Message of New Year

In the life of man, time is a highly valuable bounty.  In Islam, the whole system of worship is related to time.  The 5 daily Salaat are related to time, for this reason, in the books of Fiqh, there is a separate section of timing of Salaat.  For Sehr (pre-dawn meal) and Iftaar, time should be maintained carefully.  If there is any mistake in this, the whole fast will be wasted.  For Zakaat, passing of 1 year is necessary.  Haj can be performed only in particular days, Qurbani can be performed only in particular days.  In these acts of worship, time is so important that if timing is not maintained, then it will not only lead to undesirability, but to invalidation.

 

The relation of worship to time and its importance in worship, demands careful management of time from the Ummah.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) described the importance of time in this extremely valuable Hadith:

 

Translation of Hadith:  There are 2 bounties, about which most of the people are heedless health and leisure.

 

The 2 bounties to which the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) called attention, are like the very moments of life.

 

There is another Hadith:

 

Translation of Hadith:  It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat 'Amr Bin Maimoon (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: You consider 5 things as a respite before things: Youth before old age, health before sickness, affluence before poverty, leisure before busyness and life before death.  (Mishkatul Masabeeh, Pg No. 443)

 

When the last year started, how many people were among us who are not with us now.  The inexorable hand of death has snatched them from us.  Thanks be to Allah Ta'ala, who has granted us time.  We should consider this as a respite and use time carefully.  We should spend our youth in obedience of Allah Ta'ala before old age infirmity come.  We should perform those acts of worship, which cannot be performed in sickness and old age.  Each moment is so valuable that even after going in Jannah, the residents of Jannah will rue those moments of life, which were spent without benefit.  There is a Hadith in Kanz Ul Ummal:

 

Translation of Hadith:  There is no nation, which has a get-together, in which they do not remember (Dhikr) Allah Ta'ala and do not send greetings to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that that get-together becomes a source of regret for them, even though they may enter Jannah.  (Hadith No: 25454)

 

The questioning of the acts/deeds on the Day of Judgment is about time alone, as on the Day of Judgment, there will be questioning about time.

 

There is a Hadith in Kanz Ul Ummal:

 

Translation of Hadith:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: On the day of Qiyamah, the feet of a human being will not budge until he is asked about his life that where has he spent it; about knowledge that how much has he acted upon it; about his wealth that how did he earn it and where did he spend it and about his body that where did he spend his abilities.  (Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No: 38983)

 

These guidelines given by the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) exhort us to manage our time carefully and prohibit wasting of time.

 

Time is going on with its own speed.  We spent, 12 months and 52 weeks.  We have journeyed across 1 whole year.

 

The end of this year is questioning us as to whether we have considered it valuable.

 

The passing of the days and nights is asking to what extent did we obey the rules of Islam in the past days and nights.

 

The last sunset of the year is inquiring how much did we uphold the limits of the Shariah?

 

The Islamic New Year begins with the martyrdom of Hadhrat 'Umar and Hadhrat Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with them) and it ends with Hajj and sacrifice of animals.  The beginning and the ending of the year both give the message that all the time, Muslims should worry about pleasing Allah Most High and seeking His approval.

 

On this occasion, we should evaluate ourselves, as told by Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him):

 

Translation of Hadith:  You evaluate yourselves before you are evaluated, because it will ease your judging and you check your Selves (Nafs) before you are checked and be prepared for the Ultimate Summons when you will be presented in the court of Allah Most High and nothing of your's will be hidden.  (Hadith No: 44203)

 

Let us part from this year acting upon this Hadith and reflect back on the days and nights and make a firm resolve that we will definitely improve their quality this year.