Unmodern Aspects of Islam (35): The Commodification of Time

 

Unmodern Aspects of Islam

Did you know that in today’s culture, time is often reduced to a price tag—“time is money”? Hours are sold, schedules monetized, and even rest is treated as wasted potential. But when time becomes a commodity, life becomes a transaction.

This mindset drains the soul. People feel guilty for resting, anxious when unproductive, and trapped in endless busyness. We may earn more—but we live less.

Islam teaches that time is not currency, but amanah—a trust from Allah. 

The Prophet ﷺ said: 

“There are two blessings which many people waste: health and free time.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 6412) 

Time is not to be sold away blindly—it is to be invested in what brings us closer to Allah.

The early Muslims valued time as life itself. They divided their hours between worship, work, family, and reflection. Even their leisure carried purpose. Their days may have been fewer in number—but fuller in meaning.

What about us? Instead of measuring every hour in money, let’s measure it in meaning. Ask yourself: “Am I using this moment as Allah’s trust—or wasting it?” That question alone can transform how we live.

In a modern world, the Sunnah is our way back to what truly matters.

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