The Importance of Time

14 Jun The Importance of Time

Bismillah

Assalaamu ‘alaykum,

Today, as I read through my emails from hifdh students, I realised that most of them had one common feature, or rather, concern: majority of the hifdh students who correspond with me, regularly pose their queries & concerns on the management of time whilst doing Tahfeedhul Qur’aan. And while some students are of school-going age, others are executives, university students, stay-at-home mums, or even grandmothers – subhaanAllah! – there is always a sort of struggle for time: Time, Time … and more time!

For, as a student progresses in the journey of hifdh, the workload increases – both in terms of revision (please sisters, really important!) & the additional / new lesson that requires plenty of practice. And so as students of Qur’aan, we’re always ‘looking for time’, aren’t we? Time to revise, time to review, time to learn & time to implement!

SubhaanAllah! Many of you, my dear sisters, who may be reading this post, have been blessed by Allah Ta’ala – chosen by Him to memorise the Precious Words. Fortunate you are indeed, to be using your time in earning the Pleasure & Proximity of Allah Ta’ala! Yet, for the steadfast believer, there is always ‘room for improvement’.

So let each of us ask ourselves : How can I manage my time even better, so that I may enhance my learning of the Divine Words? Have we allowed too many ‘moments’ to pass by, thinking that 5 minutes is not enough time to memorise Qur’aan? Have we ever thoughtlessly tossed aside an hour of hifdh for a marathon of movies? Or used a leisure afternoon to feed a doubtful thought, rather than nurture our spiritual souls?

When we look back into the Madeenah of Rasoolullah(sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), we read of a blessed period in which the correct management of time, was, in itself, a legacy for generations to come! You & I have only to look at our perfect role model, Rasoolullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), the 1rst Haafidh of the Qur’aan. So much of his blessed time was spent in reading & teaching Al Qur’aan…his entire life was spent in living its words, abundant peace & salutaions be upon the Messenger of Allah Ta’ala.

Oh bearers of Qur’aan: What if we made learning the Qur’aan a spiritual discovery of living it’s words? What if we allowed our conscience to be guided by the reminders & warnings in the Qur’aan?…And the message that life is short, Judgement Day will happen & The Paradise is real!

Then…in five minutes you could memorise a short verse of Qur’aan, in an hour you could review a quarter juzz, in one afternoon you could  practise your hifdh in nafl salaah…Think of how many verses you could learn & practise as you then get closer & closer towards fulfilling your aspirations of memorising the Beautiful Words, mashaa Allah!

‘Time is of the essence’ & rightly so! For, in the spiritual rose garden, it is the essence of our blossoming faith, our nurturing steadfastness & our flourishing determination!

~More to come in future posts, on ‘Hifdh & Time Management’, inshaa Allah. Share your tips & idea with us, by emailing your thoughts or inspirations on this topic. Baarak Allahu feekum.~

I fonud the following article really interesting & thought I’d share it with you..

By: Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Prepared by Shaykh  Muhammad ash-Shareef

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Today I wanted to share with you an aspect of an Imam I’m sure you’ve have heard of: Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah.

During the University years, when classes would be a little slow, I would take out a paper and pen and collect my thoughts. I could spend hours doing this, it was a very enjoyable pastime. I’m sure you may have spent time in a similar activity.

Well, to my happy surprise, our blessed Imam Ibn al-Qayyim used to do the same thing long before all of us. Not only that but he gathered all his Imaan injected thoughts into a book he entitled: Sayd Al-Khaatir.

He explains in the introduction that thoughts are like wild game and if you don’t capture them they will race away never to be seen again. For that reason he would always write down his thoughts and he finally made a book out of them. Khaatir – you may have heard of the word Khaatirah, meaning speech, it literally means something that crosses your mind. And Sayd means to capture. Thus the title of his awesome work: Captured thoughts.

 
Here is a Khutbah egroup exclusive excerpt from his book – Rahimahullah – which I don’t believe is translated. Sit back and imagine you are sitting with Imam Ibn al-Qayyim under a warm Baghdad moon over 900 years ago as he advises you.

The Importance of Time:

“It’s important for a person to know that nobility of the era he is living in and the value of time. A Muslim should not waste his time in things that do not bring him closer to Allah, putting that which is very important ahead of that which is important, whether it be in the things he says or does.

A Muslim should always keep a good intention kindled, always desiring to do good, without any laziness.

I recall a group of scholars from the past that used to capture every moment.

It was said that a man asked Aamir ibn Qays to speak with him. He told him, “Capture the sun!”

And Thabit al-Bunaanee said, “When my father was in his death pangs, I went to assist him in pronouncing the Shahaadah. He told me, ‘Son! Leave me alone, for I have recited all my supplications 5 times and I’m on my sixth cycle now.’”

And once some members of the community entered upon a scholar whilst he was in his final breaths. He was praying and they asked him why he was pushing himself so much. He said, “My scrolls shall be rolled up in a few moments.”

Thus if a person knows that death is going to sever his actions, he should work hard in his life doing things which will continue to reap reward for him after his death. So, if he has a farm – for example – he should plant a tree or flow a river to bring water to others and work hard on raising children who shall remember Allah. Then all that reward shall be his after death.

Or, he should write a book about Islam (if he is capable of doing that), for indeed a book is a scholar’s immortal child. And he should perform good works – knowledgeable of what it is he is doing – so that people will pass down and imitate his good work.

This is the Muslim that has not died!

(He then mentions a line of Poetry)

People have died but with humanity they remain alive