Advice for the young from an old man’s diary

Advice for the young from an old man’s diary

Once, while reading the diary of an old man, I came across some very beneficial instructions that were given by the author on the last page of the book:

“O young people, listen to me carefully. I dreamt of going to school and studying and then I studied and graduated from school. I dreamt of going to university and I entered and got a higher education. I dreamt of meeting a good girl so that she would become my companion the whole life and I met her and got married. I dreamt of having an apartment and I achieved this goal as well. I dreamt of having a daughter and a son and I had them. Next I got a job. I had a big dream of having a house with a garage and a garden because the children were growing up and I bought all this. I even bought a car. Afterwards, I dreamt of marrying off my sons and daughters and achieved that. Next I dreamt of having a wedding for my grandchildren and I had that.

Then I realized that I knew little about the Almighty, about the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), about the religion of Islam and the Koran and I decided to learn the Koran. I started reading but could not remember or learn anything. I tried hard but got exhausted and found myself unable to carry out that goal.

Next I dreamt of performing the night prayer (tahajjud). I wished it to be a light in the grave after my death. I started to pray at night but the strength left my legs and I failed to carry out this goal as well.

I dreamt of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays to follow the way (Sunna) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), but, unfortunately, my health failed me greatly: I had blood sugar and pressure that constantly torments me.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Take advantage of five matters before five others:

Your youth, before you become old!

Your health, before you fall sick!

We were born with one goal to know the Almighty and to be His proper slaves. It is very important for us to keep our health in order so as to be useful to our family, society and to succeed in worship as well.

Your richness, before you become poor!

Only what you have as sustenance and wear as clothes right now is considered to be yours. Similarly, if you give charity (sadaka), help orphans, build mosques, madrasas, schools, roads, bridges or supply water all this is yours as well and you receive reward for it even after death.

Your free time before you become busy!

Youth joined with freedom is the beginning of sins. We must keep our children busy with something useful. Let us bring up children in accordance with Islam, with the Koran, with love for the homeland and with iman (belief) in the path of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). So take advantage of your free time before trouble comes!

Your life, before your death!

Death comes at any time; it does not tell when it will come. If you do not believe that, visit the cemetery! You will see with your own eyes that this place is not only for the elderly. There are a lot of young and even children (babies) that are buried therein.

Here’s a quick tip for the young to remember! When one is young, one rarely thinks about taking real advantage of the time. 10, 15 and 20 years may pass before you know it. You see that decades flow in a blink of an eye. While someone is young, it is hard for him to believe that he will ever be old or that life will not be the same. But I tell you that it happens to everyone and that one day you will find yourself old as well, by the will of God.

Dear friends! Let us set goals and achieve them and let us constantly enrich ourselves spiritually. Then our life will not be wasted.

ABDULLA MUSLIMOV

THEOLOGIAN