THE GIFT OF TIME LETS US FULFILL LIFE’S PURPOSE

In life, there are moments of celebration and other moments of reflection. These moments look different for every person, depending on her or his ideology, point of view, beliefs and philosophy on life. As we are approaching the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, people have different plans on how to mark this remarkable moment in their lives. While it is a time of celebration for some, it might be a time of reflection for others. As a Muslim, believing that my faith covers all aspects of life and shapes my view on life, humanity, divinity and afterlife, the new year symbolizes an opportunity for reflection.

The first thing that comes to mind is the value of time. My Islamic faith teaches me that time is life. When my time is gone, my life is gone with it; and when I am given time, I am given an opportunity to live longer to fulfill my purpose in this worldly life. My purpose is to serve the Creator and show mercy to the creation. Therefore, it’s important for me to express thankfulness and gratitude to God, the giver of life, for extending my life, giving me the opportunity to increase in goodness. As our Beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, “The best of people is the one who is granted a long life full of good deeds.”

The second point of reflection in this moment is self-accountability. People from all walks of life go through times of evaluation; they evaluate their businesses, relationships and achievements in different aspects of their lives. For me, this is a time of spiritual evaluation, or self-accountability. This is done through observing my performance in this past year, including moments of failure and moments of success in my relationship with God, my family and my community. Through self-accountability, I can fix my mistakes, learn from my failures, build on my successes and improve my performance in all aspects of life. A new year, or even a new day, is an opportunity to become a better human being, spiritually, socially and professionally.

Finally, I use this time to plan for my future

by reflecting on my past. Every year I see people sharing their resolutions whether they are successful in achieving their goals or not. I ask myself: What do I want to achieve in the next year regarding my relationship with God, family and community? How can I improve myself and become a tool of inspiration and source of goodness? What should I do to contribute to the betterment of my community,

my nation, and our world? In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, what is my role, as a faith leader, to ensure my community’s safety and wellbeing? What more could I do to have my voice heard standing firmly for justice in all its aspects and challenging injustice in all its forms?

I would like to invite my fellow San Diegans to join me in these reflections, hoping for a better future for all of us. However you will celebrate the new year, I wish the best for you all.