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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