Take Advantage Of Five Before Five: Life Is An Opportunity (2024)
There is a very apt narration from the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that serves as a timeless piece of advice for everyone, no matter what stage of life you are in:
“Take advantage of five before five:your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your busyness, and your life before your death.”
Through these words, we are given some important reminders about life and the perspective we adopt through it.
Whatever stage we are in right now, we are always blessed with something. In life, we may see an abundance in one domain but a lack in another. As we progress through life, the scales are constantly readjusting, in some ways in our favour, and in some ways against. In youth, we are busy planning for life and running after different obligations. Time never seems to be enough, but at this age, we are often blessed with health, strength, and optimism. As we progress into old age, our health may be deteriorating, but free time is a valuable blessing that we can always avail. There is always something we can take advantage of right here, right now.
Nothing lasts forever. Life progresses through natural cycles – through the peaks of health and wealth and the valleys of weakness and scarcity. Nature itself is a reminder of this. We journey with fervour through spring and summer, but slowly and surely descend into autumn and winter — and the cycle repeats. Whether we are currently standing at a peak or crouching in a valley, we are reminded that “this, too, shall pass”, a reminder that can be both humbling and hopeful.
The past two years of living through a pandemic have shone light on how much we took for granted and how delicate and transient everything truly is, from our physical and mental health, to our job security and wealth, our busy routines, and the time that we have to spend with our loved ones.
As long as you are living, it is never too late. If ever there were a reminder of the impermanence of it all, it would be the reality of death. Imam Ali (AS) has said, “Opportunities pass by like the passing of clouds, so make use of good opportunities.” Every moment that we have in this life is an opportunity.
This week, we suddenly and tragically lost a dear member of the Zahra Foundation community, Fazal Asgherali Virani. He was an integral member of the Zahra Foundation family who, for many years, availed of his time, health and ability to connect with others by travelling around the world and helping those in need firsthand. His sudden death is a reminder for us all, as death often is, that as long as we are living, we have an opportunity, whether it is to make amends with someone, begin a new habit (or quit an old one), learn something new, or make a small but meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Through the life and death of Fazal Virani, we are inspired to hold strong to his mission and continue making an impact on the lives of the less fortunate.
The Zahra(s) Trust Canada requests readers to recite a Surah al-Fateha for the soul of Marhum Fazal Virani and all Marhumeen.
“Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your busyness, and your life before your death.” Through these words, we are given some important reminders about life and the perspective we adopt through it.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Make the most of five things before five others: life before death, health before sickness, free time before becoming busy, youth before old age, and wealth before poverty.” See Saheeh al-Jaami', no. 1077.
Whether one is Sunni or Shi'ite Muslim, the Five Pillars of Islam are the same: Faith (witness), Prayer, Charity, Fasting, and the Pilgrimage. These Pillars come from the Qur'an, but are not well defined therein. It is in the Hadith literature that the Five Pillars are fully defined and detailed.
“Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your YOUTH before you become old; and your health, before you fall sick; and your richness, before you become poor; and your free time before you become busy; and your life, before your death.”
“Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your busyness, and your life before your death.” - Prophet Muhammad ﷺ How relevant is this hadith today?
The Five Pillars are Shahada (profession of faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage). Each Muslim is expected to fulfill each of these duties providing that they are physically able.
The five times of Prayer are not explicitly written in the Quran, although they're certainly implied. For example, the Surah 11 Hud, Ayat 114-114 reads, "And establish the Prayer at the two ends of the day and in the first hours of the night. Indeed the good deeds drive away the evil deeds.
The belief that "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God" is central to Islam. This phrase, written in Arabic, is often prominently featured in architecture and a range of objects, including the Qur'an, Islam's holy book of divine revelations.
The five pillars – the declaration of faith (shahada), prayer (salah), alms-giving (zakat), fasting (sawm) and pilgrimage (hajj) – constitute the basic norms of Islamic practice. They are accepted by Muslims globally irrespective of ethnic, regional or sectarian differences.
The greatest of the sins described as al-Kaba'ir is the association of others with God or Shirk. Hadiths differ as to how many major sins there are. Different hadith list three, four, or seven major sins.
Through the matn which is the texts of the Hadith, Muslims learn the methods in which they should pray their obligatory five prayers, known as salat. The Hadith pairs alongside the Quran, teaching Muslims how to understand the teachings within their holy scripture and live virtuously.
Relax, take some time off from what one is doing, as in We've been at it long enough; let's take five . This term is short for “take five minutes off.” [ Slang ; first half of 1900s] For a synonym, see take a break .
He instructed in one hadith: “Take advantage of five (matters) before five (other matters): your youth, before you become old; your health, before you fall sick; your richness, before you become poor; your free time, before you become busy; and your life, before your death.”
Introduction: My name is Greg Kuvalis, I am a witty, spotless, beautiful, charming, delightful, thankful, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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