Hadith #8438

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states:

شَرُّ ما شَغَلَ بِهِ المَرْءُ وَقْتَهُ الفُضُولُ۔

This Hadith can be translated into English as:

The worst thing which a person occupies his time with is the superfluous.

Let us delve into the meaning of the key words in this Hadith. The word (sharr) "شَرُّ" refers to something evil, harmful, or detrimental. (ma) "مَا" is a particle used to generalize the statement, indicating that any action falling under its scope is considered evil. (shaghal) "شَغَلَ" means to occupy or engage oneself with something. (bihi) "بِهِ" means "with it" or "by it". (al-mar'u) "المَرْءُ" refers to a person. (waqtahu) "وَقْتَهُ" means his time. Finally, (al-fudul) "الفُضُولُ" refers to the superfluous or unnecessary activities that waste one's time and divert them from more meaningful pursuits.

To understand the profound wisdom behind this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) reminds us in Surah Al-Asr, Chapter 103, Verse 2-3:

By time, indeed, mankind is in loss.

This verse emphasizes the value and importance of time in the life of a believer. Time is a precious resource that should be utilized wisely and purposefully.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Mu'minun, Chapter 23, Verse 115, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

Did you think that We created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?

This verse highlights the purposeful nature of human existence and the need to engage in meaningful actions that align with the divine purpose.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith warns us against wasting our time on superfluous activities that do not contribute to our spiritual growth, personal development, or the betterment of society. Engaging in idle talk, excessive entertainment, mindless scrolling on social media, and other trivial pursuits not only waste our time but also distract us from fulfilling our responsibilities and obligations as Muslims.

By prioritizing the superfluous over the essential, we risk losing sight of our purpose in life and falling into a state of heedlessness. This can lead to a multitude of negative consequences, such as neglecting our prayers, neglecting our families, neglecting our duties towards others, and neglecting our own self-improvement.

On the other hand, if we utilize our time wisely and engage in activities that bring us closer to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), benefit others, and contribute to our personal growth, we will find ourselves on the path of righteousness and success.

Reflecting on this Hadith, we should ask ourselves: How are we utilizing our time? Are we engaging in activities that bring us closer to Allah and benefit others? Or are we wasting our time on trivial matters that have no lasting value?

Let us strive to prioritize our time and invest it in actions that align with the teachings of the Quran and the example of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom to discern between the essential and the superfluous, and the strength to make the most of our time in this world.