Al-En3ekaas 3ala al Waqt

My Reflections on Time (en3ekaas al waqt 3ali)

As Muslims, we're all familiar with Surah Al-Asr, the Chapter on Time (or the Declining Day).

Our shaykhuna, Imam Shafi'i (ra) is reported to have said:
"if Allah (swt) were to have only revealed this Surah, it would have been
sufficient to guide mankind to the Straight Path"

And our beloved Rasulullah (s) has related in a sound tradition, that Allah (swt) says:

"Mankind continues to abuse Me by Abusing time, and verily, I am Time (Ad-Dahr)."

The Arabs have a saying: "Al Waqt qas'Saif' - Time is like a Sword. If you don't cut with it, or if you play with it, it cuts you.

"Friends are thieves of time" - Anonymous

Do we really need any more quotes?

Sh Hamza Yusuf, in his “Practical Steps for Changing our Condition,” mentions how the internet has become a modern killer of time.

I can personally vouch for this heavy statement. Yet this sense of loss, does not lead me
to profuse tears. And why should it? If tears are the polish on a wajha of Nur, then the rust
of perpetual sins obscures it all.

This nasiha has also been evoked, in the era of the television, the video game era that still rages on, and prior to all this, the advent of the novel. But that's just in the past few centuries.

So much time has passed in human history - and so much advice about the preciousness of time.
But advice is only good, when taken.

The modern mantra, is no longer al-waqt qas'saif - but 'time is money.' Right up there with 'knowledge is power.' Both of these have discernible truths in them - witness the state of affairs of our world. Yet this is not in line with the Islamic paradigm.

To us, knowledge is an ennoblement, Nur, and a Fadl (gift). Power is not the means, or the end.

To us, time is precious barakah. The medium of sowing good deeds. A perpetual niyamah that we must usewith the utmost care.

Ya Rabb-ul-Izzah, grant us this ability, and bless us in our time…

"...if you are thankful to Me, I will give you more..." - Al-Qur'an