Reprinted from the August 9, 1968 edition of Muhammad Speaks Newspaper
As an integral part of preparing our students to decipher the meaning of words, and to strengthen thought processes, we study the proverbs of certain men. We go to the root of their wisdom and pull out the hidden philosophical meanings. Our students are then assigned to compare, contrast and weight certain philosophies. Understanding follows, and students then relate this knowledge to the infinite wisdom they have found in the teaching of Islam.
PROVERB : “ The hours of folly are measured by the clock ; but of wisdom, no clock can measure."
First let us talk about the two words wisdom and folly. Folly is a synonym of imbecility, silliness and stupidity and the people who spend their time in folly are unintelligent, unwise, or feeble minded. Wisdom is synonymous to intelligence, sagacity and refinement, and the who spend their time in wisdom are wise, staid, bright and astute.
WITH THESE definitions in mind we can explain the above epigram by saying that time spent in folly is limited because folly is destructive and if passed on to others would end all intelligent pursuits, causing a breakdown in civilization. Time spent in wisdom is endless because wisdom can be passed on and on to further the intellectual pursuits of man and better the world in which we live.Today we are living in a world built on sport and folly which is soon to be destroyed. Messenger Elijah Muhammad has taught us that Allah ( God ) has doomed this civilization, because of its folly. Allah being All-Wise knew what the present rulers would do with the chance to rule, and so He limited their their time to 6,000 years. At the end of this time, One would come on the scene who would judge them for the evil deeds they have done and for the world they built on sport and play, instead of wisdom and knowledge.
THE WORLD which is coming now will be a world built on wisdom and knowledge and will endure
In relation to Islamic teachings the hours of folly are measured by the clock, because as Black People we cannot continue to foolishly waste our time practicing the ignorant beliefs of the Christian World. The time for foolishness or folly is limited and the time for wisdom in now and forever. Islam teaches us to be wise because the time is over for the Christian World. Their beliefs, being foolish, are not made to last forever.
THERE IS always time for wisdom. Islam is synonymous to wisdom and its wisdom cannot be limited or measured.
In Islam we are taught that we have Tuesday set aside as our day of recreation.
THE OTHER DAYS we continue to work and learn the infinite wisdom of Islam and Allah. In other words, by us living in a day and time as serious as today, Black people have very little time to frolic and play. Therefore, we limit our time of fun, or we should limit our time, in order that we may regain the knowledge of ourselves which we have not had for over four centuries. Just as the others prophets warned their people in their day, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad is warning us to stop this sport and play that the devil’s civilization has been practicing.
THE BLACKMAN, being the creator of the heavens and earth, must learn the infinite wisdom of this creation because it would take more than a life time to learn the wisdom of Allah. The Blackman has no time for folly.
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