(Bukhari)

Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, There are two bounties regarding which people are in great deception (due to not valuing these bounties they are in loss). These bounties are good health and free time.

Allama Suyuti Rahmatullah-e-Alayh has written in the marginal notes of the Muatta of Imaam Maalik Rahmatullah-e-Alayh that the Ulema have explained this Hadith as follows; the Human being will only be able to remain occupied in the Ibaadat of Allah Ta’ala if he is healthy and he has sufficient Halaal sustenance to sustain himself.

 Sometimes a person is healthy yet he is unable to free himself from his worldly occupation, or a person is wealthy but he does not enjoy good health. If a person enjoys good health and is financially independent yet he does occupy himself in the worship of Allah Ta’ala due to laziness then such a person is certainly in a great loss.

 Hadrat Khaqaani Rahmatullah-e-Alayh states, “After thirty years of spiritual exercise and training we realised that remembering Allah Ta’ala for a single moment is superior than the entire kingdom of Sulaiman Alaihis Salaam.” The Ulema have written in the commentary of Mishkaat Sharif (Mazaahir-Haq) that a person only realises the value of a bounty when it is lost.

 Many people do not take care of the two great bounties namely good health and free time. The value of good health will only be realised when sickness sets in, and the value of free time is realised when one is occupied in some grief or difficulty.

 If a person expresses remorse on the day of Qiyaamah for wasting his time in the world then this will not benefit him in the least. Allah Ta’ala refers to the day of Qiyaamah as Yaumaut Taghaabun in the Quraan Sharif which means “the day of great loss.” Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “The people of Jannat will not experience any sorrow except the time spent in negligence (void of the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala.)