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How to make use of free time
Shaykh Usamah Al Khayyat [(Rabee'uth Thaanee 16, 1425 (June 04, 2004)]
All praise is due to
Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, his
household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! Some people forget that one of the abundant blessings of Allaah
is having spare time at one’s disposal. It time a person enjoys after he has
fulfilled his obligations. Being oblivious of this blessing leads to wasting it
and not giving it its due. This consequently leads to the loss of a great life
opportunity and an important means of profit. This is the deceit that the
Prophet meant in when said, “There are two blessings by which many people are
deceived: good health and spare time.” (Al-Bukhaaree and others.)
It is in the light of this that Allaah’s
Messenger gave his direction about seizing this great opportunity. He said,
“Take the opportunity of five things before another five things happen: your
life before your death, your health before your illness, your spare time before
your busy time, your youth before your old age and your wealth before your
poverty.” (Al-Haakim)
Brethren in faith! This admonition is being addressed first and foremost to the
youths who are going to have the annual vacation soon. It is also being
addressed to their fathers, mothers, teachers and others who know the importance
of this blessing and know that if man does not occupy his mind with truth, it
will be taken over by falsehood.
Hence, it is important to have a practical plan on how to make a good use of
this vacation in lawful, useful and commendable activities, like: academic,
charity, sport and amusement activities. Or to embark on lawful and useful tours
that are free from wasting of resources and free from ostentation, or taking
care of relative who were not formerly given adequate attention because of work.
Dear brethren! This useful planning as to how to benefit from the blessing of
free time is a strong factor on how to save hours of one’s life, lest the record
of deed is folded while no good deed that will benefit its owner on the Day of
Resurrection entered therein. This planning also helps preventing the youth from
being an agent of destruction in his society whenever the enemies among the
people of desire and lust want so. For these are a people whose efforts in this
world will be rendered in vain while they believe that they have done good. It
is then that the actual picture of deceit which Allaah’s Messenger has mentioned
will become manifest.
Dear brethren! Fear Allaah and work towards all that can protect the time of the
youth of the Muslim Ummah. Invest the blessing of free time in beneficial
things. This is a trust upon your necks. He who fulfils it as it is due and
fears Allaah regarding it has succeeded. Allaah says,
“O you who believe! Betray not Allâh and His
Messenger, nor betray knowingly your Amânât (things entrusted to you, and all
the duties which Allâh has ordained for you).”
(Al-Anfaal 8:27)
Fellow Muslims! The belief that some people
have that vacation means neglecting the behaviour of their children and leaving
them to do whatever they like, far from supervision and wise guidance is a great
mistake. It is he who is oblivious of his responsibility to his children that
has a belief like this. Therefore, there is no difference between parental
responsibility during vacation and other periods. Rather, this responsibility is
greater during vacation because it is a critical period and many perils take
place during it.
Dear brethren! Fear Allaah and be a good help
to your sons and daughters on their way to achieve the blessings of this world
and the Hereafter.
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