Allah almighty has bestowed upon us so many gifts that even if you try your hardest, you cannot count them all: 

He gave you all that you had asked Him. If you enumerate Allah’s blessings, you will not be able to count them. Indeed, man is most unfair and ungrateful! (Holy Quran, 14:34)

However, if you reflect further, you will realize that the greatest favor of Allah to us is the opportunity to use these gifts. Life is a priceless blessing that many people often overlook. We must appreciate this precious gift from Allah and use it in the best way possible. Regarding this, Allah Almighty warns us about wasting our time in the Holy Quran,

I swear by Time! * Mankind is indeed in loss, * except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and enjoin one another to [follow] the truth, and enjoin one another to patience. (103:1-3) 

This life is short yet crucial because it’s all we have got. Allah almighty says,
On the Judgement Day, He will gather them [it will be] as if they had not remained [in the world] except for a moment of the day getting acquainted with one another. They are certainly losers who deny the encounter with Allah, and they are not guided. (10:45)

Imam Ali (AS) also states,

Your opportunities pass just like the clouds pass; therefore use the good opportunities. (1)

Those who wasted their time in this world on trivial matters will lament on the Judgement Day:

They are certainly losers who deny the encounter with Allah. When the Judgement Day overtakes them suddenly, they will say, ‘Alas for us, for what we wasted in the world!’ And they will bear their burdens on their backs. Look! Evil is what they bear! (6:31)

Giving the importance of time, Islam has set some principles to make the most efficient use of it

Avoid wasting time on unimportant things 

Many of the activities we engage in during the day are unproductive. In the Islamic view, it is crucial to understand the importance of spending time on beneficial things. Imam Sadiq (AS) says,
One of the signs of a good Muslim is that he avoids things that have nothing to do with him (2)

Self-Assessment

Imam Ali (AS) says:

It is so necessary for one to have a time during the day allocated for self-Assessment so that they could see what they have done during the day and the night that had benefit or damage for them. (3)

Imam Kazim (AS) advised his pupil Hisham:

O Hisham! He is not one of us who doesn’t assess himself every day. (4)

Set goals

Imam Ali (AS) said,

God bless the one … who sets goals. (5)

Time management

Imam Ali (AS) said,

For achieving success, manage your time, and to manage your time, think clearly, and for thinking clearly, hide your secrets. (6)

To effectively manage time the most important thing is to know how to allocate every part of our daily life for something needed. In this regard Imam Kazim (AS) says,

Try to divide your time into four parts: one for praying and talking to Allah, another for work, one for spending time with your friends and trustworthy individuals who let you know about your faults and imperfections and who sincerely love you. The last part is for your lawful pleasures and by this last part, you get ready for the other three parts. 

Don’t talk with yourself about poverty or length of lifetime. Because anyone who thinks about poverty will become miserly and anyone who thinks about the length of life will become greedy. Give yourself your share of this world by pleasing yourself with lawful things which don’t harm your character or waste your time. (7)

Think before acting

Imam Ali (AS) said:

Thinking before acting saves you from regretting. (8) 

One of the best ways to save time is to think carefully before taking any action. Some people think that acting impulsively leads to faster success. They think that overthinking is a sign of fear, so they advocate for thinking less and acting more. However, Islam doesn’t support this notion as it encourages thoughtful consideration and reflection before taking any action. 
In this regard, Imam Ali (AS) said,

Every movement requires knowledge. (9)

Imam Sadiq (AS) also said,

The one who acts without needed insight is like a passenger on the wrong road. The faster he goes, the farther he gets from his destination. (10)

The holy Prophet (PBUH & HP) said:

When you want to do something, think about its results, if it brings benefits or progress, act and if it is harmful or causes regression, refrain from doing it. (11) 

We only live this life once, but its consequences will remain in the Hereafter. Don’t squander this opportunity and by making the best of it, secure a better life for yourself in the Hereafter. 

Resources

1.  Nahj al-Balaghah, Sayyed Razi, sayings no.12
2.  Vasa’il ash-Shia, Sheikh Hurr al-Ameli, vol.12, pg.199
3. Ghorar al-Hikam, Amodi, pg.896
4.  Mustadrak al-Vasa’il, Muhaddith an-Nuri, vol.12, pg.153
5. Bihar al-Anvar, Allamah al-Majlesi, vol.75, pg.51
6.  Nahj al-Balaghah, SAyyed Razi, sayings no.84
7. Tohaf al-Uqul, Harrani, pg.409 & 410
8.  Bihar al-Anvar, Allamah al-Majlesi, vol.68, pg.337
9.  Tohaf al-Uqul, Harrani, pg.171
10.  Al-Kafi, Sheikh Koleini, vol.1, pg.43
11.  Al-Faqih, Sheikh Saduq, vol.4, pg.410 & 411
     

The Day of Ashura is the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar, which marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS), the holy Prophet’s (PBUH&HP) grandson, and his companions in the battle of Karbala. They were all slain in such a horrific way that it is difficult to find such cruelty alike in the history of humankind. They were violently martyred after they were besieged and prevented from obtaining water to drink, and so they departed this life thirsty- this was for no crime other than their refusal to swear allegiance to Yazid, the notorious tyrant of the time [1].

Imam Hussain (AS), along with his family members and companions, showed the highest degree of moral standards in dealing with calamities they went through. He made any effort to clarify the truth and goals for which they rose up and were ready to sacrifice their lives. This article focuses on some of the most prominent virtues Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions displayed on this day; the ones that –if practiced-  will finally lead to the salvation of humankind:

1. Imam Hussain (AS)'s Sacrifice for the Sake of the Religion of Allah

Imam Hussain (AS) taught the faithful believers, in practice, that they should not hesitate to sacrifice everything for the religion of Allah to protect it when it is at risk. He rose up against Yazid when he noticed this dictator openly violated the commandments of Allah.

He announced: “Don't you see that truth has been replaced by falsehood? We must be prepared to sacrifice everything precious in support of Truth!”. Ali Akbar (AS), Imam’s eldest son, asked him in this regard if they were on the right path. Imam (AS) replied in the affirmative. Ali Akbar (AS) then said: “Then, it makes no difference if death comes to us or if we approach death.”

2. Live the Life of a Freeman

Imam Hussain (AS) believed that living under a tyranny was nothing but living in hell: 

“To me, death is nothing but happiness and living under tyrants nothing but living in a hell” [2].

In Karbala, when Imam Hussain (AS) was placed in a dilemma by the oppressors to be humiliated by swearing allegiance to Yazid or to fight and die with glory, he said he would not accept humiliation and obedience to mean people [3].
In another famous narration, he said: “If you don't believe in any religion and don't fear the Resurrection Day, at least be free in this world” [4]. In other words, if you do not follow a specific religion or believe in the Hereafter, at least be humane in your worldly affairs.  This saying of Imam (AS) invites the whole world to reject submission to oppression; to practice freedom.

3. Significance of the Enjoining the Right (Amr bi-l-maʿruf) and Forbidding the Wrong (Nahy ʿani-l-munkar) for Imam Hussain (AS)

The most important social message of Imam Hussain (AS)’s revolution is fighting against people’s unawareness. The tyrants of that time had done everything to diminish the limits between right and wrong, and Imam Hussain (AS) intended to redefine that for the society:

“I never revolted in vain, as a rebel or as a tyrant, but I rose seeking reformation for the nation of my grandfather Muhammad (PBUH&HP). I intend to enjoin good and forbid evil, to act according to the traditions of my grandfather, and my father Ali ibn Abi-Talib (AS)” [5]. 

4. Imam Hussain (AS)'s Patience

Imam Hussain (AS) and his loyal companions were all patient in the face of traumatic events, among which are: being surrounded in the hot desert and prevented from obtaining water for three consecutive days by the enemy, martyrdom of his six-month-old infant son, his young son, Ali Akbar (AS), his brother Abbas ibn Ali (AS), his relatives and companions before his eyes, etc.

Imam (AS) never complained about these and instead would say: “We, the household of the Prophet (PBUH&HP), are subservient to whatever Allah has destined us. We will be patient on this calamity, which has happened to us. Of course, Allah the Almighty will give us the reward of the patients. We will be surrounding the Prophet (PBUH&HP) in the Paradise” [6].

On the day of Ashura, when the battle was in full swing, he told his companions: “Be patient O ' the son of the nobles. Death is only a bridge that takes you from misery and loss to the vast Paradise and the eternal graces” [7].
Imam Hussain (AS) and his blessed companions were living examples of what the Quran taught: “So be patient, with a patience that is graceful” (70:5); patience which was not out of helplessness or weakness but was a demonstration of steadfastness and bravery.

5. Imam Hussain (AS)'s Loyalty

Fidelity and promise-keeping was the other prominent feature of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions. See how Imam (AS) described his companions on the night before Ashura: “I do not know companions more loyal and better than my companions” [8]. That night when Imam (AS) told them they were free to leave and give up before the battle, his brother, Abal-Fazl al-Abbas (AS), said: “Why should we do such an act? To live after you, never! May Allah forbid such a day!” The others, too, unanimously said they would never betray their Imam.

Or, in another example we see, on the day of Ashura, after Abbas (AS)’s right hand was cut off by the army of Yazid –when he had gone to get some water for the children and women- he bravely recited these epic verses: “By Allah, if you cut my right hand, I will never stand back, and I will protect my religion, and I will support the Imam who stands firm in his belief and is the grandson of the pure and truthful Prophet [9]”. 

These were only a few examples of what made Ashura and Imam Hussain (AS)’s uprising an epic that will never fade from the memory of humankind. Every year, millions of people around the world commemorate this tragedy, express their sorrow, and remind themselves to firmly stand against tyranny as Imam Hussain (AS) did. This has also affected the people of other faiths, as Mahatma Gandhi has said: 

“I learned from Hussain (AS) how to be wronged and be a winner, I learned from Hussain (AS) how to attain victory while being oppressed [10]”.

References

1. Imam Hussain (AS)
2.  Tohaf-al- Uqoul, P. 245
3.  Biharol Anwar, Vol. 45 , P. 83
4.  Biharol Anwar, Vol. 45, P. 51
5.  Biharol Anwar, Vol. 44, P. 329
6.  Biharol Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 366
7.  Biharol Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 297
8.  Biharol Anwar, Vol. 44, P. 392
9. Hussain
10. how to be wronged
11. magazine
12. Imam Hussain revolution