Sunday, April 16, 2017

TIME AND LIFE IS THE SAME

The Glorious Qur'an warns that life on this earth is very short and Allah had created human being to worship Him (for ibadah). Worship means having faith in Allah's Unity and Justice, the Prophet hood of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), theVilaya (Imamate) of Imam Ali (a.s.), and the Day of Accounting or Resurrection. We should sincerely follow the Commands of Allah in the Glorious Qur'an as directed and demonstrated by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) himself and interpreted by the Twelve Imams after the apparent demise of the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.a.s.).
The concept of accounting on the Day of Resurrection is the foundation of Islam.
The life and time is the same thing. As Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “O' man! You are the collection of stipulated
breathes and each breath reduces your life span and become nearer to your death.” He further said, “How quickly the hours pass into a day, and the days quickly pass into a month, the months quickly pass into year and the years pass into the age of a man.” (Shrah Nahjul Balagha by Ibne Abil Hadid Mu’tazeli)
Imam Ali (a.s.) had said in Nahjul Balagha, “The days of life passes like clouds, so do virtuous deeds while you are alive. Death is near and our mutual company is short.”
To salvage the lost time, Imam Ali said, “What passed from your day is gone but your present moment can be seized. Make use of the opportunity and never trust time.”
It has been expressed in another way as the maximum length of a man is zero when he is born, and as days pass his age goes on decreasing.
Upon inquiry, the Infallible Imam Ali ibnal Husayn Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.) replied that he hoped for eight qualities; Pray to Allah to fulfil his obligations, long life for my children, strength for the children, protection from lust, safety from sins by Shaytan’s instigation, endeavor for sincerity in charitable deeds, prepare the soul for the angel of death, body in the grave.”
In Islam, the importance of time has been emphasized as there are many Surahs named in the Glorious Qur'an like al-Asr, al-Layl, al-Fajr, al-Zuha,.
The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) advised his great companion Abu Zarr Ghifari as follows:
“Be greedier, in terms of your time (life time) more than that of your gold and silver coins (wealth). There are two blessings seriously taken for granted (misused) by mankind, health and spare time.”
He also said, “Appreciate five things before five others; youth before old age, health before illness, wealth before poverty, spare time before challenging work, and life before death. “He further said, “Men in their forties are already achieved their professional peak; men in their fifties should consolidate in piety; men in their sixties should be ready to account for the deeds and have no more excuses; and the men in their seventies should always be ready for death.” He (s.a.w.a.s.) advised the people that although the record of deeds is closed upon one’s death but the deceased man can extend his life by three possibilities; leave some intellectual and scholarly work from which mankind continue to benefit from his work; Sadaqa-e-Ja’ria like building a mosque, drilling a well for water for the community, and a pious son or daughter who will pray for him and send other virtuous deeds for the benefit of his soul.
The Infallible Imam Musa al-Kazim said, “Divide your day into four parts; one part for supplications with Allah; one part to search for sustenance; one part for socializing with your friends and your relatives; and the last part for enjoying the lawful pleasures.” (Tuhfatul Uqul)                                     


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