New Year Resolutions

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

As we mark the start of the new Gregorian year, I have made certain resolutions.  Some of you would have already received them via email but I would like to remind firstly myself and you about them.

Firstly; I have realized that another year has come to an end.  This means that I have one year less to live as the day of departure is fixed by the Lord.  Therefore I must make proper and constructive usage of the time I have left.

1.       I will try to increase my love for my Lord.

Allah says but those of faith are overflowing in their love for Allah (2:165).  Everyday try to love your Lord more and more.  As Muslims we must always aspire to please Allah as much as possible.

2.       I will try to meet and greet Him more regularly.

How can we meet and greet Allah?  Through the institution of salaat.  In salaat we meet Him, greet Him and talk to Him.  So the greater your desire to get closer to Him the more optional prayer you should offer.  You won’t look only at the compulsory but those optional ones that are mentioned in the Qur’an and found in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pboh). 

3.       I will try not to displease Him in any way.

If you are in the presence of someone honorable and respectable, would you want to misbehave?  Of course not!  And at all the times we are in the presence of the Merciful Lord.  In other worlds; try to become more God conscious.  Always keep in mind that Allah is looking at you; and if something displeases you don’t react negatively or in a manner that Allah won’t like.

4.       I will practice loving who He loves dearly - the Prophet (pboh) and the pious ones.

If I want to be close to Allah then it would be prudent to love that which He loves.  And Allah loves Prophet Muhammad (pboh) and His sincerely pious servants.

5.       I will avoid what He does not like.

If I wish to gain closeness to Allah then I should abstain from those things that would take me further away from Him.

6.       I will help my brethren as much as possible.

Allah says; except such As have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of truth, and of patience and constancy (103:3).  Help others, regardless of race or religion, all for the pleasure of Allah.

7.       I will try to maximize the use of my time through proper time management.

I understand that my time here is fixed; therefore I must make best usage of it if I want to return to and have a pleasant meeting with my Lord.

8.       I shall try to increase my dependency on Him, and less on human beings.

Allah sent us here and provided for us; therefore we must to turn to Him.  If we rely on Him, He will never let us down.  We must then work hard to develop a stronger bond with Him.

9.       I shall promote the philosophy of Ihsaan in all matters.

What is the philosophy of Ihsaan?  Not to curse, nor degrade, nor backbite.  To love for another what you’d love for yourself.  To conduct yourself in a refined, exemplary manner.

 

We will all try our best to manage our time, to do righteousness, to please Him, to get close to Him, to demonstrate supreme love for Him. 

Don’t love this world more than Him.  One day we will have to separate from it.  We know that our Lord is All Wise, so whatever He is allowing to happen to us there is wisdom and reason behind it.  Always remember the story if Joseph (as).  All the trials and difficulties he underwent were stepping stones for the achievement of his purpose and mission.

The real basis for successful living is to have total faith in Allah.  The manifestation of success is to put Allah first in all matters.

So as we begin this New Year let us try to increase our faith and dependency on Allah.  Communicate, with Him more, thank Him more and praise Him abundantly.  May Allah bless us and guide us all, insha Allah.