proper standing and worth. It is thus squandered either in sleep, in laziness and lethargy, or through preoccupation with trivial matters—even though the beginning of the day is like its youth and its end is like its old age.1 Whoever grows accustomed to something in youth will continue upon it in old age. Consequently, whatever a person does in the early part of the day carries over into the rest of it: if it is vigor, then vigor follows; and if it is laziness, then laziness follows. Whoever takes hold of the reins of the day at its outset will, by Allah’s permission, have the whole day go well for him. He will be aided in doing good throughout it, and it will be blessed for him. It has been said, “Your day is like your camel: if you take hold of its beginning, its end will follow you.” This meaning may be gleaned from the aforementioned report of Ibn Masūd—may Allah be pleased with him. Once he had safeguarded the beginning of the day through remembrance, he said, “Praise be to Allah, who has spared us this day and has not destroyed us for our sins.”

Indeed, consistently remembering Allah at this time gives a person resolve, strength, and vigor throughout the day. Ibn al-Qayyim—may Allah have mercy upon him—said: “I was once with Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya when he prayed Fajr. He then sat remembering Allah Most High until nearly midday. He turned to me and said, ‘This is my morning sustenance. Were I not to nourish myself with this food, my strength would fail’—or words to that effect.” End quote.2

It is also established in the sunnah that the Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—prayed to Allah to bless his nation at this time. Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, al-Dārimī, and others narrated from Sakhr ibn Wadāʿa al-Ghāmidī—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—said, “O Allah, bless my nation in its early mornings.” Whenever he dispatched an expeditionary force or an army, he would dispatch them at the beginning of the day. Sakhr—may Allah be pleased with him—was a merchant and would send out his merchandise at the beginning of the day; he consequently became wealthy and his fortune grew.3