We are all aware of the concept of “time” and its significance in day-to-day activities, but it is also crucial to understand how the Quran views time and its various values. We also learned that “time is gold” and “time is money.”
The passage of time is crucial to human existence. Humans have always been preoccupied with time, passing, measurement, and scientific properties. We are all blessed with time. According to the Islamic perspective, we should focus on how we use our time. In the Quran, Allah Almighty makes what time is worth. To increase our faith in this life and the next, we should use time wisely.
-Here are some quotes that highlight the importance of time.
- “Health and free time for doing good.”are the two greatest blessings which many people lose as said by Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).(BUKHARI 8/421).
- Additionally, avoid wasting time. (Ayah 26 of Surah Al-Isra).
- The people who will be most accountable on the day of resurrection will be the healthy ones with free time. ( Mu Awiyah B. Quraah[D. 113H]).
- Indeed, when the appointed time of Allah arrives, it cannot be postponed. ( Surah Nuh Ayat 4).
- As doomsday draws near, time will go by quicker. A year is reduced to a month. Like a date branch burning in a fire with its leaves, the interval between two Fridays gets shorter.” (The messenger of Allah).
- Friday was discussed by the Prophet Muhammad (saw), who stated: When a Muslim has the hour (opportune time) on Friday and requests Allah for something, Allah will most certainly grant his request. He then used his hands to indicate with his eyes how brief that period was. (Bukhari)
- There will come a day when it won’t matter if you make your money legally or illegally. (Narrated by the prophet (PBUH) Bukhari 34:13)
- Because time passes quickly and it is challenging to make up for missed opportunities, regret for lost time should be intense.(Ibn Al Qayyim Madaaru Al- Saalikeen 3/49).
- There will be a moment when holding on to one’s religion will be like grasping a hot coal. (Sunan Al tirmidhi 2260).
- The son of Adam damages Me by misusing Time,” declared Allah. “I am Time; all things are in My Hands, and I cause the revolution of night and day.” ((Bukhari 6/351; 9/583 and Muslim 4/5581).
- There is no one else to blame for the blame we place on time; it is all our fault. (- IMAM AL-SHāFI’ī [D. 204H/820CE]
The quotations from the list above were made by learned people and were also found in the Qur’an. Everything that is a source of guidance for us has been mentioned by Allah, the Almighty, in the Qur’an. In the Holy Quran, Allah also refers to the significance of time, which we will address below.
-Quran quotes about time.
The surah starts with Allah swearing, “Wa al-‘Asr,” which translates to “by time.” Any promise made by Allah, the Highest in the Qur’an, is very serious, including “Wa al-Fajr” (by dawn) and “Wa al-Shams” (by the sun).
It was customary to start a speech with an oath to grab the listener’s attention during the time of the Prophet (may Allah bless and grant him peace). The idea of time captivated and awed Arabs back then, and it continues to fascinate Muslims now.
Indeed, when we waste time, we offend Allah, the Highest. We must remember that time must be allocated to achieving our life’s ultimate goal, which is to glorify Allah. When Allah declares in the Quran, “I have only created Jinns and Men for them to serve Me, I have made very obvious the value of time. I don’t demand that they provide for their sustenance or feed Me. Because Allah is the Giver of All Sustenance, the Almighty, the Everlasting. (Quran, 51:56-58). This verse teaches us to devote our time to worshipping Allah rather than wasting it on pointless activities.
Because every sincere believer knows that life on earth is merely transitory and that the actual meaning of existence is to please Allah (SWT) and live following his commandments.
In Chapter Al-Asr of the Holy Quran, the Almighty Allah declares that by that point, “Truly, mankind is lost, Save for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and counselled one another to truth and urged one another to patience.” (Quran, 103: 1-3). The Ayahs describe the value of time in a Muslim’s life. Time, according to the world’s creator, is a crucial indicator of one’s success or failure. The Exalted One claims that humanity has a big warning with each passing instant of existence.
Time is one of humanity’s most precious commodities because it can never be recovered or replaced once it has passed. When we invest our time, it’s comparable to someone who makes impulsive financial decisions without using the time to generate income.
Our beliefs operate as the cornerstone upon which our lives are built, and it is only natural for those whose beliefs are founded upon the Quran to put those beliefs into practice by dedicating themselves to carrying out good deeds, or, as we may say, by spending their time engaging in good deeds.
According to the Holy Qur’an, Allah Almighty, “O you who have faith! Don’t let your activities be in vain, and follow Allah and His messenger “. (Quran, 47:33). This verse can suggest that we should endeavour to use our time well and avoid wasting it on pointless activities.
-Time’s Importance in the Prophet’s Sunnah (SAW).
The life of our beloved Prophet (SAW) provides us with a wealth of examples that help us understand the value of time. We’ll review a few of them below so we may learn from them and make the greatest use of our time.
Before any difficulties arose, the Prophet Mohammad (SAW) urged Muslims to take the initiative and perform good actions. The Prophet (SAW) warned, “Do good deeds right away to avoid being caught up in one of the seven impending disasters: starvation, which could impair your wisdom; prosperity, which could lead you astray; illness, which could harm your health; old age, which could impair your senses; sudden death; the Dajjal (Antichrist); or Doomsday, which is the hardest and most challenging. (At-Tirmidhi)
Last but not least, The message to humanity is to be aware of time. We are reminded by Allah Almighty that this existence is only transitory and that we do not know when we will die. We should make the most use of our time by performing nice things.
As believers, we must always appreciate time as a gift from the Almighty Allah and never waste or abuse it. Everybody must realise that every second wasted is an opportunity lost and never to be had again.
We are responsible for all we do in this life, and when our time in this world expires, there will be nothing we can do about it because that time is gone forever. Time is valuable; thus, time is valuable, so we should make the most of it!
