Free Time

Alhamdulillah, after stressing for a month or so about exams we have finally come to the Easter holiday. So this basically means, we've got 7 days left to go and see as many movies, smoke as many shisha flavours and cram in as much fun as we possibly can. However, is this the intellect we should keep?

Having a fun time is good, enjoying yourself is fantastic aslong as it is within the boundaries set by Allah and His Messenger صلي الله عليه وسلم. For example, its good to play football and keep yourself healthy because it is the Huqooq (right) of your body that you maintain it thus in this there is reward for a person.

Then you get some brothers and sisters who play football so much that when it comes to praying, they are too tired and then miss it. This concept is wrong and in it their is sin, we just need to learn to distinguish between good and bad rather then thinking 'Being Muslim means no fun!' This is incorrect, have fun but with moderation.Likewise we find alot of people moan because they claim that they are too busy to remember Allah; That work, college, individual courses and extra curricular activities get in the way of sincere worship. Yet when the free time inevitably comes our way, we occupy ourselves with Facebook and MSN for hours on end. People will be stuck on MSN Messenger and forums till early in the morning speaking about trivial matters when this time is the best to pray, make Du'a to Allah and beg Him for His forgiveness.In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم says,

"Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring: 'Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?"

Allah is literally looking for excuses to forgive us...So lets not waste our holidays with trivial matters and day to day 'gupshup' about who is dating who. Do no let these days pass with regret overshadowing our hearts due to the deficiency in our worship. I am not saying, "don't have fun!" I am saying, "Have fun but with moderation." If you go to the gym you will know that after a few exercises one has to rest his body otherwise it will get strained, in the same way, when havin fun one has to stop and remember Allah or his heart will become strained and rusty.A beautiful parable that comes to my mind...

Ali ibn Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him), stood with one of his companions near a grave one day and asked him,

"If he could come back to this Dunya, what do you think he would do?"

His companion replied,

"He would do nothing but good deeds."

Thereupon Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) remarked,

"If it is not going to be him, then let it be you!"

Taken from Leyton Islamic Society blog