بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

When I was younger, we had this cheeky fridge magnet with the caption “Life begins at 40.” It basically means that at 40 years of age, a person may already have the necessary experience, skills, and foundation that he needs to enjoy the remainder of his life.

So if we were to take this statement seriously, the focus of importance isn’t really on the age of 40, rather before reaching it — because the process of building that foundation is the one that we should be concentrating on.

And this is true when it comes to spirituality as well. A believer mustn’t wait until he reaches 40 years old to properly begin a lifestyle that is pleasing to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, rather that journey has to begin right now.

There are several places in the Qur’an, where Allah specifically gives examples of not just any believer — but young Muslims — who went through tough tests and difficulties in life, and surpassed them with the Help of Allah, and then by virtue of their taqwa.

Allah specifically mentions that these people whom He praises were young believers, and this is a point of reflection we must take. There is something extraordinary about having spirituality and taqwa of Allah when one is still youthful, and in his prime age.

Among those young people whom Allah praises was Prophet Yusuf ‘alayhis-salaam (AS). He was tested with a truly heavy trial, one that if it were to afflict any person, would easily destroy his taqwa and modesty. Allah says: “And women in the city said: The wife of Al-'Azîz is seeking to seduce {fataahaa | her young man}, indeed she loves him violently; verily we see her in plain error.” [Surah Yusuf 12 : 30]

The word ‘young man’ is specifically used here to show us that Prophet Yusuf (AS) was indeed a young man during that incident. He was seduced by the most beautiful woman during that era, in a secluded area, with the doors closed and locked within. It was she who coaxed and persuaded him, but Prophet Yusuf (AS) was a man of dignity and had taqwa of Allah, and hence he was saved from such an immense trial.

Another amazing example of young, pious believers is the story about the people of the cave, where Allah ta’ala describes them by saying: “Truly, they were {fityatun | young men} who believed in their Rabb, and We increased them in guidance.” [Surah Al-Kahf 18 : 13]

What’s so special about having taqwa of Allah when one is young? Rasulullah salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam (ﷺ) said:

“The son of Adam will not be dismissed from his Rabb on the Day of Resurrection until he is questioned about five matters: his life and how he lived it, his youth and how he expended it, his wealth and how he earned it, and he spent it, and how he acted upon his knowledge.” [Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2416 | Graded Hasan by Al-Albani]

Notice that the first question that will be asked is on how one spent his time / life, and the second question will be specifically about how one spent his youth. But here’s the thing, youth is already part of the first question, because youth is already part of one’s life. This hadith emphasises that on the Day of Judgement, we will be specifically asked what we were doing when we were young!

Consider this important hadith, where Rasulullah ﷺ said: “Allah will give seven group of people His Shade on the Day (of Resurrection) when there would be no shade but the Shade of His Throne, (and one of them is) a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah.” [Riyad As-Salihin 449 (Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)]

On that Day, everyone will be raised in an extremely crowded condition. People will be drowning in their own sweat because of the sheer proximity of the sun. 

However, on that difficult Day of standing, there will be at least seven groups of blessed people whom Allah will shade them with the shade of His Throne — and one of them is a young man or a young woman who grew up being faithful and obedient to Allah. While everyone busied themselves with sins and disobedience, getting themselves involved with social ills, these people whom Allah will shade in the akhirah are those who have instilled taqwa of Allah in their hearts at a young age.

When I came across this hadith, I wished I could turn back time so I could spend my youth with what truly matters. But perhaps not all is lost. According to one scholarly opinion, the referred age of youth is between the time of puberty until reaching 40 years of age, and another opinion is upon reaching 50 years old. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has given us ample opportunities for us to fix things for our akhirah. And when a person uses his youth in obedience to Allah, then in shaa Allah, he will continue to remain steadfast with taqwa when he enters his old age.

We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to make us among those who have taqwa in both our young and old age, and protect us with the shade of His Throne on the Day when there will be no other shade but His.

Indeed, life doesn't begin at 40. 

It begins now.

Your sister in Deen,

Aida Ms