In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Two most wasted blessings: Good health and free time

By Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen may Allah have mercy on him

 The shaykh mentions this point of benefit in his explanation of the 98th hadith collected in Riyaadus Saaliheen. It can be found under the 11th chapter “al-Mujaahadah”

Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,

نعمتان مغبون فيهما كثير من الناس‏:‏ الصحة، والفراغ‏

“There are two blessings in which many people incur loss. (They are) health and free time.”  (Collected by Bukhari)

Meaning these two categories are from the blessings which are most wasted by the people, and they are: good health and free time. If man has good health then he is able to carry out what Allah has ordered him to do and stay away from what He has prohibited. This is because his body is sound, he has a delightful chest, and a tranquil heart. (It is possible) that one may have free time but is afflicted with an ailment so he is occupied with that.

Then (there are some) who have free time but waste much of it. Much of our time is wasted with no benefit. We have good health, safety, and free time but it goes to waste for many of us. However, we do not realize the wasted time in this dunyaa. Mankind will only realize it when their time is up, and that is on the Day of Judgment. Allah said,

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱرۡجِعُونِ  لَعَلِّىٓ أَعۡمَلُ صَـٰلِحً۬ا فِيمَا تَرَكۡتُ‌ۚ

“Until, when death comes to one of them, he says: ‘My Lord! Send me back, So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!’” (Surah Muminoon: 99-100)

وَأَنفِقُواْ مِن مَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِىَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوۡلَآ أَخَّرۡتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ۬ قَرِيبٍ۬ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ )

“And spend (in charity) of that with which We have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: ‘My Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return) to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah of my wealth, and be among the righteous and other good deeds.’”

وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهَا‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ

And Allâh grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allâh is All-Aware of what you do. (Surah Munafiqoon: 10-11)

The reality is that the time that has passed us has been wasted and we have not benefitted from it. Nor have we (spent time) benefitting the slaves of Allah, and (some of us) will not regret wasting this time until his appointed time comes. Mankind will wish to be given an opportunity, even if it is one second, in order to exhaust himself (in good deeds). However he will not be granted that.

Perhaps it is possible that man does not lose out on this blessing or even both of them, good health and free time, because of death. Perhaps he loses out on them before he dies. Maybe he becomes sick and weak in establishing what Allah made obligatory on him. He can become sick, distressed, and tired, and he is busy finding a way to pay for the expense (of being sick) and this leads to missing out on many good deeds.

For this it is incumbent for the intelligent man to spend his good health and free time in obedience to Allah to the extent he is capable of.  If he is a reciter of Qur’an then he should increase in his recitation, and if he doesn’t know how to recite then let him make many remembrances of Allah. If he is not able to do that then he should enjoin good and forbid evil, or give generously to his brothers who are in need of help. All of these are many good deeds that come to us. Therefore the intelligent person is the one who takes advantage of the opportunities like good health and free time.

Translated by: Michael AbdusSalaam Deonarain

الفقير الى الله