Being Aware of the Times

A tradition of the Prophet guides us in this manner: ‘A wise man must be cognizant of his time.’ (Sahih ibn Hibban, Hadith No. 361) This saying of the Prophet of Islam, a part of a long tradition, explains the perfection of human knowledge. It is not sufficient for a person to be conversant with bookish knowledge and the traditions of the past. Rather he needs to be aware of his times, of the past as well as the present. The importance of knowing the times is both rational and practical. Without this he fails to understand things in the universal context, therefore, an in-depth analysis of reality is not possible. Thus, in practical terms, he is a flawed person. He fails to know how to apply the eternal truths to the conditions of the time. Such a person cannot successfully plan his actions.