"Oh Abu Dharr! Beware of Procrastination for you are (in) today and not (in) tomorrow. If there is a tomorrow for you, be tomorrow as you are today. If there isn't a tomorrow for you, you will grievously regret the opportunity you missed today."
Whether it be an upcoming exam or a looming work deadline, we all know the danger of procrastination. The Prophet is clearly a now person, as the following tradition also suggests:
"Oh Abu Dharr! When you wake up in the morning don't talk to yourself about tonight and when night has come don't worry of the morning for surely you don't know what your state will be tomorrow."
Some of the Salaf said: "Beware of procrastination, for it is one of devil's strongest weapons."
How many are determined to do something and then they postpone it. Perhaps a scholar is determined to return to his study. Satan says, "Rest for a while." Or a servant is alerted to the prayer at night and he says to him, "You have plenty of time." He will not stop making people love laziness and postponing of actions and he makes the person rely on hopes and dreams.
The serious, non-procrastinating person and the one who rests on his hopes and puts off working are like two who are passing through a city while journeying. The serious, energetic one buys his provisions early and waits for his traveling out of the city. The procrastinator says, "I will wait, as perhaps we will stay here a month," and continues to put off buying his provisions and preparing for his departure, until the last minute wherein he becomes rushed and mistake prone.
This is how people are in this world. Some of them are prepared and alert. When the angel of death comes, he is not sorrowful. Others are deceived by thinking they can procrastinate and they will despair when the time to move on comes. It is part of one's nature to love laziness and dreams but then Iblees comes and builds upon that. This makes it difficult to struggle against him in that matter.
In the same way, the one who is disobedient to Allaah postpones his repentance. He sets his sights on his desires and he hopes he will repent later.
"Do not rush into committing a sin, and then procrastinate repenting."
YOU ARE READING
Al Wasillah (In The Footsteps Of The Prophet PBUH)
SpiritualA collection of Hadith (sayings of Prophet pbuh) that we can put to use in our daily lives. Anyone can gain immense wisdom from these words so please feel free to give it a read. The greatest of wealth is the richness of the soul. #ProphetMohammed...
