The Bounty of Time

[Taibah]

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

TIME
By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)
Principal of Darul Uloom Azaadville (South Africa)

We are passing through time, but not taking notice of the bounty of time. We are born in time, we live in time, we undertake our deeds in time, and we will die in time. Great events have happened and happen in time.


Were it not for the bounty of time, we would not have the glorious timeline of Islam or the distinguished timeline of the life of our Beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) : The Birth of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam), his marriages, the first revelation, the Boycott, the Me’raj, Hijrah, Battle of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, Fath-e-Makkah, etc.


Time is a great, great creation of Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu. It is so abstract that it is not perceived by most, as a creation of Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu. …Together with being a great creation, it is also a great ni'mat.


The mind has to be seriously focussed contemplating the creation of an abstract bounty such as time. In this, as well, we will recognize what a Great Creator Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu is!


Every passing moment of time, is a ni’mat which we are using, but we do not recognize it. We do not show appreciation for it until it is lost.


This is generally the weakness of man : He appreciates a ni'mat only when it is lost. Thereafter, there is regret, remorse and shame.


When we look back and think of the time spent in futility and sometimes even sins, then we wish we could go back in time, and spend that time differently, constructively and fruitfully. But this is not possible. What is lost of time is lost – and lost forever. It cannot be retrieved.


The Hadeeth, in fact, highlights this regret to the extent that it will be felt even in Jannah: “The people of Paradise will not regret anything (of this world) except that time void of the remembrance of Allah.”

[Tabraani / Bayhaqi]

In a Hadeeth, Hazrat Abu Hurrairah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Most of mankind are at a loss regarding two favours, good health and free time (opportunity).”

[Sahih Al Bukhari]

In the Qur`aan Shareef, Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu takes an oath by time, bringing attention to its importance, greatness and excellence.

“By Al-'Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss. Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf) which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience.”

This Surah is guiding man as to how to maximise on the bounty of Time; if not, he surely stands at a loss


My Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) says that people say they want to pass time, but undeniably, most fail time. They fail time when their time is spent in negligence, heedlessness and disobedience.


And it is this bounty from amongst the foremost bounties which we will have to account for on the Day of Qiyaamah:


‘[On the Day of Judgement], the feet of a person will not move until he is asked regarding :

(1) His life; how did he spend it,

(2) His knowledge; how did he act upon it,

(3) His Wealth; how did he acquire it (and)

(4) How did he spend it, and

(5) His body, how did he use it.’

[Tirmidhi Shareef]

We constantly check the time – whether on our watches, clocks, cell-phones, computers … but are heedless that every second passed, is bringing an end to our time in this world.


Allah Ta’ala also created the measurement of time. What a magnificent bounty! Without the measurement of time, we would not know the times for the respective Salaahs, for Ramadaan, for Hajj, and so forth.


This too is another sign of the signs of Allah Ta’ala’s. Without the measurement of time, can we say when we will be undertaking a journey, when we will do this or that?


Imagine if we did not have time? What would have been our condition, without something such as time and the measurement of time?

O Allah! What another great creation and gift! - Just what would we have done if we did not have the measurement of time ??!!

[BeTheChange]

I hope we past the test. Ameen. I have very little spare time if am honest but the time i do have i think i make use of it. Alhamdulilah. Great reminder.

[greenhill]

Thanks again for the reminder.

I try everyday to fill some time with the remembrance of Allah. To recite verses for the deceased and istighfar (a tip read here in the forum) etc.

As much what I'm doing is 1000% more than what I used to do, it is still hardly enough compared to the hours I have. . . I already see my regret in the life to come. .