We live in the age of speed. We strain to be more efficient, to cram more into each minute, each hour, each day. The cult of speed has pushed us to a breaking point. As Carl Honore notes, “Living on the edge of exhaustion, we are constantly reminded by our bodies and minds that the pace of life is spinning out of control.”
Taking one’s time and deliberating is a quality that Islam encourages. Deliberation means not being hasty in seeking anything and acting with purpose to gain it.
1. Praiseworthy Quality
The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam praised the delegation of Abd Al-Qays for their deliberation and tolerance, as he said to Ashajj Abd Al-Qays: “You have two characteristics that Allah and His Messenger like: forbearance and deliberation.” [Bukhari]
The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam attributed deliberation to Allah Ta’ala and attributed hastiness to Satan: “Deliberation is from Allah and hastiness is from the devil.” [Abu Ya‘la]
Abu Haatim rahimahullah said, “The hasty person cannot be caught, while the patient, deliberate one cannot be preceded. The silent person can never regret, while the one who speaks can never be safe of from making mistakes. The hasty person usually speaks before he is sure; answers before he understands and praises before he tries.”
2. Verify Information
“O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.” [Quran 46:6]
In the age of instant messaging, take time out to verify information before passing it on.
3. Worship with Focus
Fadhaalah bin Ubayd radhiallahu anhu narrated, “Once, while we were sitting with the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam a man entered the mosque and performed prayer and invoked Allah Ta’ala without praising Him and without asking Him to confer His blessing on the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said to him, “You have been hasty in your supplication.”
We should bring this quality of focus and concentration while performing acts of worship like Salaah and reciting Quran.
4. Divorce
The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, “The most hateful of lawful matters to Allah is divorce.” [Sunan Abu Dawood 2172] In Surah Talaaq, Allah Ta’ala outlines the rules regarding divorce. The basic premise that emerges is that the issuing of a divorce should be an absolute last resort, which is only issued after an intense procedure of conciliation is followed.
When it is decided to issue a divorce, it needs to be done in a way that does not prolong the waiting period for the lady. All this means that the divorce should not be issued in haste and without due deliberation.
5. Rules of the Road
From an Islamic point of view, it’s obligatory on drivers to observe the rules of road safety. These embody the essence of driving with due care. The Hadith states that a form of Iman (faith) is to remove an obstacle of harm from a public road. Muslim drivers need to show courtesy and understanding especially at times when traffic is heavy. This means not giving in to road rage. The Hadith attributes haste or reckless speeding in this context to the devil.
Taking one’s time in carrying out actions results in a better chance of success. The exception is when the impulse to do acts of worship or to stay away from sin strikes. The Hadith instructs us in this regard: “Deliberation should be in every matter except matters that pertain to the Hereafter.” [Abu Dawood]
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