Quran Verses

Lesson & Reflection

Every second of our lives is precious. It is a unique blessing and ultimately part of our test when it comes to what we do with it. Time, like wealth, is a trust (amanah), and in the age of screens, we’re often spending it carelessly, even while claiming to be “busy”. We scroll for hours, jumping from video to video with endless reels designed to preoccupy us unnecessarily, only to wonder why our hearts feel empty and our day feels wasted. The days seem shorter as the barakah seeps away from our lives, like water dissipating in a leaking bucket. It is now time to secure the time Allah has given us, using this blessing to invest in ways that will be most productive and beneficial to us in this life and the next. Our predecessors accomplished so much more in the same 24-hour day, whilst we often find ourselves lost in the distraction of our own making.

Surah Al-‘Asr, the surah aptly named ‘Time/ The Declining Day’, lays out the conditions of success: belief, righteous actions, truth, and patience. None of this happens passively or by accident or in a vacuum. It happens in our world, where time is the fifth dimension, constantly moving forward and carrying us with it. But it must be guarded and used with intention. The clock is not just ticking; it’s testifying.

This is not a call to abandon technology but to reclaim your soul from it and hopefully put it in its rightful place as a tool, and not a ritual. While many of us rely on screens for our work or daily tasks, at times we may find ourselves switching from purposeful engagement to time-consuming entertainment.

Islam calls us to be prudent with our time and to have a higher standard of accountability and to always be mindful of Allah. Constant screen use erodes our value of time and threatens our relationship with Allah and our families, friends and community. It scatters our attention and dims the heart’s awareness. It puts us at risk of becoming heedless to our main purpose in life.

The first step to healing is realizing the cost. Every moment distracted is a moment disconnected. And the longer we drift, the more our hearts forget what they were created for.

Hadith

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time...” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6412)

Excess screen time often squanders both.

Practical Activity

• Screen Time Awareness: Check your screen time usage today. Identify the top 1–2 time-draining apps. Commit to reducing that time by at least 15 minutes tomorrow and replace it with dhikr, dua, or quiet reflection.

Dua from the Quran

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ

Dua from Hisn Ul Muslim

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْماً نَافِعاً، وَرِزْقاً طَيِّباً، وَعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً

O Allah, I ask You for knowledge that is of benefit, a good provision, and deeds that will be accepted.

 Ibn Majah no. 925
 Hisn al-Muslim 95

Reflection Question

What is my heart missing out on because I’m too often lost in a screen? How many moments that could have nourished my heart or strengthened my faith have I exchanged for temporary, forgettable content? What can I do to change this moving forward?