A Reflection on this 19th day of the month of August, year 2012.
That is today, or at least the end of it - which is also the 1st day of the month of Syawal, year 1433 Hijriah - the day of Eidul Fitri, celebrated by more than a billion people all around the world. Which happens to also be yet another anniversary of the day I was born into this world of ours - in norm-speak my 'birthday'.
While all around the world birthdays are celebrated as a sort of 'accomplishment' of achieving yet another year of living - I guess as a muslim, I have to view it in a slightly different manner. And as a person claiming to be a muslim, I will have to treat every day that passes means another day of my decreed, given time on this temporal world passes by too. Which leads to mean that every birthdays 'celebrated' is a reminder of yet another year passed by of my given and decreed time on this earth prior to moving on into the next phase of 'life' or more accurately into the next world. But far from being a 'depressing' thought - it is indeed a very 'sobering' and indeed 'energising' - a very fitting reminder indeed!
(And I pray, and I hope, and indeed I beg the Al-Mighty, the Rabb, the Ilah that when that day comes I'll be bestowed with his Taubah, his Rahmah, his Maghfirah, and the all-encompassing Redha Allah - or my whole life will be a total waste).
And none more fitting than this year's birthday of mine - coinciding with the Day of the Celebration of the 'Fitrah', better known as Eidul-Fitri (or Aidil Fitri for those preferring the malay traditional spelling). The other side of the coin is that today is the day of the End of the Month of Ramadhan - indeed one of the holy month in Islam when soul-cleansing are sought, the years past are evaluated, and the years ahead are planned upon - all in the hope of achieving Taqwa, and Redha Allah. A month of which the parting of saddens the beloved slaves of God - ask those who take this month seriously - it is indeed a very 'different' month.
Or, ask a non-muslim for that matter, for the 'magic' of Ramadhan - here: http://newmethofesto.com/2012/07/20/a-muslimmethofesto-why-im-observing-ramadan/
People say that the one and only real key to success is 'willingness to do whatever it takes'. And then no less than a full commitment is required - as when we do, 'providence moves too'. But first, of course - one needs to know for sure what one wants - and then, only then do we find the ways and means of achieving it - those plans and actions that one will have to fully commit to.
Which brings me to my 'birthday wish'.
We can only be truly judged, on whether we have truly achieved success, when our life itself ends.
So, on this anniversary of the day of my birth - I urge O yea, dear friends of mine - ask ourselves this little question;
"If I were to die today, what will be the things I will regret most of not having done/achieved?"
(Perhaps about 3 - 5 things you truly feel for).
And once you have your list - waste no more of our constantly diminishing available time to achieve it! And birthdays are excellent reminders indeed of this little thing called the 'balance of our time' on this earth.
(Losing a much loved brother at the tender young age of 39 - in a family of mostly long-living people - serves a very powerful jolt indeed).
And of course - fully commit to achieving it. But indeed fully commit your whole life to achieving it!
As to the question of HOW - see above - 'do whatever it takes'....
And if real success is achieving the Taubah, Rahmah, Maghfirah and Redha Allah - that should be on top of your list! As failure here, indeed is not an option...
(For a short summary, see: http://www.institutealislam.com/responsibilities-of-a-muslim-by-dr-israr-ahmad/)
Indulge me - on this little birthday of mine.
A little foot-note:
A little over half a decade ago, I asked myself that same question - and one item on the list (after losing my Allahyarham Dear Father a few years before that) was to 'maximise spending real quality time with my ageing mother'. I didn't know how as I was (and still is) working and living about 600km away from her - and there was no suitable job for me, near to her. But lo and behold - during the last year of her life (arguably the most difficult as she had to endure an early and 'untimely' death of a son) the company I worked for posted me for a position in my hometown (the company never had any operation there when I had the original list) - and indeed I had one of the most valuable and meaningful year of 'me and my beloved Allahyarhamah Mother' prior to her parting away - 9 days after Eidul Fitri of 2010.
