Does the phrase "جاد الزمان" (time was generous) in the chant "La Taqul Fat Al-Awan" (Don't Say It's Too Late) contradict sound doctrine by attributing generosity to time instead of to Allah?

The composer of the anthem meant by "(If we intend)": If we intend reform and change, then the reference point for that is within us, and we are capable of remedying it by reforming ourselves. This is permissible, as Allah Almighty says: ﴿Indeed, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.﴾ [Ar-Ra'd: 11].

As for attributing generosity to time by saying: "Time was generous," this is not permissible, because the true Bestower of blessings is Allah. Attributing blessings to other than Him is considered a subtle verbal polytheism (shirk), because it involves attributing favor and blessing to other than the true Bestower, even if the speaker does not intend that time is the true doer. The prohibition of this is so that blessings are not attributed except to Allah alone, for He is the Bestower of all blessings, and attributing them to Him is a form of gratitude for them, while the opposite is a form of denial.

Ibn Abbas explained that subtle shirk is more hidden than the creeping of an ant on a black rock on a dark night. He gave examples such as "By Allah and by your life," and "Were it not for the dog, the thieves would have come to us," and "What Allah wills and you will," and "Were it not for Allah and so-and-so." The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded us to say: "O Allah, we seek refuge in You from associating anything with You knowingly, and we seek Your forgiveness for what we do not know."

Therefore, one must avoid such attribution.