The Blessing of Time – Shaykh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah
The following excerpt is from the book “The Value of Time” by Shaykh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah (may Allah shower His mercy upon him). The book contains penetrating insights, deep proverbs, and inspirational stories of the scholars of the past pertaining to the importance of directing one’s self to Allah (exalted be He) in every moment. In this excerpt, Shaykh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah discusses the blessing of time.
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The Blessing of Time
By Shaykh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah
“One of the primary blessings, or the loftiest and most precious of all primary blessings is that of time, for the discussion of which these pages have been assembled, particularly its value for students and people of knowledge. Time is the substance of life, the sphere in which man exists, the citadel of his spirit, and his subsistence – him benefiting himself and others.
The Holy Qur’an indicated the greatness this most primary of all blessings, and stated its supremacy over all the other blessings in many verses, of which I will mention but a few. Allah, most Exalted is He, said of His great blessing bestowed upon mankind:
“Allah is He who created the heavens and the earth and causes water to descend from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you, and makes the ships to be of service unto you that they may run upon the sea at His command, and has made of service unto you the rivers; and makes the sun and the moon constant in their courses, to be of service unto you, and has made of service unto you the night and the day; And He gives you of all you ask of Him; and if you count the favours of Allah, you will never number them. Man is indeed most unjust, most ungrateful.” [Qur’an 14:32-34]
Thus, Allah has granted His creation the blessing of day and night, which are the blessing of time that we elucidate, and in which we elucidate, and through which this world passes from its beginning to its end. Allah, most Exalted is He, says illuminating the highest of blessings in a second verse: “And He has constrained the night and the day and the sun and the moon to be of service to you, and the stars are made subservient By His command. Surely in this there are signs for people who reflect.” [Qur’an 16:12] Thus Allah indicated at the end of the verse that in these blessings are indeed powerful signs for those who reflect and deliberate. [p 3 of “The Value of Time” by Shaykh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah]
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Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghudda (1917-1997) was one of the giants of Islamic scholarship in the 20th century. He was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria to a family that descended from Khalid ibn Walid (may Allah shower him with mercy). He studied under some of the leading scholars of the Ummah, including the prolific Ottoman scholar Shaykh Muhammad Zahid al-Kawthari. A leading scholar in his own right, Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghudda has left his mark in the field of hadeeth and jurisprudence.
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SeekersGuidance is currently offering a course based on the work “Islamic Manners” by Shaykh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah: Prophetic Conduct: Islamic Manners in Everyday Life
Registration closes June 7, 2010.
Prophetic Conduct: Islamic manners in everyday life
Sh. Faraz Rabbani · 12 downloadable lessons · 3 live sessions
“What would the Prophet do?” That is a question we often ask ourselves, but sometimes the answer is not clear to us. This course provides important and insightful glimpses into the Prophet’s inspirational personality and manners, empowering students to build their own Islamic conduct by attempting to emulate that of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The course is an explanation and contextualization of Shaykh `Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah’s influential and celebrated book Islamic Manners.
