Time is one of the most precious blessings Allah ﷻ has granted us, yet it is often the most squandered. Unlike wealth, time cannot be stored, borrowed, or retrieved once lost. It is a currency that continuously depletes, and with each passing moment, we are drawing closer to our final destination—either eternal bliss or eternal regret.
We often hear people say, "I don't have time," or "Where did the time go?" Yet, Allah ﷻ has given every person the same 24 hours in a day. The question is not about how much time we have, but rather how we use it. Do we invest it in righteous deeds that will benefit us in the Hereafter, or do we let it slip through our fingers in distractions and heedlessness?
The Prophet ﷺ warned us about this deception:
نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ: الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ
"There are two blessings that many people lose: good health and free time." (Sahih al-Bukhari: 6412)
This hadith is a wake-up call: if we are healthy and have free time, yet fail to use them wisely, we are at a great loss.
The Two Types of Blessings
Scholars categorize the blessings of Allah ﷻ into two types:
1. Fundamental Blessings (Usul)
These are the core blessings that form the foundation of a meaningful life. They include:
- Iman (Faith): Believing in Allah ﷻ, His names, attributes, prophets, and the Day of Judgment.
- Health (Sihhah and Aafiyah): A sound body and mind to perform acts of worship.
- Time (Al-Waqt): The very space in which all deeds—good or bad—are performed.
2. Secondary Blessings (Furu')
These are additional blessings that help enhance one’s connection with Allah ﷻ, such as:
- The ability to perform voluntary acts of worship (nawafil).
- Opportunities to seek beneficial knowledge.
- Financial stability that enables charity and good deeds.
Among all these, time stands out as the most fundamental blessing because every other blessing depends on it. Without time, there would be no prayer, fasting, charity, or even repentance.
Allah’s Oaths on Time in the Qur’an
Allah ﷻ, in His infinite wisdom, swears by time in multiple places in the Qur'an, showing its immense value:
وَالْعَصْرِ، إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ، إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
"By time! Indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who believe, do righteous deeds, encourage one another to truth, and encourage one another to patience." (Surah Al-Asr 103:1-3)
Imam Al-Shafi’i رحمه الله remarked about this Surah:
"Had Allah revealed nothing except this Surah, it would have been sufficient as an admonition for mankind."
In these few words, Allah ﷻ summarizes the ultimate truth: every human being is in loss—not in wealth, status, or material possessions, but in time. The only ones exempt from this loss are those who:
- Have faith – Belief in Allah ﷻ.
- Do good deeds – Acts of worship and charity.
- Encourage truth – Spreading righteousness and guiding others.
- Encourage patience – Remaining steadfast in trials and hardships.
Allah ﷻ also highlights the structured passage of time:
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَاتٌ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
"And He has subjected for you the night and the day, the sun and the moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who reason." (Surah An-Nahl 16:12)
The alteration of day and night is a reminder of time’s passage. The sun rising and setting, the moon cycling through its phases, and the seasons changing—all are signs for those who reflect.
How Time Will Be Accounted for on the Day of Judgment
Time is not just a fleeting moment—it is a responsibility. On the Day of Judgment, we will be questioned about how we spent our time:
لَا تَزُولُ قَدَمَا عَبْدٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى يُسْأَلَ عَنْ أَرْبَعٍ: عَنْ عُمْرِهِ فِيمَا أَفْنَاهُ، وَعَنْ شَبَابِهِ فِيمَا أَبْلَاهُ، وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَا أَنْفَقَهُ، وَعَنْ عِلْمِهِ مَاذَا عَمِلَ فِيهِ
"The feet of a servant will not move on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about four things: his life and how he spent it, his youth and how he used it, his wealth and how he earned and spent it, and his knowledge and how he applied it." (Sunan At-Tirmidhi: 2417)
Each of these questions revolves around time. If our entire life is under scrutiny, how much more careful should we be about how we use it?
The Greatest Regret: Wasting Time
Allah ﷻ warns about those who wasted their time in heedlessness:
أَوَلَمْ نُعَمِّرْكُمْ مَا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَنْ تَذَكَّرَ وَجَاءَكُمُ النَّذِيرُ
But did We not grant you life enough for whoever would remember therein to remember, and the warner had come to you? (Surah Fatir 35:37)
This verse addresses those who had ample time but failed to use it wisely. The warning came, the opportunities were given, but they ignored them. Their time became a curse instead of a blessing.
The Prophet ﷺ emphasized this further:
اغْتَنِمْ خَمْسًا قَبْلَ خَمْسٍ: شَبَابَكَ قَبْلَ هَرَمِكَ، وَصِحَّتَكَ قَبْلَ سَقَمِكَ، وَغِنَاكَ قَبْلَ فَقْرِكَ، وَفَرَاغَكَ قَبْلَ شُغْلِكَ، وَحَيَاتَكَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِكَ
"Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your busyness, and your life before your death." (Mustadrak al-Haakim: 7486)
How to Use Time Wisely
- Prioritize Salah and Worship – Structure your day around prayer times.
- Seek Beneficial Knowledge – Learn the Qur’an, Hadith, and Islamic sciences.
- Engage in Dhikr and Du'a – Keep your heart connected to Allah ﷻ.
- Perform Righteous Deeds – Charity, helping others, and volunteering.
- Avoid Time-Wasters – Reduce distractions like excessive social media or idle talk.
Conclusion: A Life Without Regret
The real tragedy is not death itself, but arriving at death unprepared. Each moment is an opportunity to gain closeness to Allah ﷻ. May Allah ﷻ grant us the wisdom to value time and use it in ways that benefit us in this world and the Hereafter. Ameen.
Make Every Moment Count
The difference between those who succeed in this world and the Hereafter and those who regret their lost opportunities lies in how they use their time.
The best investment you can make with your time is in seeking knowledge—learning about your Creator, deepening your understanding of Islam, and equipping yourself with the wisdom needed to live a meaningful life.
At AMAU Academy, you can take control of your time by engaging in 100+ self-development courses and exploring topics like productivity, time management, and self-discipline—all within an Islamic framework. You can dive deep into the rich sciences of Islam through the ‘Ilm With AMAU programs and even master the Arabic language, allowing you to access the Qur'an and Hadith in their original form.
Your time is ticking. Your opportunities are fading. Your journey starts now. Don’t wait until regret sets in—take the first step towards using your time wisely.
