It’s Been One Day and a Half, Since the Prophet Muhammad was Sent

Introduction

Alhamdulillah… All perfect thanks and praises are due to the Almighty Allah. Perfect peace and blessings are sent upon Sayyindinā Muḥammad, his household, his companions and all those who follow his guided path till end of time.

We live in a world which is beautified with much attractions and desires. As a result of the pleasure attained from that, it’s easy for man to forget the purpose of his existence. He then takes the next life for granted. This article presents a reflection on how to realize the reality and the worth of the world we live in. It’s hoped that this realization will enable us to undertake effective and more productive endeavours, in our journey, back to Allah.

A Day with Him Equals a 1000 Years with Us

In Sūrah al-Ḥajj, 22:47, Allah says what can be translated into English as:

“A Day with your Lord is as a thousand years of your reckoning.”

We are not certain of how the measurement of time (and days) emerged to be based on hours, minutes and seconds, where 60 seconds make a minute, 60 minutes make an hour and 24 hours make a day. However it started, such measurement for the day is for our human calculation. On the other hand, we don't know the number of hours a day with Allah has. But for the sake of this discussion, and based on our human comprehension, let's assume it's 24 hours.

It’s Been a Day and a Half Since the Prophet Muhammad was Sent

On the basis that a day with Him equals a 1000 years in our days, it has been almost one day and a half, since the Prophet Muḥammad sallā Allāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam was chosen and sent as the seal of all prophets and messengers. Similarly, it has been 2 days and a few minutes since Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, was raised to the skies. (You know he wasn't crucified. Don't you?)

My grandfather (or your grandfather) who lived for a 100 years, had spent only 2 hours and 40 minutes. A 50-year-old man, who may be enjoying the golden time of his age (as a result of bountiful wisdom, knowledge, and maturity) has spent only an hour and 20 minutes. So far. A 25-year-old man, who believes he can change the world, has spent only 40 minutes. So far.

This means, if you live a 1000 years (and you know that has a very low probability. Right?), you would live for only one day, in the timing that's with Allah, the Creator.

Someone is who is destined to live 75 years in our calculations, and is set to be born at 12am (in the time that is with Allah) shall die at 2am. This means he won't see the sunrise, let alone the midday. Forget about the sunset. Someone who did never see the sunrise has missed a lot. This is also true in the situation of the one who has missed the noon and the late night. This implies that, such a person has never lived the beauty of a spring season, the white snow of a winter season. He attained no experience whatsoever. Remember: a 50-year-old man is supposed to be in the peak of his good health, mental focus and intellectual balance.

A Newly Born Baby Challenging His Father?

This analogy implies that, the true four seasons with Allah have never been lived and experienced by anyone yet. This is because you must live the period of four months to witness one season. And that is 120 days. Not being able to have seen all that means one has not seen much that give him a rough imagination of what the next life really looks. This endorses the description of the Prophet for the environment of the Paradise. Imām al-Bukhārī reports that Sahl bin Sa‘d raḍiya Allāh ‘anhu said:

I was in the company of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He gave a description of Paradise and concluded with these words, “There will be bounties which no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human heart has ever perceived.” He ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam then recited this Verse: “Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allah's Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy…” (Sūrah al-Sajdah, 32:16-17)

Imagine a new born baby who lived for only 2 hours. What significance does he have in the existence? What impact, can he make to the Creator? What harm can he cause to the Creator? Imām Muslim reported from the narration of Sayyidunā Abū Dharr, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, that Allah said:

“O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and even the whole of human race of yours, and that of jinns even, become (equal in) God-conscious like the heart of a single person amongst you, nothing would add to My Power. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of the Jinns too in unison become the most wicked (all beating) like the heart of a single person, it would cause no loss to My Power.”

If not one person, but the whole creations combined, the visible and the invisible among them, were to collaborate to provide benefit to or go against Allah, they would never succeed neither in benefitting Him nor in going against Him, then why do we feel, as individuals sometimes, and as small groups some other times, that we can challenge Allah, and play tricks with him? A newly born baby challenging his father?!

The Battle between Good and Evil Persists

The battle between good and evil persists because everyone is chasing after happiness and comfort. However, it’s time that we realize, that no matter how happy you're, it won't go beyond one day, in the days with Allah. It’s even more delusional when one is so much attached to the state of his comfort and happiness, that he assumes he’s been granted an eternal happiness. The truth is, once you are comfortable and happy, you don’t realize the passing of time. And that’s when most of us may fail the test of happy and comfortable times.

The battle between good and evil persists because everyone is fighting to stay away from difficult and miserable life. However, it’s time that we realize that no matter how down you're pulled to, it won't stay longer than one day, in the days with Allah. Unfortunately, time moves very slow during difficult times. That’s also when, due to desperate needs, some of us fail the test of difficult times.

Why Only 2 Hours and 40 Minutes?

You are made to stay and live here for the approximate period of 2 hours and 40 minutes. This is so you can have an eternal residence, afterwards, in the next life. In the meantime, you must live your life within a given code of conduct. Adhering to the rules and regulations of that code of conduct admits you to a righteous group. Failure to adhere to it admits one to and evil group.

Regardless, whether one lives only a happy life or a miserable one, both the happy and the miserable, shall be transferred to a day, after which eternity awaits all. The righteous, whether they lived happy or difficult life, shall be rewarded for their patience and endurance in righteousness. The evil, whether they lived comfortable or uncomfortable life shall be punished for their transgression and evil.

“And have fear of the Day when you shall return to Allah, and every human being shall be fully repaid for whatever (good or evil) he has done, and none shall be wronged” (Surah al-Baqarah, 281).

This means, happy life has its demand of righteousness. Likewise, difficult times haves its set of demand for righteousness.

Until then, when we shall return to Allah, we will continue to live in a skeptical world, where illusions seem real than reality. Understanding this is important, for only upon understanding it shall we learn not to take things for granted. Once things are not taken for granted, then we’re ready for the journey back to Allah.

The Wing of Mosquito Weighs More than Our World

To be truly ready for the journey back to Allah, one should constantly remember that the whole world with that is in it, does not weigh the value of a single wing of a mosquito, in the sight of Allah. How can it be heavy when the individuals who are occupying it temporarily can only live on it for an hour or two? Therefore, all that we do should related to the next life. Imām al-Tirmidhī reports from the narration of Sahl ibn Sa‘d al-Sā‘idī raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:

“Were this world worth a wing of mosquito, He would not have given a drink of water to an infidel.”

Conclusion

A day with Allah equals to a thousand years in our reckoning. What does a year with Him equal to, in our calculations? In our reckoning, time is measured by days and nights, hours, minutes and seconds. And time has an end. On the contrary, time with Allah is absolute and eternal. It has no ending. That’s why dwellers of the Paradise shall dwell in there forever. Occupants of hell, shall struggle in there forever, and your Lord is never unjust to His creatures.

“Whoever does what is righteous, does so for his own good; and whoever does evil, does so to his own detriment: and Allah is never in the least unjust to His creatures” (Sūrah Fussilat, 41:46).

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Allah knows best.
Allāhu Ḥāfiẓ 🙂