What are you doing with your life?
A reflection on lost time – and what Islam teaches about intentional living.
We are wasting our lives.
As I look back on the past years, I’m overcome with deep regret over how much of my time was spent on things that served neither my akhirah nor my dunya.
A few days ago, while decluttering, I found some old Bullet Journal entries. The to-dos felt so fresh in my mind, as if I had written them just a few weeks ago.
Ehem. They were over a year old.
And I just sat there, unable to comprehend how fast the time had flown…
What did I do in all those months? Subhan Allah. Wasted… and they won’t come back.
I see this pattern not only in myself, but in so many Muslims who wake up every day:
without direction,
without purpose,
without a clear sense of what matters most.
We live as if we were created for this dunya.
As if this life were endless.
As if we’ll always have tomorrow.
But the truth is: We could die at any moment… and then it’ll be too late.
We’ll be held accountable for how we used our time… and we’ll regret every moment wasted.
According to Wikipedia, “Intentional living is any lifestyle based on an individual's or group's conscious attempts to live according to their values and beliefs.”
We believe that we weren’t created for this world, but for Allah’s worship and obedience… don’t we? Islam encompasses our entire lives through a variety of values.
What does Islam teach?
As you continue reading, please make sure to pause after every narration and truly reflect on what you’ve just read.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
نعمتان مغبون فيهما كثير من الناس: الصحة والفراغ
“Two blessings that many people are deceived about (or fail to take advantage of): health and free time.”
[Sunan at-Tirmidhi (2304)]
– Do we want to be of those people? I for sure don’t.
And he ﷺ said:
لا تزول قدما عبد يوم القيامة حتى يُسأل عن عمره فيما أفناه، وعن علمه فيما فعل، وعن ماله من أين اكتسبه وفيما أنفقه، وعن جسمه فيما أبلاه
“The feet of a slave (of Allah) shall not move on the Day of Judgement until he is asked about:
his life and in what he used it up,
his knowledge and what he did with it,
his wealth – how he earned and spent it,
and his body and for what he wore it out.”
[Sunan at-Tirmidhi (2417)]
If this hadith doesn’t urge us to live an intentional life, I don’t know what does.
Did you fully grasp what you just read?
You, me – every one of us1– will stand before Allah and He will hold us accountable for:
how we managed our time,
how we applied our knowledge,
how we earned and spent our money,
and how we used our bodies
But what if our hours were wasted on sins or meaningless distractions like movies and endless social media consumption – engaging with content made by people whose actions and lifestyles go against Islamic teachings? What will we answer on that day?
ar-Rabi’ bin Barrah said:
عجبت للخلائق كيف ذهلوا عن أمر حق تراه عيونهم، وتشهد عليه معاقد قلوبهم إيمانا وتصديقا بما جاء به المرسلون، ثم هاهم في غفلة عنه، سكارى يلعبون
I am amazed at the creatures…
How they are distracted from a truth their eyes see, and the core of their hearts testifies to… with Iman and certainty in what was brought by the messengers…
Yet here they are, heedless of it, intoxicated* and playing!
* (figurative)
[Qasr al-Amal by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya (160)]
We MUST live with intention, with awareness of our time, and with accountability.
We can’t just let life pass us by… we have to take responsibility for it!
It was narrated that al-Awza’i said:
ليس ساعة من ساعات الدنيا إلا وهي معروضة على العبد يوم القيامة يوما فيوما وساعة فساعة، ولا تمر به ساعة لم يذكر الله تعالى فيها إلا تقطعت نفسه عليها حسرات، فكيف إذا مرت به ساعة مع ساعة ويوم مع يوم [وليلة مع ليلة؟]
“There is no hour from the hours of this dunya except that it will be presented to the slave on the Day of Judgment - day by day, hour by hour.
Not a single hour will pass in which he did not remember Allah ta’ala, except that his soul will be torn with regret over it.
So what then if hour after hour, and day after day, [and night after night] passed him by?”
[al-Hilyah (6/142)]
Mujahid narrated:
عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: أخذ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بمنكبي فقال: “كن في الدنيا كأنك غريب أو عابر سبيل وعد نفسك في أهل القبور” فقال لي ابن عمر: إذا أصبحت فلا تحدث نفسك بالمساء وإذا أمسيت فلا تحدث نفسك بالصباح وخذ من صحتك قبل سقمك ومن حياتك قبل موتك فإنك لا تدري يا عبد الله ما اسمك غدا
‘Ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) said:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ grabbed me by my shoulder and said: ‘Be in the world like a stranger or a passerby, and count yourself among the inhabitants of the grave.’”
So Ibn ‘Umar said to me: “When you wake up in the morning, then do not expect to reach the evening. And when you reach the evening, then do not expect to reach the morning. Take from your health before your illness, and from your life before your death, for indeed you do not know, O slave of Allah, what your name/description shall be tomorrow.”
[Sunan at-Tirmidhi (2333)]
And ‘Abd al-Wahid bin Safwan said:
كنا مع الحسن في جنازة، فقال: «رحم الله امرأ عمل لمثل هذا اليوم، إنكم اليوم تقدرون على ما لا يقدر عليه إخوانكم هؤلاء من أهل القبور، فاغتنموا الصحة والفراغ، قبل يوم الفزعة والحساب»
We were with al-Hasan (al-Basri) at a funeral, when he said:
“May Allah have mercy on the person who works for a day like this. Today, you are able to do what these brothers of yours in the graves are not able to do. So take advantage of your health and free time before the Day of Terror and Reckoning.”
[Qasr al-Amal by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya (141)]
One day, we too will be among the people of the grave… and we won’t have the abilities we have today. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.
al-Harith bin ‘Ubayd ibn at-Tufayl bin ‘Amir at-Tamimi said:
سمعت يزيد الرقاشي، يقول في كلامه: إلى متى نقول: غدا أفعل كذا، وبعد غد أفعل كذا، وإذا أفطرت فعلت كذا، وإذا قدمت من سفري فعلت كذا؟ أغفلت سفرك البعيد، ونسيت ملك الموت؟ أما علمت أن دون غد ليلة تخترم فيها أنفس كثيرة؟ أما علمت أن ملك الموت غير منتظر بك أملك الطويل؟ أما علمت أن الموت غاية كل حي؟
قال: ثم يبكي حتى يبل عمامته، ثم يقول: «أما رأيته صريعا بين أحبابه لا يقدر على رد جوابهم، بعد أن كان جدلا خصما، سمحا كريما عليهم؟ أيها المغتر بشبابه، أيها المغتر بطول عمره» . قال: ثم يبكي حتى يبل عمامته
I heard Yazid ar-Raqashi say in his speech:
“Until when will we say: Tomorrow I will do such and such, and the day after tomorrow I will do such and such, and when I break my fast, I will do such and such, and when I return from my travel, I will do such and such?
Have you neglected your long journey, and forgotten the Angel of Death?
Do you not know that before tomorrow comes a night in which many souls will be (suddenly) carried away? Do you not know that the Angel of Death does not wait for you like your long hope? Do you not know that death is the final destination of every living being?“
He said: He then wept until his turban became wet, then he said:
“Did you not see him struck down among his loved ones, unable to respond to them… after he had been a fierce debater, understanding and generous to them?
O you who are deceived by your youth,
O you who are deceived by your long life!”
He then wept until his turban was wet.
[Qasr al-Amal by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya (80)]
‘Ubaydullah bin Shumayt bin ‘Ajlan said:
قال أبي: طالت آمالكم، فجددتم منازلكم من الدنيا، وطيبتم منها معايشكم، وتلذذتم فيها بطيب الطعام، ولين اللباس، كأنكم للدنيا خلقتم أولا تعلمون أن الموت أمامكم؟ أولا تعلمون أن ملك الموت موكل بآجالكم، لا يذهب عنه من المدة شيء؟ ثم يقول: لا تكونوا رحمكم الله أقل شيء بالموت اكتراثا، وأعظم شيء عن الموت غفلة، فما ينتظر الحي إلا الموت، وما ينتظر المسافر إلا الظعن
My father said:
“Your hopes have grown long, so you renewed your homes in this wordly life, and enjoyed from it your livelihoods, and took pleasure in it with good food and fine clothing – as if for this dunya you were created.
Do you not know that death is before you?
Do you not know that the Angel of Death is assigned to your appointed lifespans, and nothing from the appointed time slips away from him?”Then he says: “May Allah have mercy on you. Do not be the least concered about death, nor the most heedless of death.
For the living awaits nothing but death, and the traveler awaits nothing but the departure.”
[Qasr al-Amal by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya (61)]
‘Awn bin Abdillah bin ‘Utbah said:
«ويحي كيف أغفل عن نفسي، وملك الموت ليس بغافل عني؟ ويحي كيف أتكل على طول الأمل والأجل يطلبني؟»
“Woe to me, how can I neglect myself while the Angel of Death does not neglect me?
Woe to me, how can I rely on long hope when the appointed time (of death) is seeking me?”[Qasr al-Amal by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya (88)]
‘Utbah bin ‘Abdillah said:
قالوا لعون بن عبد الله: ما أنفع أيام المؤمن له؟ قال: «يوم يلقى ربه فيعلمه أنه راض» ، قالوا: إنما أردنا من أيام الدنيا، قال: «إن من أنفع أيامه له في الدنيا ما ظن أنه لا يدرك آخره»
They said to ‘Awn bin ‘Abdillah:
“What are the most beneficial days for the believer?”
He replied: “The day he meets his Lord and He informs him that He’s pleased (with him).”*
They said: “We meant the days of this worldly life.”
He said: “Verily, from the most beneficial days in this dunya for him are those days which he thinks he will not reach their end.”
[Qasr al-Amal by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya (87)]
(*May Allah make us of those!)
There are many, many narrations about this. The Salaf constantly remembered death and belittled this life, always striving to prepare for their akhirah. They understood its reality AND acted accordingly. But what about us?
We are drowning in this dunya, and most of what we’re caught up in is completely useless. As if there is no end, no reckoning, no akhirah.
Khulayd al-’Asari said:
كلنا قد أيقن بالموت، وما نرى له مستعدا
وكلنا قد أيقن بالجنة وما نرى لها عاملا
وكلنا قد أيقن بالنار وما نرى لها خائفا
فعلام تعرجون؟ وما عسيتم تنتظرون الموت؟“We all are certain of death, yet we see no one preparing for it.
We all are certain of Paradise, yet we see no one working for it.
We all are certain of Hellfire, yet we see no one afraid of it.So for what are you zigzagging (away from the right course)?*
And what are you hoping for as you await death?”[Qasr al-Amal by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya (152)]
*(I’m not sure this sentence is translated correctly. Please correct me if I’m wrong.)
If we don’t finally stop, reflect, and plan how we use our time, we’ll remain consumed by this dunya… And we’ll be among those whom al-Awza’i said will have their souls torn with regret on the Day of Judgment.
It’s time for a change, isn’t it?
Action Steps
I was reflecting on the first steps we can take to act on what you just read, and the following came to mind:
Take your journal (or a piece of paper) and a pen.
Reflect: How do you spend your days? Write down every single deed you do daily or at least regularly.
For each deed, ask yourself: “If I were certain I would die by the end of this day, would I still do this? Or would I regret it?”
Draw a circle around every deed you would leave behind if death came today, or that you’d feel ashamed of when Allah asks you about it.
Make a plan to eliminate those deeds, starting with the sinful ones.
(Tip: Reflect on what triggers you to fall into these deeds. Begin by avoiding those triggers and making it harder for yourself to slip back. I might write a separate post about this, in sha’a Allah, if you’re interested ~ just let me know!)Think about other good and beneficial deeds you could do instead. (Remember: Worldly deeds can be acts of worship too, if the intention is sincere!) Jot them down.
And, most importantly, repent to Allah and ask Him for help and sincerity.
[Recommended: If you know Arabic, read Qasr al-Amal by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya!]
Abd ar-Rahman bin ‘Abdillah bin ‘Abd al-Hakim al-Masri said:
سمعت أبا أسامة المصري العابد قال: بينا أبو شريح يمشي إذ جلس، فتقنع بكسائه فجعل يبكي. فقلنا: ما يبكيك؟ قال: تفكرت في ذهاب عمري، وقلة عملي، واقتراب أجلي
I heard Abu Usamah al-Masri, the devout worshipper, say:
While Abu Shurayh was walking, he suddenly sat down, wrapped himself in his garment, and began to weep.We asked him, “Why are you crying?”
He said, “I was reflecting on the passing of my life, the lack of my (good) deeds, and the approach of the end of my lifespan (death).”
[al-’Umr wa-sh-Shayb by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya (22)]
In the next newsletter, I’ll share the foundations we need to start living more intentionally, in sha’a Allah.
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Jazakum Allahu khayra. May Allah forgive us and help us live a life that’s pleasing to Him.
PS: If you spot any mistakes in the translations, please let me know!