Sayyiduna Sahal bin Sa’d Saa‘idee (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Not being hasty (but rather, deliberating and thinking before acting) is from Allah Ta‘ala, and hastiness is from Shaitaan.” (Sunan Tirmizi #2012)
In the hadeeth above, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned that the bounty of not being hasty is from Allah Ta‘ala. In other words, before a person carries out an action, makes a decision or utters a statement, he should first patiently and carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages, and the potential outcome, and then only should he proceed.
Diametrically opposite to this is hastiness and impulsiveness which is from Shaitaan. Shaitaan will incite a person’s emotions and encourage him to act on impulse, and it is only later on, when the emotion has subsided, that a person realizes the extent to which he has damaged his Deen or dunya through his careless action.
At times, a person utters the wrong statement, or he/she utters the right statement – but at the wrong time or in the wrong manner, after which a friendship is broken, or worse – a talaaq is issued. Just like the statement uttered, the talaaq is also issued on impulse. Thereafter, once the tempers are cooled, the two parties, with their children and families, are left to face the consequences of acting on impulse.
When we examine this mindset of hastiness and impulsiveness, which the hadeeth has labelled as a shaitaani mindset, we find that it is actively promoted by the disbelievers. Hence, one of the most popular brands of the disbelievers – Nike – has the following words as its slogan “Just do it”.
Aside from Nike being a considered a goddess by the ancient Greeks, and the winged emblem being her emblem, the subtle message instilled into the mind of the wearer is that he should “just do it”. Just commit any sin without any fear of Allah Ta‘ala or consciousness of the Hereafter. Thereafter, when the person is addicted to drugs, or the girl falls pregnant from zina, then how will they pick up the pieces and recover from the destruction?
This hastiness and impulsiveness is seen at the time of shopping as well. An item artfully displayed catches the eye, and without a second thought, it goes into the trolley. If there is no cash to pay for it now, it is purchased on credit. The same applies with upgrading the vehicle or cell phone, decorating the home and embarking on holiday trips. After some time, the consequence of our impulsiveness will come back to bite us when there is difficulty faced in settling the bills.
However, there is one time when we MUST be hasty – when carrying out good deeds. Therefore, in another hadeeth, it is reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Not being hasty is (good) in everything (i.e. in every action), besides the actions of the Hereafter.” (Sunan Abi Dawood #4810)
Hence, Allah Ta‘ala encourages us, in numerous verses of the Quraan Majeed, to hasten in carrying out the actions of the Hereafter. The reason is that the actions of the Hereafter are not like the actions of this world. When buying a house, it is possible that the decision may bring goodness, or it may result in regret and difficulty. However, when engaging in zikr, reciting the Quraan Majeed, performing salaah or carrying out any other similar good deed, then there can only be goodness and benefit, in this world and the next. Hence, there is no need to think twice or deliberate, as one is fulfilling the command of Allah Ta‘ala, earning His divine pleasure and acquiring the bounties of the Hereafter.
Rather, one must hasten and rush to carry it out, otherwise Shaitaan will immediately try his utmost to make him procrastinate it, until he eventually forgets about it altogether, thus losing out and becoming deprived.