Golden advice on benefiting from one’s time

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Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

By Allaah, were the hearts sound (pure), they would be saddened at missing out [from the goodness to be attained]. How many are the hours which pass by us, and we are prevented from benefitting from them? We do not benefit from them. They [simply] pass without benefit [being sought from them].

[Our] life and time is more precious than the price (wealth); more precious than gold and silver. If gold and silver was lost, a substitute can be sought for them. However, there is no substitute for our life and time. If it is lost, it is lost; there is no going back [as Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) says]:

{But never will Allaah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allaah is Acquainted with what you do.} – soorah al-Munaafiqoon, aayah 11

{[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back that I might do righteousness in that which I left behind.” No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.} – soorah al-Mu.minoon, aayahs 99-101

{…if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous.”} – soorah al-Munaafiqoon, aayah 10

You have a limited period of time [in this life], [so] seize this time [and benefit from it].

[Consider this] …allocate for yourself [daily] a portion of the Book of Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) [to read].

Allocate for yourself time for righteous deeds.

Stand [for prayer] during the last part of the night, even if it is half-an-hour before Fajr. [During this time] implore your Lord, supplicate [to Him], for indeed He descends to the lowest heaven, and says:

«Who is calling upon Me, so I may answer him? Who is asking of Me, so I may give him? Who is seeking forgiveness of Me, so I may forgive him?» – transmitted by al-Bukhaaree, no.1145 and Muslim, no.1261

Who is unable to stand [for prayer even] before Fajr – [even] for [just] half-an-hour? This is something very easy. We ask Allaah to shower us with His Mercy.

We do not stand [for prayer] for a third of the night, and nor do we stand [for prayer] for half of the night. However, is it not possible for us to even stand [in prayer] for just half-an-hour…so we may remember Allaah during it? That we perform the ablution, and [then] pray whatever Allaah wills, [and then] perform the witr [prayer].

This is something very easy.

Likewise, we make our lives – all of it a remembrance of Allaah, for indeed the smart believer is he who makes all of his life a remembrance of Allaah.