This is a story about the importance of Time.
Since last night my young son has been unwell. When I got back from work this evening I decided to take him to hospital despite my exhaustion. Indeed, fatigue for his sake is rest.
There were many waiting…perhaps we will be delayed by more than an hour. I took my number and sat down in the waiting room. There were many faces, young and old, but all silent. Some brothers made use of the many booklets available in the waiting room.
Some of those waiting had their eyes closed, while others were looking around. Most were bored. Once in a while a nurse calling out a number broke the long silence. Happiness appears on the one whose turn it is, and he gets up quickly…then silence returns.
A young man grabbed my attention. He was reading a pocket-sized Qur’an continuously; not raising his head even once. At first I did not think much about him. However, after one hour of waiting my casual glances turned into a deep reflection about his lifestyle and how he utilizes his time.
One hour of life wasted! Instead of making benefit of that hour, it was just a boring wait. Then the call for prayer was made. We went to prayer in the hospital’s mosque. I tried to pray close to the man who was reading the Qur’an earlier in the waiting room. After the prayer I walked with him. I informed him of how impressed I was of him and how he tries to benefit from his time.
He told me that most of our time is wasted without any benefit. These are days that go from our lives without being conscious of them or regretting their waste. He said that he started carrying the pocket-sized Qur`an around when a friend encouraged him to make full use of his time. He told me that in the time other people waste he gets to read much more of the Qur`an than he gets to read either at home or in the mosque. Moreover, besides the reward of reading the Qur`an, this habit saves him from boredom and stress. He added that he has now been waiting for one and a half hours.
Then he asked, “when will you find one and a half hours to read the Qur`an?”
I reflected…how much time do we waste?
How many moments of our lives pass by, and yet we do not account for how they passed by?
Indeed, how many months pass by and we do not read the Qur`an?
I came to respect my companion, and I discovered that I am to stand for account and that time is not in my hand…so what am I waiting for?
The nurse calling out my number interrupted my thoughts. I went to the doctor. But I want to achieve something now.
After I left the hospital I quickly went to the bookshop and bought a pocket-sized Qur`an. I decided to be mindful of how I spend the time. That was my intention when I put that Qur`an in my pocket.
How many people will do this?
And what great reward is for the one who guides others to this idea?
Story By: Shaykh Abdul-Malik Qasim
Moral: The blessing of Time is the greatest of the blessings God has bestowed upon us. Our time is very limited. Wise is the one who utilizes every minute of his life. Fill your spare time with something constructive. Do not let it just slide.
Quote: You are nothing, but a number of days, and whenever a day passes away, a part of you passes away.
– Al Hasan Al Basri
YES TRY LISTENING TO QURAN WHEN U DRIVE…ITS AMAZING HOW MUCH U LEARN , PEACE AND TRANQUILITY ENVELOPES YOU. MAY ALLAH ACCEPT OUR PRAYERS AND FORGIVE US ALL..
A Good lesson taught. Thnx. if AlQuran is not available,then we may recite memorized surahs,or recite Dhikr (zikr)…Yaa Allaah, make us not waste our times, Guide us and help us all utilize our times in the best possible ways…Aameen
great
Mashaa Allah .. Amazing May Allah grant all us to pratice this habit through out our life … Ameen
Try listening exclusively to the Quran when driving your car.
You will see wanders. You get to memorize so much with little effort.
Try it.
Masha ALLAH if we only knew that we are ambassadors of Islam. Everything we do should be for the sake of ALLAH and spreading the Deen through our actions is one way ALHAMDULILLAH
We all should be motivated to spend our time with ALLAHs name on our lips whether driving or as a passenger or even doing household chores the tongue should be busy with simple Adhkars
While taking care of little ones recite the kalema and they too will memorize it
recite simple surahs and they too will join you
Imagine the first words of your child is ALLAHU AKBAR or SubhanALLAH or ALHAMDULILLAH
JazakALLAHU Khair for this inspiring and motivating story
now that everyone has the quran on their phone and also ALHUDA has the
morning and evening adhkars on an app its called Iya Kanastaeen
and also the word fro word quran
there are many ways to spend time especially getting involved in diff organizations like AlKauthar and Mercy Mission
they are doing a great job in inspiring the youth to become leaders
and also right now in durban we have a conference on the 1st march all about relationships called Family Matters
its for every family young couples old couples ones who want to get married etc
then on the 7th we have a womens only conference called Being Me in Toronto
on the 20 th there will be a free lecture at ALHUDA Mississauga by sr Taimiyyah Zubair a prelude to the being me conference
on the 21 is a fundraiser for the deaf at ISNA in mississauga
so there are many ways to use our time and also increase our knowledge and social skills because one meets other muslims from all walks of life and you definitely become a better person
all with the help of ALLAH
Wonderful!!!
The Break even Point
by Afnan
Certain chapters of the Holy Quran are memorized by every Muslim, this may be one of them. Majority know this three versed-very short chapter from a very young age itself and may even be reciting it on a regular basis in the obligatory prayers – it hardly takes a minute to recite this Chapter and is quite easy to commit to memory too but does the briefness of its length imply to its meaning too?
Ironically, Imam Ash-Shafi comments on this Surah saying, “If people were to ponder on this Chapter, it would amaze them – If this was the only Chapter sent to humanity, it would suffice them – People are negligent of this Chapter”
Such is this very short Surah which is considered sufficient enough for everlasting Glory – for this reason, whenever two Companions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) met and were about to depart each other, they would read this Surah prior to shaking hands, thereby reminding each other of the message within and pledging to abide by it.
These seemingly simple words of the Divine Guidance in Surah Al-Asr, Chapter 103, verses 1-3 tell us how to live our entire lives targeted towards success – even tens of thousands words can never replace the message imbibed in these three short-clear verses.
Allah says in this Chapter – “ By time – Indeed, mankind is in loss – Except for those who have faith and do righteous deeds and advise each other to truth and advise each other to patience.”
This Surah opens with the reference of Time; signally the fleeting time before us which stands as a witness to the success or failure. We get up in the morning and in no time we find the sun setting and night enveloping, last week feels like yesterday and tomorrow is nearer than one can imagine – time is declining before our eyes, our capital is melting –
Imam Razi has cited a scholar as saying: “I understood the meaning of Surah Al-Asr from an ice-seller, who was calling aloud for the attention of the people repeatedly in the market: ‘Have mercy on the one whose wealth is melting away!’ Hearing what he was crying I said to myself: this then is the meaning ofIndeed, mankind is in loss. The age-limit that man has been allotted is passing quickly like the melting away of ice. If it is wasted, or expended in wrong pursuits, it will be sheer loss to man.
Time is our asset and with each passing second it is never to return, hence indeed we are in the state of loss unless we fulfill the four criterions mentioned in the third verse of the same Surah; these qualities if adhered to consistently will avert us from the loss and lead mankind to a breakeven point.
This chapter is a great reminder for people like us to implement the four qualities of into this declining time – it opens our minds to the true meaning of success in the otherwise mundane pseudo-definition of success prevalent today.
Faith is a bond with the Absolute power, Allah, thus elevating above the servitude to other creations. It is an inner belief of submitting oneself completely to the One Creator. Each person’s actions are the outwards expression of the inner belief – the light of faith is reflected through the righteous deeds.
Thus belief and deeds go together and are dependent; one cannot stand without the other.
These first two conditions for the road to success are based on individual striving, but mere self-progress is not sufficient enough for victory – the other two norms for success are community based.
A believing and righteous person after imbibing faith and reflecting it in deeds should not live as individuals but establish the truth and patience in the society. The task of establishing the Will of the Creator which is the truth, will definitely demand patience; hence the act of institution the Truth and endurance go hand in hand. They must coincide with each other for social reform.
No matter how good we are as individuals, if we fail to serve others, we fail in the formula for success. Even if one of the characteristic is neglected, we fail to reach even the minimum limit of success. Just like the absence of even a single tire from a car makes the drive impossible, so it is in this drive to success. Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) life is all about the combination of this four tier program; he is indeed an epitome to be followed.
In today’s busy schedule, many find time for individual progress but the other two demands of success are neglected. But a profitable community is integrated; it develops personally as well as counsels each other towards profitable development; truth and patience.
This is the only right path – that of faith, good deeds and the existence of a community whose members counsel one another to follow the truth and to show endurance and perseverance.
Our capital is still in our grip, but by every second it’s slipping away. Let’s apply the formula for eternal success before it’s too late.
Simply Great. A wonderful experience narrated in the best way. May Allah Bless you.
Masha Allah. Inspiring. May Allah bless us all to think this way of utilizing the time with the best of acts. Aameen. Ya Rabbal Aalameen.
I have heard a story, not for sure of its origins and of its authenticity. But the idea was great. A man used to travel to and from work in London Underground Metro. It took him at least 1 hr on one sided journey. He utilized that time and Hifz the entire Quran. As I have said, not sure about the authenticity, but the idea was such great that during my visits I started doing the same. But because my journeys were not regular, I did not do Hifz, but at least strengthen the Surahs I have already learned. Alhumdulillah.
My brothers and Sisters, Try to hold water or sand in your fist and you will see it escapes. Same is with the life escaping from hands every single second. May Allah grant us tawfeeq to utilize it to its best. Aameen Ya Rab.