Ticking away with the day…
By UsaydPeace be with you.
I did this for a show called ‘Pause for Thought’ on BBC Radio 2. It aired around Tuesday 25th March 08.
Transcript:
Ticking away with the day… Sometimes I sit at the computer for hours, I’m sure everyone does it. Just browsing the many websites out there, perhaps see what the latest is on my favourite forums. Then all of a sudden you glance at the clock and think…wow. What did I do with all that time?!
They say time is money so it makes sense that people say ‘stop wasting your time’. The difference is whilst money can be replenished once it has been spent, time can’t. As a Muslim the most precious thing to me is my time. As God says in the Qur’an: “By Time, Indeed mankind is at loss – except those who have faith and do righteous deeds…”
They say ‘life is a series of serious choices’. I often think about my 6th form education – why am I really at school? And can a few exams and essays really determine my future?
I’m at that stage in life where I have to make ‘life changing decisions’. Choosing to go away from home for University was difficult. My parents want me to stay and I want to go. I find myself torn between the wishes of my parents and my own desires. Prioritising things in life seems to have become something of an issue, as maturity sets in you begin to realise not everything is about ‘you’.
Testing times have always made me think and reflect on life. I always end up laughing at my situation when comparing it to the difficulties that so many other young people are going through in the world, whether it be fighting to stay alive another night or being killed in their classroom.
Being a young Muslim is pretty difficult in the current climate. My peers at school might joke about ‘blowing things up’ or the current one is ‘how are your plans to take over the world’. Although these are just young guys joking, I find it hard to comprehend how anyone could see faith as something violent. To me it has always been about seeking peace – both inner and outer. The word Islam is derived from the word salaam which means peace. Surely any human who desires to bring peace would want to alleviate the suffering in the world, not add to it.
Looking to the future always gives me hope. I always have something to work towards. But I mustn’t forget that my future is only what I work for today.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Excellent work Usayd!!
really thought provoking.
Masha-Allah
April 5th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Amazing. Very well said!
I have the same problem: I keep waisting time.
I should be studying right now, but here I am, posting comments on your website.
I guess I better start working for my future as well.
Back to my books then…
April 5th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
wel spoken Mash’Allah
! Good message for youngsters-indeed it’s a message for all the youth of today, regardless of caste, creed & faith. Best wishes for all your endeavours.
h
April 24th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
time passes by quicker when i’m surfing the net… but that’s probably because my connection sucks and everything loads so slowly.
religion has become a tool for some people, to pursue their warped journey to be closer to God. you are right about violence in relation to religion… these two don’t even belong in the same sentence.