6 Things Muslims Regret After Experiencing Them
Human beings
walk the paths of life carrying dreams and experiences, yet some steps leave
indelible marks on the heart. There are many things people regret after they
grow older and begin to see matters with eyes they never had before. Since
wisdom is born of experience, it is important to reflect on these matters so
that we may avoid what others fell into.
1. Neglecting
one’s relationship with Allah and delaying repentance:
Among the greatest regrets is neglecting the heart and drifting away from Allah
Almighty, as a result of being consumed by worldly affairs until the bond with
prayer weakens, the daily portion of the Quran diminishes, and the voice of
supplication grows faint.
When a breeze
of sincerity blows upon the heart—sometimes after grey hair has already covered
the head—a person discovers that repentance is not to be postponed, and that
closeness to Allah is the tranquility that restores the soul, and the chest
that holds the treasures of this world and the Hereafter. Allah the Exalted
says: “Saying, ‘Seek your Lord’s forgiveness, ˹for˺ He is truly Most Forgiving. He will
shower you with abundant rain, supply you with wealth and children, and give
you gardens as well as rivers.’” (Surah Nuh 71:10–12)
2. Postponing
decisive decisions:
Among the things people most regret is delaying decisions that could have
changed the course of their lives. Time slips away silently, and opportunities
must be seized. What one hesitated over yesterday becomes a burden today. Then
a person realizes that a courageous decision—no matter how small—such as
standing up for the oppressed or speaking a word of truth, is better than a
thousand days spent in hesitation or waiting for the “right time.”
3. Remaining in
toxic environments:
This experience is often repeated among the things people regret: staying in
jobs or relationships that damage the soul, drain energy, and contradict one’s
values and the teachings of the religion, under the illusion that time will fix
what days have corrupted.
The truth that
appears too late is that a toxic environment does not refine souls; it
extinguishes them. The greatest regret then is not choosing liberation early
and not escaping such an environment.
4. Neglecting
health during youth:
Health is among the
blessings whose value is only realized when it begins to falter. It is also one
of the things people regret most when they witness the effects of excessive
late nights, unhealthy food, and exhausting the body without restraint.
For this
reason, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Take advantage
of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your
sickness, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty,
your free time before your work, and your life before your death.”
Because a good life begins with caring for the body that carries us on our
journey.
5. Failing to
save early:
Among the things people regret is indulging in extravagance and wastefulness
without building a financial safeguard to
protect them from life’s fluctuations and the changes of time. Saving is not a
luxury; it is a gateway to peace of mind, and a small step that becomes great
support over the years.
Islam forbade
extravagance and waste. Allah the Exalted says: “And
do not spend wastefully. Surely the wasteful are ˹like˺ brothers to the devils. And the Devil
is ever ungrateful to his Lord.” (Surah Al-Isra’ 17:26–27)
At the same time, saving that leads to miserliness is also forbidden. Allah
says: “Do not be so tight-fisted, for you will
be blameworthy; nor so open-handed, for you will end up in poverty.”
(Surah Al-Isra’ 17:29)
6. Comparing
oneself to others:
Among the deepest regrets is wasting years of one’s life preoccupied with what
others possess, measuring every step against the steps of others until
contentment vanished from the heart. Comparison blinds insight, weakens
resolve, and distorts one’s journey through life. Whoever recovers from this
ailment finds within themselves a serenity and peace their heart had never
tasted before.
These
experiences convey that the best life for a person begins with closeness to
Allah, making sound decisions without fear or hesitation, distancing oneself
from toxic environments, caring for one’s health, saving for the fluctuations
of time, and being content with one’s state without comparing oneself to
others.
Read Also:
-
5 Paths for Individual Reform
-
4 Reasons to Overcome Regret
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