Especially For Those Nearing 40s And Up

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Even if you are not nearing 40s and up, continue reading.

Forty years of age is a very important milestone in the life of a man (or woman). At this age, a man (or woman) becomes strong (both mentally and physically). He reaches a stage of maturity and is able to understand and handle the highs and lows of all spheres of the life in a reasonable and wise manner.

Allah Most High started sending the revelations to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) when he reached 40.

Allah has emphasized this stage of human life very clearly in Qur’an.

وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَ‌ٰلِدَيْهِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرْ‌هًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْ‌هًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُۥ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ ثَلَـٰثُونَ شَهْرً‌ا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرْ‌بَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَ‌بِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ‌ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَ‌ٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـٰلِحًا تَرْ‌ضَىٰهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِى فِى ذُرِّ‌يَّتِىٓ ۖ إِنِّى تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٥

And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims." (15)

[Qur'an, Al-Ahqaf 46:15)

The verse above confirms that a man attains full strength at the age of 40. Moreover, this Ayaah tells about some of the responsibilities of a man when he reaches the age of forty.

The most important thing to be done when one reaches the age of forty is that he should make a re-assessment of his own personality, thank Allah for His favors and pray for his parents and offspring. The repentance to Allah should be renewed. One should recite the supplication mentioned in the verse above and abandon all his (her) wrong acts (if any) from that point onward. One should ask Allah to forgive all his/her previous sins and a renewed effort should be made by every individual to ensure that he leads his/her remaining life according to the Qur’an and Sunnah.

This is a great responsibility for each of us. In fact, it is like a last opportunity for everyone to get his sins forgiven and start anew towards the ultimate goal of entering the Paradise. The verse that follows the above mentioned verse explains this statement:

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ وَعْدَ ٱلصِّدْقِ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ ﴿١٦

Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised. (16)

[Qur'an, Al-Ahqaf 46:16]

It is very clear from this verse that whoever is good with his/her parents, and whoever after reaching the age of 40 supplicates to Allah, renews his repentance and make efforts to ensure that he leads a righteous life according to the Qur'an and Sunnah, then such are the only people from whom Allah accepts their repentance. Allah forgives the sins of such people and takes into account only the good deeds of such people. And above all, Allah promises Paradise for such people.

Ponder for a moment on how important this milestone is. Those who have already crossed this age should ask themselves: "Have I acted accordingly?"

We should be thankful to Allah that he has given us an opportunity of forgiveness at this stage of our lives. Whoever ignores this and keeps himself busy in his worldly ambitions and ignores his primary duties ordained by Allah then there is a chance that it might be too late for such a person, and he may reach a stage in his life where Allah will no longer accept his repentance.

Narrated Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Allah will not accept the excuse of any person whose instant of death is delayed till he is sixty years of age.” [Bukhari]

Remember, all our worldly plans will come to an abrupt end when death strikes.

Narrated Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) drew a few lines and said, “This is (man’s) hope, and this is the instant of his death, and while he is in this state (of hope), the nearer line (death) comes to him.”
[Bukhari]

Then we shall move to a never ending world, the Hereafter, with our actions of this world to decide our fate: Heaven or Hell. So, whoever has reached the age of 40, you should get your act together for this could be your last opportunity. Those who will be reaching that stage soon, be prepared. Those who are beyond this age, hurry and refocus.

The time and place of death of every human is appointed, no one knows about it except Allah. No one knows how many years he is going to live.

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْ‌حَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِ‌ى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِ‌ى نَفْسٌۢ بِأَىِّ أَرْ‌ضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ‌ۢ ﴿٣٤

Indeed, Allah [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (34

[Qur'an, Luqman 31:34]

May Allah forgive all our sins and guide us and our loved ones on the right path. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam