The Importance of Time during Ramadan
Time is one of the rarest and most precious resources. While some say "time is gold," this phrase actually undervalues the true worth of time. Time is much more precious than gold because once it is lost, it cannot be recovered. Every moment of time is invaluable and cannot be replaced with all the gold in the world.
Human life is but a few days, and with each passing day, a part of it is gone. It is said that every day that breaks its dawn calls out to humanity, saying implicitly: "O son of Adam, I am a new creation, and your deeds bear witness; so take advantage of me, for I do not return until the Day of Judgment."
Time is life itself; it is the material from which life is made. Human beings are connected to time from their birth - even from the time they were fetuses in their mother's womb - until their passing.
Our noble religion has emphasized the importance of time, as highlighted in several verses of the Holy Quran, such as Allah's Statement (What means): "And He subjected for you the night and day" [Ibrahim/33]. Furthermore, Allah swears by time in the Quran, as in the verse: " By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss," [Al-Asr/1-2], which clearly indicates the immense importance of time.
Likewise, the noble Sunna of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) also emphasized the value of time. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "There are two blessings which many people waste: health and free time." [Al-Bukhari].
The righteous predecessors [the Salaf] also valued time greatly. Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I do not regret anything as much as I regret a day whose sun sets while my lifespan decreases, yet my deeds do not increase." Al-Hasan Al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "I have seen people who were more diligent in preserving their time than you are in preserving your wealth and dinars." Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Wasting time is worse than death because wasting time separates you from Allah and the Hereafter, while death separates you from this world and its inhabitants."
Indeed, if time holds such a precious value, its worth increases during specific seasons compared to the rest of the year. One of the greatest of these seasons is the month of Ramadan. During this month, the market of good deeds is open, profits are abundant, and rewards are multiplied. It is the best of months, and within it lies Laylat Al-Qadr (the Night of Decree), which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its goodness is truly deprived. Additionally, Allah Almighty grants emancipation from Hellfire to a believer every night during Ramadan. Therefore, it is incumbent upon every Muslim, male or female, to invest each minute, indeed every moment, of this blessed month wisely.
Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, described in "Zaad Al-Ma'ad" how the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was during the month of Ramadan. The Prophet (peace be upon him) would increase in various forms of worship, and Gabriel (peace be upon him) would review the Quran with him during Ramadan. Whenever Gabriel met him, he would be more generous in goodness than the sent wind, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) would devote to Ramadan acts of worship that were not specific to other months.
In the month of Ramadan, a person finds a great opportunity to discipline their time, where they allocate the day for fasting, await the time for breaking the fast at sunset, engage in night prayers and supplications, and have the pre-dawn meal and seek forgiveness before dawn.
And to you, dear reader, here are some acts of worship that we hope will help you manage your time effectively in Ramadan, so that you can make the best use of it:
1. Maintaining congregational prayers at all times in the house of Allah.
2. Completing the recitation and reflection on the Quran at least once.
3. Performing the Taraweeh prayers.
4. Observing Iʿtikaf during the last ten nights in mosques
5. Reviewing the jurisprudence and etiquette of fasting.
6. Maintaining family ties.
7. Providing Iftar for fasting individuals.
8. Giving charity
9. Adhering to the etiquette of fasting.
10. Increasing remembrance of Allah, supplication, and seeking forgiveness.
Here are some things that can help a person make good use of their time, especially during Ramadan:
1- Fear of Allah, reverence for Him, and being mindful of Him; these qualities prompt a person to spend their time in acts of obedience and refrain from prohibited actions. This is because among the names and attributes of Allah are Al-Alim (the All-Knowing), Al-Khabir (the All-Aware), and Ar-Raqib (the Watchful). This fills the heart with a sense of being constantly observed by Allah in all actions and stillness. When a believer senses that they are being watched by Allah, it is incumbent upon them not to disobey His commands and to avoid what He has prohibited.
2- Remembering death; when a person remembers death, unaware of the time and place it will surprise them, it urges them to be more diligent in seeking a good end. This motivates them to occupy their time with righteous deeds.
3- Keeping the company of righteous individuals with sound minds, high aspirations, and wisely utilized time. They remind you of Allah when you see them, increase your knowledge with their logic, and remind you of the Hereafter with their actions. Their remembrance enlivens hearts even if they are deceased, unlike those whose company deadens hearts even though they are alive.
4- Recognizing the value and importance of time, knowing that one will be held accountable for it. The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "The feet of a servant will not move on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about his life and how he spent it, his knowledge and how he utilized it, his wealth and how he acquired it and how he spent it, and his body and how he wore it out." This hadith is reported by Imam At-Tirmidhi and he classified it as Hasan Sahih.
There are precautions that should be taken into consideration to avoid hindering us from effectively managing our time and making the most of it for our benefit. Some of these precautions include:
1- Procrastination, because procrastination is one of the devil's tactics. It is important to strive and take initiative to accomplish tasks that draw us closer to Allah before they become barriers between us and Him.
2- Satellite channels that have invaded our homes, broadcasting many programs specifically tailored for Ramadan under the pretext of entertaining fasting individuals. However, most of these programs actually steal away good deeds and time. Therefore, let us make sure to benefit from the informative content provided by purposeful satellite channels and follow beneficial religious programs.
3- Spending long hours in front of a computer screen, especially on the internet, in activities that are neither beneficial nor productive.
4- Devoting and consuming many hours, especially by women, in preparing multiple-course meals, knowing that Ramadan is a month of patience and deeds with multiplied rewards. It is advisable to limit meals to one or two dishes, saving time, effort, and money.
5- Wasting time in shopping, while it is more beneficial to utilize this time in worship and seclusion. Preparing for Eid and purchasing necessities can be done before Ramadan begins.
In conclusion, this world is fleeting, so let us make it a time of obedience, seeking knowledge, performing righteous deeds, enjoining good, forbidding evil, reading books, or taking steps towards goodness for people. Let us hasten to do good deeds and strive to make the best use of our time.
I ask Almighty Allah, The Lord of The Mighty Throne, to bless our time and make our actions dedicated to please Him.
