In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Are you ready?!
Imagine if we were to be asked individually by God : are you ready to leave the earth and reach your eternal destiny?! Imagine if we were to have a word on that, and were given the choice to answer "yes," or "no"! Imagine if He gave us many chances to stay longer because we were not yet prepared for that moment of eternity! Even if we had this luxury and that choice, this question would have been always on the table: are we ever going to feel ready and be able to once answer God "yes, we are ready," "we could leave earth now."?
Are you ready? Are you ready, now, to peacefully and proudly read your record? The truth of the matter is that we always think it is not time for us to leave yet. We always rely on tomorrow to bring us another chance to do better, and catch up with all the righteous tasks we have been putting off or waiting for a more appropriate day to accomplish. We do not get harsh on ourselves today because we still have tomorrow to strive more. Tomorrow is always more convenient than today. Tomorrow, we will attain all the higher ranks we wish for and will be more dedicated worshipers. Tomorrow, we will become way more organized, and manage our time productively. We always hope and plan for an ideal "tomorrow" while "today" is slipping away just like yesterday. Please reflect on the following reminders:
[31:34] With GOD is the knowledge about the Hour (end of the world).* He is the One who sends down the rain, and He knows the contents of the womb. No soul knows what will happen to it tomorrow, and no one knows in which land he or she will die. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.
[6:2] He is the One who created you from mud, then predetermined your life span, a life span that is known only to Him. Yet, you continue to doubt.
[15:23] It is we who control life and death, and we are the ultimate inheritors.
[6:61] He is Supreme over His creatures, and He appoints guards to protect you. When the appointed time of death comes to any of you, our messengers put him to death without delay.
[42:47] You shall respond to your Lord before a day comes which is decreed inevitable by GOD. There will be no refuge for you on that day, nor an advocate.
[30:43] Therefore, you shall devote yourself completely to this perfect religion, before a day comes which is made inevitable by GOD. On that day, they will be shocked.
[14:31] Exhort My servants who believed to observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and to give (to charity) from our provisions to them, secretly and publicly, before a day comes where there is neither trade, nor nepotism.
[69:25] As for him who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, "Oh, I wish I never received my record.
[69:26] "I wish I never knew my account.
[69:27] "I wish my death was eternal.
[69:28] "My money cannot help me.
[69:29] "All my power is gone."
[69:30] Take him and shackle him.
[69:31] Burn him in Hell.
[69:32] In a chain that is seventy arms long, tie him up.
[69:33] For he did not believe in GOD, Most Great.
[69:34] Nor did he advocate the feeding of the poor.
[69:35] Consequently, he has no friend here.
[69:36] Nor any food, except the bitter variety.
[69:37] Food for the sinners.
[78:40] We have sufficiently warned you about an imminent retribution. That is the day when everyone will examine what his hands have sent forth, and the disbeliever will say, "Oh, I wish I were dust."
[89:24] He will say, "Oh, I wish I prepared for my (eternal) life."
[24:39] As for those who disbelieve, their works are like a mirage in the desert. A thirsty person thinks that it is water. But when he reaches it, he finds that it is nothing, and he finds GOD there instead, to requite him fully for his works. GOD is the most efficient reckoner.
Reading through the above verses, we learn that the moment of death is in God's hand, and we can never tell if we will have a "tomorrow" or even one more breath on earth. It is true that every day is a blessing to wish for to improve our records, repent, and earn more credit. In fact, we cannot thank God enough for the gift of waking up every morning for an "extension" of our life to strive on His path. However, using this "extension" to the fullest and trying to make sense of it for the benefit of our souls without relying on "tomorrow" is a serious priority each and every one of us should focus on. Satan will always try to regress our souls. Neglecting today, to rely on tomorrow is one of his tricks so we can never be ready for meeting God. Based on the guidance of the Quran, we understand that every moment counts and is crucial for our souls - a chance for more righteous works that will remit our sins- an extension to perfect our thoughts and actions and to beautify our records - a gift to progress in the race and earn a better rank. It is Satan who will do his best to distract us today by many idols and making us hope for a "tomorrow" that is not guaranteed. If he manages to keep us in such a deception and anticipation for "tomorrow", we will never be ready! - we will be definitely wasting our final chance of redemption, and there is no way to get it back!
[102:1] You remain preoccupied with hoarding.
[102:2] Until you go to the graves.
[102:3] Indeed, you will find out.
[102:4] Most assuredly, you will find out.
[102:5] If only you could find out for certain.
[102:6] You would envision Hell.
[102:7] Then you would see it with the eye of certainty.
[102:8] Then you will be questioned, on that day, about the blessings you had enjoyed.
[12:106] The majority of those who believe in GOD do not do so without committing idol worship.
[12:107] Have they guaranteed that an overwhelming retribution from GOD will not strike them, or the Hour will not come to them suddenly, when they least expect it?
[67:17] Have you guaranteed that the One in heaven will not send upon you a violent storm? Will you then appreciate the value of My warning?
[7:53] Are they waiting until all (prophecies) are fulfilled? The day such fulfillment comes to pass, those who disregarded it in the past will say, "The messengers of our Lord have brought the truth. Are there any intercessors to intercede on our behalf? Would you send us back, so that we change our behavior, and do better works than what we did?" They have lost their souls, and their own innovations have caused their doom.
Peaceful Friday, salaam, and God bless.