I was on my way to college, returning from the mosque on that Friday, thinking about the sermon I’ve heard. It was about the hadith:

Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said: “Not a foot of a servant (of Allah) on the Resurrection Day, will move before he is asked about five things: ‘His age and how he spent it, his youth and how he wore it out, his wealth and how he earned it and on what he spent it and about his love towards us, Ahlul-Bait (the Prophet’s household).’”

‘The Imam has stressed on the first two part of the hadith, about time and youth, i.e., health. I sat in the bus thinking about the times I’ve spent without doing anything good- simply chatting with my friends, or just sleeping. Even today morning, I felt a little lazy when I woke up and that made me slip into the blanket after my fajr prayer. I could have spent the time studying for the upcoming exam. Yesterday night, my roommates Remya and Jeena where watching an Indian movie, and they invited me. I sat with them for a long time and I forgot my Magrib prayers. I wasted my whole dawn for just a third rate love story movie. What a shame on me! What a pity!’

I got down from the bus and started walking towards my college. I felt a lot of repentance, for all the time I’ve wasted. I won’t get it back. I wish I have done something useful with the time Allah gave me from His abundant wealth of time.

Well, I thought next, why should I grieve over spilt milk? Why don’t I become more careful about it in the future? I promised not to waste any more time in useless activities. I can have sometime for my hobbies, some time for reading and a little time for my friends – after all I don’t want to be a dumb.

I could see the gates of college at a distance. And I could here the song from a loud speaker. Oh, I forgot! Today is our final years dancing day. An evening for the final year students of the college, when anyone of them can get on the stage and dance.

But the voice of the Imam rang loud in my mind, “Beware of time and health you waste.” I promised not to take part in the dance program. I planned to go to my class, take my books and leave for the hostel. ‘I will go and do the record work for our project, and make the soft-copy for the seminar report.’ I thought.

When I reached my class, I saw Remya and Jeena waiting for me at the steps.

“Najee, we were waiting for you. Let’s get to the auditorium.” Jeena said.

“I don’t feel like dancing, Jeena,” I replied. “I’ve got some urgent work to do.” I went for the exit.

But they were not going to leave me alone. They pushed me towards the auditorium. I was not able to say a firm NO, because they were my roommates (and I lacked the faith to say the NO).

“Come, Najee, come!” Remya was calling me, towards the stage when we reached inside the auditorium.

‘Remember, Allah, The Almighty, will ask you about the time and youth he bestowed upon you. And don’t forget this as soon as you get out of the mosque.’

The Imam’s last words echoed in my head, louder than the song from the loud-speaker.

I turned to say no to Jeena, but she pushed me on to the stage. And now my other classmates were pulling me.

“Najee, it’s the last days of our college, let’s enjoy!” Arun, my classmate, shouted to me.

‘Beware of the time and health you waste.’

I heard the Imam’s voice still echoing.

“But Arun, I have some work to….”

“Oh, please Najee! We are also your classmates. What work do you have that we don’t have?”

I stood there, not able to say anything. Aman, also my classmate, came to me.

“Najee, please join us. Or we would think you don’t like your classmates. We won’t be having such fun anymore. We are at the end of our college life.”

‘Not a foot of a servant on the Resurrection day….’

This time, I heard only half of the echo before the song from the loud speaker made my heart and body to move to its rhythm.

Najeeba