36:55 - Who are The Truly "Busy" People?

Many times the word ‘busy’ is often used as a disclaimer to justify the lack of proactiveness towards performing good deeds – too busy to pray early, too busy to spend time to seek knowledge, too busy to learn & memorize Qur’an, too busy to keep family ties & visit each other, too busy to be nice to the spouse, too busy to go for hajj/umrah, etc. etc.

Interestingly, in Dr. Muhsin Khan’s English translation of the Qur’an, if you were to do a search of the word “busy”, there’s only ONE result. And that is in Surah Ya-Seen 36:55 –

إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ الْيَوْمَ فِي شُغُلٍ فَاكِهُونَ

“Verily, the dwellers of Jannah (Paradise), on that Day, will be BUSY in joyful things.” (36:55)

The only occurrence of the word “Busy” in fact dscribes the People of Paradise. will be engulfed in so much luxury, so much enjoyment, so much excitement, that they will be BUSY enjoying them.

Now, that should instil a complete paradigm shift in what we define as “busy” & how we constantly make excuses that we are too busy to attain Jannah (Paradise); in fact, our activities should instead be re-prioritized to be amongst those BUSY SEEKING Jannah – so we become those busy IN jannah – insha Allah!

Simple example, we all know that the MOST beloved of all deeds to Allah is “solat (prayer) early at its fixed times” (Hadith narrated @ Al-Bukhari) – but many a times, our prayer gets rescheduled due to our work schedule.

If people take several 10-minute smoke breaks in a day, why can’t we have the discipline to take 10-minute prayer breaks to pray early & in jama’ah, on time, every time? Don’t we want to at least present this one proof that we did this deed most beloved to Allah, on the Day we meet Him?

The same applies to every other path to goodness – seeking knowledge, going for Hajj/Umrah, making tawbah, spending quality time with the family & maintaining ties of kinship – How much do we strive to squeeze them in our priority list?

Have we ever considered taking leave the last 10 days of Ramadhan just to make sure we can get the best of Laylatul Qadar?

Our jobs, our occupations, our studies, our responsibilities to our families, and our businesses – are only a means, not the goal. We boldly declare “kerja itu ibadah” (i.e. work is worship): a means to a Higher Goal - so it doesn’t make sense to compromise our worship because of work. Stay focused!

Do we think that the companions (sahabah) of the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) not have jobs, careers, businesses, occupations or families? No, they had very demanding jobs – and much bigger families than us. But they never let those things become excuses or barriers for becoming the best of the best. They fully utilized whatever spare time they had to maximize as much good deeds as they could, knowing the ‘end in mind’, and the ‘busy’-ness that awaits them later.

You’ve only got one shot – so stay focused. Start change today: Prioritize your priorities.

May Allah make us amongst those who steadfastly become those who are busy to attain Jannah – and may He in turn, out of His Mercy & Grace, make us amongst those who are busy enjoys in Jannah - Ameeen!!