I paid my Grandmother a visit the other day and got a severe jolt! To be honest, I did not really plan to check her up but I was passing by so I thought "there’s really no harm in dropping by for about 20 minutes." Actually, the last time I went to her house was almost three years ago and even though we normally spoke on phone and met at the occasional family gathering, I had never really given much thought to going to spend sometime with her at home.
My first port of call was the shop she had used for over 25years. I could hardly believe my eyes! Some strangers had taken over the place and turned it to a Printers Office! But for the fact that the shop is right beside her house, I would have thought I was in the wrong place! I went into the house and beheld a sight that touched my heart; my Grandma- bent with old age slowly going about some little chores. She had aged so much since the last time I saw her. It dawned on me that a lot had changed about her. As she welcomed me in her usual loving manner, I tried to hold back tears at the wrinkles that had taken over not just her face but her entire body. I noticed how the once firm embrace had become weak and how she had to take her time to perform actions. Even as she reassured me that she was alright, I found it surprising that she had given up the shop because it had become too much trouble for her to climb up and down the stairs everyday. Funny isn’t it? How time flies! My Grandma who I grew up knowing to be a very agile business woman! She would make several trips to various towns far and near to buy goods for her shop. She would travel many miles by public transport to pay us early morning weekend Visits. She would travel regularly to her hometown to visit relatives and attend ceremonies she was invited to no matter how far the venue was. Now, going up and down a flight -of stairs had become "too stressful for her" Subhanallah! I just kept thinking; if Allaah wills that I grow up to be as old as she is, would I also become like this? Would I compulsorily have to slow down and take things. easy? That would mean giving up a lot of things and watching the younger ones going about smartly and remembering the good old days when one was like them.
I began to see more wisdom in the Hadith of the Rasul (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which says:
"Take benefit of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death" (Narrated by Ibn Abbas and reported by AI Hakim)
We really are blessed with our youth by Allaah so that we can worship HIM and perfect our faith. It is important to make the best use of the energy that surges through us during this period not only for Ibaadah but also to provide for the future when we are old and weak-like the Yoruba’s would say, keeping water in store in preparation for the drought. We should also spend our youth wisely by securing good and pious spouses with whom we would have righteous children who would take care of us in our old age. Use your youth wisely! Remember that you would account for it!
"Which of the favours of your Lord do you deny?" -Soorah 55(Ar-Rahman)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited