In times like these where materialismis widespread and the dominant media has infiltrated the heart andminds of the masses, we need totake a step back and reflect upon the most pertinent questions of all. Questions that Ionce didn’t even bother to think about oreven care about- Why are we here? What’s important in life? Where is my life going? Let’s just think about that for a moment or two. I remember when I was young, the most important things in my life was to get a good education and then eventually a good Job. I’m not saying that this isn’t important but as I got older I started to reassess this and think about the bigger picture. What is the purpose of my life? Is it my sole purpose to eat, sleep, get a good job and then sorry to say this but eventually die? I don’t want to sound morbid or anything but it is the most obvious thing that will happen and yet somehow we are too bus yto think about it.

Many of us may be familiar with the saying of our dearly beloved Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), who said, “Take advantage of five matters before fiveother matters: Your Youth, before yoube come old; and your Health, before you fall Sick; and your Richness, before you become Poor; and your Free time, before you become Busy; and your Life, before your Death”

After reading this saying, it definitely awakened a reality within me and made me contemplate my existence and purpose. It also made me reflect upon the many blessings and treasures that each and everyhuman being is blessed with. The above Hadith (saying of the prophet Muhammed) summarizes the phases which we may go through throughout life, Youth, Parenthood, Middle age and Old age. If wesit back and think, throughout these phases, we gain and lose. This Hadith, advises us, to take advantage of the best parts of our lives while we still have them.

What are these five things? Youth Before Old Age
The Prophet SAW (Peace be upon him) started off by saying Shabab which in the Arabic language means young person. The term youth fulness here refers to when a person is the most energetic and when he or she lays out the foundations for his/herfuture. The enthusiasm and energy that one has been blessed with during this period will never again be given to you after this age. However, the meaning of youth in this Hadith does not refer to when you are in your teens or even early 20’s but rather anyone under the age of 40 is regarded as a Shabab or young person. This is because forty is the prime of life, when mental and physical capabilities have reached a peak, and after that they start to go down. The importance of taking advantage of one’s youthfulness by doing much good, seeking knowledge or helping the community is essential as there will come a period whereold age may hinder these kinds of activities. Additionally, in Islam the main purpose forall of these good works is to seek the pleasure of our creator and hoping to reapthe rewards of it in the hereafter.

Health before Sickness
The fact that one lives a normal life and isnot afflicted with diseases or major ilnesses represents a person’s health. So the prophetis encouraging us to take advantage of our health before our sickness because it is inevitable that people will fall ill. So how can we actually take advantage of our health before sickness? This can be done firstly by being grateful for good health and using our faculties as well as our strength to serve our creator but also to serve humanity.