English Shafaqna- Time is like a sea whose current runs exceedingly fast; whatever stands in its path is swept away by its waves, and something else takes its place. In the same way, centuries of time pour forth and pass away from Allah Almighty like heaps of sand, yet we do not feel it. Time holds an exceptionally high place in Islam, to such an extent that in his article “The Value of Time in Islam,” the author, Shuayb Ahmad Ghaznawi, writes the noble prophets advised us:
“Be mindful of time, do not waste it, and remember that every single moment of it will be accounted for. History teaches us the same lesson: among all the successful and accomplished people who have lived in this world, the only path to their success was recognizing the value of time and using it properly.”
In fact, time is the greatest and most precious capital that Almighty God has freely placed at the disposal of human beings. The Holy Qur’an addresses its importance in numerous verses, and countless precious sayings of the saints of God likewise emphasize, in various ways, the optimal use of time.
The Overall Position of “Time” in Islam
“Tomorrow” Is the Greatest Deception
One great deception that keeps a person from feeling remorse and regret over wasted time is the word “tomorrow.” The scholars say:
“Never has such a word passed so readily from the human tongue as the word ‘tomorrow,’ a word that serves as an excuse for so much sin, heedlessness, and negligence; for that tomorrow never comes. Rather, that tomorrow either becomes the Day of Judgment, or it becomes ‘yesterday,’ which we have no power to bring back. The tomorrow of the Day of Judgment is very far away, and we cannot reach either of these two tomorrows. A person must pay attention to his today and strive to make use of its moments.”
The Muslim’s Daily Way of Life
If a Muslim wishes for his life and lifespan to be blessed, it is necessary for him to live according to the Islamic daily way of life. This Islamic routine requires a Muslim to go to sleep early in the evening and rise early in the morning. If we rise early and welcome our day, we will surely attain success and salvation, for the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family, prayed for goodness and blessings for his Ummah at this time:
“O Allah! Bless the early morning for my Ummah and place goodness and blessings for them in it.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 2606; Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1212)
Wasting Time Is a Form of Suicide
Wasting time is, in reality, a kind of suicide. The difference is that suicide deprives a person of life forever, whereas wasting time kills a living person gradually, for a limited period of his life. Indeed, if a person were to calculate the minutes and hours he spends in heedlessness, their total would amount to months and years. Squandering time does not merely shorten one’s life; it brings about the greatest loss and deprivation. An idle person becomes afflicted with impure and base thoughts and various physical ailments, and as a result, great harm befalls him. In describing the profound importance of time, Almighty God says in verses 1–3 of Surah Al-Asr:
“By time, surely all human being is in loss, except those who believe, perform righteous deeds, counsel one another to truth, and recommend patience.”
The View of the Saints Regarding Time
Time is the very life of a human being, and there is no treasure more valuable than it, provided that it is used for the growth and advancement of both the outward and inward self; that is, time should become a ladder toward progress. Otherwise, it is not only no longer capital, but rather becomes a source and means of evil and misery. For this reason, Imam al-Sajjad (AS) says in Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, Supplication 20 to God:
“Grant me a long life as long as my life is spent in Your obedience, and whenever my life becomes a pasture for Satan, take my soul before Your punishment overtakes me.”
The Noble Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family:
“Take advantage of five things before five things: your life before your death, your health before your illness, your free time before you become occupied with work, your youth before your old age, and your prosperity before your poverty.” )Kanz al-‘Ummal, Hadith 43490(
Human beings usually sacrifice time for wealth and riches and make it a means of material advancement, whereas wealth and riches should be placed in the service of time and made a means of deriving greater benefit from it. For this reason, the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Be more miserly in preserving your lifetime than you are with your dirhams and dinars.” (Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 77, p. 76)
Imam al-Sadiq (AS):
“Nothing is more precious than your soul and your time.” (La’ali al-Akhbar, vol. 1, p. 16)
The Value of Time from the Perspective of the Quran
In the Quran, such profound respect is shown toward time that it is as though time stands at the pinnacle of all values and is the mother of all virtues. To such an extent that God swears by it and says: “Wal-‘Asr”—“By Time.” For “Asr” means time and the passage of an age, and this has been mentioned as one of the interpretations of this verse; and time is the very essence of what we call the moment and the hour.
In the Quran, everything that leads to the wasting of time is condemned as frivolity, falsehood, excess, and, in general, as a tendency toward futility and emptiness, because it brings about the destruction of the greatest asset of human life and becomes a scourge upon wholesome living. In describing the people of faith, God in Surah Al-Mu’minun Verse 3 says:
“The believers who turn away from idle talk.”
Likewise, in several verses, the loss, sorrow, and regret of those who failed to value their time are recalled on the Day of Judgment. Elsewhere, it says:
“Lest a soul should say, ‘Alas for me! How greatly I neglected my duty toward Allah, and indeed, I was among those who mocked.’ (Surah Al-Zumar, Verse 56 )
” There they will cry out: `our lord, bring us out, and we will do good, other than what we have done. ` what, did we not make your lives long enough to remember for whosoever would remember? a warner came to you, so taste now! none shall help the harm-doers..” (Surah Fatir, Verse 37)
As you can see, through various expressions and stern warnings, the Quran calls us to make proper use of time and threatens those who waste it with severe punishment. Therefore, those who spend their time in vain are, in reality, taking a path contrary to the Qur’an and falling into the way of misguidance, for the Qur’an regards appreciation of time as one of the fundamental pillars of faith and a means of salvation and success.
Strategies for Time Management
Planning
The Qur’an in Surah Ash-Sharh, Verse 7 says, “So when you have finished, then strive.” According to this noble verse, a person should have a clear and well-organized plan for every stage of life, so that he may be saved from idleness, which is a source of weariness, diminished enthusiasm, laziness, and exhaustion, and may even lead to corruption, ruin, and falling into various sins. Planning is clearly evident in the uprising of Imam Hussein (PBUH). Accompanying his family and the members of his household, entrusting part of the mission of the uprising to Lady Zaynab (SA) and Imam al-Sajjad (AS) so that his message could reach the ears of the world, as well as his foresight in military strategy and the arrangement of the battlefield, are prominent examples of Imam Hussein’s planning in this great uprising.
Following the Plan
Anyone who seeks success must, in order to master his moments, not only have a plan for even the smallest units of time, but must also carefully implement the strategies set forth in that plan. In order to advance the Children of Israel, God first took a covenant from them and then devised the means by which they could attain it. He told them, I will be with you and support you so that you may attain true happiness, but only on the condition that they follow these prescribed and carefully planned matters.
Prioritizing Tasks
One of the most important strategies for managing time is establishing priorities and attending to the task that is most important and possesses greater significance, quality, and scope. The importance of this matter is such that the Quran in Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 19 says: “Do you consider giving drink to the pilgrims and inhabiting the sacred mosque is the same as one who believes in Allah and the last day, and struggles in the way of Allah? these are not held equal by Allah. Allah does not guide the harm-doers.” The Quran considers faith in God and the Hereafter, along with striving in the way of God, more important than providing water to the pilgrims; that is, by prioritizing tasks, one manages time properly and first undertakes those tasks that carry greater importance. If a person engages in a task that is not a priority, he has, in reality, wasted the time at his disposal.
For greater productivity, one must distinguish important tasks from unimportant ones and give priority to completing the important tasks, because this increases the efficiency of the daily schedule and, consequently, of annual activities, while preventing time from being wasted.
Doing Things at the Right Time
Another effective strategy for time management is doing tasks at the proper time and avoiding both haste and negligence in carrying them out. The verses revealed concerning divine laws have specified a particular time for each act of worship, such as the prescribed time for fasting, the exact time of breaking the fast and the pre-dawn meal, the precise times for performing the obligatory prayers, and so forth, so that each act may be performed at its appointed time. In this way, the Quran has instructed its followers to make optimal use of their time and to have a well-organized and clearly defined plan for their lives. Performing a task before the appropriate time, as well as being sluggish or falling short when it is time to perform it, can lead to numerous problems and losses. Imam Ali (AS) also instructed Malik al-Ashtar to perform every task at its proper time in order to achieve the desired result, and not to show negligence in carrying out his duties.
Awareness of time and performing a task at the appropriate moment brings a person more quickly to his intended destination, for opportunities pass swiftly, and returning to those opportunities or having the chance to act upon them again is almost impossible. It is for this reason that Imam Hussain (AS) said: “Compete with one another in acts of nobility, and hasten toward opportunities for gain.” ( Nuzhat al-Nāẓir wa Tanbīh al-Khāṭir, by Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Halwānī, p. 81.) From these words of the Imam (PBUH), it can be understood that one should hasten to make use of good opportunities and strive to surpass one another in attaining lofty goals.
Featured photo: The Clock Minaret at the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali (AS) in Najaf Ashraf, Iraq.