Life begins at 40???

6/6/2016, 1 Ramadan 2016

When a person celebrating his birthday, he should be aware that the time is running, the clock is ticking. As the time goes by, we are closer to our own death actually. Are you ready enough for that? As we are normal human being, our life cycle is repeating; baby-adult-old-baby (alike). Amazing huh? Sooner of later, we will return to the same God the creator, despite our belief. Even if you are an atheist, that do not belief in God's existence, you will facing Him in the hereafter too, just like others. 

Surat Al-Ĥaj (The Pilgrimage), Chapter 22, Verse 5:

Sahih International

O People, if you should be in doubt about the Resurrection, then [consider that] indeed, We created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, and then from a lump of flesh, formed and unformed - that We may show you. And We settle in the wombs whom We will for a specified term, then We bring you out as a child, and then [We develop you] that you may reach your [time of] maturity. And among you is he who is taken in [early] death, and among you is he who is returned to the most decrepit [old] age so that he knows, after [once having] knowledge, nothing. And you see the earth barren, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and swells and grows [something] of every beautiful kind.

Malay

Wahai umat manusia, sekiranya kamu menaruh syak (ragu-ragu) tentang kebangkitan makhluk (hidup semula pada hari kiamat), maka (perhatilah kepada tingkatan kejadian manusia) kerana sebenarnya Kami telah menciptakan kamu dari tanah, kemudian dari setitik air benih, kemudian dari sebuku darah beku, kemudian dari seketul daging yang disempurnakan kejadiannya dan yang tidak disempurnakan; (Kami jadikan secara yang demikian) kerana Kami hendak menerangkan kepada kamu (kekuasaan Kami); dan Kami pula menetapkan dalam kandungan rahim (ibu yang mengandung itu) apa yang Kami rancangkan hingga ke suatu masa yang ditentukan lahirnya; kemudian Kami mengeluarkan kamu berupa kanak-kanak; kemudian (kamu dipelihara) hingga sampai ke peringkat umur dewasa; dan (dalam pada itu) ada di antara kamu yang dimatikan (semasa kecil atau semasa dewasa) dan ada pula yang dilanjutkan umurnya ke peringkat tua nyanyuk sehingga ia tidak mengetahui lagi akan sesuatu yang telah diketahuinya dahulu. Dan (ingatlah satu bukti lagi); Engkau melihat bumi itu kering, kemudian apabila Kami menurunkan hujan menimpanya, bergeraklah tanahnya (dengan tumbuh-tumbuhan yang merecup tumbuh), dan gembur membusutlah ia, serta ia pula menumbuhkan berjenis-jenis tanaman yang indah permai.

From this verse, it is understood that the life cycle of human is repeating; baby-adult-old-baby (alike).

Surat Ar-Rūm (The Romans), Chapter 30, verse 54:

Sahih International

Allah is the one who created you from weakness, then made after weakness strength, then made after strength weakness and white hair. He creates what He wills, and He is the Knowing, the Competent.

Malay

Allah yang menciptakan kamu bermula dengan keadaan lemah, selepas berkeadaan lemah itu Ia menjadikan kamu kuat. Setelah itu Ia menjadikan kamu lemah pula serta tua beruban. Ia menciptakan apa yang dikehendakiNya, dan Dia lah jua yang Maha Mengetahui, lagi Maha Kuasa.

When in Malaysia, I can see most of the people here have same hair colour eventhough we are from different races (Malay, Indian, Chinese, etc), and different religion. When I went to Australia for studying, also I saw many other different races (European, Arab, South African, Kenyan, etc). Despite having different genetics, hair colour (blonde, black, ginger, etc), skin colour, culture, religion but all of us will have the same white hair when we grow older.

Surat Ghāfir (The Forgiver), Chapter 40, verse 67:

Sahih International

It is He who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot; then He brings you out as a child; then [He develops you] that you reach your [time of] maturity, then [further] that you become elders. And among you is he who is taken in death before [that], so that you reach a specified term; and perhaps you will use reason.

Malay

Dia lah yang menciptakan kamu dari tanah, kemudian dari (setitis) air benih, kemudian dari sebuku darah beku, kemudian dari seketul daging; kemudian Ia mengeluarkan kamu berupa kanak-kanak; kemudian kamu (dipelihara) hingga sampai ke peringkat umur dewasa; kemudian kamu (dipanjangkan umur) hingga sampai menjadi tua. Dan (dalam pada itu) ada di antara kamu yang dimatikan sebelum itu. (Allah melakukan kejadian yang demikian) supaya kamu sampai ke masa yang ditentukan (untuk menerima balasan); dan supaya kamu memahami (hikmat-hikmat kejadian itu dan kekuasaan Tuhan).

Life begins at 40...

1400 years ago, it's been told that 'life begins at 40'. It was not created by the western philosophy, but it's already written in the Quran.

Surat Al-'Aĥqāf (The Wind-Curved Sandhills), Chapter 46, verse 15:

 

Sahih International

And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."

Malay

Dan Kami wajibkan manusia berbuat baik kepada kedua ibu bapanya; ibunya telah mengandungnya dengan menanggung susah payah dan telah melahirkannya dengan menanggung susah payah. Sedang tempoh mengandungnya beserta dengan tempoh menceraikan susunya ialah dalam masa tiga puluh bulan. Setelah ia besar sampai ke peringkat dewasa yang sempurna kekuatannya dan sampai ke peringkat umur empat puluh tahun, berdoalah ia dengan berkata: "Wahai Tuhanku, ilhamkanlah daku supaya tetap bersyukur akan nikmatmu yang engkau kurniakan kepadaku dan kepada ibu bapaku, dan supaya aku tetap mengerjakan amal soleh yang Engkau redai; dan jadikanlah sifat-sifat kebaikan meresap masuk ke dalam jiwa zuriat keturunanku. Sesungguhnya aku bertaubat kepadamu, dan sesungguhnya aku dari orang-orang Islam (yang tunduk patuh kepadamu)".

I love to read what my state mufti said about this verse in his blog post: Bila Usia Menjelang Empat Puluh. He interpret the verse as at the age of 40, we should repent for our mistake done in our life, and be a better person.

From this verse also, Allah asked us to obey and love our parents as without them, we won't be alive in this world. As a parent, a mother is obligated to breastfeed her own baby up to 2 years. Otherwise, if she can't, the parents should discuss and come out with solution such as hire someone to breastfeed the baby. 

Wallahualam...