In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
There are two blessings in which most people are in great loss: good health and free time.Most unfortunate is he who does not recognize these blessings and is not thankful for them. All of us at one time or another enjoyed these two blessings but can we say that we have used them in the way that are meant to be used?
Everything about us--growth and development, movements, actions and morality, all take place within the space of 'Time'. Time passes quickly, our spiritual and material potentialities decline, and our abilities fade. We are like someone who possesses a great capital and, without his permission and will, every moment, a portion of that capital is taken away. This is the nature of life in this world--a continual loss. As one poet said,
Your life comprises a few breaths that can be counted; when one of them is sent out, a part of your life has diminished.
Anything lost could be found again except for time wasted.
Allah has granted us the invaluable capital of our life, so that we may invest it in profitable business venture. If we invest our capital of life sensibly in good works, there will be no limit to the profitable returns; but if we invest it unwisely in evil works, then, we will even lose our capital plus the dreadful scourge of committing numerous sins. If we squander it and did not invest in good works, then we, at least, lose both the profit and the capital.
It is reported that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
When a person wakes up in the morning, he invests his soul or life in a business enterprise: some of the investors free or save the capital from loss and others destroy it.
The Qur'an uses the word tijarah (transaction) in relation to 'faith' and 'righteous deed', thus:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ تِجَارَةٍ تُنجِيكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ﴿١٠﴾ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١١﴾ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿١٢﴾ وَأُخْرَىٰ تُحِبُّونَهَا ۖ نَصْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٣[As-Saffat 61:10-13]
O you who have believed, shall I guide you to a transaction that will save you from a painful punishment? (10) [It is that] you believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if you should know. (11) He will forgive for you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence. That is the great attainment. (12) And [you will obtain] another [favor] that you love - victory from Allah and an imminent conquest; and give good tidings to the believers. (13)
Since 'Time' is a person's capital of life, he himself is the trader. Under normal circumstances, his capital is not a frozen thing that may be kept for a while and used up later when the need arises. The capital is flowing all the time, every minute and every second. He who invests it needs to be very wise, intelligent and agile, so that he is able to swiftly and readily reap the profit from a flowing capital. Like an ice-seller whose trade required utmost diligence, and if he were neglectful for a moment, his entire capital would melt away.
Allah says,
وَالْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ ﴿٣[Qur'an Al-Asr 101]
By time, (1) Indeed, mankind is in loss, (2) Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience. (3)
Whoever has abandoned these four things has suffered a tremendous loss.
Faith and righteous deeds are related to our moral and spiritual growth and development. Truth ('Haqq') refers to the package of 'correct faith' and 'good deeds', and patience ('sabr') refers to binding oneself down to performance of righteous deeds and abstaining from sins.
Believers have been enjoined not only to adopt right faith and good deeds themselves, but to advise others strongly and effectively to adopt them, and thus help in the creation of a healthy atmosphere around them. Inviting other Muslims to keep to the true Faith and good deeds is as much necessary as our own submission to the Qur'an and Sunnah. One's own good deeds are not enough for one's salvation, especially if a person does not take care of the spiritual and moral welfare of his wife, children and family and turns a blind eye to their unrighteous deeds. Such a person is blocking his way to salvation - no matter how pious he might be.
Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim to do his best to invite others to the good deeds, and warn them against the evil acts. Don't think it is sufficient for you to be concerned about your own moral and spiritual well-being. If you are not concerned about the well-being of your family and not putting sincere and best efforts, to invite others to the right path, you are rapidly losing your capital while accumulating debts and no profits. What great loss that is for such a person.
May Allah grant us the ability to act upon His guidance. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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