by Shaykh Muhammed Saleem Dhorat hafizahullah
NEW YEAR MEANS END OF ANOTHER YEAR.
The advent of the 1st month of the islamic calendar, Muharam, marks the end of another year. Moments passing in the form of years, months, weeks,days, hours, minutes, and seconds remind us that everything in this world will ultimately come to an end. Thus, the arrival of Muharam marking the end of yet another year reminds us tha another year of our lives has passed and gone and we have moved a year nearer to the Afterlife.
Abu Darda R.A says:
O son õf Ãdam! You are nothing but days. If a day passes in your life, then know that a part of you has passed.
This is a reality that our lives are decreasing by every second. We should at all times remember the words of Ali R.A: This world is going away from us with its back turned (towards us). And the Akhirah is coming from the front (towards us). And for each of them (i.e this world and the Afterlife) are sons ( i.e those who strive for it). Be from the sons of the hereafter!
Do not be from the sons of the world!
Because today is the day of) A’maal and no Reckoning And tomorow in the life Hereafter there will be Reckoning and no A’maal. (mishkat).
CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR.
Many may ask the question,‘how should we celebrate the new year?’ for muslims, the method is simple. We need to take stock of our past twelve months and determine whether we were from the sons of this world or the son of the Hereafter. Was the necessary effort to acquire the Pleasure of Allah Taala exerted during this period? Was the time passed utilised in the obedience of Allah? Were the blessings that we have been bestowed with used according to the wishes of our Creator?
If we have done good, be grateful to the creator by doing more good, otherwise repent sincerely and turn over a new leaf. Umar R.A SAYS:
Take account of youselves (in this world) before you are accounted in the hereafter (by Allah).
Weigh your deeds before they are weighed(on the day of Qiyamah).
And prepare for the big court (when you will have to stand in front of Allah.)
Ibn Abbas R.A says :
How can we rejoice when Death is behind us and the the grave is before us. We will have to stand in the court of Allah and we will have to cross the Sirat.
LIFE- A BLESSING.
Life is a blessing and should be used in doing good. The best person is he who is granted a long life and he performs good deeds.(TIRMIDHI).
So when a new year begins and a previous one has ended, we have to ponder over last year. We must learn from our mistakes in the past and ensure we dont commit them in the future, we must turn to Allah, ask for forgiveness and make sincere taubah. We must make a firm resolution that from now on we will live a life that will bring the Pleasure of Allah.
Intelligent is he who subdues his desires and works for what is to come after death.(tirmidhi).