Cursing time is cursing Allah

Everything that ever did, does or will exist has been created by Allah عزوجل and this includes the creation of ‘time’ itself. The Arabic word for time is derived from the triliteral root wao – qāf – tā, meaning ‘limit’ or ‘determined’ and Allah عزوجل is pure from both, limitation and determination.

Interestingly, time is a finite creature with a predetermined existence, and it has a beginning and end; yet it determines the beginning and end of everything that is created by Allah عزوجل. Thus, time, if understood correctly, can humble the proudest of people as it is through its estimated measurement that we carry out our day-to-day activities. Take prayer for instance; Allah عزوجل has assigned specific times for us to pray and, no matter what, we cannot pray a second earlier or later.

Time is one of those unique creations by which Allah عزوجل has sworn by in the Qurʿān many times. In Chapter 89, He عزوجل swears by the dawn, the sun in Chapter 91, the night in Chapter 92, the afternoon in Chapter 93, and the late afternoon in Chapter 103. Suffice to say, Allah عزوجل would not use a literary technique to add emphasis if it was an insignificant thing to do.

It is for this reason that we should not speak ill of time. As Muslims, we must accept our circumstances but not let them define us. In order to deal with difficult times, Allah عزوجل has blessed us with the concept of patience – ṣabr – and it is by practicing patience that we can gather our strength and become stronger in faith. About time, and those who curse or speak ill of it, the blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم narrates that Allah عزوجل said:

يُؤْذِينِي ابْنُ آدَمَ، يَسُبُّ الدَّهْرَ وَأَنَا الدَّهْرُ، بِيَدِي الأَمْرُ، أُقَلِّبُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ

The son of Adam hurts me for he abuses Time though I am Time; in My Hands are all things, and I cause the revolution of day and night. — Bukhari #4826

Here, ‘abuse’ can refer to the wastage of time or through the cursing of it. Either way, to refer to time harshly is ill advised as it would be directed towards Allah عزوجل. It is equally as harmful to say that time is losing its blessing – barakah. No doubt time passes quicker than it once did but there is a reason for this. Since time is connected to Allah عزوجل, and we have distanced ourselves from Him عزوجل, we have, therefore, distanced ourselves from His عزوجل barakāt – blessings. It is no wonder time eludes us for we have neglected He عزوجل who created it.

And Allah عزوجل and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم know best.