Year in Review

"Ya ayyuhalladheena amanut-taqullaha haqqa tuqatihi wa la tamutunna illa wa antum muslimun." (Aal 'Imran, 3:102)

"Ya ayyuhannas uttaqu rabbakumul ladhi khalaqakum min nafsin wahidatin wa khalaqa minha zawjaha wa baththa minhuma rijalan katheeran wa nisa'a. Wattaqullahalldhee tasa'aluna bihi wal-arham. Innallaha kana 'alaykum raqeeba." (An-Nisa, 4:1)

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,

Brothers and sisters, another Islamic year has come and gone. Twelve months of our lives have been written in our book of deeds — sealed, unchangeable, to be presented before Allah on the Day of Judgement.

'Umar ibn al-Khattab, radhiAllahu 'anhu, said:

"Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account, and weigh your deeds before they are weighed for you." (Reported by at-Tirmidhi in his commentary, and by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya in al-Muhasabah)

This is the practice of muhasabah — self-accounting. And the turning of the Islamic year is a natural moment for it.

Let each of us ask ourselves honestly:

In our worship: Did we grow closer to Allah this year, or drift further away? Did we establish any new act of worship — a regular sunnah prayer, dhikr after salah, weekly Quran reading? Or did we lose habits we once had?

In our character: Did we improve in patience, truthfulness, and kindness? Or did we let anger, backbiting, and grudges define our relationships?

In our family: Did we fulfil the rights of our spouses, parents, and children? Or did we take them for granted, neglecting the most important people in our lives?

In our community: Did we contribute to the Muslim community and the wider society? Or did we live in isolation, concerned only with our own affairs?

Allah reminds us:

"Ya ayyuhalladheena amanut-taqullaha wal-tandhur nafsun ma qaddamat li ghad. Wattaqullah. Innallaha khabeerun bima ta'maloon." (Al-Hashr, 59:18)

The scholars say that one of the greatest blessings — and the greatest tests — is time. The Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:

"Ni'matani maghbunun feehima katheerun minan-nas: as-sihhatu wal-faragh." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6412)

How many of us have wasted entire evenings scrolling through our phones? How many weekends have passed with no productive activity? How many years have gone by with the same intention to change, but no action?

Allah swears by time itself:

"Wal-'Asr. Innal-insana lafee khusr." (Al-'Asr, 103:1-2)

Everyone is in loss — except those who believe, do righteous deeds, advise each other to truth, and advise each other to patience. That is the only way to not be a loser in this game of time.

Brothers and sisters,

First: Sit down with a pen and paper — or open a note on your phone — and write a brief honest review of your year. What went well? What do you regret? What do you want to change? Be specific. Don't write "be better" — write "pray Fajr on time every day" or "read one page of Quran daily" or "call my parents every week."

The Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:

"Innamal-a'malu bin-niyyat." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1; Sahih Muslim, 1907)

Set your intentions now — while the turning of the year reminds you — and write them down.

Second: Thank Allah for the year that has passed. Whatever happened — good or bad — you survived it. You are still here. You still have the chance to repent, to improve, to earn Jannah. Many who were with us last year are no longer here. The fact that you are sitting in this masjid today is a ni'mah that deserves shukr.

"O Allah, help us to remember You, to thank You, and to worship You in the best way." (Sunan Abu Dawud, 1522; Sunan an-Nasa'i, 1303 — graded Sahih by al-Albani)