Hadith #3694

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May 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,

اَلاشْتِغالُ بِالفائِتِ يُضَيِّعُ الوَقْتَ۔

This can be translated as,

Being occupied with the transient is a waste of time.

This amazing Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the importance of utilizing our time wisely and not getting caught up in the fleeting distractions of this world.

To delve deeper into the meaning of this Hadith, let us analyze the key words and concepts within it. The word "اَلاشْتِغالُ" refers to being occupied or engrossed in something. It implies a state of being fully absorbed and consumed by an activity or pursuit. "بِالفائِتِ" refers to the transient or ephemeral nature of the object or matter at hand. It signifies that which is passing, temporary, and ultimately insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Finally, "يُضَيِّعُ الوَقْتَ" means to waste or squander time.

To support the exegesis of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) repeatedly emphasizes the importance of utilizing time wisely and not being distracted by the transient aspects of life. In Surah Al-Asr (103:1-3), Allah says,

By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.

This verse reminds us that the passage of time is a precious resource, and those who do not utilize it for good are at a loss. It encourages us to focus on faith, righteous actions, and sincere advice to one another.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Kahf (18:45), Allah narrates the story of the man with two gardens. When the man became arrogant and boastful about his wealth, he neglected to acknowledge the blessings of Allah and failed to utilize his resources for the benefit of others. As a consequence, his gardens were destroyed, and he was left regretful and remorseful. This story serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us not to become preoccupied with worldly possessions and to prioritize the eternal rewards of the hereafter.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith echoes these Quranic teachings by highlighting the futility of being engrossed in transient matters. When we become consumed by the fleeting distractions of this world, we lose sight of our ultimate purpose and neglect the opportunities to earn eternal rewards. Time is a precious gift from Allah, and wasting it on trivial pursuits is a disservice to ourselves and our spiritual growth.

For example, if we spend excessive amounts of time on social media, mindlessly scrolling through endless feeds, we are allowing the transient nature of virtual interactions to consume our time and energy. Instead, we could utilize that time for acts of worship, seeking knowledge, or engaging in meaningful interactions with our loved ones. By prioritizing the eternal over the transient, we align ourselves with the teachings of the Quran and the wisdom of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us to be mindful of how we spend our time and not to become engrossed in the transient distractions of this world. By prioritizing the eternal over the temporary, we can ensure that our actions are aligned with the teachings of the Quran and the guidance of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). May Allah grant us the wisdom to utilize our time wisely and to seek His pleasure in all that we do.