Assalaamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu
Bismillahi Rahmanir Raheem
As we look back at our time at Loyola, we come to a realization that a chapter of our life is coming to an end. Whether you are a senior or a sophomore, the academic year is about to end and as one chapter ends, another begins. Looking at the past year, it is very difficult to remember every single day entirely. Maybe all you can remember is Samosa Sale Wednesday, or the occasional Biryani in a Cup, or the madness from Islam Appreciation Week, or the Jummah sweets on Friday. Even harder is to remember your days in high school, and the time before that. It all passes: that one exam that you studied for, that one C you got in class and thought that you’d never get over, the time when you watched the sunset as you prepared yourself for Maghreb salah. Regardless of which chapter you’re currently in, that too will pass.
Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Asr, “By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss.”
Life continues one chapter, after another, after another, after another, until the end. Often times we are so caught up in our current chapters, that we forget the reality of this life, it’s a delusion. “And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.” – (57:20) We occupy ourselves so much in our current chapters, that we forget about the hereafter. It is important that we constantly remember death, regardless of which chapter we are in as it serves as a reminder that this world is not our home. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Be in the world as if you are a stranger or a wayfarer (traveler).” As we travel we must remember that our final abode is in Jannah.
So now how can we live this life successfully, while keeping in mind that the end is inevitable? By following the perfect example of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). How did he manage being the best leader, the best server of the community, and the best family-man all at the same time? He planned and he planned effectively. SubhanAllah, the greatest man who ever lived found time to play with his grandchildren, stand for hours just so Aisha (ra) could watch a game on his shoulder, and lead an entire nation. Yet, here we are complaining that we don’t have time to take on new responsibilities, help a brother out with something, or spend time with our families (but somehow we find time to watch countless vines and 200 second snapchat stories. Reality check: that’s not you killing time, that’s time killing you.) If you look at the lives of some of the most successful leaders, they all learned to utilize and maximize their time. The Prophet (pbuh) was able to fulfill all his responsibilities beautifully because he knew that he was running out of time. He didn’t enslave himself to only the chapter in his life titled “Leading the Nation,” rather he gave time to his wives and worshiping Allah (swt). One of the reasons that Prophet (pbuh) was sent in a form of a human was so that humans would know and understand that it is not impossible to emulate his characteristics. We think that we cannot accomplish what the most successful leaders of our time did, but greatness can be achieved if we plan and organize our time effectively.
The closer I get to the end of Loyola’s chapter in my life, the more I realize that the end of the book is drawing nearer. The things that seem so crucial and consume so much of our time now, aren’t really that important in the grand scheme of things. Don’t involve yourself so much to one thing that you neglect all the real important things in your life like strengthening your relationship with Allah (swt) and serving your parents. Spend the time you have left here wisely and in such a manner that if your return to Allah (swt) is tomorrow, you’ll be prepared to meet HIm.
"For your worldly affairs, construct your plans based on the assumption that you are going to live forever, and as for the work reserved for the Hereafter, construct your plans based on the assumption that you are going to die tomorrow." – Umar Ibn Khattab
May Allah (swt) allow us to follow the sunnah of our beloved Prophet PBUH by planning effectively. May Allah (swt) allow us to use the time our time wisely. We ask that He (swt) puts barakah in our times and efforts to make us successful in this world and in the hereafter. Ameen
Bismillahi Rahmanir Raheem
As we look back at our time at Loyola, we come to a realization that a chapter of our life is coming to an end. Whether you are a senior or a sophomore, the academic year is about to end and as one chapter ends, another begins. Looking at the past year, it is very difficult to remember every single day entirely. Maybe all you can remember is Samosa Sale Wednesday, or the occasional Biryani in a Cup, or the madness from Islam Appreciation Week, or the Jummah sweets on Friday. Even harder is to remember your days in high school, and the time before that. It all passes: that one exam that you studied for, that one C you got in class and thought that you’d never get over, the time when you watched the sunset as you prepared yourself for Maghreb salah. Regardless of which chapter you’re currently in, that too will pass.
Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Asr, “By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss.”
Life continues one chapter, after another, after another, after another, until the end. Often times we are so caught up in our current chapters, that we forget the reality of this life, it’s a delusion. “And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.” – (57:20) We occupy ourselves so much in our current chapters, that we forget about the hereafter. It is important that we constantly remember death, regardless of which chapter we are in as it serves as a reminder that this world is not our home. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Be in the world as if you are a stranger or a wayfarer (traveler).” As we travel we must remember that our final abode is in Jannah.
So now how can we live this life successfully, while keeping in mind that the end is inevitable? By following the perfect example of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). How did he manage being the best leader, the best server of the community, and the best family-man all at the same time? He planned and he planned effectively. SubhanAllah, the greatest man who ever lived found time to play with his grandchildren, stand for hours just so Aisha (ra) could watch a game on his shoulder, and lead an entire nation. Yet, here we are complaining that we don’t have time to take on new responsibilities, help a brother out with something, or spend time with our families (but somehow we find time to watch countless vines and 200 second snapchat stories. Reality check: that’s not you killing time, that’s time killing you.) If you look at the lives of some of the most successful leaders, they all learned to utilize and maximize their time. The Prophet (pbuh) was able to fulfill all his responsibilities beautifully because he knew that he was running out of time. He didn’t enslave himself to only the chapter in his life titled “Leading the Nation,” rather he gave time to his wives and worshiping Allah (swt). One of the reasons that Prophet (pbuh) was sent in a form of a human was so that humans would know and understand that it is not impossible to emulate his characteristics. We think that we cannot accomplish what the most successful leaders of our time did, but greatness can be achieved if we plan and organize our time effectively.
The closer I get to the end of Loyola’s chapter in my life, the more I realize that the end of the book is drawing nearer. The things that seem so crucial and consume so much of our time now, aren’t really that important in the grand scheme of things. Don’t involve yourself so much to one thing that you neglect all the real important things in your life like strengthening your relationship with Allah (swt) and serving your parents. Spend the time you have left here wisely and in such a manner that if your return to Allah (swt) is tomorrow, you’ll be prepared to meet HIm.
"For your worldly affairs, construct your plans based on the assumption that you are going to live forever, and as for the work reserved for the Hereafter, construct your plans based on the assumption that you are going to die tomorrow." – Umar Ibn Khattab
May Allah (swt) allow us to follow the sunnah of our beloved Prophet PBUH by planning effectively. May Allah (swt) allow us to use the time our time wisely. We ask that He (swt) puts barakah in our times and efforts to make us successful in this world and in the hereafter. Ameen