The Islamic New Year: An Opportunity for Muhasabah

As a new Islamic year begins, we bid farewell to another year. We can’t go back in time to change anything, but we can look back and reflect.

This new year isn’t about resolutions. It’s about muhasabah, or taking account of yourself before you are taken to account.

The great companion Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiyallahu anhu) said:

Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account, and weigh your deeds before they are weighed for you.

Every day that passes, we are sending forward our deeds, good or bad. Nothing remains behind.

Allah reminds us:

O you who believe! Fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow. And fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is aware of what you do. (Surah al-Hashr, 59:18)

What did we send ahead in the last year?

More Quran or more gossip? More dhikr or more distraction? More salah in the masjid or more sleep? More patience or more anger? More secret sins or secret good deeds?

These are not questions for others to answer. They’re for us. These are questions that we need to address, before we are no longer able to as we stand before Allah, and the answers are presented to us. How many people entered the last year with us but did not live to see this one? How many prayers did we miss while they are now praying none? How many chances did we have to change, but we didn’t?

A time will come when we won’t see another year. And all that will matter is what we did for that day, the Day of Judgment.

On that Day, every soul will be recompensed for what it earned. No injustice today. Indeed, Allah is swift in account. (Surah Ghafir, 40:17)

Let this year be different, starting with sincere repentance. Not a public announcement, not a new image for others. A quiet, sincere intention between you and your Lord. O Allah, make the best of our deeds the last of them, and the best of our days the Day we meet You.

Ameen.