Time Health and Wealth

1. Hadith

In a hadith narrated by imam Al-Bukhari, our Prophet Muhammad Rasulullah (ﷺ) said, 
نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ ‏
“Two blessings which most of mankind are cheated (i.e. fail to capitalize or make full use of when they still have them): good health and free time” 
(Narrated by Al-Bukhari)

When I first learnt of this hadith I actually had a bit of difficulty understanding what it meant. 
The term “Maghbun” which is translated as “cheated” in this context is usually used in the case of a business man who has capital and money, but because of poor management of funds, oversight, mistakes, he feels like he is “still okay”, but then he checks back and suddenly all that capital is gone. So the businessman is cheated, deceived by what he thought he had. 

And if we come back to the context of this hadith – which the Prophet ﷺ describes two blessings that people are cheated. 
These two commodities are things which – when people have them, they don’t make full use of them. When we are healthy and free, we have a tendency to “kill time” and squander it away doing non-beneficial things. And so when Allah takes away one or two of these things: 

• Health: we get sick. We tell ourselves, “oh if I were healthy I would do this and this..”
• Free time: when we are busy. We tell ourselves “oh if only I had more time, I would do this and this”

But the Prophet ﷺ here is saying, majority of mankind, when they have it, they never made full use of them – and so they are cheated, just like that person in business who thought he had the capital, and all of a sudden it is now gone. 

2. Major Shift

Brothers and sisters, let’s take it to the context of where we are today, including here in Malaysia. 

Ever since the outbreak of this coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic and when the Malaysian government issued out the Restricted Movement Order (RMO) or Movement Control Order (MCO) for the past 3 weeks, it has redefined a new, challenging norm for us, and subsequently it has resulted in a dramatic shift in these three resources: time, health and wealth. For some of us, perhaps all three of these aspects. 

And Alhamdulillah ala kulli hal, these events that are happening around us, are all with the Qadar of Allah, and well beyond our control. And we can clearly see in our conversations in social media and mainstream media, that there is a constant air of worry and anxiety. 
But you know what? Constantly worrying about matters beyond our control never actually solved anything – rather, we should really focus all of our energy and efforts of maximizing what is WITHIN our control. 

The honest question that we need to be asking ourselves is, “what are we doing within the matters that we DO have control?”
“How are we spending those resources that we DO have – our free time, our health, and the wealth that Allah has still blessed us with?”
And if – like me – you have still been blessed by Allah to be granted with good health, then there is so much good we are capable of doing within our control. 

3. Tests: Reveal, Expose Our True Colors

And such is the nature of every major event in our lives – they have a tendency to reveal who we truly are. Expose who we are inside.
That is why Allah says in surah Muhammad, verse 31:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَعْلَمَ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ مِنْكُمْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَ أَخْبَارَكُمْ
“We will surely test you until we will make known who are those who have strived for our cause, and who are those who are truly patient. 
We will make known your true facts and qualities”

And so on that regard, I want us all to make a deep introspection of our own lives: how much have I changed, or developed throughout this period of isolation? What sort of personality traits have begun surfacing ever since this RMO and MCO has been instituted?
All this time, that I have been claiming that “I don’t have time”, are those real, justified reasons or simply an excuse?   
This period of isolation and quarantine should have been a journey of self-discovery and self-learning for many of us, as we perhaps learn just that little bit more about ourselves and the people in our household. 

Just to be honest with you and share my own personal concerns and considerations going into this period of isolation:

• Personal worship, for example: As per the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ, a person who can pray these 12 rakaah per day will be guaranteed a house in paradise. When I was working at the office, I used to find it so difficult and most of the time impossible to pray 12 rakaah of Sunnah prayers every day – especially for zuhur (4 rakaah before and 2 after). Well guess what my friend? Now you don’t go to the office. Zuhur time is official breaktime. It’s all on you, my friend. Has it really been a stumbling block, or just an excuse?
• How will I be as a family man? As a father and a husband, now that we are pretty much stuck with each other in the same four walls 24-7? Will I be amongst those whom the Prophet said, “the best of you are the best towards his family”? When I was working full time at the office, I used to tell myself “if I had more time, I would spend more time to be present for my son and my wife”. Well there you go, Faisal. Ambik kau. I also had other concerns: I have seen alarming statistics and new about rising cases of divorce. Now that they will be seeing me so often every day, will I be going through those same challenges? Will my wife and son suddenly see ugly sides to my true character realize that “Now that I’ve seen him for who he really is, I don’t really like this guy”? Or perhaps I might think so of them? 
• Islamic Classes. We live in East Malaysia, in Miri Sarawak, so I used to say “oh the vast majority of islamic courses and classes are done in Peninsular Malaysia. So unfortunate I can’t join them!” Oh guess what? Since the RMO, all the ustazs and the shuyukh are creating online learning platforms on webinars, classes over zoom. Well there you have it. Are you joining them?
• Personal health: Will I be taking care of my health throughout these periods of isolation? Am I going to keep a regular indoor exercise routine, eat healthy and in moderation? I posted a question on my personal facebook page a few days back, “click “like” if you have actually lost weight throughout this MCO”. And very few people responded
• Wealth: For those of us like myself who are fortunate to still retain our jobs, still receive our paychecks as we work from home and hence still have the financial stability to stay afloat: how much of these blessings are you showing your gratitude to Allah for, by helping the other slaves who are in need? There are so many awesome opportunities for charity – are you reaching out to help them? 
• Personal time: Now that I have these extended periods of what could potentially be “boredom”, how will I use them? I’ve always wanted to write a book, but as usual gave myself the excuse that I did not have the time. Will I actually use the time now to commit to my dreams? Or will I be so bored to death that I might dangerously relapse to my old bad habits of wasting time unproductively with all the streaming entertainment options out there these days?

I posted a survey a few days back on my own personal FB page: 
Click “Like” if you have survived the entire MCO so far without watching a single movie. About 18 people clicked “like” masha Allah. 

I want you to go through your own introspection and ask yourself. What have you learned about yourself and the family members of household throughout this period? 

Ask yourself about all those matters which you claimed you had “No Time” – are they real justifications or are they merely excuses?

If you have been guilty of wasting time, watching movies, binging TV series and media content, or perhaps even worse: guilty of watching pornography – is that who you really are? 

4. Time: Your Most Valuable Resource

My brothers and sisters, I need to remind you of these three aspects: Time, Health and Wealth. 
But really, for purposes of our discussion this evening, I really only want to focus on one of them: Time. 
Time is the single most important resource that you will ever have you your lives. 
All of the most important assets and achievements you will ever have: your wealth, your knowledge, your relationships, and all your righteous deeds – are the result of how you spent that time to grow and retain them in the first place. 
But unlike health and wealth, time that you waste can never be recovered. 

I have made my share of stupid mistakes in the past that made me lose money, and poor personal decisions that led to worsen my health. But when it comes to wealth and health, if I put in the effort for course correction, and my finances and health can get back on track. 
But time? 
No way. 

If you’ve spent 2 hours watching a movie, that’s two hours you will never get back. 
If you’ve sunk 8 hours watching four movies, that’s 8 hours of potential self-development and opportunities of righteous deeds gone. 
If you’ve spent 10-15 hours watching a full season of whatever it is you watched on Netflix, that’s 10-15 hours you will never see again.
You will never get them back.

Even if you cry tears of blood. And in fact the time it takes for you to cry those tears of blood will also never come back. 

Ibn Al-Qayyim said, 
ضياع العمر أسوأ من الموت، فإن الموت يقطعك عن الدنيا، وضياع العمر يقطعك عن الآخرة!
“Wasting time is worse than death. Because death separates you from this world, whereas wasting time separates you from Allah!”

Let’s take it back to the context of the core hadith of our discussion: two commodities people waste away when they have it. Maghbun, cheated, gone – health and free time. 

And I need to clarify something here: There is nothing fundamentally wrong with doing recreational things which are halal. In fact the salaf used to say that these halal activities – if done with the right intention, and prioritization, can actually be a crucial element to HELP boost our motivation for our ibadah. 

Wahab Ibnu Munabbih saud:

وذكر الإمام أحمد عن وهب قال: مكتوب في حكمة آل داود: حق على العاقل ألا يغفل عن أربع ساعات: ساعة يناجي فيها ربه، وساعة يحاسب فيها نفسه، وساعة يخلو فيها مع إخوانه الذين يخبرونه بعيوبه ويصدقونه عن نفسه، وساعة يخلي فيها بين نفسه وبين لذاتها فيما يحل ويجمل، فإن في هذه الساعة عوناً على تلك الساعات، وترقيقاً للقلوب .
“It is written in the wisdom of Daud that it is incumbent upon the wise not to miss four hours:
1. The first is the hour when he is alone, conversing with Allah
2. the second is the hour when he checks and reviews his actions
3. the third is the hour when he is alone with hisbrothers who are honest with him about his faults and what he is truly like
4. And the fourth is the hour when he lets himself satisfy his desires, in what is halal and decent, for this hour is one that aids in attaining the other hours and it is a relaxation and refreshment for the hearts”
(“Muhasabat an-Nafs” by ibn Abi Ad-Dunya)

But my point here is not to make it a habit of “killing time” – but rather, as a driver to inspire and motivate us to do more good deeds. 

5. Moving Forward

Alhamdulillah Ala kulli hal, what’s done is done. We cannot change the past. I am not here to pass judgment to you or to take away the spirit of hope away from you. Instead, now let’s work on the present. Right here, right now. Moving forward. 
These past 2-3 weeks could, perhaps, have exposed and revealed who you are: but you have a choice. You don't have to surrender and succumb to this definition of who you are. You can use these circumstances to turn the tide, these incidents to be your defining moment, like a boss.
This can very well be the conflict that defines your hero's journey. The crucible that defines the person that you were meant to be all along, to step up and be the change that you’ve always needed to be. 

And look guys, I want to get really authentic with you here.
I am not speaking to you as if I’m some kind of saint who is infallible and doesn’t commit mistakes myself. I have been guilty of poorly spending my time in so many stupid ways. In my days of youth, I spent hours on movies, video games, tv series, music – I have probably spent hundreds or even thousands of hours on things which, in hindsight, have no benefit to me whatsoever.
I look back and I think “man, I could have become so much more if I utilized my time better”. 

But it’s too late: I can never get those hours back. 
But there are no regrets: what is past is past. Perhaps, those dark times were in fact crucial to define the person that I am today. 

We all make mistakes; we all commit sins. That is expected. 

The Prophet ﷺ said, 
كُلُّ بَنِي آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ وَخَيْرُ الْخَطَّائِينَ التَّوَّابُونَ
“Every single son of Adam is a habitual sinner (will continuously commit sins);
But the best of habitual sinners – are those who continuously repent and improve themselves” 
(Narrated by ibnu Majah)


There are two categories here: 
1. A sinner; or 
2. A sinner who repents. 

So this is all that matters: What choice will you make right here, right now? Will you be the best of sinners, or merely just a sinner?
As long as you are still living and breathing, we have a chance to turn to Allah. Allah tells us 

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
(Surah Az-Zumar, 53)

If you have your good health and your time, let’s pick ourselves up. Get back on track. It’s never too late. Do not get demotivated by what’s happened in the past. 
Let’s take that firm resolve that from now on, we utilize our free time and good health in the best and most productive ways possible to please Allah. Make du’aa to Allah, Ask Him, beg of Him and admit our flaws. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى حَيِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ يَسْتَحْيِي مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَرُدَّهُمَا صِفْرًا
“Your Lord is All-Shy and All-Generous, and He is shy to turn away empty the hands of His servant when he raises them to Him.”
(Narrated by Abu Daud, graded sahih by Al-Albani)

What we do in our times of ease and good health, will determine how much Allah will help us when we face times of hardship and calamity. 
The Prophet ﷺ said, 
تَعَرَّفْ إلى اللهِ في الرَّخاءِ يَعْرِفْكَ في الشِّدَّةِ
“Get to know Allah in times of ease, and He will get to Know you in times of difficulty and hardship” (Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi, Ahmad)

And there is one hadith which is so amazing.
إِذَا مَرِضَ الْعَبْدُ أَوْ سَافَرَ كُتِبَ لَهُ مِثْلُ مَا كَانَ يَعْمَلُ مُقِيمًا صَحِيحًا
“When a slave is sick or is travelling, then it is written for him (good deeds) as if he were at home (not travelling) and healthy” (Al-Bukhari)

What does this mean?

If you are fine and healthy, and throughout this period of good times, you’ve been doing a whole list of deeds continuously – maybe it’s Sunnah prayers, reciting quran, extra fasting, da’wah and calling others to good, attending circles of knowledge – but let’s say in the future, qaddarAllah, you fall sick, or are travelling, and you are not capable of performing those deeds.

Well, guess what? 

Allah will STILL reward you as if you were healthy and at home. 
You will get the reward of fasting, praying, reciting quran – whatever it is you did consistently – even though you are stuck in a hospital bed doing nothing. 

Amazing. It is like “paid leave”. But the One who pays you is the Most Generous, Most merciful, Owner of the entire Universe.”

6. Prioritize 

To share a quote by author Tim Ferris, 
“If you ‘don’t have time’, then you ‘don’t have priorities”

If we still make the excuse that we don’t have time to do the productive things that we want to do – then it just shows that we don’t consider it important in the first place. 
If people can get up at 3am to watch the Olympics or a world cup football match, why can’t you wake up at 5am to pray fajr early or earlier to pray tahajjud? 

If you claim that you don’t have time to read Quran, attend an online halaqah or pray extra Sunnah prayers, then how much time do you actually spend on social media, youtube, Netflix or whatever streaming service that you have subscribed to?

We need to remind ourselves that these three elements – Time, Health and Wealth – are all a trust from Allah. How many others slaves of Allah have been deprived from these, compared to the abundance that all of us have been given?

And with all that abundance given to us, what are we doing with it? 

7. The Awesome Minority

Finally I want to point out a subtle detail in this hadith. The Prophet ﷺ said: 
كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ
“Most of mankind”. 

Majority of mankind will be guilty of wasting their capital of health and free time. So if you decide to step up and make use of this, this makes you into the minority. 
Just like the minority in Surah Saba, where Allah says: 
وَقَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ
“And very few of my slaves are thankful” (Surah Saba, 13)

Be bold to step up and the trail blazers that the ummah needs. Don’t “blend in” and be like the rest. 
To quote Robin Sharma, 
“If you want to be better than 95% of the world, then you have to be doing what 95% are not willing to do”

Another awesome quote: 
“Do today what others won’t, so you can do tomorrow, what others can’t”

8. We will Die Anyway

And considering the dire situation that the world is in right now, I feel it is also appropriate to highlight and re-emphasize one very important point. 

You will die. Regardless of how or when, you will definitely meet the angel of death.
Whether it’s because of the coronavirus, or cancer, or being hit by a car on the way to buy groceries, sudden unexplained heart failure – Allah knows best, and we do not – we will taste death anyway. 

But you see, I’m not saying this because I want to trigger doom and gloom (as if we don’t have enough of that already!). I am saying this because it is inevitable, and we should not be sad or fearful of it. 

Rather, we should embrace it as a fact, and be prepared. 

The question isn’t “When” or “how” I am going to die. 

The question is “What have I prepared for that moment? When Allah decides that the Angel of Death will come knocking on my door?”

How much effort have I put in to be confident that I can be pleased when I meet my creator. Because true success is not what we achieve in this dunya. True success is in the next life. 

Allah says: 
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ
“Every soul shall taste death – and you will be recompensed for your deeds in full, only on the day of judgment. 
Whomsoever is saved from the Fire and is put into Paradise – then verily, he has attained true success. 
And the of this world is nothing but a deceiving temporary enjoyment” (Surah Ai Imran, 185)

9. Don’t Forget Take care of our Physical Health!

The Prophet ﷺ said 
 فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا
“Verily, your body has a right upon you” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Our Prophet also made du’aa (supplication) to Allah the following du’aa – three times in the morning and three times in the evening, every single day : 

اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَدَنِي اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي سَمْعِي اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَصَرِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ 
“O Allah! Grant me health in my body. O Allah! Grant me good hearing. O Allah! Grant me good eyesight. There is none worthy of worship except You.” 
(Excerpt of hadith narrated in Abu Daud, classified hasan by Al-Albani)


Exercise well, get enough sleep, eat healthy

May Allah make us amongst those who make the best out of our good health and free time