How Can I Spend My Free Time in Ways That Please Allah?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
How can I spend my free time in ways that please Allah?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
The Blessing of Time
Time is one of the most valuable blessings we have. Hasan Basri said, “O son of Adam, you are nothing but a collection of days. When a day passes, a part of you passes with it.”
Among the signs of Allah’s favor is guiding a person to use their free time beneficially, both in matters of faith and worldly affairs.
Misusing the blessing of time in harmful or sinful activities is a sign of misguidance. As it is said: If you don’t keep yourself busy with good, it will keep you busy with evil.
Ways to Use Time Productively
Here are some beneficial ways to fill your time:
Engage in the Remembrance of Allah
Engage in activities that please Allah. Keep your tongue moist with His remembrance, such as saying:
“SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar.”
The best form of remembrance is reciting the Quran, so set a daily portion to read and reflect upon its meanings.
Remember Allah’s words:
“And the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so—Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.” [Quran, 33:35]
Also, send blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Dedicate some time to memorizing the Quran or portions of it. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) advised:
“Let your tongue remain moist with the remembrance of Allah.” [Ibn Abi Shayba]
Perform Extra Prayers
Perform the five daily prayers, and add voluntary prayers, such as those after obligatory prayers, the Duha prayer, and the night prayer (Tahajjud).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever prays twelve voluntary rak‘as in a day, Allah will build a house for them in Paradise.” [Ahmad]
Seek Beneficial Knowledge
Fill your time by learning beneficial knowledge. Learn the rules of purification and prayer, or, if you’re a trader, study the rules of buying and selling to avoid prohibited transactions.
If you possess enough wealth to go, learn the obligations of zakat. If Hajj is required of you, study its rulings. Spend your time in what earns Allah’s pleasure and prepares you for this world and the next.
Read Beneficial Books
Occupy your free time with beneficial reading, increasing your religious and worldly knowledge. Recommended books include “Qiymat al-Zaman” (The Value of Time) and “Safhat min Sabr al-‘Ulama” (Pages from the Patience of Scholars) by Shaykh Abdul-Fattah Abu Ghuddah (Allah have mercy on him).
Stay Active and Productive
A Muslim should not have free time. The life of a Muslim is one of effort and diligence. Ibn Mas‘ud (Allah be pleased with him) said:
“I dislike seeing a man idle, doing neither work for the worldly life nor for the Hereafter.” [Abu Nu‘aym, Hilyat al-‘Awliya]
Remember that Allah created hands to work. If they do not find work in obedience, they will find it in disobedience.
And Allah knows best.
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
