Carpe Diem. I used to use that phrase often. Seize the Day. Every day brings it’s own experiences.. some I am so thankful for and others I wish I didn’t have to experience, yet still in their own way a benefit I ought to be thankful for, yet in my human weakness, I struggle to accept.
Then I read Surah Al Asr ..
By Al-’Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss. Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth and recommend one another to patience.” (Quran 103)
Here Allah tells us it’s not enough to “Seize the Day”. We need to “Seize Every Second” As Muslims we understand that time is borrowed. It’s given to us to use, but we are accountable for it. Angels record our actions and our words and every second is accounted for.
Prophet Muhammad said “On the Day of Resurrection, the feet of man will not move away till he is questioned about four matters: how he spent his lifetime, how he spent his youth; from where he acquired his wealth and how he spent it, and what
he did with his knowledge.” (Tirmidhi)
Today, I’m learning we need to Seize the Moment. A friend on FB posted a poster that said “if you take a breath then it means you are a live for a reason.” Life is loaned to us, Prophet Muhammad SAW said we should take advantage of five things before 5 things happen.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Make the most of five things before five others: life before death, health before sickness, free time before becoming busy, youth before old age, and wealth before poverty.”
He also said There are two blessings which many people do not make the most of and thus lose out: good health and free time.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6412.
It is no accident I am sitting in my room here in Melbourne contemplating my day. It is no accident I am not with my husband in Atlanta where I long to be at this time. Nothing in my life is an accident. I have choices. I can lament the qadr of Allah.. or I can “Seize the Moment”.. tie up the camel and have tawakkul “trust in Allah” as I use my every moment as a means to earn His pleasure.
Seizing the Day leaves room for wasted time. Seizing the Moment means making every moment count.
Imam Shafi one of the most well known of Muslim teachers (may Allah be pleased with him) once wrote once wrote “For some time I remained in
the company of saints, and I came to know of 2 things from their company. Time is like a sword, you should cut it (in some work) or it will cut you ( by indulging you in desires). Thus time if is not engaged in good deeds then it would be in useless or bad deeds.(Abbassi,2005)
It’s a daily struggle to be where I would prefer not to be.. but the truth is.. I have two choices.. I can “Seize the Moment” and understand the benefits of being here far outweigh the benefits of being where I would choose to be.. and make the most of this opportunity.. or i can sit and waste time and not take advantage of this time which after all . is only loaned to me and could be taken from me at any moment.
