Time – a priceless asset

By Mawlana Faisal Meman

How many times has a person been in the situation where he thinks to himself, “What can I do to kill my time?” Or he says to himself, “I’m so bored. I’ve got absolutely nothing to do.” Sometimes, a person spends two or three hours doing something and when finished he thinks back and says to himself, “That was a complete waste of time.”

Many of us can relate to any of the above situations, especially those who do not value the gift of time. In reality, time is a priceless asset that Allah ﷻ has given to us. Why? Because time is life. Our lives are made up of years, months and days, and these days are made up of hours, minutes and seconds — which is what is called time.

In order to highlight the importance of time to us, Allah ﷻ in the holy Qur’an takes an oath on time. He says:

“(I swear) by the time. Man is in a state of loss indeed. Except those who believed, and did righteous deeds, and exhorted each other to follow truth and exhorted each other to observe patience.” (103:1–3)

In this surah Allah ﷻ uses time as a witness that man in general is at loss. The reason for this is that when a person leaves this world, then whatever he spent his time earning for this world will remain behind — and because he did not use his time in preparing a sufficient provision of good deeds for the hereafter, then man will be at a loss.

So if a person was to use the time Allah ﷻ has given him and live his life properly, then he will be successful. On the other hand, one who does not utilise his time properly will be in a loss.

How can a person use his asset of time properly to become successful? The answer lies in the last verse of this surah:

“Except those who believed, and did righteous deeds, and exhorted each other to follow truth and exhorted each other to observe patience.”

A person who has these four attributes will have no fear of loss in the hereafter. These people have the fundamental two qualities of faith and good deeds, and along with that they encourage others to carry out good deeds and refrain from sins, and to exercise patience in doing good deeds, refraining from sins, and when being afflicted by a difficulty.

From this verse one can deduce that only worrying about oneself is not sufficient. He also has to ensure the religious wellbeing of others as well. It is for this reason that Imam Shafi rahmatullahi alaihi used to say regarding this surah:

“It would be enough for a person to contemplate on the meaning of only this surah.”

So next time we feel like we have got nothing to do, then think about this surah — and think: Are we spending our asset of time properly to become successful, or are we wasting it away to become those who are at a loss?

At-Taqwa Volume: 1 Issue: 1