Two Great Blessings - Good Health & Free Time

All praises to Allah SWT who has, out of His infinite Mercy - blessed us with endless Blessings.

Gladtidings to that servant of Allah who is showered with countless bounties day in and day out, and he/she recognises this, and fulfils its rights.

Most unfortunate is he who does not recognise these blessings and bounties and is not thankful for them.

A Hadith narrates the Prophet Muhammad SAW as saying:

"There are two blessings in which most people are in great loss: (1) good health; and (2) free time."

The Prophet SAW has indeed given us a grand advice. How true this is. Many of us have had once before, or have now - good health and free time. However, how many of us can answer with a true heart that we used/are using these two blessings the way that they are meant to be used, and thus show Shukr and appreciation to Allah SWT; the way we should have?

Almighty Allah has not given us our good health and free time for us to waste. Allah SWT has given to us health and time for ONE purpose -

That we worship Him the way He is ought to be worshipped, and to spread His Deen and call people towards Islam; and to help Humanity who are in need of help.

So let us ask again, now in deeper detail - how many of us have put the good health we have been blessed with, to use?

How many of us have worshipped Allah the way he is meant to be worshipped?

How many of us have helped the religion of Islam?

How many of us have thanked Almighty Allah for the good health that he has blessed us with?


These are all questions that we should ponder upon.

As the saying goes, "The only time you realise the value of a bounty is when you lose it."

Thus, by the time we realise the value of these special gifts bestowed upon us, we would probably have lost them by then. Then no matter how much regret we have, they will never come back. The ultimate time when we will lose our health, is upon death.


Let us now think about our free time.

How many hours are spent sitting in front of the television?

How many hours are wasted merely watching a game of football?

How many hours are wasted, chit-chatting with friends and family?

Imagine how much we could have worshipped the Creator and thus attain His pleasure and a high status in the Hereafter. Have we no value for this time?

The grand Mujtahid Imam - Imam Shafi'i RA says:

"Time is like a sword; cut it before it cuts you."

Above, Imam Shafi'i RA is advising so that we do not waste our time. Every second that passes by will never come back. We have to put all this time into good use.

Another thing to ponder is - although we do not see the time that we have lost, we should remember that the actions done in that time has been recorded by Angels, and its outcome will be revealed on the Day of Judgement, for which we will be accounted for, reckonned by Allah - to determine as to whether we will become a member of Paradise, or an inmate of Hell.

Another Hadith narrates the Prophet Muhammad SAW as saying:

"Take advantage of five conditions before five others: (1) Youth before old age; (2) Good health; before sickness; (3) Free time before you become occupied; (4) Wealth before poverty; (5) Life before death."

This free time of ours should be spent in the Remembrance of Allah Almighty.

Let us remember and contemplate, that on the Day of Judgement, the people of Paradise will only have one regret. They will regret all the free time they wasted in the world for not making Zikr (remembering Allah SWT). The reason for this regret will be because they would have achieved a higher status in Paradise, had they not wasted their free time. Even one spontaneous recital of "Subhanallah" will carry a person's status in Paradise one rank higher. Such is the value of Zikr.