One of the lessons we learnt in Ramadan is the essence of timing – from Suhuur to Iftaar – everything is timed. This applies to everybody, individuals and the larger society. In the home, women are engrossed in cooking, preparing and inspecting our meals for Iftaar or Suhuur. Everything has to be timed from start to finish. Women know what time each dish is prepared and when to serve it. The breaking of the fast is at sunset – a specific time, as is Iftaar, the early morning meal served before Fajr. Salah, the five obligatory prayers, in or out of Ramadan, at fixed periods, hours are enjoined on the believers. (An-Nisaa, 4:103).
Our heartbeats remind us of the fact that life is all about seconds or minutes. Hence, we should make use of the few minutes we have before it’s all over. Describing those who made use of time and those who wasted it during their short sojourn on earth, the Qur’an says: “He will say: How long have you tarried in the earth, counting by years? They will say: We tarried but a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep count! He will say: You tarried but a little if you only knew. Deemed you then that We had created you for naught, and that you would not be returned unto Us? Now Allah be exalted, the True King! There is no God save Him, the Lord of the Throne of Grace.” (Al-Mu’minuun, 23:112-116).
Life is already short; man should not make it shorter through negligence and procrastination – standing idly by when his life is being wasted day and night without gaining any benefit therefrom. It’s like your credit or debit account. Life is a credit if it is spent in obedience to Allah; the balance will be received on a day in which wealth will have no value, except one who comes to his Lord with a whole heart. Life will be a debit account for those who wasted it in sin and transgression. “They indeed are losers who deny their meeting with Allah until, when the hour comes on them suddenly, they cry: Alas for us, that we neglected it! They bear upon their back their burden. Ah, evil is that which they bear!” (Al-An’aam, 6:31)
Assalafus Saalih, our righteous predecessors, were very conscious of their time and how they spent it. Janeed bn Muhammad was busy reciting the Qur’an and panting with his breath in his dying bed. His children said: ‘You are exerting too much pressure on your person!’ He answered: ‘And who is more deserving to exertion than me?’
Al-Aswad bin Yazeed (a Taabi’ee) used to pray Nawaafil Salaah for the most part of the night. Some of his friends advised him to have some rest, and he said: ‘It is the rest of the Hereafter I’m seeking with my night prayers.’
Sufyaan Athaury sat in the Haram with some of his companions conversing; suddenly, he stood up and said: ‘We sit here while the afternoon is doing his job…’ That means time is passing away while we do nothing.
Among the Salafus Saalih there were those who programmed their time night and day: Salaah, recitation of the Qur’an, Dhikr, and seeking knowledge. Other times were for earning their livelihood in Halaal and for sleeping. Such people had a particular time to contemplate Allah’s Ayaats. They had no time for pastime.
As for the later generations of Muslims, time has no value whatsoever. Make an appointment with somebody and see what happens; they are sure to come hours behind schedule with a hundred and one reasons and excuses. Call people to public functions or even Islamic lectures and observe what time they will arrive, even if you insist on the so-called Islamic time. They will come late! Please don’t blame them. Sometimes, the guest speaker will come late, so what do you expect from the general public and other invitees? A speaker is given 45 minutes to speak on a topic. His delivery will last 2 hours.
Public functions are a pact between the chairman of the occasion and the speaker that the latter has covenanted to deliver his paper within the time allowed by the former or the programme of events, etc.
Every minute of our life should have meaning and purpose, from morning to night. The period after the Fajr prayer is for recitation of the Glorious Qur’an, Dhikr and contemplation of Allah’s creation. Use the time between sunrise for Dhuhr, for work, business, and seeking knowledge; between Asr and Magrib is for library and daily newspapers to keep yourself abreast with what is happening in your world. When you offer the last salaah, Ishaa spend the rest of the time with your family, sleep and rise for night prayer if you can. Relax during the weekend and take your family to the beach, park etc. Friday is a day of worship; take your bath, use Siwaak, wear perfume and say Allaahu Akbar!
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