Time according to wise people

Time is considered one of the rarest and dearest resources. If a person says: "Time is money" actually this will be an underestimation for the value of time because it is more expensive than gold which can be recompensed if it is lost, however a person cannot compensate a moment if it is lost for the gold of the whole world.

Time has a great importance and great advantage because it is a booty and very profitable for those who can use it well; moreover time is life.

Ibn `Aqil (may Allah show mercy to him) said: "The best thing a person can manage is time according to the consensus of scholars because it is a booty during which opportunities are taken. Let it be known that costs are abundant and times lapse fast."

From the types of benefiting from time:

Adh-Dhahaby reported [1] on the authority of Ahmad ibn Ali Ar-Raqqam who said I asked `Abur-Rahman ibn Abu Hatim about how did he listen that much amount of knowledge and his multiple questions to his father? He said: Perhaps he was eating and I was read to him, walking and I was reading to him, entering the bathroom and I was reading to him, entering the house to get something and I was reading to him.

Muhammad ibn Salam Al Bikindy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) [2] used to sit in a session of knowledge while the Sheikh was dictating, suddenly, the pen of Muhammad ibn Salam has been broken and he commanded the lad to purchase a pen by saying: A pen for a dinar so, pens were brought abundantly to him.

`Abdur-Rahman ibn Mahdy said about Hammad ibn Salamah (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) [3] If it was said to Hammad ibn Salamah that you will die tomorrow, he will not do anything extra.

Adh-Dhahaby said: His times were filled by worship and Dhikr (invocations to be recited to draw near to Allah).

Imam Al Waqidy said about Ibn Abu Dhi'b [4], the Sheikh of Islam Abu Al Harith Al Qurashy Al `Amiry Al Madany, the jurist: He used to offer Salah all night long and exert efforts in the acts of worship. If it was said to him that the Day of Resurrection will be tomorrow, he will not exert efforts as he was already doing.

Adh-Dhahaby said in his book "As-Siyar" about Imam Al Bukhari (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul)[5]: Muhammad ibn Yusuf Al Bukhari told us that he was with Muhammad ibn Isma'il at his home one night, so, I calculated that he stood up and lightened a candle to study some matters, which he used to hang, eighteen times.

Muhammad ibn Abu Hatim Al Warraq said: I used to travel with Abu `Abdullah and I used to see him standing up from fifteen to twenty times in one night to lighten a candle to read sheets of Hadiths and study. Ibn `Ady said: I heard `Abdul-Quddus ibn Hammam saying: I heard some Sheikhs saying about Muhammad ibn Isma`il that he had many biographies of narrators to fill the space between the Prophet's grave and his pulpit, and he used to offer Salah before writing a biography.

Ibn `Aqil (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) [6] used to say: It is not permissible for me to waste an hour of my life even if my tongue has been disabled to read or debate and my sight has been disabled to study and read, I would use my mind in thinking during my rest or while lying, so I will not stand up but after I have a full idea about what I shall write down.

Imam ibn Jama`ah (may Allah be merciful with him) [7] said: A person should not trick himself by delaying repentance because every hour elapses from his lifetime will not be back and none can compensate it for him.

Ibn Al Qayyim (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) [8] said: When Allah wants good with someone, He will grant him blessing in times and make his time helpful for him.

However, if He wants evil with someone, He will make his times against him and his times will not be helpful for him. So, whenever he wants to go somewhere, time will not help him, but whenever the first wants to sit, himself urges him to go.

Do not delay pious acts for the next day perhaps tomorrow will come while you are dead.