When Time Runs Out and You Never Noticed

DAILYREFLECTION

On the Day of Judgment, Allah will ask those who wasted their lives, “How long did you stay on earth?” And they will swear with full conviction, “Just an hour… maybe a day. Go ask the angels who kept our record.”

They’ll be so sure of it that they’ll argue with Allah Himself, because in their memory, their whole life will feel like a fleeting day. Nothing to show. Nothing to hold.

Allah will respond, “You truly lived only a short while. If you had only realized it, you would have used it well.” Time slips faster than we ever expect. Think of your teenage years. Think of the pandemic, how it feels both distant and recent.

This is how life fades: one “normal day” at a time. The Prophet ﷺ said that one of the signs of the Last Day is that time will feel shorter, not literally, but in Barakah.

Barakah means the quantity is the same, but the quality is multiplied. Everyone wakes up with 24 hours, but some live them with weight, depth, and purpose, while others let them vanish in distraction.

Imam al-Nawawi lived only into his forties, yet his books have filled the world for centuries. Imam al-Bukhari died in his early sixties, but no scholar delivers a sermon or class without his name being mentioned. They lived normal lifespans, yet their lives overflowed with Barakah.

That’s what makes time expand or collapse. It’s not the clock. It’s the connection. When your heart is connected to Allah, your time becomes fertile. When your intentions are pure, every act carries weight. But when life revolves around dunya, endless scrolling, self-comparison, chasing, time shrinks into meaninglessness.

The Prophet ﷺ accomplished in 23 years what entire empires could not. He changed the course of humanity not because he had more time, but because his time was blessed.

So today, pause and ask yourself:
What am I really building with my hours?
Will my life feel like a lifetime, or just an hour that slipped away?

REFLECT ON THIS:

If Allah were to ask you today, “How did you spend your hours?” what story would your time tell?

^{Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.}

WATERMELONWATCH

• UN Mine Action Service warns that unexploded ordnance remains a serious hazard across the Gaza Strip, with civilians returning to devastated areas and risking injury as they search for water or supplies.

• World Health Organization & United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report that hospitals in Gaza are severely under-resourced and most remain only partially operational, as thousands of patients wait extended periods for critical care.

• World Food Programme & Food and Agriculture Organization highlight that millions across crisis zones, including Gaza, face imminent famine, and global funding is far below what is needed to avert disaster.

• Marco Rubio cautions that escalating violence in the West Bank could undermine peace efforts in Gaza, as diplomats and regional actors work to stabilise the post-truce environment.

• United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees reports that roughly 32,000 Palestinian refugees remain displaced in Gaza due to the ongoing operations, and UN agencies are expanding efforts to provide schooling, shelter and community support despite the challenges.

QURANCORNER

Each day, you’ll be introduced to one of the 300 most common Qur’anic words. The Qur’an has about 77,430 words in total, all built on just 2,000 root words. By learning these frequently recurring ones, you’ll recognize 70–80% of the Qur’an’s vocabulary and begin connecting more deeply as you read.

سلام(Salam) — Peace

From the root س–ل–م (s-l-m), meaning to be safe, secure, or free from harm, salām is more than the absence of conflict; it is a state of complete safety, harmony, and well-being. In the Qur’an, it is both a greeting between believers and a promise from Allah for the people of Paradise.