The Closure and Commencement of the Year
written by Sheikh Hany Hilmy
Abdulla Ibn Sa'eb said: I heard the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him say in between the two corners (i.e the fourth corner of the Kaaba (Rukn Yamani) and the black stone): "Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!" narrated by Abu Dawood and classified as sahih by Alalbani
At the end of circumbulation, it is a sunnah to say this supplication. It enfolds the goods of this world and the hereafter..
Thus, I ask you before the blessed Hijri year ends, What is your "merit" this year? And what did you save for your hereafter?
Let us agree on some meanings at the end of a year and the commencement of another:
First: "The closure of deeds is what matters "
As the prophet peace and blessings be upon him said: " ..a man amongst you may do (good deeds till there is only a cubit between him and paradise and then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of the (hell) Fire. And similarly a man amongst you may do (evil) deeds till there is only a cubit between him and the (hell) Fire, and then what has been written for him decides his behavior, and he starts doing deeds characteristic of the people of paradise." Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mus'ud, sahih Bukhari
So when the horses reach the end of a race, they perfect their running and reach their maximum efficiency ... so perfect your coming deeds so that Allah may forgive your past ones..
Second: "and let no one amongst you look back, but go on to where you are ordered." Al-hijr:65
Don't look back .. surrender to His saying: "And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow " ِAl-Hashr:18 .. what's past has finished and died "In order that you may not grieve at the things that you fail to get "Al-Hadid:23 .. so think now how can you end this year in a way that would erase memories of stumbles and slips of the past.
Third: Manage to think how things happen?
Open a new page with Allah all Mighty from the basis of analyzing the reasons for your slips and stumbles, and the determination to change what to come. Remember "Verily! Allâh will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allâh)." Al-Rad:11
Fourth: From now on, have an accountability sheet for all your movements and gestures.
Name your clear defects, write in your notebook five of these defects and promise Allah to eliminate them the coming year if Allah all Mighty wishes. Also name five achievements that you will fulfill with honesty for Allah all Mighty.
Example:
Memorizing Quran, studying Islam obligatory science for a Muslim " 'elm shar'ey or the knowledge of islam science" .. enhancement of obligatory acts (prayers -fasting -etc) .. the enhancement of Sunnah acts by maintainning a stable portion of prayers (sunnah) that doesn't fall beyond twelve raka's per day, maintainning the dhikr for morning and evening and the supplications done by the prophet in certain times (like the entrance of house supplications for example) .. In quran u should recite at least one juzu' (part) per day.. performi a Da'awa achievement with your family and friends.. the performance of a big Birr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allâh)activity towards family members especially your parent, etc
Fifth: Make it a priority for the rest of this year and what to come in the next year that your purify your soul. And that is in your hand if Allah all Mighty wills
{And by Nafs (Adam or a person or a soul), and Him Who perfected him in proportion (7) Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him; (8) Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allâh ordered, by following the true Faith of Islâmic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds).(9) And indeed he fails who corrupts his ownself (i.e. disobeys what Allâh has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islâmic Monotheism or by following polytheism or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds)(10) } Ash-Shams: 7-10
Lets together achieve the formula of success and change
First step: Honest Desire + Honest apprehension + Honest willingness
Allah all Mighty said: {And when the matter (preparation for Jihâd) is resolved on, then if they had been true to Allâh, it would have been better for them.} Muhammad:21
Second Step: Rely on Allah and don't feel handicapped and And put your trust in the Ever Living One Who dies not
Allah all Mighty said: {Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allâh, certainly, Allâh loves those who put their trust (in Him) } Aal-Imran:159
Third step: Write the plan for this year in the light of your capabilities and circumstances (this year's scenario) .
Fourth Step: Allocate your goals
Temporarily in terms of the day, the week, and the month, and the year .. what will you achieve insha' Allah?.
Fifth step: Make an experiment this week for a temporary goal
Look at your defects that abstain its accomplishment as well as the successful factors which can be invested in.
Lets start a new commencement .. lets rise with our anticipations for a brighter future .. and achieve a real accomplishment on the way to Allah
Don't say: I made a lot of schedules in the past and I never achieved them ..
Don't say: I know I will stumble and slip
Resist these negative messages with the positive belief in Allah ..
Be honest with Allah and Allah will help you..
O Allah who guides the mislead.. who mercies the wrong doers .. who helps who stumbles .. we ask you to be amongst your your blessed from the prophets, the honest slaves, the martyrs and the pious ..
O Allah who knows the hidden and who raises deeds .. The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in punishment, the Bestower (of favours), Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), to Him is the final return.
We ask you to bestow unto us your forgiveness and the sweetness of your mercy .. O Allah the most Merciful ..
O Allah, have mercy on Mohammad and those related to Mohammad just that Thou had on Ibrahim and those related to Ibrahim; surly Thou art the Praiseworthy, the Great. Oh Allah, bestow your blessing on Mohammad and those related to Mohammad as Thou had bestowed it on Ibrahim and those related to Ibrahim; surly Thou art the Praiseworthy, the Great.
Source: www.manhag.net
Biography of sheikh Hany Hilmy:
click here