By Dr Anwar Iqbal Siddiqui
As the first days of 2026 unfold, we are reminded, with sober inevitability, that time marches forward relentlessly. Life and time are inseparable companions, moving together in a rhythm older than memory itself. This rhythm is neither negotiable nor selective; it is the immutable law of nature. From the birth of the cosmos billions of years ago to the life of every individual today, the arc of existence is clear: every living soul is bound to taste death. This is not a grim prophecy but a fact as universal as the rising sun. All creation was formed with this certainty in mind, in a realm of souls and divine design. What for some may seem the present, for others is the past, and for yet others a promise of the future. And now, as we step into the Gregorian year 2026, the Hijri calendar marks 1447—a reminder that human experience is measured in cycles, both worldly and spiritual.
The passage of time is inseparable from the journey of humanity, which continues its slow, often faltering, progress along the path of development. Technology, for all its brilliance, opens windows to realities that were once beyond imagination, yet it also exposes society to an unsettling paradox. As knowledge grows, so too does the audacity of those who seek to mislead, exploiting weak reasoning and superficial intellect to propagate frivolous, often dangerous ideologies. These forces, subtle yet pervasive, shape discussions, influence perceptions, and leave no age untouched, but perhaps none more so than the youth, whose hearts and minds remain tender to persuasion and prone to doubt.
More than fourteen centuries ago, a message of enduring clarity was delivered to humanity: the oneness of God, the worship of Allah alone, and obedience to His divine guidance. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, communicated this message not only with words but through a life that embodied moral certainty and spiritual discipline. Today, however, that message is subject to endless scrutiny, skepticism, and even ridicule. Atheistic arguments, secular critiques, and misleading discourses circulate widely, not merely questioning belief but attempting to unsettle the very foundation of faith. For the younger generation, growing up in a digital age awash with information and counter-information, this presents one of the most profound challenges: to discern truth from clever fabrication, to hold fast to what is eternal amidst the ephemeral.
History provides both guidance and perspective. During the era of Imam Abu Hanifa, a figure once emerged claiming prophethood, provoking questions and doubt among the people. Observers asked why the Imam did not publicly debate this false claim. His response was simple yet profound: when a matter is established in truth beyond doubt, engaging in argument over it is itself a sign of weakness in faith. This insight remains strikingly relevant today. Faith, genuine and deep, does not seek constant validation through argument; it is reinforced through practice, reflection, and sincerity of belief.
The declaration that “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” is not merely a ritual utterance. It is a living, breathing commitment to truth that must shape both thought and action. The pillars of Islam—faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage—are not to be treated as words to memorize, but principles to embody with conviction. True understanding, or haqq al-yaqeen, transforms the individual from mere existence into purposeful life. It aligns daily conduct with eternal guidance, providing a compass in times of moral uncertainty.
Life, in this sense, is defined through action. It is in what we do, not merely what we profess, that the contours of Paradise or Hell are drawn. Humanity, by nature, is neither inherently angelic nor demonic. To live without awareness of life’s purpose is to drift in a form no different from animals, which act instinctively but without the faculty of reflective knowledge. Knowledge, understanding, and sound intellect are what distinguish humans, marking us as the noblest of creation. Allah has endowed humanity with reasoning and moral consciousness, and it is this that elevates us above the mere biological processes that define other creatures.
(The writer is a research scholar and a unionist, can be reached at editorial@metro-morning.com)
