IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
BEING THE FIRST SERMON FOR THE MONTH OF ṢAFAR
DATE: 14-02-1447 AH (8-08-2025 CE)
TOPIC: THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME AND THE OBLIGATION TO PRESERVE IT
THE FIRST SERMON
All praise is due to Allah who created and perfected, who destined and guided. Glorified is He, who causes death and gives life, who makes one laugh and weep. He revealed to us the Book and the Criterion so that those who perish do so upon clear evidence and those who live do so upon clear evidence.
We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner, and we bear witness that our Prophet Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger, the caller to Allah upon clear insight — he and those who follow him. He conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, sincerely advised the ummah, and strove in the cause of Allah as He deserves until certainty (death) came to him. May the peace, blessings, and mercy of Allah be upon him, his family, his wives, his companions, and all who follow their path until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed:
I advise you, O servants of Allah, and myself, to have Taqwa (God-consciousness) of Allah the Most High, as He says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
“O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims.”
(Surah Aal ‘Imraan, 3:102)
O Muslims! Indeed, our noble Islamic religion has shown great concern for time. In fact, history has not known any nation that gave more attention to time and its preservation than this ummah. The Book of Allah affirms this, establishing the importance and elevated status of time through various expressions — foremost among them is highlighting its significance and recognizing it as a great blessing.
Allah the Most High says:
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَائِبَيْنِ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ
“And He has subjected for you the sun and the moon, both constantly running (in their orbits), and He has subjected for you the night and the day.” (Surah Ibrahim, 14:33)
So Allah, exalted is His Majesty, reminded us of the blessings of the night and day — which are the manifestations of time through which this entire world passes.
The importance of time is further emphasized by the fact that Allah swore by it and its components in many verses of His Noble Book — such as: al-Fajr (the dawn), al-Layl (the night), al-Nahaar (the day), al-‘Asr (the afternoon), al-Dhuha (the forenoon) and others. This oath highlights the value of time, draws attention to it, and emphasizes its immense benefit and profound effects.
For this reason, the topic of today’s khutbah is: “The Importance of Time and the Obligation to Preserve It”
O noble listeners! Be informed that the rituals and obligations of Islam — such as prayer, fasting, zakāh, ḥajj, and others — were legislated to instill this noble meaning: to awaken in a person awareness of the importance of time as it passes with the motion of the universe, the movement of the sun and stars, and the alternation of day and night.
This meaning is also clarified in the light of Prophetic teachings. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There are two blessings which many people waste: health and free time.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
This is because time is a great blessing and an immense gift that only the successful benefit from. As for the deceived and the losers, they are those who waste their time and squander their energies.
Furthermore, the noble Sunnah confirms that every person will be questioned about his time on the Day of Judgment. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The feet of a servant will not move on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about four things…”
— and among them he mentioned:
“About his life — how he spent it; and about his youth — how he utilized it.” (Tirmidhi, 2416)
And the Prophet ﷺ once advised a man saying:
“Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your busyness, and your life before your death.” (Mustadrak al-Haakim)
O Believing Men and Women, indeed, the righteous predecessors of this ummah (may Allah have mercy on them) were the most careful of people when it came to valuing and utilizing time in meaningful and lofty deeds. They would seize every moment and race against the hours, being extremely protective of time. They were keen not to let a single instant pass — no matter how brief — without gaining from it either beneficial knowledge or righteous action. Their awareness of the value of time prevented their lives from being wasted, aimless, or fruitless.
Because of this, they laid the foundation for a deep-rooted civilization, bearing the fruits of knowledge, conquests, honor, and glory — the likes of which history has not witnessed before.
The noble Tābi‘ī (Successor), Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (may Allah have mercy on him), said:
“I met people who were more protective of their time than you are of your gold and silver.”
And he also said, encouraging action and making use of life’s brief span:
“O son of Adam, you are merely a collection of days. Every time a day passes, a part of you is gone. And soon, when a part of you is gone, all of you will be gone — and you are unaware. So act! For today is for action with no reckoning, and tomorrow is for reckoning with no action.”
And the rightly guided Caliph ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“The day and night are working in you — so you must work within them.”
They would strive to elevate themselves from one good state to another better one, such that not a single day passed except that they increased in faith and righteous deeds.
‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I never regretted anything more than a day on which the sun set, my life span decreased, and my deeds did not increase.”
And it was said long ago: “Time is like a sword — if you do not cut it, it will cut you.”
O Believers! One of the clear realities about time is that it passes swiftly. What has gone of it cannot return or be replaced. It is the most precious thing a person possesses — it is truly life itself. Therefore, a Muslim has responsibilities toward his time. He must understand this and translate that awareness from mere knowledge into practical, applied action.
The essence of these responsibilities is to make the best use of time in things that benefit his religious and worldly affairs and contribute positively to his nation and ummah in righteousness and reform.
What deeply saddens the heart and increases one’s sorrow and grief is what we witness today from many people — the wasting of time, far beyond mere negligence to outright destruction. It has reached such levels of foolishness that you often hear from some of those deprived (may Allah rectify them) such statements as:
“We’re just killing time,” or,
“We’re just passing time, roaming here and there.”
They do not realize that whoever is killing time is in reality killing himself, and burying his honor and dignity.
The truth is that wasting time is one of the most dangerous crimes against individuals and societies. It lies behind every problem, causes every crisis, and leads many into moral and social pitfalls.
This demands from all Muslims that we diagnose and address this issue — by preparing, planning, and acting — because the harm of wasting time doesn’t only affect the individual, but spreads to the entire nation and society.
Let this be understood by those who occupy themselves in empty gatherings of amusement, idle talk, vain curiosity, and long hours of waste — day and night — in things that harm rather than benefit, all without awareness or concern.
They live heedless of the remembrance of Allah, careless of prayer, neglecting the rights of Allah and the rights of His servants. Their life’s motto seems to be:
“Indeed, the world is nothing but food, drink, and sleep;
And if you miss out on that, then farewell to this world!”
They turn away from the obligations of religion and worldly responsibilities, squandering their time and wasting the hours of their day and night staying up for forbidden and prohibited acts. Where are their hearts when they hear about disasters and calamities? Do they think they will live forever in this world? What will be their answer when they stand before the Almighty — Al–Jabbār, glorified is He — and are asked about the waste of their youth and the squandering of their lives? We seek refuge with Allah from disgrace and failure.
O servants of Allah, let such people fear Allah before the hour of death arrives, before they are laid beneath the soil, and before they are presented before the Almighty, glorified is He. At that moment, they will wish to return to do just one good deed — but alas, it will be too late. Allah the Exalted says:
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱرْجِعُونِ • لَعَلِّيٓ أَعْمَلُ صَـٰلِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآئِلُهَا ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
“Until, when death comes to one of them, he says, ‘My Lord, send me back * So that I might do righteousness in that which I left behind.’ No! It is but a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.” (Surah Al-Mu’minoon, 23:99–100)
O Muslims, whenever we speak about preserving time and the importance of utilizing it in obedience to Allah and seeking His pleasure — and keeping it away from sins and disobedience — a significant issue arises, especially in these days of holidays and breaks. It is the problem of free time.
Many people — especially among the youth, both male and female — suffer from wasting time on bad deeds and trivial engagements. It is indeed a serious problem that deserves concern and attention. It must be addressed with planning, programs, and strategies to ensure its resolution and elimination.
How many trials and disasters have emerged due to free time? How many flames of evil and corruption has it ignited? How much immorality, crime, and misguidance has been caused by free time — especially when combined with youth and money?
What is it that has lured many people into the traps of Shayṭān and the snares of the enemies of the Most Merciful — making illicit pleasures such as adultery, indecency, alcohol, and drugs seem attractive — other than free time?
What has led youth to join terrorist and extremist groups, or imitate homosexuals and deviants, other than free time?
O brothers, when we search for the causes of this problem, we find that the most significant are:
- Weak religious consciousness,
- Lack of spiritual deterrence,
- Failure to appreciate the value of time,
- Having long hopes and ambitions in life,
- Forgetting death, the grave, and the Hereafter,
- Lack of fear of Allah,
- Bad companionship,
- and above all, the neglect of parents and failure of the family in their educational and moral supervision.
These are the primary factors that cause the various forms of idleness and emptiness — especially spiritual, ideological, intellectual, and psychological emptiness.
O Muslims, as for the solution to this phenomenon — namely the phenomenon of free time — it is the shared responsibility of the family, the society, educators, scholars, writers, thinkers, and those responsible for media, culture, and guidance platforms.
They must all strive to develop initiatives that productively occupy the free time of Muslim youth and children, with what benefits their religion, their worldly life, and their Hereafter.
We ask Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, to fill our time and our free time — and that of our children, our youth, our daughters, and our families — with what pleases Him. We ask Him to keep us away from everything that brings about His anger and disobedience. We ask Him to show us the truth as truth and grant us the ability to follow it, and to show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the ability to avoid it. Indeed, He is able to do all things.
THE SECOND SERMON
All praise is due to Allah, the All-Powerful in His decree, the Almighty in His dominion. He hears the groaning of the oppressed when their patience runs thin. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that our Prophet Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and his companions in abundance.
To proceed:Fear Allah — O Muslims — and be mindful of Him in secret and in public. Allah the Exalted says:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ
“O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims.”
(Surah Āl-ʿImrān, 3:102)
O Muslims, our ummah is going through very difficult days — turbulent circumstances, fierce wars, and deliberate starvation — to the extent that those who remain are left only with bodies, stripped of dignity, robbed of rights, and their lands usurped. Yet all of this remains under the decree and divine will of Allah Almighty. And in the midst of it, He has placed relief that is near.
He is the All-Hearing, the Responsive — the One who answers the call of the distressed when they call upon Him. His decree must be met with acceptance and patience, and every severe trial must be met with faith and submission.
O Muslims, know that oppression does not last, and it will not continue. It will fade and vanish. Time brings its changes, and soon the oppressors will come to know to what final place they will return.
وَسَيَعْلَمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَىَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ
“And those who have wronged are going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.”
No matter how strong the oppressor becomes or how weak the oppressed may be, the oppressor is ultimately defeated, humiliated, chained, and shackled. The closest arrow that hits the oppressor is the supplication of the oppressed, which is raised to the Ever-Living, the Sustainer.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Indeed, Allah gives respite to the oppressor, but when He seizes him, He does not let him escape.”
Then he recited:
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَآ أَخَذَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَهِىَ ظَـٰلِمَةٌ ۚ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُۥٓ أَلِيمٌۭ شَدِيدٌۭ
“And thus is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe.” (Surah Hūd, 11:102)
Additionally, O servants of Allah, it has become widespread news about a student named Nafisa bint Abdullah Aminu from NTIC (Nigerian Tulip International College) in Yobe State, who excelled over more than 20,000 participants from 29 countries in the Global English Language Skills Competition 2025, held in London, UK — including against native English-speaking countries.
We are proud of her — may Allah bless her.
This kind of achievement deserves greater support from the Nigerian government — equal to or more than what was given to the Nigerian women’s national basketball team after their fifth consecutive historic win in the Afrobasket Women’s Championship 2025, which made them the first African team to qualify for the Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026.
The government awarded each player $100,000, a three-bedroom apartment, and a national honor.
Let the government — and all concerned — beware of misplaced priorities. And Allah is the one sought for help.
SUPPLICATION (DUʿĀʾ):
We ask Allah, the Most High, the Most Powerful, to grant us all success in what He loves and is pleased with. We ask Him to show us the truth as truth and grant us the ability to follow it, and to show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the ability to avoid it. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
O Allah, rectify our intentions, our children, and our descendants. Make them righteous successors for us.
Grant them righteous and reforming companions who guide them to happiness in their religion and worldly life. Rectify their mentors and teachers so they may be good examples for them — by whom deeds are purified and generations are guided. Keep away from them evil companions and the harm of the wicked — O Possessor of Majesty and Honor.
O Allah, honor Islam and grant victory to the Muslims. O Allah, make Your word supreme until the Day of Judgment.O Allah, support Your religion, Your Book, the Sunnah of Your Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), and Your righteous servants. O Allah, rectify the condition of Muslims everywhere. O Allah, guide their leaders, scholars, youth, women, and men — O Possessor of Majesty and Honor. O Allah, grant safety to our country and rectify the affairs of Muslims everywhere. O Allah, be a helper and supporter for our oppressed brothers and sisters everywhere. O Allah, protect their blood, unite their hearts, and appoint over them the best of their people.
O Allah, protect Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa and its people. Make it exalted, honored, and filled with obedience and worship until the Day of Judgment. O Allah, heal our sick, relieve our afflicted, have mercy on our parents, and on our deceased. Grant us our hopes in what pleases You, and seal our deeds with righteous actions.
Wa ṣallallāhu wa sallam ‘alā Nabiyyinā Muḥammad, wa ‘ala ālihi wa ṣaḥbihi ajma‘īn.Wa al-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-‘ālamīn.