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The Value of Time in Islam: Surah Al-Asr and the Hadith of Two Blessings
“There are two blessings many people lose: health and free time.” What Surah Al-Asr and Sahih al-Bukhari teach about productivity, time and priorities.
Reviewed by the Nouf Quran Academy teaching team · Updated
Allah swears by time in the Quran — a sign of how precious it is.
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَفِي خُسۡرٍ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ
“By time Indeed, mankind is in loss Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience”
Two blessings people lose
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time
Turning free time into something that lasts
- Protect a fixed daily slot for the Quran, even 15 minutes.
- Use commutes for listening to recitation or revising memorised surahs.
- Memorising the Quran (hifz) is one of the most rewarding ways to invest spare time — many adults memorise Juz ‘Amma in under a year.
Frequently asked questions
What does Islam say about wasting time?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6412). Surah Al-‘Asr teaches that everyone is in loss except those who use their time for faith and good.