The pious Ulama achieved greatness through dedication to Allah and maintenance of their duties to themselves and others for the sake of Allah. They made time for ibadat as well as fulfilling the rights of their body, family and meeting financial and social obligations. Here is a glimpse of one such scholar from the not too distant past.
Mufti Shafi Usmani’s day
In 24 Shawwal 1344 AH,1 the future grand Mufti Muhammad Shafi Usmani (d. 1399) wrote to Hakim al-Ummat Ml. Ashraf Ali Thanwi outlining his daily routine at the onset of the new academic year. He writes,
“As Hidayah generally goes unfinished during class hours I have planned to start teaching after the morning salah, an hour before the lesson, from Kitab al-Nikah and during the lesson from the beginning [of the Kitab]. [I will teach] Hidayah in the first period, preparation of Hidayah in the second, Arabic writing practice in the third, and Maqamat in the fourth. After this, [I will spend] one and a half to two hours in business2 and [then] an hour of rest (Qaylulah). After Zuhar Salah I will recite one juz of the Quran and thereafter write an article or thesis for an hour. [This will be] followed by one period of teaching Hammasa. After Asr I will go out for leisure. After Maghrib as per instruction zikr of Allah’s name; to which now [I] adhere to for twelve Tasbihs and sometimes more. After Isha, the reading of books.”3
Note how his timetable revolves around salah. After every salah there is a concrete action followed by a task that is flexible. The best actions are those that are measured and consistent.
Hafid Ibn Hajar Asqalani’s day
Here is a brief summary of the daily routine of Hf. Ibn Hajar Asqalani based on Allm. Sakhawi account in al-Jawahir wa al-Durar (v.3 pp.1050-1051). After fajr salah, he would attend to anyone who needed to speak to him. Then he would return home and engage in tilawat, zikr, research and writing until the time for salat al-duha. After salat al-duha, he would teach hadith and continue until a bit before zuhr. Then he would rest(about 20 minutes). After Zuhar, he would focus on research and writing. After asr, he would listen to recital of hadith, and engage in discussions relating to hadith and fiqh until a bit before sunset. Thereafter, He would eat before maghrib if he was not fasting. After Maghrib, he would pray nafl and engage in research until the start of Isha. Then he would return to the madrasah where he would teach for an hour or more. After Isha, he would return home, complete his sunnah, sleep, and then wake for tahajjud.
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Muhammad Saifur Rahman Nawhami
9 Jumada II 1433
1 May 2012
Updated 4 March 2025
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1. That would make him 30 years old at the time of writing
2. He used to run a book store
3. Hayat Mufti A’zam. (1415). Mufti Rafi Usmani. Idarat al-Ma’arif; Karachi, Pakistan. p. 60
