Assalamu Alaikum my dear,

Some mornings, I wake up with a thought that lingers—if I could go back in time, what would I tell my younger self? What advice would I give that could change the way I live today?

I've come to realize that questions are some of the most powerful tools we have. They have the ability to shape our thoughts, challenge our perspectives, and redirect the course of our lives. When we ask meaningful questions, we open the door to growth. And whoever seeks will discover. So today, I asked myself:

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

The very first thought that comes to mind is this: Don’t waste your time.

Time is the most valuable blessing that Allah subuhanawut’ala has given us—equally. No human being has more hours in a day than another. Some may live longer than others, but in a single day, we all have exactly 24 hours.

How we use this time defines our success in this world and in the Aakhira.

Yet, how often do we truly make the most of our days? I am sure, you know the answer :-)
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ foresaw this and warned us about this very tendency.

"There are two blessings that many people waste: health and free time."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, 6412)

This hadith is a powerful reminder. Good health and free time are invaluable gifts, yet many of us fail to make the most of them.

When we are healthy, we should use our strength to worship, to serve others, and to work toward meaningful goals—before illness or weakness sets in. Similarly, time is a non-renewable resource; once it’s gone, we can never get it back. Wasting it on distractions, procrastination, or things that bring no benefit leads only to regret.

This message aligns beautifully with my WELL framework, particularly in the areas of Energy and Legacy—using our health wisely and making the best use of our time to leave a meaningful impact.

There’s a profound wisdom in why the Prophet ﷺ mentioned health and free time together. They are not just separate blessings; they are intertwined. Good health gives us the strength and energy to make the most of our time, while free time allows us the space to nurture our health—physically, mentally, and spiritually. When one is lacking, the other suffers. And when both are honored, they amplify each other, enabling us to live with purpose and devotion.

This understanding of time changed me, but it wasn't until I sat in a room with one of my favorite scholars that the reality of time truly hit me. I still remember it vividly. It was around 17 years ago during a week-long workshop for da’ees.

He was speaking about the injustices we do to others, particularly the dangers of backbiting. He mentioned the hadith about the bankrupt person—the one who will come on the Day of Judgment with mountains of good deeds, only to lose them all to those he wronged.

I raised my hand and asked, “How do we now rectify all the mistakes we’ve made towards others?”

He gave us some general advice, but then he said something that stayed with me forever:

“The safest thing is to make sure we 10x our good deeds—as if we lived 10 times in this world—just in case we are held accountable for every misdeed we did.”

That statement struck me. It wasn’t about living in fear of mistakes—it was about making the most of the time we have left, ensuring that we are depositing far more good than we are withdrawing. If I can make the most of the time I have left, using each moment with purpose, perhaps I can come closer to that ideal, if Allah wills.

Now, I could end this email with a list of time management tools, but I won’t. Because before we run toward tools, we need to change internally first. It’s a mindset shift that will help us far more than any external system. Sure, tools are valuable, but if we don’t fix our mindset about why every moment matters, no tool will truly help us use our time wisely.

This reminder isn’t just for you—it’s for me, too. Every day, I remind myself that my time is my true wealth. And like any wealth, if I don’t invest it wisely, it slips through my fingers. So I ask myself, and I ask you—how will we choose to spend what remains?

May Allah subuhanawut’ala grant us the wisdom to recognize the value of every moment, the discipline to use our time in ways that please Him, and the sincerity to seek His pleasure in all that we do.

May He bless our days with purpose, our actions with barakah, and our hearts with the constant remembrance of Him. Ameen.

With love and gratitude,
Rushdhi

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This post is part of my new weekly email series, “Heart to Heart.” If you enjoyed reading this and would like to receive these reflections directly in your inbox, you can subscribe below!