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The Life of this World is Only 3 days

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ: ” الدُّنْيَا ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ: أَمَا أَمْسِ فَقَدْ ذَهَبَ بِمَا فِيهِ، أَمَا غَدٌ فَلَعَلَّكَ لَا تُدْرِكُهُ، وَالْيَوْمُ لَكَ فَاعْمَلْ فِيهِ “

Hasan Al-Basri said: “The Life of this World is 3 days. There’s yesterday which is gone and everything in it. Then there is tomorrow, and there is a chance that you won’t live to see it , and then there is today and it’s yours , so work in it.”[1]

Lessons from this narration:

  • These words teach us to place an importance in living in the present, yet at the same time preparing for tomorrow, by doing things today. Whatever you can do today that’s positive, do it!
  • This narration molds us to have acceptance of our past, to embrace change and to focus on the present.
  • This Athar aids our faith to avoid resorting to fortune-tellers and reading horoscopes. Allah (تعالى)said: “None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (unseen) except Allah.[2] Aisha (رضي الله عنها) said: “Whoever tells you that he knows what will happen tomorrow is lying.” Then she recited, “No person knows what he will earn tomorrow.” [3]
  • The words, “There’s yesterday which is gone and everything in it..” that is concluded by, “and then there is today and it’s yours , so work in it.”, highlights the importance of knowing that your past doesn’t always define who you are.
  • These words teach us how to value our time. Abdullah ibn Munazil said: “Whoever preoccupies himself with the past and the future wastes his time.”[4]
  • Hasan Al-Basri’s words, “and then there is today and it’s yours, so work in it.” inspire us to be grateful for today. Umar ibn Thar said: “Everyday a believer lives is a reward.”[5]
  • These words encourage us to do good deeds today for tomorrow when we meet our Lord. This is similar to the statement of the Most High. “And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do .[Al-Hashr:18].
  • These words lead us to repent for what we’ve done in the past.” There’s yesterday which has gone and everything in it…” Hence, whatever wrong you did yesterday, you can fix it today by repenting to Allah.
  • Imam Hasan Al-Basri’s word call us to take account of our actions that we did. Umar ibn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said,” Call yourself to account before Allah does. Weigh your deeds before Allah does. “[6]
  • This statement of Hasan Al-Basri teaches us to take advantage of our time and to avoid wasting it. The Prophet(ﷺ)said: The feet of the son of Adam shall not move from before his Lord on the Day of Judgement, until he is asked about five things: About his life and what he did with it[7]
  • These words warn us from procrastination. We must make the most of the time we have right now. Don’t put off something you can do today for tomorrow. Abu Al-Jald Al-Basri said: Procrastination is a leading solider in Satan’s army.”[8]
  • The words in this statement, “Then there is tomorrow, and there is a chance that you won’t live to see it…” inform us that tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us. We must prepare for death today. Ad-Daqaq said: Whoever forgets about death will procrastinate repentance, stop being content with his subsistence, and will become lazy in his worship.”[9]
  • This statement trains us to not beat ourselves up  regarding the past, as what is done is done, but we have today; consequently, we can begin it with a fresh start right now.
  • These words of Imam Hasan Al-Basri prepare us with an antidote for dealing the stress and anxiety of living in the past and worrying about the future. Some modern-day psychologists refer to today as the present calling it that as it is a gift from Allah the Most Merciful.
  • The text of these words leads us to set ourselves up to have a good ending in this life. Look at it like this, the past was once the present and the present will soon be the past, accordingly your future will be your present. In view of that, any good you are doing by teaching people about the Quran and the Sunnah as understood by the Salaf, writing books, giving charities will develop and spread as your legacy. The Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), said, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.[10]
  •   Hasan Al-Basri’s words inform us to be obedient to Allah and avoid shouldering the tension and fear of the future. In another statement Imam Al-Hasan said: “Son of Adam, do not burden the worry of a year over a day. Your day is sufficient for what is in it. If it is a year of your life, Allah will provide you with your provision, otherwise you will be among the poor. Hunting and asking for what you do not have.”[11]

Prepared by

Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle

Jakarta, Indonesia

Eidul-Adha 1445©


[1] كلام الليلي و أيام , أبن أبي الدنيا

[2] Al-Naml:65

[3] Al-Bukhari:4477

[4] Zuhd, by Imam Al-Bayhaqi #478

[5] كلام الليلي و أيام , أبن أبي الدنيا #54

[6] Collected by Ahmed in (Az-Zuhd 2/ 30) isnad Hasan

[7] At-Tirmithi #2415

[8] قصر الأمل  ,Ibn Abi Dunya ,207

[9] Adad Ad-deen wa Dunya

[10] Shu’ab al-Imān lil-Bayhaqī 10250,Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani

[11] كلام الليلي و أيام , أبن أبي الدنيا

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