Spiritual Advices | Time – A Most Valuable Commodity of a Believer During ‘Lockdown’
Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala mentions in the Quraan-e-Kareem :
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But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you [Surah Baqarah 2:216]
From this Ayaah we understand that when we experience adverse conditions in life, there may be some favourable conditions hidden in it. Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala knows best. We also understand, that we should always be positive and search for positive components within a negative situation.
During this ‘lockdown period‘, whilst we are restricted in worldly interactions, we are not locked down in terms of our Deeni duties. In fact, we have been unchained from worldly interactions and should take the opportunity of the free time to fulfil some of our religious duties.
Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala mentions in the Quraan-e-Kareem :
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By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds [Surah Al Asr 103:1/2/3]
Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala has mentioned time as a most valuable commodity of a Believer and has given us this ‘free time as a test’. Use this time correctly. Indeed man is at a loss and does not use his time correctly. Everyone is at a loss with the exception of those people who bring Imaan or they practice on the dictates of their Imaan and do righteous deeds.
This Surah is so comprehensive that the renowned scholar Imaam Shafi’ee Rahmatullah Alayh stated that if nothing but this Surah was revealed, it would have been sufficient for the guidance of man. Life is actually time. One poet explains the reality of life in the following two couplets:
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Translation: Your life comprises of a few breaths that can be counted;
As one breath goes out, one part of your life has diminished.
“Your life is but a few breaths. Every breath we take is one part of our life, and with every one of those breaths one part of our life is decreasing“. Similarly, the 21 days of the lockdown period is like a block of ice. Just like ice melts away quickly, so too will these 21 days pass by very soon. After 21 days we should analyse our actions and deeds and not have any regrets of wasting our time.
Use this time wisely and attain closeness to Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala. Increase your Tilawah (recitation) of the Quraan-e-Kareem ; Perform your Salaah on time ; Make the Zikr of Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala ; Perform Ishraaq and Chast Salaah ; Spend quality time with your family.
May Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala grant us Taufeeq and Hidaayah, to value our time and to use it to make RujooillAllah and Inaabat illallah (turning to Allah Ta’ala in repentance, obedience and supplication) and not be regretful and waste our time in a state of Ghaflah (heedlessness).
Spiritual Advices of Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Mahmood | darulmahmood.net