The Best Time for Worship is Youth
Youth is the best asset of human life. The status of worship at this time is also high. Almighty Allah tests people with His special blessings. Those who pass it are successful. And those who neglect it, they fail. Whoever spends his youth in the worship of Allah will find shelter under the shade of the Throne of Allah on the Day of Judgment. Rasulullah (SAW) said, Allah will place seven people under His (Arsh) shade; The Day when there will be no shadow except His shadow. (among them) the youth, whose youth is spent in obedience to the worship of Allah. (Bukhari: 660; Muslim: 1031)
Youth is a very important blessing for people. At this time, people have both strength and health of worship. At this time, as much as a person can act with purity and firmness, it is often not possible when he gets old. So this precious blessing should not be neglected in any way. Because, on the Day of Resurrection, the time of youth will be taken into account. (Tirmidhi: 2416)
Ibnu Abbas (RA) said, ‘Allah Ta’ala gave prophethood to all the Prophets during their youth, the scholars are given knowledge during their youth.’ Taala Allah said, ‘When he (Musa (A.S)) reached full youth, I gave him wisdom and etymology. (Sura-28 Qasas, verse: 14)
The seven pious men of the Companions of Kahaf mentioned in the Holy Qur’an were also young men. Those who believed in the worship of one God. Whom Allah saved from the enemy. Almighty Allah says, ‘(O Messenger!) I have narrated their history to you correctly. They were some young men. They put their faith in their Lord and I strengthened them in the right way.’ (Sura-18 Kahf, verse: 13)
Young people were also the pioneers in accepting Islam. The youth of Bani Israel were the first to believe in Musa (AS). At the call of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), the first hundred youth accepted Islam. And most of them were between 15 and 40 years of age. Imam Ibn Kasir (RA) said, “Most of those who responded to the call of Allah and His Messenger were young men.” (Tafseer Ibn Kasir)
Although the entire life is to be answered to Allah, but the youth will be specially interrogated. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘The two feet of the son of Adam will not move a single step from Allah Ta’ala until he is asked about these matters on the Day of Resurrection: about his lifetime, how it was spent; About his youth, in what he spent it, how he earned wealth and in what way he spent it, and whether he followed his knowledge correctly?’ (Tirmidhi: 2417)
In Al-Qur’an, Almighty Allah swore by time, He commanded to give importance to time to save people from harm. It is the youth who have stood against all sin and injustice throughout the ages. It can be seen in the history of every nation, the youth have played a major role in bringing back their freedom, peace and order. One such youth was Ibrahim (a.s.), who first took a stand against the idolatry of his tribe. It is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, ‘Some of them said, We heard a young man criticizing these idols. He is called Ibrahim.’ (Sura-14 Ibrahim, verse: 60).
If the enthusiasm and energy of youth are spent in the right way, in the right work, a fair and beautiful society is built. Because the youth are the driving force. If they are united, the whole nation is united, if they lose their way, the whole nation loses its way. Every young man should keep his youth free from sin and arrange it in the worship of Allah. To fear Allah. To benefit people. Enjoining good deeds and forbidding evil deeds. Then our society will be more beautiful and safe, God willing!
● Mufti Maulana Shaikh Muhammad Uthman Ghani
Joint Secretary General, Bangladesh National Imam Association; Assistant Professor, Ahsania Institute of Sufism
