Hurry, hurry, hurry

Our most recent assignment was to present about the differences between Asian culture and American culture. From my research and also the presentations by others, I found out that the major difference that had attracted me was about time.

"Time waits for nobody"
"Time is golden"
"If you're on time, you're late"
Those are among the popular maxims among Americans regarding the time. These shows how they are really concern about the time. I always hear that the lecturers in the USA are really strict in deadlines of assignments. If they want them by a date, then it is. They won't accept them more if you are late. Also in most events, people will show up at the stated time. Different with Malaysians, we think that 8.50 is too early to go to an event which starts at 9 o'clock.

Supposedly, we have to have the punctuality in ourselves. By being ready earlier, we could  actually feel more calm because we do not have to rush to and fro. And rushing can also result to carelessness, which will interrupt our incoming activities. For example, if we only start preparing to go to the class about 5 minutes before it begins, we may leave a few important things such as note books or even worse, homeworks. So, then we have to explain to the teacher why we cannot submit the work, or we have to write the notes in pieces of papers which are not really appropriate.

In Islam, we are also encouraged to be punctual all the time.

 By Al-'Asr (the time). Verily! Man is in loss, except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth and recommend one another to patience.  (Surah Al-Asr:1-3)

So, it is absolutely important to manage our time that Allah had even created a surah about it. According to this surah, we are productive only when we do some good deeds and also invite people to join us. Procrastinating is not included.

Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: "the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, grabbed my shoulder and said: Be in this world like a stranger or a passer-by, and Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, used to say: "If you enter into the evening do not wait for the morning, and if you enter into the morning do not wait for the evening, and take from your health for your illness, and from your life for your death." [Narrator: Abdullah ibn Umar, in Sahih Al-Bukhari]

It is shown that Islam is really concerned about the time according to the hadith and Al-Quran. Thus, we, Muslims especially, should show a.good example in time management. Let's be punctual!