The Door of Repentance is Open – Don’t Delay

Yes, Times Are Tough… But Why?
Yes, times are bad—very bad. But why? I don’t know. I do think about it, though, and I have come to the conclusion that I am not real; I am fake. Instead of sailing in one boat, I am trying to balance myself in many. I have abandoned one path and embarked on too many others. I am incomplete, unfinished. I have lost my confidence and now seek support from others. I do realise that crutches may help me walk, but they will never let me run. And yet… I still lean on them.

I have become someone who complains—constantly lamenting over what I didn’t get, what I couldn’t achieve. “This society has given me nothing!” I wail. “It has blocked my way!”

I have become a victim of self-pity. I crave sympathy from everyone, wanting them to see me as helpless, abandoned, alone. My loneliness gnaws at me. “Oh, I am ruined! What should I do?” I cry. I am nothing but a personification of despair. I don’t even know who I am anymore. I am trapped in a strange affliction—desperate for someone to hold my hand, to listen to my woes. It is just me and my misery, caught in an unending cycle. Instead of trying to escape, I am drowning deeper into this whirlpool. I turn my back on reality and lose myself in illusions, dreaming of a world where everything falls effortlessly into my lap. I know I cannot utter “Be” and watch things happen, and yet… I still wish I could.

But I have never stopped to think about what I have given to others! What have I contributed to this society? Do I even know how to give, or am I only capable of taking? I never asked myself this question. How could I, when I have always been so absorbed in myself?

I once made promises of love, swore undying devotion, and then betrayed that trust without a second thought. But I didn’t consider it a crime. Someone showed me kindness, supported me, and included me in their work. And what did I do in return? The moment I found better opportunities; I abandoned them for others.

I used my glib tongue to extract money from people, selling them dreams that would never come true. I scammed desperate individuals by selling them fake plots of land. Someone took a loan to pay me, hoping I would help them travel abroad and build a better future. But instead, I sold their hopes to someone else, destroying their dreams entirely.

I did whatever it took to fill my own stomach—things I should be ashamed of—but instead, I strutted around with pride. I built connections with powerful people, not for good but to shield my misdeeds. I assembled gangs of thugs and crushed the weak under my feet—and yet, I still call myself respectable.
I committed bank frauds, amassed vast amounts of money, and built luxurious farmhouses, living a life of excess. But I never stopped to reflect on my crimes. I filled cemeteries with bodies but never considered that one day, I too would be buried there.

I manufactured fake medicines, sold them, and stuffed my coffers with wealth—never thinking about the lives I ruined. I turned religion into a money-making business. I became a master of deception, so skilled at pretending that even the real seemed fake in comparison. Even the charity work I did was not for the welfare of others but for my own reputation. I distributed a few food rations and ensured my so-called generosity was photographed and published in newspapers, feeding my ego with the admiration I craved.

I took bribes, deprived people of their rights, blocked the path of those who tried to do things the right way—unless they paid me first.

What a strange person I am! A slave to my desires, a master of deceit, consumed by greed.
We are all guilty. We say one thing and do another. If someone insulted me, I didn’t hesitate to kill them. But when the laws of God were broken, I merely offered commentary. Mosques were bombed, innocent orphaned girls were burned alive by phosphorus bombs, and I just sat in front of the television and watched.

What have I done for my country and its innocent people? Nothing but empty words!
Then, when I was finally exhausted—when I realised I had brought this suffering upon myself with my own misdeeds—I didn’t know how to escape it. That’s when I did something I had never done before: I confessed my sins before my Creator. And then, I made a firm resolve—No! I will no longer be a slave to my desires. I will strive to become a servant of God.

It is difficult—extremely difficult—but I have taken God as my support, and slowly, my wounds have started to heal. Then, one day, I made another promise: I will no longer live just for myself. I will live for others.

When you take refuge in God, difficulties begin to ease. I was once tormented by the question of how to differentiate between a trial and a punishment. Then, one day, I presented my dilemma to someone wise. They listened patiently, smiled, and solved my problem in an instant:
“It’s simple,” they said. “If a hardship, pain, or difficulty brings you closer to God, know that it is a trial. But if it distances you from Him, then it is a punishment. That is when you must repent—immediately and sincerely.”

How fortunate we are to have been granted yet another Ramadan. Every moment of this blessed month is precious. It is the perfect opportunity to seek forgiveness and draw closer to our Lord. And the path to His nearness is so simple:
Make a firm intention to love His creation.
For He has said: ‘All of creation is My family. Love them, and I shall love you.’

Ramadan: A Season of Blessings and Self-Purification
Ramadan is not just a month of worship but a season of spiritual renewal, self-discipline, and social harmony. It offers an opportunity for self-reflection and strengthening one’s bond with the Almighty. The greatest virtue of this sacred month is that it is a time of divine mercy and forgiveness. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The first ten days of Ramadan are of mercy, the middle ten are of forgiveness, and the last ten are for deliverance from Hellfire.” This month opens the doors of divine grace, and if a person sincerely repents, their past sins are forgiven.

Fasting is not merely about abstaining from food and drink; rather, it is about gaining control over one’s desires and impulses. The Holy Qur’an states, “Fasting has been prescribed for you so that you may attain piety.” Ramadan teaches self-restraint, gratitude, and patience. It is the ideal time for repentance. Whoever turns to Allah with a remorseful heart will find His mercy boundless. As narrated in a hadith, “Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and in the hope of reward, all their previous sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari)

The spirit of charity, generosity, and compassion is at its peak during Ramadan. Feeding the hungry, supporting the needy, and assisting the less fortunate become widespread acts of kindness. This month reminds us of our duty towards those who struggle to meet their basic needs. Worship also takes on a special significance—long prayers, nightly Tarawih, recitation of the Qur’an, and heartfelt supplications define the essence of this blessed month. The pursuit of Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Decree), which is described as better than a thousand months, adds to its spiritual grandeur.

Fasting not only brings one closer to Allah but also serves as a test of perseverance and self-control. Trials and hardships often bring a person nearer to their Creator, instilling patience and resilience. Ramadan is a time for self-accountability—a moment to reflect on one’s life, to assess what has been lost and gained, and to commit to personal growth and reform.

We must take a hard look at our surroundings and ask ourselves: Are we experiencing a collective test, or have we invited divine punishment upon ourselves? Ramadan is here again! “So, which of your Lord’s favours will you deny?” A voice from within calls out, “Return! This is the month of salvation from Hell, the best chance for repentance, the nights for weeping and seeking forgiveness, the time to search for Laylatul Qadr, the moment to turn back to your Lord. Hurry, O heedless one, before the caller at the door never returns!”