Time Management in Islam

1. ISLAMIC STUDIES
ASSIGNMENT
“TIME
MANAGEMENT IN
ISLAM”

2. In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

3. TIME MANAGEMEN IN ISLAM
To Allah all praise is due. He is the One and Only.
“In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
(I swear) by time, that surely mankind suffers loss,
except for those who believe and do good deeds,
and they enjoin Truth and they enjoin constancy.”
- Surah Asr (Time)
Time represents an extremely important resource in this life. If it is not effectively utilized, so
much will be lost. Time lost will be difficult to make up for; once it passes, it never comes back.
By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Humankind is in loss, Except such as
have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and
of Patience and Constancy. - (Quran 103:1-3)
Time is popularly described as gold. In fact, it is more valuable than gold, for it is priceless. Of all
religions, only Islam guides mankind not only to the importance of time but also how to value it.
All the Almighty and His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), very clearly tell us the value
of time, why we must not waste it and how we can make use of our time wisely to increase our
faith and thus attain success, especially eternal success in the life hereafter. Time is considered
a common factor at the personal as well as the professional levels.
Islam is thus not a set of rules we must adhere to only regarding prayer and fasting, but also
concerning our interaction with others, our use of time, and personal productivity. A substantial
number of advice books hold merit in their own respect and should not be disregarded
completely. However, it behooves us to become familiar with time-management in Islam
according to the Prophets and Divinely-sent leaders because our actions should emulate their
lifestyle and excellent qualities.

4. Time Is Not Ours to Waste
Who decided time was ours to spend at our whims? How can it be that we are from God and to
Him is our return, yet the time we waste is ours? Everything we have in this life is from God's
kindness and mercy and just as we have to return to God, so does the gift of time. A lack of
correct allocation of time leads us to fall short in various areas of our lives – academically,
professionally and in our personal relationships. Most importantly however, as the workload
piles, the first thing we begin to neglect is the most important relationship we have: with God,
the most Glorious.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) reminds us, "There are two of God's favors that are forgotten by
many people: health and free time."
Lazy Towards the Hereafter
The happiest among us are those who have put effort towards building their lives around Islam,
rather than building Islam around their lives. It is among Satan's attempts to steer us away from
God and our obligations as Muslims by telling us we simply don't have time for prayer on busy
days, or that it is acceptable to hasten prayers so that we can return to work. These are
symptoms that unconsciously make us negligent towards the Hereafter.
There are plenty of distractions that make us lazy towards our religious and personal duties.
From social networking to merit-less television programming, from harmful gossip and
conversations that have absolutely no benefit to excessive sleep and procrastination, we have
become proficient at wasting time. The implications of being lazy during our personal time have
profound effects on our worship. Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) warns of the consequences
of laziness in this world: "I hate for a man to be lazy in his worldly affairs, and whoever is lazy in
his worldly affairs will be lazier in his affairs of the Hereafter." (Al-Kafi)
If we consider that each day we are blessed with 1440 minutes, and then further examine how
we put them to use we would find that rather than "not having enough time" as most of us
complain, we just make a series of negative choices as to how we spend our time. The ability to
put off doing small things, such as making a phone call or completing a relatively small task
enables us to put off bigger and more significant actions such as reforming our worship or
engaging in self-growth and development.

5. Time and the purpose of Creation
There is nothing that may believer regret other than a moment that passed in this life without
remembering Allah! There is not a much better moment for a believer than accomplishing work
that pleases Allah Almighty, and he feels the blessing of this Great God…. Time is a major boon
to us by Allah, but most people are unaware of the gift of time.
Some Western scholars have repeatedly published books about time management, these books
have achieved high sales rate in the world. This confirms that people’s attention to this
important aspect and their eagerness to learn new in the art of time management and
investment at the best possible way. In addition, it is to achieve their goals and interests, and
consequently to reach the happiness that every human being is looking for.
But if we look at these books, we find it focused on one goal: the world and its
adornments. Measure for success for them is what an individual has achieved of material gain,
fame or power. However, they ignore the simple idea of what fate awaits each and every one of
us after death. This idea was the first step that made me head toward research, writing,
reasoning, and reflection.
I have had a lot of ideas, theories and perceptions about the universe, time and nature. I aspire
to create a new theory in physics, medicine, or language. I embarked on a journey deep in these
sciences. For years I served science out day and night with a view to know "everything" but life
is short. Whatever I live, I would not get from science more than just a drop of an ocean!

6. I started to think of a way that makes me gain the largest amount of science in the shortest
period of time. After thinking and a long search, I found that the only book that contains the
whole world science is the Quran! Indeed, I learned physics from the Quran and learned
mathematics from the Quran and learned medicine from the Quran. It is true that I did not
become a doctor or a physics specialist, but the happiness that I got as a result of my interest in
the Quran is more than words can describe. It is a wonderful sense that cannot be expressed
by other than only one word that subconsciously comes out: (Praise God).
Without Allah's mercy and His guidance and grace, I could not have got to that happiness. Joy is
something very complex and not easy to reach the summit of happiness, though, the
researchers, thinkers and philosophers have written much about this subject. Nonetheless, I
find that one verse from the Quran can give you the real road to happiness. Each verse of the
Book of Allah Almighty contains a program that can radically change your life.
He will say: "What number of years did ye stay on earth?" They will answer: 'We have
spent there a day, or part of a day; but ask those who [are able to] count [time]..." He will
say: "You stayed not but a little,- if you had only known! Did you, then, think that We
created you in mere idle play, and that you would not have to return to Us?." (Quran23:112-115)

7. The acts of worship are allocated specific times reflects the significance of time in the Muslim’s
life. The five daily prayers are at the top of those acts.
The distribution of the five daily prayers over five portions of time in one day and night
provides the opportunity for the Muslims to reinforce his bond with Allah. Allah is the one who
enables him to perform the required acts of worship and to earn his living on earth.
“Worship at fixed hours hath been enjoined on the believers.” (Quran: An-Nisa, 103)
“And when the prayer is ended, then disperse in the land and seek Allah’s bounty, and
remember Allah much, that ye may be successful.” (Quran: Al-Jumu’ah, 10)
“And keep up prayer in the two parts (taraf) of the day and in the close-parts (zulaf) of the
night; surely good deeds take away evil deeds; this is a reminder to the mindful.” (Hood
11:114)
Similarly zakat, the third pillar of Islam, has a time condition. Zakat is due if one’s wealth
reaches a certain ceiling, and if that wealth remains in one’s possession for a whole year.
Muslims have to fast during the month of Ramadan. The beginning and the end of the month
are time by the sighting of the moon. And the time period for the fast is also fixed that is from
Fajr to Maghrib.
Hajj is required of a Muslim who can afford it once in a lifetime. It has to be performed within a
specific time.
The Muslim calendar follows the lunar system, in which the beginning and the end of the
month are decided by the sighting of the moon.
“He it is Who made the sun a shining brightness and the moon a light, and ordained for its
phases that you might know the computation of years and the reckoning [of time]. God did
not create it but with truth; He makes the signs manifest for a people who have knowledge”.
- (Quran 10:5)
It is the day and night that come with the commandment of Allah and on their fixed times as set
by Him.
“Your Guardian-Lord is God, Who created the heavens and the earth in six eons, and is firmly
established on the throne (of authority): He covers the night as a veil over the day, each
seeking the other in swift succession: He created the sun, the moon, and the stars, (all)

8. governed by laws under His command. Is it not His to create and to govern? Blessed be God,
the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds!” - (Quran 7:54)