Golden Words of Allah (episode 21)

By Abdullahi Yusuf

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All perfect praise be to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Allah says concerning; the concept of time

The Quran addresses the concept of time as a central theme, emphasizing its sacredness and the responsibility humans bear in how they use it. Here are some key aspects of how the Quran treats the concept of time:

1. Time as a Divine Creation:
The Quran presents time as a creation of Allah, who controls all moments, past, present, and future. Allah is often referred to as Al-‘Asr (the Time) or Al-Baqi (the Everlasting), underscoring His timelessness and eternal presence.
Quranic reference: “And He it is who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; each gliding along in an orbit.” (Quran 21:33)
Hadith reference: The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized that time is within Allah’s control, conveying its sacred nature, “Do not curse time, for Allah is Time.” (Sahih Muslim 2246)

2. The Fleeting Nature of Time:
The Quran frequently emphasizes the shortness and transience of life in this world, encouraging believers to focus on the eternal afterlife.
Quranic reference: In Surah Al-‘Asr, Allah swears by time to stress its preciousness, “By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.” (Quran 103:1-3)
Hadith reference: The Prophet (PBUH) reminded his followers of life’s transient nature, urging them to act with urgency in doing good, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.” (Al-Hakim, Al-Mustadrak)

3. The Relative Nature of Time:
The Quran teaches that time in this life is experienced differently than in the hereafter. For example, a day with Allah can be like a thousand years or even fifty thousand years, depending on the context.
Quranic reference: “Verily, a day with your Lord is like a thousand years of what you count.” (Quran 22:47)
Hadith reference: “On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not speak to three people nor look at them nor purify them, and they will have a severe punishment. Among them is an old man who commits adultery, a king who lies, and a poor person who is arrogant.” (Sahih Muslim)

4. Accountability for How Time is Spent:
Believers are reminded that they will be accountable for how they spend their time. Every moment is seen as an opportunity to perform good deeds, seek forgiveness, and grow closer to Allah.
Quranic reference: “And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous.” (Quran 3:133)
Hadith reference: “The feet of the son of Adam shall not move on the Day of Judgment before he is asked about five things: about his life and how he spent it, his youth and how he used it, his wealth and how he earned it and spent it, and what he did with what he knew.” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2417)

5. Importance of Patience and Perseverance:
The Quran encourages patience (sabr) in enduring hardships, as trials are part of life and time serves as a means to overcome them. Patience in adversity is seen as essential in making time productive and purposeful.
Quranic reference: “O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (Quran 2:153)
Hadith reference: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is grateful, and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him.” (Sahih Muslim 2999)

In Islam, time is seen as a precious gift from Allah, urging believers to use it purposefully for worship, good deeds, and personal growth. Both the Quran and Hadith stress accountability for time, the fleeting nature of life, and the eternal significance of one’s actions. By valuing and wisely managing time, Muslims fulfill their duty to Allah, prepare for the hereafter, and contribute positively to the world.

And Allah knows best…

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