The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time."
Hadith Text and Context
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6412)
This profound hadith is recorded in the Book "To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)" of Sahih al-Bukhari, emphasizing spiritual reflection on divine blessings.
Meaning of the Two Blessings
Health (al-Sihhah) refers to physical and spiritual well-being, enabling worship and good deeds. Free time (al-Faragh) is the absence of preoccupations that prevent one from devotion and beneficial works.
The deception (al-Maghbun) lies in people's neglect—they waste health on disobedience and free time on frivolities, only realizing their value upon loss.
Scholarly Commentary
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari: People are "deceived" as they possess these blessings but fail to utilize them rightly, akin to a merchant unaware of his profit until it vanishes.
Al-Nawawi states in Sharh Sahih Muslim: This hadith urges immediate gratitude and action, as procrastination leads to regret when health declines or time is occupied by trials.
Practical Implications
A believer must constantly assess: Is my health used in Allah's obedience? Is my free time spent in remembrance, knowledge, or charity?
The hadith calls for prioritizing acts of worship—prayer, Quran, seeking knowledge—before obstacles arise, transforming potential loss into eternal gain.