What Is the Ideal Islamic Perspective on Time Management?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
What is the ideal Islamic perspective on time management?
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 Value of Time in Islam
The Islamic perspective on time emphasizes its immense value and the responsibility to utilize it wisely. Time is considered a great blessing and trust from Allah (Most High). Muslims are obliged to use their time in ways that please Allah and fulfill their personal and communal needs.
The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to a man while advising him:
“Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your busyness, and your life before your death.” [Nasa’i]
He (Allah bless him and give him peace) also said:
“The feet of the son of Adam will not move on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about five things: his life and how he spent it, his youth and how he utilized it, his wealth—how he earned it and how he spent it—and what he did with his knowledge.” [Tirmidhi]
Reflections on Time
Imam Ibn Jawzi reflected on the verse: “Not a word does a person utter without having a (vigilant) observer ready (to write it down).” [Quran, 50:18], advising his son: “The two angels record your words and actions, and each breath you take is like a step toward your appointed time. Each breath brings you closer to your ultimate destination.” [Ibn Jawzi, Laftat al-Kabib]
Making the Most of Virtuous Times
Islam encourages Muslims to make the most of virtuous times, such as the month of Ramadan, the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijja, and the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr), to seek Allah’s pleasure.
Hasan Basri beautifully articulated the fleeting nature of time, saying: “O son of Adam, you are nothing but a collection of days; whenever a day passes, a part of you passes.” [Ahmad, al-Zuhd]
The Importance of Punctuality
Today, it has become common for some Muslims to neglect punctuality, despite Allah’s praise of Ismail (peace be upon him):
“And mention in the Book (O Prophet, the story of) Ishmael. He was truly a man of his word, and was a messenger and a prophet.” [Quran, 19:54]
Therefore, Muslims should strive to avoid wasting time and focus on beneficial deeds.
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.
