"How Muslim Women (are supposed to) Make Use of Time" by DR. Sulaiman Bin Hamd

Assalaamu’alaikum. Peace be upon you all, friends.

At the present moment, we are still facing Covid-19 pandemic where we have been forced to get accustomed to spending time working more at home rather than at the office. So now the question is: what have you been doing at home?

Have you used your time well? How are we Muslims supposed to make use of our time?

On this occasion I am giving a review of a book entitled "Bagaimana Muslimah Memanfaatkan Waktu", or "How Muslim Women (are supposed to) Make Use of Time"

This book presents several stories full of lessons and activities with regards to how Muslim women use time. An optimal use of time will lead to a Muslim woman being wiser and more useful to others. Such a figure of Muslim women becomes the model of how a Muslim community develops.

People who are willing to talk about time must know the reason for being motivated to do so; thus we are, first of all, going to discuss the basic foundations or reasons why we talk about how to make use of time.

1. The first foundation: knowing the purpose of human creation

Why do you think Allah created us humans? Is it to worship Him?

According to Adz-Dzaariyat: 56 “And I (Allah) did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” Then, what is the meaning of good and true worship? We should always realize that we are Allah’s servants at all times, when we are praying and when we are not; when we are occupied or when we have plenty of time. Only when we realize the true meaning of worship will we spend our time doing worthwhile things.

2. Second foundation: The short life of the Prophet Muhammad compared to that of the previous generation

As narrated by Ibn Majah, the Prophet said, “The ages of (the people in) my nation will be between sixty and seventy, and few of them will exceed that”. The scholars of the salaf pay a close attention to this. They make an analogy of a man’s age and his life span with a metaphor that says “the number of years is like a tree, and the moon is like its branches.”

3. Third foundation: The quick turnaround of time

Hasan Al-Basri stated that "Every morning the dawn calls out, ‘O son of Adam, I am a new creature and I am to witness your deeds, so make your provisions (for your hereafter) with me. If I have passed, I shall not return until the Day of Judgment.

Also, Hakim narrated that Ibn Mas'ud said "Whoever spends the day out of his age not using it for righteousness or not performing the obligation or glory that he builds or commanding to do good deeds or seeking knowledge, he is guilty of his day and has wronged himself.”

4. Fourth foundation: The tendency that when time is not used for good deeds, it is (likely to be) used for bad deeds

Al-'Alamah al-Manawi Rahimahullah says "When a man is free from activity then his inner being is busy with things that do not help him in his religious problems. His eyes will be empty. His heart will be empty and occupied by shaitan, breeding much faster than the breed of animals.”

5. Fifth foundation: The power of enemies and their efforts to make us lose our time

The hindrance preventing Muslim women from using time well

1. Daydreaming and taswif (procrastinating to do good deeds)

2. Occupying yourself with trivial things and sometimes unlawful things

3. Having Bad idols

4. Being weak and lustful

5. Feeling discontent

6. Sleeping (too much)

The things enabling Muslim women to use time well

1. The feeling of being self-monitored by Allah (Muraqabah) and Fearing Him

2. The knowledge of key times and places for performing prayers

3. The awareness of the duties and roles in the society

4. Choosing the right friends and company.

Suggested activities for Muslim women during their free time

1. Reading a book that is useful

The most important book to read is the Book of Allah. Narrated from the Khubab, he once said, "O Hanthah! Come as close to Allah as you can. And, there is no way to get closer to the one that He likes best but with what comes out of Allah (the Book of Allah). Then, the second books to read are ones which contains useful knowledge.

2. Remembering Allah

The Prophet said "Al-Mufriduun, they immediately rushed to the reward. Al-Mufriduun, they immediately rushed to the reward. Al-Mufriduun are people who always remember Allah.” The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Whoever wakes up at night then says, ‘There is no God but He is the one and only God; there is no partner for him; to Him all might and praises. In His hands are all goodness; Who gives life takes life, the All-Powerful’, and then says ‘Glory be to Allah, Praises to Him; there is no God but Allah; Allah is great. There is no power and might except with Allah’, then says, ‘O Allah, forgive me,’ then the prayer will be answered. And if he wakes up and performs his prayers his prayers will be received.

3. Educating our children

4. Maintaining silaturrahim (relationship with people)

5. Enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong