TIME: A GREAT BLESSING FROM ALLAH

It was around 9:30pm British Summer time and I was just closing my laptop for the day. Even then, I had to “force-close” for the day as I was not done with half of the tasks on my “plate” neither had I got the chance to take dinner prior. The thought of the overwhelming tasks could have made me continue work for the day but then, the fear of also missing Ishai prayer in congregation immediately dispersed such idea.  I hurriedly grabbed my dinner and popped out to meet up with the congregational prayer.

Looking back at how I had spent the day, I remember that I could hardly take a break as I devoured my lunch while seated at my workstation. Despite commencing  work around 6:30am, the only time I took a little break was for the obligatory prayers.  I also reflected on how my daily muraja’ah (revision of memorised chapters in the Qur’an) was somehow impacted.. More terrifying was the thought that this was just the beginning of the “busy season” (as we call it in my profession) and I was beginning to miss those past days when I could safely log off by 6pm without thinking of any office work while engaging in other personal developmental tasks until the following day.

While the above relates to my own personal experience, it could also hold true for millions of other people out there. This reflection made me to ponder how much leisure time Allah blessed us with at certain points and we never utilize them until things unplanned get into our way and take away the normal life we never cherished. Verily, the wise ones among us are those who make the best use of their time.

The prophet (ﷺ) in an authentic narration by Ibn Abbas was reported to have said: “There are two blessings that many people are heedless and unconscious of them: health and free time.” Sahih al-Bukhari 6412

In other words, people generally fail to count it as a blessing until events overtake them and they realize how much free time they’ve had in the past and how much they could have achieved with it. The Prophet (SAW) also said in one of his Hadiths narrated by Ibn Abbas (R.A): “Take advantage of five things before five things overtake you: your youth before you get old; your health before getting sick; your wealth before becoming poor; your free time before you become preoccupied, and your life, before your death “

 

Indeed, Allah makes us to  understand that our entire life is timed and we shall be held to account for how we have spent our time on earth. You might be wondering why I have chosen to write about this topic. Well,  a lot of us today complain about how we are unable to achieve our goals and more often, we attribute our failure to lack of sufficient time. I have come to realize over time that in most cases, we can never have sufficient time for everything at once. However, we all can always find enough time for whatever things we have put our mind to achieving while bearing in mind that there would always be some sort of sacrifice.

This is why it is very important to guard your “free time” jealously. What are those goals that you’ve been struggling to achieve and you keep giving excuses? For how long have you been thinking of learning a second language? Do you think you don’t have the time to learn and memorize the Qur’an? Do you feel you are so occupied and too busy to get that certification? What is holding you back from starting that business or project?

Well, if the reason is due to lack of time, I am afraid you may end up never having the time to execute those plans. I urge you to look inward and start today in spite of whatever busy schedules you have. Look inward and cut-off those unproductive or other activities which may not be adding much value to your overall being. This may be difficult at first but will certainly worth it at the end In shaa Allah.

Wishing you success in your endeavours.