WHO'S GOT SOME FREE TIME?
we all wish we had more of it. dont we? ;)
A Muslim Woman and Free Time.
The world is filled with activities. How do we choose who, what, when, and where and at the same time reassure ourselves of why?
Here are a few principles that can put some perspective and equilibrium into our lives.
Fear AllahPlace this feeling into everything that you approach in your life. Keep in mind the pillars of our Deen - not just that of Iman and Islam but particularly of Ihsan – "
to worship Allah as if you see Him and, though you cannot see Him, know that He sees you."
What a powerful statement! Make it words to live by.
Also remember that our entire lives and the world around us is a test.Know that you will be asked how you spent your time, your money, your health, and your wealth. Allah (swt) tells us in Surah Al-Kahf: "Indeed We have made that which is on earth as an adornment for it, in order that We may test them (mankind) as to which of them are best in deeds." [18:7]
Pay attention to your life and the outlook you put into your day-to-day activities. Allah (swt) observes us. He knows our every movement. We should consider this observance and emphasise our awareness of Allah (swt).
If we fear Allah (swt) and maintain our consciousness of Him (swt) we will be more responsible with our time and our use of it.
Be Responsible and ResponsiveAs women we have varying circumstances and situations within the folds of our lives and our responsibilities vary accordingly.
First and foremost we are responsible to Allah (swt). All of our obligations in life are subjective to this. If we could only keep this is mind most things would fall into place and much wrong avoided.
But sometimes we
overindulge ourselves in personal desires causing us to neglect areas of responsibility to the point that we step over the bounds of right into wrong.
The fabric of our lives is as different and varying as fingerprints. Some of us are married though others are not. We may live all alone or within an extended family home. You may have a child or two, others have a houseful, while even others have none.
Therein each of us will find a different balance of responsibilities and a varying amount of free time. If you were to list all of the responsibilities that you have as a woman you might feel a bit exasperated.
However, the key is not in making a "To Do" list but
more a reminder to be responsive to those things around you that need you.
For example, a baby has a right to the breast milk that Allah (swt) has created for its nourishment. A mother has an obligation to offer it.
But the responsive part of this relationship is recognising that the child needs not just the milk but the loving, caring warmth, the emotional cradling, the comforting nipple of his mother's breast.
A relationship of physical contact and emotion is created and needed, one for which a bottle is a poor replacement.
A baby is not aware of the nutritional difference that mother's milk provides over other milks. But she is aware of the difference in comfort, closeness, and affinity that she feels when she nurses from her mother's own milk.
By looking beyond the "right" and "obligation" aspects of our lives and turning our minds to the benefit, reward, and fulfilment that can be gained by living out our responsibilities we can find pleasure and satisfaction in things that are otherwise done without attention or enjoyment.
In the patchwork of our lives we will find that there is blessing in whatever Allah (swt) has given us if we only look for it, nurture it, and give it its due. The more responsive we are to our individual blessings, the more benefit we will gain.Be responsive to the daily situations that Allah (swt) places you in. Act and react with full awareness of your duties to all aspects of your life and the people and things within it. Stop and ask yourself if you are truly fulfilling the rights of Allah (swt), the rights of others, and the rights of yourself.
Keep Good CompanyMost of us have a "best friend". She (or even he) is the one whom we call and discuss our innermost feelings and concerns with, the one with whom we share our day-to-day happenings and thoughts, the one whom we turn to for advice.
No wonder the Prophet (saw) said, "A person follows the faith of his friend. Therefore, consider with whom you make friends."
A good companion is
one who will listen, yet
stop you if you gossip. She will
encourage you toward good when you incline toward evil. She will
tell you that you are wrong when you need to hear it. She will
remind you of Allah (swt) and
remind you to remember Him.
She will prohibit you from disobedience to Him. And perhaps most importantly, she will do this without fear of losing you as a friend just as you, if you are worthy of such a companion, will accept it with a good heart and thank Allah (swt) for the blessing of such a good friend.Identify Your Weaknesses and DesiresAll of us have them. Some of us control them. Many of us indulge in them. It could be talking on the phone, e-mailing friends, going shopping, social engagements, an outside job, even going out for Dawah or education. Any one of these activities has the potential to turn into a platform for misuse of time and neglect of responsibility.
As part of a balanced life there is
no harm in participating in any or all of these things as long as they involve nothing forbidden.
But if they overshadow or negatively affect the other areas of your life, particularly those things that are obligations, you could be setting yourself up for some major questioning on the Day of Judgment.Sit with yourself and examine where and how you spend your time. Often we may find that we give an abundance of our time to things that are beneficial but not really necessary while other areas of our lives are not being cared for properly. Single out those things that seem to dominate your life.
Examine them for their value. Are you sacrificing time from other obligations in your life to make room for them? Does it affect your relationships with the people in your life?
We don't have to give up the things we enjoy. We just need to maintain the equilibrium that is necessary to balance the many balls that we choose to juggle.
Free time is a luxury that most of us enjoy and would appreciate more of. But in doing so we must keep in mind that every second that ticks by comes to an end and does not return until we are called to account for it. Spend your time well as it is stated so superbly by the Lord of the Worlds:
By al-'Asr (Time),
Verily mankind is in loss, except those who believe, and do good righteous deeds, and those who enjoin one another to truth.Aminah.alqaem. org
www.aminah.shiahost ing.com
excerpt from
http://islamwomen.net/EngIw/HomePage/HPDetails7.aspx?id=500 
