Condemning Time

Authored by: Sheikh Al-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab (رحمه الله)
Translated by: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi (Hafizahullah)

Belief of the People of Jahiliyyah​

In pre-Islamic times, the people of Jahiliyyah used to curse time (dahr) for the hardships and misfortunes they faced. Allah has mentioned their statement in the Quran:

"And nothing destroys us except time."

(Surah Al-Jathiyah: 45:24)
After describing their misguidance, Allah conveys their words:

"And they say, 'There is nothing but our worldly life; we die and live, and nothing destroys us except time.'"

(Surah Al-Jathiyah: 45:24)

Understanding Their Belief​

1. Denial of the Hereafter:
   These disbelievers denied resurrection and the afterlife. They believed life consisted only of birth and death in this world.
2. Belief in Natural Cycles:
   They attributed death and misfortune to the natural passage of time, rejecting the concept of the Angel of Death and Allah’s decree.
3. Influence of Reincarnation Beliefs:
   Many adhered to the idea of tanasukh al-arwah (transmigration of souls), believing that the soul transitions from one body to another.
4. Ignorance of Divine Decree:
   They failed to recognize that all events and calamities are decreed by Allah and not by time itself.
5. Poetic Expressions of Ignorance:
   Pre-Islamic poets often attributed the hardships of life to time, as reflected in their verses. For example:
   
   "Time has aged the young and destroyed the old, as the days and nights revolve."

Islamic Teachings on Time​

Islam emphasizes that cursing time is impermissible because it indirectly criticizes Allah, the Creator of time and all occurrences. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly prohibited this behavior:

Hadith 1:​

"Do not curse time, for Allah is time."
(Sahih Muslim)

Hadith 2:​

"The son of Adam harms Me by saying, 'Woe to time!' Do not say, 'Woe to time,' for I am time; I alternate the night and the day."
(Sunan Abu Dawood; Al-Hakim)

Hadith 3:​

"Allah says: 'I sought a loan from My servant, but he refused to give it to Me. My servant curses Me, though he does not know it. He says, "Woe to time," while I am time.'"
(Al-Hakim)

Hadith 4:​

"Do not curse time, for Allah says: 'I am the One who alternates the nights and days, and I bring kings after kings.'"
(Al-Bayhaqi)

Core Message of the Hadith​

1. Allah Is the Creator of Events:
   Cursing time implies dissatisfaction with the Creator who decrees all events and occurrences.
2. Misplaced Blame on Time:
   By blaming time, people fail to understand that all misfortunes are from Allah’s divine wisdom and decree.
3. Ignorance of Divine Wisdom:
   Cursing time stems from ignorance and a lack of understanding of Allah’s control over the universe.

Analysis of the Disbelievers’ Misconceptions​

1. No Rational or Scriptural Basis:
   The belief that time causes destruction has no basis in logic or revelation.
2. Blind Imitation:
   Their statements were based on guesswork and blind adherence to inherited beliefs.
3. Parallels in Modern Times:
   This ignorance persists today, as many attribute events to “luck,” “nature,” or other abstract concepts, ignoring Allah’s role.

Conclusion​

Cursing time is a manifestation of ignorance and a denial of Allah’s sovereignty. It is essential to recognize that all events, whether good or bad, occur by Allah’s will and decree. The practice of attributing misfortunes to time or other causes reflects the same ignorance that prevailed during Jahiliyyah. As believers, we must affirm that Allah alone is the Creator and Controller of all events.

May Allah grant us understanding and protect us from ignorance. Ameen.