THE FOURTH LEGACY
I advise you all to safeguard your time and to occupy yourselves in that which is beneficial. You should know that time is more precious than wealth, as Allaah – the Most Blessed, the Most High – said:
Until, when death comes to one of them, he says:”My Lord! Send me back, That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind.” [Surah Al-Mu’minoon: Aayahs 99-100]
Time is such that when it departs it does not return, whereas wealth, when it departs, then it is possible to replace it. So time is of the utmost importance. This is why I advise you to safeguard your time, and to occupy yourselves in that which benefits. Keep away from qeela wa qaal (gossiping) – that so and so said such and such about this and that person – because the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said in an authentic narration: “Indeed Allaah hates qeela wa qaal (gossip mongering), asking too many questions, and wasting one’s wealth.” [4] Unfortunately, many of the youths – after returning to the correct path, and uniting their hearts and unifying their word – have become disunited and fragmented into many factions, and this is due to the whisperings of Shaytaan amongst them and the disuniting of their word. So I advise the brothers to utilise your time in beneficial matters, and to keep away from qeela wa qaal. Indeed, time is like a sword; either you strike it, or it will strike you!
[4] Related by Muslim (no.1715), from Abu Hurayrah radiallaahu ‘anhu.
Source: Excerpted from Very beneficial article :
A Concise Legacy : Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen
Al-Istiqaamah Magazine , Issue No.5 – Ramadân 1417H / January 1997
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