The Right Use of Time
The Prophet of Islam once said: “Waiting for relief is the best form of worship” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 3571).
This profound saying of the Prophet reflects deep wisdom. In a broader sense, it teaches us that in many complex situations, the most effective solution is to place the matter in the “waiting box.”
God has created the universe in such a way that all natural processes constantly work toward correction and improvement. For example, when garbage is thrown on the road, millions of bacteria begin to break it down and convert it into useful gases. This is how the system of nature operates—always active, always moving forward. In this context, waiting is not inactivity; it is actually a powerful strategy. To wait means to give nature the opportunity to work on your behalf and bring about a better outcome.
A poet once described this in beautiful words:
“Raat din gardish mein hain saat aasman,
Ho rahega kuch na kuch, ghabraayein kya.”
Day and night, the seven heavens remain in motion—surely something will happen, so why worry?
I once visited a big city where I met a businessman who was extremely worried. His blood pressure had become dangerously high. He told me that he had prepared some merchandise, but after bringing it to the market, he couldn’t find buyers in time. His goods began to pile up in his warehouse, and his capital got stuck. He asked me for a prayer or spiritual solution to escape the crisis.
I didn’t give him any direct advice. Instead, I wrote something on a piece of paper, sealed it in an envelope, and told him to open it after ten days. Inside, I had written a single sentence inspired by the Hadith: “Place your matter in the box of waiting.”
About a year and a half later, I received a letter from him. He shared, with great happiness, that he followed the advice and adopted the policy of waiting. By God’s grace, all his goods were eventually sold at a profit. His blocked capital was released, and now he was planning to start a new business.
A Western thinker once said: “The great rule of moral conduct is, next to God, to respect time.”
Indeed, the highest duty of a human being is to worship God. He is our Creator and Sustainer. He provides everything we need, and therefore, He alone deserves our greatest respect—which is called worship.
Along with worship, another sacred responsibility is to respect time. Time is the most valuable asset a person has in this world. Every action we take happens within the boundary of time. Once time runs out, the opportunity to act disappears with it.
This is why we must never waste time. To waste time is to lose the most precious thing we possess. Time will not wait for us. It moves forward—and once gone, it never returns. As the poet simply put it:
“Gaya waqt phir haath aata nahi.”
Time once lost never returns.
Shakespeare, the famous English writer and poet, said: “I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.”
What he meant was that the time he had was his opportunity to progress. But because he did not use it wisely, he fell behind. Now, he was paying the price of that wasted time in the form of lifelong loss.
Goulburn, another thinker, gave us a timeless reminder: “There is not a single moment in life that we can afford to lose.”
Every moment is an opportunity for action and achievement. If it slips away, nothing remains to strive for.
To use time properly, discipline is essential. Here are three simple yet powerful methods:
1. Wake up early in the morning: The night is for rest, and the day is for work. The earlier you rise, the more productive your day will be. If you want to make the most of your time, develop the habit of waking up early.
2. Self-Introspection: Before sleeping each night, reflect on how you spent your day. What did you gain? What did you lose? Which of your actions were right and which were wrong? What could you have done better? This habit of daily self-assessment will guide your future.
3. Keep a diary: Always keep a small diary with you. Briefly record your daily experiences and lessons. Over time, this diary will become more than a memory aid—it will become your guide and teacher.
All India Radio, New Delhi, 29 June 1995.
