The importance of time during Ramadan

OF THE well-known prophetic sayings (Hadiths) calling for grabbing the opportunity for investing time is the one related by Ibn-Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him).

He relates that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Grab five things before five others: your youth before your decrepitude, your health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your leisure before your work, and your life before your death.” (Al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak)

This Hadith, like many others, is typically brief, yet comprehensive and loaded with meaning. It points out the importance of time and the initiative to invest it, together with the importance of utilising the power of youth and leisure time in fruitful good work. It also warns against five obstacles that prevent proper utilisation of time.

And this Hadith is of utmost importance in this blessed month of Ramadan, a month in which good deeds are multiplied. Organising time with our busy schedules becomes a race for many in this blessed month because this is a month of purification and good deeds.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to call on Muslims to take the initiative to do good deeds before any obstacles arose. For instance, he said, “Lose no time to do good deeds before you are caught up by one of seven calamities awaiting you: a starvation which may impair your wisdom; a prosperity which may mislead you; an ailment which may damage your health; an old age which may harm your senses; a sudden death; the Dajjal (Anti-Christ); or Doomsday, which is indeed the hardest and most bitter.” (at-Tirmidhi, al-Baihaqi)

The above Hadith urges Muslims to take the initiative, and not to delay good deeds; man’s life is not free from impediments, such as those calamities, which can prevent him from accomplishing what could have been done earlier. Wise are those who grab available opportunities before being handicapped by obstacles.

In one Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If one becomes worried, he hurries up, and if he hurries up, he sooner reaches his destination.” (at-Tirmidhi, al-Hakim) Explaining this Hadith, Attayyibi (may Allah have mercy on him) says: “The Prophet gave this as an example to illustrate man’s journey to a safe haven in the afterlife. Satan, supported by man’s evil desires and wishful thinking, obstructs his way. If he is fully aware and has kept the purity of intention regarding his deeds, he is safe from Satan’s conniving.” The example can be true in the case of the person who has set himself targets, and is worried lest he should be encountered by obstacles before reaching them. He, therefore, makes a greater effort in order to reach his targets.