The Salaf and the way they valued their time

As-salaamu ‘alaykum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh,

Al-Hassan Al-Basri (rahimahullaah) said: “Oh son of Aadam, you are but a few days, whenever a day is gone, part of you is gone too.” [1]

Al-Qasim Ibn Asa’kir (rahimahullaah) was informed that Sulaim Ibn Ayyub (rahimahullaah) used to give  importance to his time. He never wasted any time without doing a useful act. He either wrote books, gave lectures or read. [2]

Abu Al-Wafa’ Ali Ibn Aqeel (rahimahullaah) said: ” I am not allowed to waste an hour of my life. Even when I am not giving lectures or reading, my mind will still be occupied with some issues while I am lying down; and I will not get up until I find something useful to write. And I still find myself striving for knowledge in my eighties more so than when I was in my twenties.” [3]

Al-Hasan Al-Basri (rahimahullaah) advised his companions saying: “Do not be occupied with ephemeral worldly pleasure and forget the hereafter, your life is short, so hurry up and do not postpone today’s work till tomorrow, because you do not know when you will die and meet Allaah.” [4]

Al-Hasan Al-Basri (rahimahullaah) said: “I met some people who were more stingy with their time than their money” [5]

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[1] Siyar a’laam An-nubalaa by Adh-Dhahabi, 4:585

[2] Siyar a’laam An-nubalaa by Adh-Dhahabi, 17:646

[3] Al-Muntadham by Ibn Jawzi, 9:214

[4]Hilyat Al-Awliya by Abi Nu’aym, 2:140

[5] Sharh As-Sunnah by Al-Baghawi, 14:225

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