Time Management - Part 2: Sunnah & Time Management

In the previous post, we saw that Time is very important to all of us, and that Allah Made mentions of it in His Holy Quran. (page last edited on 29/03)

Some Hadiths on Time Management

Amazingly, our beloved Prophet (S) taught us about Time Management, in the following hadiths:

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 

Take advantage of five things before five others happen:
your youth before you grow old;
your health before you fall sick;
your money before you become poor;
your leisure before you become busy;
and your life before you die.

Reported by Al Hakim . 4/341

So almost every single point above is related to time, and that we MUST take advantage of it.

قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم:
اغتنم خمسا قبل خمس:
شبابك قبل هرمك
وصحتك قبل سقمك
وغناك قبل فقرك
وفراغك قبل شغلك
وحياتك قبل موتك
رواه الحاكم . 4 / 341

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 

“There are two blessings which many people do not make the most of and thus lose out: good health and free time.” 

Narrated by Al-Bukhaari, 6412.

قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : ( نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنْ النَّاسِ الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ ) رواه البخاري6412

والمغبون هو الخاسر في بيعه أو شرائه. 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"A man’s feet will not move on
the day of resurrection until he will be questioned on his life, how he spent it; 
and on his knowledge what he did with it; 
and on his wealth, where he acquired it, and in how he spent it; 
and on his body how he used it.”
Reported by Tirmidhî 5197

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : لَا تَزُولُ قَدَمَا عَبْدٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى يُسْأَلَ عَنْ عُمُرِهِ فِيمَا أَفْنَاهُ وَعَنْ عِلْمِهِ فِيمَ فَعَلَ وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَ أَنْفَقَهُ وَعَنْ جِسْمِهِ فِيمَ أَبْلَاهُ . رواه الترمذي ( 2417 )

Other Hadiths:

“O Allah, Make Barakah to my Ummah in its early hours” . Hadith

Make thus advantage of the early hours of the day starting from Fejr, for there are certainly blessing in time during these times.

Time Management - Part 1: Islamic Importance to Time

Across my career, I have had the chance to attend several training on Time Management. I will try to compile within the next few weeks, with the help and will of Allah, some summary on the importance of Time for our Religious, personal and professional life. Insha Allah, few tips will be given to you to help you get better organized and make the most of your time.
This entry will be taken from my presentation, which is why you would see many bullet points and "presentation format" in most of it.

What is Time Management

Generally, time management refers to actions you take and tools you use that increase your efficiency or productivity.

Why is it important

• We only have one life and make the most of it for gathering good deeds
• No matter how organized we are, there are only 24 hours in a day.
• Time does not change and is not expandable. 
• All we can actually manage is ourselves and what we do with the time available to us.
• If you fail in one exam, there is always a another chance for you next year.
• If you die, there will be no second chance. 
• This life is only opportunity you have to gather good deeds
• Time is irreversible, every second that passes will never come back to you!

Mention of Time in Quran

•Time has been used by Allah in a complete Surah that bears the title.

"(وَٱلْعَصْرِ(1"

•"By Time!"— or [it ‘asr can mean the period] from the declining of the sun to sunset, or [it may denote] the  afternoon prayer. Quran Al Asr [103:1]

No doubt that the mention of time in Quran highlights its crucial importance to all of us.

Importance of Time in Islam

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَٰوةَ فَٱذْكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ قِيَاماً وَقُعُوداً وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَٰوةَ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَٰوةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰباً مَّوْقُوتاً (103)

“…Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times”. Al Nissa [4:103]

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلأَهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱلْحَجِّ وَلَيْسَ ٱلْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُواْ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ وَأْتُواْ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ  (189)

“They ask you concerning the new moons, say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time for people (for them to know the times for sowing the land, for business, for their women’s waiting periods, their fast and their breaking it) and for Pilgrimage….” Al Baqarah – [2:189]

From the above, it is obvious that every Muslim and Muslimah should be aware of the time, and this, on a daily basis.