Those Who Valued Time (1/2)

Those fortunate individuals who have safeguarded themselves from useless pursuits and valued their time have not only benefited themselves but also the Ummah at large. It is not hard to judge from the sheer volume and caliber of their accomplishments the great value they accorded to time.

The great Muhaddith Yahya Ibn Ma'in transcribed one million ahadith by hand in his lifetime. 'Allamah Ibn Jarir At-Tabari wrote and published 358,000 pages of works related to Din.

The Commentator on the Sahih of Imam Muslim and the author of the famed Riyad-as-Salihin, 'Allamah An-Nawawi lived for only 45 years; yet if an assessment is made of the works he compiled, one can deduce that he wrote four pages of knowledge for every day of his life.

The author of Tafsir Ruh-al-Ma'ani, 'Allamah Al-Alusi Al-Baghdadi, would normally teach 24 lessons a day. Whilst engaged in work of ifta and compiling his tafsir, the 'Allamah would teach 13 lessons a day, and at night, after finishing all his other duties, he would continue to work on writing and researching for his tafsir. The next day he would pass on what he had written to the scribes. It is narrated that 'Allamah Alusi would write so profusely that it would take a number of scribes ten hours to write what the 'Allamah alone would amass during the course of just one night.

After the death of 'Allamah Ibn-al-Jawzi, only those filings and sawdust was used to warm the water for his burial ghusl which had been gathered from the quills and writing instruments used by the respected Shaykh to write ahadith.

This was in accordance with the Shaykh's bequest. Such was the quantity of this material that even after using it adequately to warm the water, there was some left behind. This was only the filings from the writing instruments with which the Shaykh used to write ahadith. So we can only imagine what quantity of filing and sawdust would have been amassed from the rest of the voluminous works that the Shaykh compiled.

The renowned Muhaddith, Ibn 'Asakir compiled the 'History of Damascus', which consists of 80 volumes. Despite his demanding academic engagements, he was also extremely observant of other acts of worship. Out of Ramadan, the Shaykh would complete one recitation of the Qur'an weekly, whereas in Ramadan he would increase this to one complete recitation daily.

These are some of the achievements of our pious predecessors. They valued the precious moments of their lives and left behind such beneficial resources through which the Ummah will derive benefit until the Day of Qiyamah; and through the blessings of these resources, insha'Allah, their good deeds will continue to increase.

The Common Factor

If we study the pages of history, we will find that it is through valuing and utilising time that success is achieved. This is the common factor found in the lives of all those who have acquired any form of success. The value of time in the sight of such people can be appreciated from the following statement of Imam Khalil ibn Ahmad:

"I find the time when I eat to be the most burdensome."

The great Mufassir, Imam Fakhr-ad-Din Ar-Razi, despite authoring two hundred books for the benefit of the Ummah, would comment:

"I swear by Allah! I feel great remorse from being deprived of academic engagement during the time I need to eat. This is because time is indeed a great asset."

One group is of these pious predecessors, who despite valuing each second of their lives, would constantly feel remorseful upon the passage of time. The other group - the group to which we belong - is of those who exercise no restraint when it comes to wasting time. We do not let any opportunity pass wherein we can waste our time. Despite this, never mind experiencing remorse, we do not even have the slightest awareness of the loss that we are in.

The Only Regret

Remember, even after entering Jannah and being granted all the blessings of Jannah, the residents of Jannah will feel remorse upon the time they wasted in negligence whilst in this world.

The Prophet Muhammad has said:

"The people of Jannah (after entering Jannah) will not have remorse over anything other than the time spent without remembering Allah." (Reported by Al-Bayhaqi, At-Tabrani)

From amongst the wise sayings that Imam Ash-Shafi'i collected from the company of the pious, one is:

"Time is a sword. If you do not cut it (by utilising it in good deeds), it will definitely cut you."

When someone asked to speak to the renowned Tabi'i, 'Umar ibn 'Abd-al-Qays, he said, "Stop the sun in its orbit for a while; only then (will I have free time) in which to converse."

Continually Diminishing

Time is passing by and it is an asset which diminishes continuously. It cannot be stored nor is there any method to stop it decreasing.

"Life is passing by, like the melting of ice. Very quietly, slowly, breath by breath."

Each second that passes by is cutting a portion away from our life.

"O negligent one! The clock is giving you this call: The seconds of the clock have reduced your life a little more!"

The great sahabi, Abu Ad-Darda' and the great tabi'i, Al-Hasan Al-Basri once said:

"O son of Adam! You are but (a collection of) days: when a day goes, a part of you goes."

A day that has passed will never return. Every morning at sunrise the day says:

"Whoever is able to do some good should do it, for I will never return to you." (Reported by Al-Bayhaqi)

Just think! Our childhood days have passed; for many their youth has passed; others have reached old age and are waiting only for death to come. Allah says:

"...Indeed, when the term appointed by Allah comes, it cannot be delayed..." (Surat Nuh, 71:4)

Before that time comes, we should make the most of our lives. We should resolve that from now on we will not waste a single moment, and we will spend every second only in profitable ways.

A Poet says:

"After asking for a long life, you came with a short life,

Half was spent in aspirations, and the other half in waiting!"

Another Poet says:

"Initially, childhood delighted you with play for several years.

Thereafter, youth made you insane.

Then, old age, how it harassed you!

Finally, death will completely annihilate you.

This world is not a place of attachment.

It is a place to take lessons, and is not a place of entertainment."

(Continued)