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In the fleeting moments of our lives, we often forget the profound truth that we're here only for a short while.

For over 1,400 years, countless Muslims have gathered every Jumu'ah, week after week, year after year.

They lived their lives—saw sunsets, marveled at the stars, said "Subhanallah" and "Mashallah," laughed, cried, loved, and lost.

Now, they're gone, leaving behind only their deeds.

Today, it's our turn. We stand where they once stood, facing the same trials and tribulations, distractions, and engaging in the same debates.

Such distractions can consume us, diverting our attention from the true purpose of our existence.

Imam al-Shafi'i once remarked, "If Allah had only revealed Surat al-'Asr, it would have been sufficient for the guidance of all humanity."

This brief chapter encapsulates the essence of time and the urgency with which we should live our lives.

"By the time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience." (Qur'an, 103:1-3)

Consider the wisdom of Al-Jahiz, who said:

"The easiest thing to lose in this life is yourself. You can lose five dollars, and you'll notice it. You can lose a limb; you'll definitely notice it. You lose a spouse; you'll notice it. But people lose their lives, and they don't even notice it until its too late."

People lose themselves to the mundane, to distractions, and to the endless pursuit of worldly desires, and they hardly realize what they’ve truly lost.

Allah warns us in the Qur'an:

"They forgot Allah, so He caused them to forget themselves." (Qur'an, 59:19)

This is the truest loss—forgetting our purpose, origin, and ultimate return to Him.

Time slips away, and none of us knows our appointed hour.

Imagine if we could see the countdown of our remaining days.

Would we not strive harder, prioritize better, and avoid the trivialities that often consume us?

There's an old saying:

"Would that my youth would return so I could tell it what old age did to me."

Youth often feels eternal, but as years pass, we realize how swiftly time moves.

The soul remains ever-aspiring, but the body ages.

When we are young, every day is filled with new experiences and learning, making time seem to stretch.

Each moment is rich with discovery, and our hearts are more present and engaged.

As we grow older, we can fall into routines, performing the same actions daily without reflection or mindfulness.

This heedlessness (ghaflah) causes our lives to become stale, and time begins to blur, passing us by unnoticed.

By constantly renewing our intentions, seeking knowledge, and deepening our understanding, we can infuse our actions with life and gain barakah (blessing) in our time.

In Islam, the concept of Tazkiyah (purification) encourages us to continually refine ourselves, breaking free from the monotony that dulls our spiritual senses.

Just as children find wonder in the world due to their openness to new experiences, we, too, can rejuvenate our spirits by approaching our worship and daily actions with sincerity and consciousness.

Doing so enriches our lives and extends the perceived length of our days through meaningful engagement.

Every moment is an opportunity—a gift from Allah.

Let us not squander it by falling into heedlessness and apathy.

Instead, let's harness our time to draw closer to Allah, deepen our experiences, and prepare for our eternal life.

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