah Almighty has entitled a chapter of the Holy Qur’aan “The Chapter of Time”! In it He declares: “By (the Token of) Time! Verily Man is in a state of loss! Except such as have Faith; and do righteous deeds; and (join together) in the mutual promotion of the Truth; and the mutual promotion of Patience and Constancy.” (Ch103: v 1-3)
Throughout the Holy Qur’an we are reminded that life in this world is nothing but temporary. We never know when death has been appointed for us. Truly speaking, when we arrive in this world, our clock actually starts ticking backward not forward.
As the moments are passing, we are left with less and less time to live in this world and therefore, less and less time is left for us to do good deeds. We need to be more dutiful and should prepare for the Hereafter because this is the examination hall, the real home will be the Hereafter.
The importance of the time is also described in the Holy Quran, where Allah Almighty has declared: “For each community (and individual), there is a predetermined life span. Once their term comes to an end, they cannot delay it by one hour, nor advance it.”(Ch7: v 34).
This verse gives us the clear indication that once our time is over, there will be no extra minute given to us. Yet many doubt this reality and truth and they deny that we will be here only for a small period of time.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “There are two blessings which many people do not value (lose): health and free time.”
Indeed, it is very glaring that the majority of people do not truly appreciate the good health they enjoy and the free time they may have on hand – they do not utilise these to the maximum.
Time wasting traits
With regards to time in particular, we see that with the advent of the numerous social networking media platforms, countless people — young and old, male and female – are caught up merely whiling away time withidle talk, frivolous chats, meaningless posts, selfie uploads, sitting watching video clip after clip, etc.
In many instances, all this goes on for hours on end forgetting that time is ticking away and many important tasks are delayed or possibly even neglected and put off all together!
Also forgetting that life will soon come to an end and that we will soon be standing in front of The Almighty with our record of deeds, which needs to be filled with as much good as possible now, if we wish to earn HIS pleasure and HIS bestowment of eternal bliss on that Day of Reckoning and Judgment.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once explained: “Each person shall be asked concerning five things on the Day of Resurrection: concerning his life (time allocated to him), how he spent it; concerning his youth (strength), how he used it; concerning his wealth, whence he acquired it, and in what way he spent it; and what was it that he did with the knowledge that he had.”
Hence, in a similar declaration, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged the Believers thus: “Make the most of five things before five others: life before death, health before sickness, free time before becoming occupied, youth before old age, and wealth before poverty.”
We should see how much time we have to do good deeds today, because leaving the good work to be done tomorrow is sheer lack of foresight, for who knows what will come tomorrow. Therefore it is wise to spend the free time today so that we can fill the register of good deeds today without thinking of doing it tomorrow.
A Believer’s duty towards time
Surely, having all this great value and importance, time is to be duly appreciated and managed. Accordingly, in Islam there is no room for slogans like the so-called “killing time”, for in Islam time is really valuable. In fact, wasting time is much more dangerous than squandering property, because unlike property, time cannot be compensated.
This indicates that it is very important for a Believer to try his utmost to manage his time and make the best use of it in beneficial actions and deeds.
A Believer should learn how to organise his time, and make a realistic plan for his worldly and religious duties, without any of them overlapping the other. That is to say that one should know how to arrange his priorities: the most important and the most urgent comes first, and all carried out according to schedule.
Let us remember: opportunity is something which is quick to vanish and late to return.
Another year passes by and time marches on…
Consider the fact that minutes move into hours => into days => into weeks => into months => into years – seemingly faster than ever; yet every moment is a precious component of life and every moment counts.
An interesting concept of Time
Imagine there is a bank which credits your account each morning with $86 400. It carries over no balance from day to day, allow you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!
Well, everyone has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86 400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against the “tomorrow”. You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today.
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present!
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact: Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars Publications Department, P.O. Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare. Tel: 04-614078 / 614004, Fax: 04-614003; e-mail: [email protected]
