In this time-starved society in which we live, we can all relate to the difficulty in finding time to do what we need. Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (d. 1421 H.)—may Allah have mercy upon him— discusses this reality and offers an amazing solution to bring blessings into our time. May Allah allow us to benefit from the Shaikh’s advice and may He put Blessings in our lives.
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: “In this night, I wish to mention to myself and you about benefiting from time before it expires. For verily the days go quickly, especially in this time of ours. While a person is in Jummah, the next Jummah comes and it is as if there was only one day between them. This is the meaning of the statement of the Prophet (ﷺ):
لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَتَقَارَبَ الزَّمَانُ
The hour shall not be established until time constricts [ Reported by at-Tirmidhi. Graded Saheeh by Al-Albani in Saheeh Tirmidhi (no. 2332)]
Some of the Scholars said about his statement: until time constricts means that the cities will grow so that the distance between two cities that was ten days will be less than that after they grow larger. So time will constrict. However, that which is apparent is that it is explained by what we are in today. Time is constricted a lot and you experience it yourself. It is as if the month of Ramadan last year passed [only last] Sha’aban. This is what I find and I do not know if you find the same in yourselves or not? You find this!! It is as if Ramadan entered this year last night and now one-third has passed and one-third is a lot. We ask Allah, the Exalted to pardon what has passed and to aid us in righteous actions in what remains [of the month]” [ al-Liqaa ash-Shahri—Tape (no. 74)-Side A]
The question remains: what is the secret to bringing blessings back into our time? In another work, the Shaikh (may Allah have mercy upon him) gave the answer. He wrote: “If it is said: what is the way to make our time blessed? The answer is: The remembrance of Allah. The evidence for that is Allah’s statement:
وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَلاَ تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلاَ تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا
And keep yourself (O Muhammad) patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His Face; and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his own lusts, and whose affair has been lost [18: 27]
If a person turns away from the remembrance of Allah and follows his desires, then the blessings will be removed from his life, Allah’s refuge is sought. However, if he is always connected to his Lord, always remembering him with his heart. If he does not remember him with his tongue, he remembers him with his heart. If he does not remember him with his limbs, he remembers him with his heart. Then this is the one whom Allah will put blessings in his life” [ Fath Dhil Jalali wal-Ikraam bi Sharh Bulugh al-Maram (4/641)]
And Allah knows best
Faisal bin Abdul Qaadir bin Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
