Quran Verses

Lesson & Reflection

We live in an age where screens consume not just our time but also our hearts, focus, and sense of presence. The phone has become a constant companion, oftentimes more than people, more than prayer, more than our true purpose as being servants of the Most Merciful. The scroll never ends, and sadly, neither does the subtle erosion of our attention, relationships, and remembrance of Allah. Every moment is an investment or a debt, the rewards of which we will find with our Lord, or a debt that we will be held accountable for, therefore we must choose how we spend our time wisely and with purpose.

In Surah Al-Mulk (67:23), Allah reminds us that He is the One who brought us into existence and gave us our senses, including our ears, eyes, and intellect, yet the reality is, many are heedless and ungrateful for these priceless blessings. Showing gratitude to our Creator is not simply through lip service, but by using these blessings in a manner that reflects true thankfulness. Exposing our senses to beneficial content, such as the recitation of the Quran or the pursuit of beneficial knowledge, is a form of gratitude. Conversely, exploiting our senses to fulfill vain desires, or engaging in excessive entertainment not only is time-consuming scrolling, but a betrayal of the trust He has placed in us. True shukr (gratitude) is expressed through conscious, purposeful use of what we've been given, aligning our actions with the purpose for which these gifts were created.

Surah Al-Baqarah warns against self-destruction. Wasting time isn’t neutral. It erodes your soul, distances you from Allah, and feeds distraction. Time lost cannot be recovered. Goodness, on the other hand, is effort directed with purpose, whether in remembering Allah, serving others, seeking knowledge, or even resting with intention. A righteous intention before a given engagement, even if mundane, is time well spent.

You will be asked how you spent your youth, your health, and your free time. Screen addiction often hides under “just one more video”. But every moment is either taking you closer to Allah or further.

Hadith

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“The feet of the slave of Allah shall not move [on the Day of Judgement] until he is asked about five things: about his life and what he did with it, about his knowledge and what he did with it, about his wealth and how he earned it and where he spent it, about his body and for what did he wear it out.” (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2417)

The common factor in all these elements mentioned in this hadith is time –how did you spend your time? Life is but moments of time, knowledge takes time to acquire and share, and so does our wealth. While the toiling of the body is an exchange of time. Time is an unseen currency that we continuously exchange for benefits in this world. But the best exchange is that which is made with the akhirah in mind.

Practical Activity

• Time Audit: Choose one hour today to go screen-free. Spend it doing something meaningful like praying, walking, reading the Quran, or helping someone. Notice how it affects your peace and focus.

Dua

“O Allah, help me to use my time in ways that please You. Let no moment slip away in heedlessness, and make every day a step closer to You.”

Reflection Question

If I knew that at the end of today, I would be asked about how I spent my day. How would I spend it?

In the same way, knowing that I will be asked about how I spend my entire days in my life, how does this affect my routine and how will this now impact the way I spend my time?