What does the phrase "For it is Allah who is the Time" mean?

The phrase "For it is Allah who is the Time" refers to the understanding that Allah is in control of time and its passage. This concept is emphasized in several hadiths where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ forbids believers from cursing time, as it is Allah who governs it. For instance, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ stated: Let none of you say 'Woe to Time!' for Allah is Time. Sahih Muslim 40:4SunniSAHIH. This indicates that attributing negative qualities to time is equivalent to blaming Allah, who is the ultimate controller of all temporal phenomena.

Additionally, Ibn Kathir explains that people, in their ignorance, often attribute the hardships of life to time itself, saying things like "only night and day destroy us." However, this perspective is misguided as it overlooks Allah's sovereignty over time and existence. He is the one who alternates night and day, as noted in the verse, That is because Allah maketh the night to pass into the day and maketh the day to pass into the night... 22:61. This highlights Allah's active role in the natural order and reminds believers to recognize His dominion rather than blame an abstract concept like time.

Thus, the phrase underscores the importance of acknowledging Allah's authority and the futility of blaming time for life's challenges.