What Does “Ghabn” (Loss) Mean in the Hadith About Squandered Blessings?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

What does the term “ghabn” (loss) mean in the hadith “Two blessings which many people squander”?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Two blessings which many people squander: health and free time.” [Bukhari]

The meaning of the hadith is that Allah has bestowed two significant blessings upon His servants—health and free time. However, many people fail to utilize them properly, leading to loss or deficiency in their lives.

The Meaning of “Ghabn” in the Hadith

Ghabn in this context refers to loss or being at a disadvantage. It signifies the failure to take full advantage of health and free time. People squander these blessings by not using them in ways that benefit their relationship with Allah, such as engaging in good deeds and acts of worship. Instead, they waste these opportunities on trivial or harmful activities.

The Importance of Utilizing These Blessings

Health: A healthy person has the physical capability to perform acts of worship, help others, and engage in productive activities.

Free Time: When free time is not utilized for meaningful purposes, it becomes a lost opportunity. The wise person takes advantage of both health and free time by dedicating them to acts of obedience to Allah, seeking knowledge, helping others, and engaging in self-improvement.

The failure to make good use of these blessings results in loss and regret, as highlighted by the Quran:

“When death approaches any of them, they cry, ‘My Lord! Let me go back, so I may do good in what I left behind.’” [Quran, 23:99-100]

Allah also reminds:

“And donate from what We have provided for you before death comes to one of you, and you cry, ‘My Lord! If only You delayed me for a short while, I would give in charity and be one of the righteous.’ But Allah never delays a soul when its appointed time comes. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” [Quran, 63:10-11]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) also said:

“The feet of the servant will not move on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about four things: his life and how he spent it, his body and how he used it…” [Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Saghir]

Conclusion

Allah’s blessings are numerous, and many people do not recognize their true value until it’s too late. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Whoever among you wakes up secure in his property, healthy in his body, and has his food for the day, it is as though he possesses the whole world.” [Tirmidhi]

Therefore, it is essential for individuals to be mindful of these blessings and make the best use of them while they can.

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa

Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.

He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.

He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.

Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.