This article presents the relationship which exsists between time and money in contemporary world. It then provides a comparitive study of Time-Money equation and Quran.
Time is money. People are paid for the time they spend on their jobs. For example consider a software consultant :
1. A software consultant is paid a fixed salary for certain number of hours he spend on a job and performance bonus on his hard working, quality of work and overall attitued towards job. It means time and efforts at job translate in money. Let's call this Time-Money equation of Job. Money = Timejob
2. Besides a normal consultancy job, the same consultant could also start free-lance software development business in evenings or weekends to transform his after-job-time in money. Let's call this Time-Money equation of Business. Money = Timebusiness
3. He could also learn more skills after job. Either by making extra efforts or joining some training institute. And time consumed in learning those skills transforms in money sooner or later. Let's call this Time-Money equation of Education. Money = Timeeducation
Combining all these Time-Money equations we may write:
Money = Timejob + Timebusiness + Timeeducation
These arguments are also applicable to doctors, management & finance professionals and other intelligent people. Time-Money equation goes well with them too. In short, Today's fast, career oriented and technology driven world has really made the saying true - Time is indeed money.
Comparing Time-Money Equation With Quran
Being a Muslim, when we consult Quran to verify Time-Money equation, we get the same core equation but with an additional factor. In the following paragraphs, we will analyze Time-Money equation on the basis of Quran:
1. The equation says, one can obtain money by spending time at job, bussiness or education . This is also what we find in Quran. In various Surah, Quran teaches its followers to search for business opportunities and spend time in business to get the living for himself and his family. As current businesses require educated & skillful employees, so spending time in education and doing job is permitted too. Allah (swt) says:
But one should be careful in spending time in job, business or education to earn money. Allah (swt) says:
It means that there is some upper limit to the money after which human beings can no longer think of Allah (swt). Or simply they don't have the time or mental capacity left to do so. They spend days at jobs and evening at businesses or education. As you have noticed, the above Iyah applies same principal to ones children, but we left this topic for some other time.
2. Moving one step forward, the equation also says, time always transforms in money. That is, if you put your efforts and time in anything, you can achieve it. But Quran tells its followers a different mechanism. Time does not always translates in money, and neither do our efforts. Time transforms in money only when God permits it to do so because to increase or decrease anything is in His hands (including the money equivalent of efforts and time). Allah (swt) says:
It means there is a deciding factor, lets call it Gfactor, which determines whether or not time spend on job, busniess or eduction will actually transform in money and upto what degree. This factor could be any number between -ve infinity to +ve infinity. Taking into account Gfactor, we could rewrite Time-Money equation as:
Money = Gfactor x (Timejob + Timebusiness + Timeeducation)
From this equation, one can easily see that if Gfactor = 0, whatever value of Time is used the result would be Zero money. On the other hand, even smallest amount of Time could result in the greatest amount of money if Gfactor = +ve infinity. The -ve infinity represents God's curse. Hence we can say that, to tranform Time in money is under strict control of God. Allah (swt) says:
3. At this point one may think, why some people have more money than others. Why God has created human categories based on money. The answer is to take their exam. Allah (swt) says:
It means, more money more difficult exam. The exam is to see if God makes someone rich, does he distribute money among his family, his relatives, poor people etc. as described in Quran. So one should prepare himself morally with the help of Quran before struggling to make more money. May Allah (swt) guide us in the right direction and open our heart for Islam.
