Hadith #9469

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

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us not to lose hope in time when it withholds its blessings, and not to rely upon it when it bestows its favors upon us. Instead, we are urged to always be extremely cautious of time, recognizing its transient nature and the potential for both adversity and prosperity that it holds.

The word (zaman) "زَّمانِ" in Arabic refers to time, which encompasses the past, present, and future. Time is a fundamental aspect of our existence, and it is a test from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) for mankind. It is through the passage of time that we experience various trials, challenges, and blessings.

The first part of the Hadith advises us not to lose hope in time when it withholds its blessings. This means that when we face difficulties, setbacks, or hardships, we should not despair or lose faith in Allah's mercy and His ability to change our circumstances. We should remember that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) is the ultimate controller of time and He has the power to turn our situations around.

Allah reminds us in the Quran in Surah Al-Inshirah (94:5-6):

Verily, with hardship, there is relief. Verily, with hardship, there is relief.

This ayah reassures us that even in the face of adversity, there is always a way out and a relief from our difficulties. Therefore, as Muslims, we should never lose hope in Allah's mercy and His ability to alleviate our hardships.

On the other hand, the second part of the Hadith advises us not to rely upon time when it bestows its favors upon us. This means that when we experience success, prosperity, or blessings, we should not become complacent or arrogant. We should not attribute our achievements solely to our own efforts or consider ourselves self-sufficient. Rather, we should always acknowledge that it is Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) who grants us success and blessings.

Allah warns us in the Quran in Surah Al-Kahf (18:32-36) about the story of the rich man who boasted about his wealth and forgot to attribute it to Allah's blessings. As a consequence, his wealth was destroyed and he was left with nothing. This serves as a reminder for us to always be humble and grateful for the blessings we receive from Allah, and to never rely solely on our own abilities or material possessions.

The final part of the Hadith emphasizes the need for extreme caution in dealing with time. Time is a precious resource that should not be wasted or taken for granted. We should be mindful of how we spend our time, ensuring that it is utilized in activities that are pleasing to Allah and beneficial for our spiritual growth.

Allah reminds us in the Quran in Surah Al-Asr (103:1-3):

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 ayah highlights the importance of utilizing our time wisely by engaging in acts of faith, righteousness, and spreading goodness.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a profound reminder for Muslims to maintain a balanced perspective towards time. We should not lose hope in difficult times, knowing that relief will come from Allah. Likewise, we should not become complacent in times of prosperity, recognizing that our blessings come from Allah and we should remain humble and grateful. Finally, we should always be cautious and mindful of how we spend our time, ensuring that it is utilized in a manner that is pleasing to Allah and beneficial for our spiritual growth. May Allah guide us to make the best use of our time and grant us success in this life and the Hereafter.