I want to share a short benefit about the importance of the student of knowledge organizing his time in seeking Knowledge. Since seeking knowledge is a noble pursuit and from the greatest of endeavors, it is important the student utilize his time in seeking it.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

وَلَكِنْ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ سَاعَةً وَسَاعَةً

However, Oh Handhala, time for this and time for that

[Muslim no. 2750]

Shaikh Ibn ul-‘Uthaymeen rahimahullah commented on the hadith saying:

“An hour for [your] Lord, an hour for your family and children, and an hour for himself so that a person can give his soul its relaxation. So that he can give those who have rights [upon him] their rights. This is the justice of the Islamic legislation and its perfection. Verily Allah has a right, so he gives Him, the Exalted, His right. And likewise the soul has a right, so he gives it its right and the people who have rights [upon him] are given their rights. The visitors and guests have rights, so they are given their rights. [And he does this] until a person establishes all the rights which are upon him in comfort and worships Allah in comfort. This is because if a person is hard on himself, he will be bored and tired and waste a lot of the rights upon him…if a person seeks knowledge and feels bored in reviewing any book, then let him move to another book. If he finds himself bored in studying a specific science, then let him move to another one. Like this he will relieve himself and gain a lot of knowledge…”

[Sharh Riyad us-Saliheen (2/236)]

Ibn Jama’ah rahimahullah mentioned from the etiquette of a student of knowledge in regards to himself:

“The fifth point, that he divides the time in his night and day and benefit from what remains of his life. For what is remaining of his life is priceless”

[Tadhkiratus-Saami’ wal-Mutakallim fi Adaab al-‘Alim wal-Muta’lim pg. 108]

And he said:

“He should hasten in his youth and in the time in his life towards the attainment of knowledge. He should not be deceived by the deception of procrastination and boredom. For every hour that passes from his life does not have a recompense and substitute for it…”

[Tadhkiratus-Saami’ wal-Mutakallim fi Adaab al-‘Alim wal-Muta’lim pg. 105]

This is especially true if we know that the Salaf used to benefit from their time.

Imam Ibn Jawzi rahimahullah said:

وقد كان السلف يغتنمون اللحظات

“Verily the Salaf used to benefit from every second/moment”

[Laft ul-Kabid Fi Nasheehatil-Wald (pg. 6)]

And Allah Knows Best

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan

Question: 

What does it mean to give one’s soul its right

Answer: 

It means the rights of the body in terms of food, drink, sleep, relaxation etc. as comes in the Hadith:

‎فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا

Verily your body has a right upon you

[Reported by al-Bukhari]

Mulla Ali Qari rahimahullah said:

“By maintaining [the body’s right of] eating, drinking, [standing] for prayer, and sleeping…”

[Mirqaah al-Miftaah (4/1419)]

Answered and Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan