#Life
10 for 20 at 40 – Ten Pieces of Advice I’d give to my Twenty-Year Old Self Now that I’m Forty
Forty is a special age. It’s the quintessential age of mid-life. It’s older than ‘young’, but younger than ‘old’. It’s an age where one has typically finished jumping all the hoops that society and education and starting a family require, and where one now looks forward to thinking about the major accomplishments of life, and the legacy that one wishes to leave.
The Quran mentions forty as the age of reaching full maturity: “Until, when (man) reaches his maturity (ashudd), and reaches forty years of age, he says, ‘O My Lord! Allow me to thank the blessings that you have bestowed on me, and on my parents, and that I perform good deeds that are pleasing to you, and make my children righteous as well. Truly, I repent unto You, and are of those who submit totally to you” [Ahqāf; 15].
No wonder, then, that our Prophet Muhammad 
actually began receiving inspiration and preaching his message at the age of forty. For forty years, he was merely being prepared for the real purpose of his mission: the call to Allah.
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This is the year that I reach that important milestone of life. I do not know what the future holds for me, although of course I have my visions and plans. But it seems fitting for me to pause and reflect upon the last four decades of my life, and ponder over its ups and downs.
I remember vividly many of my thoughts and emotions when I was twenty. It was exactly twenty years ago that I graduated from the University of Houston, and left for the Islamic University of Madinah, beginning a new phase of my life. I began thinking, “If I could, somehow, give my younger self some advice; if I could address the young man of twenty, now that I am forty, and hope that he would listen to my advice, what would I tell him?”
These are the top ten things that came to mind. I hope those of you who are still in their twenties (and perhaps some of you who are older!) will benefit from it.
1) Don’t be so certain about your opinions and views.
Arrogance and cockiness define teenage years, and a young man (or woman) at twenty really is just a teenager, plus one. Views about how to live, about interpretations of religion, about how you would do things differently than everyone else in the world – those views typically stem from a naïve and inexperienced view of the world. You will realize that over-enthusiasm and strongly held opinions are the quintessential signs of being young. Don’t judge others who disagree with your views too harshly: you just might find yourself holding those same views a few years or decades down the line!
2) The most important source of practical knowledge is life itself.
Continuing from the last point, realize that the single greatest source of wisdom is learnt by living life itself. No matter how many lectures you attend, or books you read, or how deeply you contemplate or think, nothing substitutes the wisdom gained from simply experiencing the world around you. In order to be a good spouse, you need to learn to navigate the ups and down of a marriage. In order to be a good parent, you need to have your own children and learn to take care of them throughout their stages of childhood. In order to be a good human, you need to experience the good and bad of humanity.
‘Facts’ from books are great, but they must be shaped and seasoned and tested on the playground of life. Appreciate that you might not be in the best shape to judge everything, especially since you might not have experienced those things before. Through experience, and trial and error, one’s methods for dealing with all types of problems are refined.
A corollary of this piece of advice (and if I had more than ten in this list, this would be number eleven) is: Respect and benefit from those older than you. Perhaps you know more than an elder about a certain matter (or, to phrase it more precisely: perhaps you think you know more than them about a certain matter), but no matter how knowledgeable you are about quantum mechanics, or investigating sahih hadiths, or understanding the latest psychological theories from your textbooks, you simply cannot match the wisdom of your grandmother when it comes to navigating the intricacies of human interactions and raw emotions.
3) Friends come and go; family stays.
Many young men and women act as if their friends are more important than their family. They will show more concern about hurting their friend’s feeling than their family’s. Much of the conflict at that age, in fact, comes from the frictions of interacting with and arbitrating between family and friends. Yet, as anyone older than you can tell you, your friends are not a permanent fixture of your life. They will come and go into and out of your room of life, and every few days or months or years, you will look around that room and realize that an entirely different set of friends are standing where once another batch stood. But, lurking in the background, never actually disappearing (until death!) are your family members. These are the permanent fixtures in your room of life, not your set of friends.
True, problems with parents, siblings, uncles and aunts, cousins and so forth are extremely painful, and all families have their internal disputes and major problems. It is absolutely normal to have intra-family fights (particularly, for some bizarre reason, during and concerning marriages!). And it is normal, although not Islamic, to go for long periods with minimal or no contact with close family members. Yet, in the end, blood is thicker than anything else, and you will always be connected with family. Time heals all wounds, and even the worse of family arguments are healed (thankfully, family tragedies or celebrations act as catalysts in that regard). So never overlook your family for the sake of friends.
Having said that, and on a more cheerful note, in all likelihood the best set of friends you’ll ever have are your college friends. College friends will always have a special status in your life, maybe because you were all young and lonely and single and naïve and at the prime of your youths, thrown together due to circumstances beyond your control, facing the ups and downs of a new environment away from home. Or maybe that special bond is the result of some type of unstudied scientific byproduct of the hundreds of times you all had to eat takeout pizza late at night and share cheap Chinese food together. Whatever the reasons – banal or mystical – no set of friends will have the status of college friends. But once again: even they will go out of your lives, some never to be seen again, others once every few decades, and a small handful with whom you’ll remain in touch with forever.
One final comment about families: make sure you soak in as many memories as you can from your family elders, because you never know how long they will be with you. One of my greatest regrets in this department is that I didn’t get to know my grandmother as well as I could have. I never met two of my grandparents; a third died when I was only ten. It was only my paternal grandmother (who lived with us until she passed away, when I was twenty-two) that I got to know somewhat. But as a teenager, I would always be irritated when she began reminiscing of the ‘old days’. I would internally cringe every time she began a story that I had already heard a hundred times, yet I would still have to pretend as if each time were new to me. I never cared to ask her for more stories, or more details. ‘When will she stop!?’ I would internally ask myself as I fretted to get back to my TV show or college homework. It was only after I matured, and she and everyone of her generation passed on, that I truly realized my loss. How I wish now that I could have learnt more about her, and her childhood. She talked to us of British soldiers in her village, of her parents and in-laws (my great-grandparents), of the ways of purdah in rural India, of distant relatives long gone from this world, of incidents that took place almost a century ago, and of the interesting customs of the time. Now that she has been gone for two decades, I vividly remember much of what she said, but I wish for so much more. How I wish I had quizzed her for more details, more incidents, more stories. Now that I reflect upon her stories, there are so many unanswered questions: questions that I never bothered to ask because at the time, I really didn’t care to know, but now, have no answers to because I didn’t care to ask them.
4) Habits developed now typically stay with you.
I have had the great fortune (or misfortune!) of studying twenty-two years continuously as a student at various universities (two undergraduate degrees and four graduate). What I found remarkable was that the habits I developed while studying for my very first degree pretty much stayed with me throughout my two decades of study (with, of course, modifications and developments). And the same went for my routines and other life-habits: how I dealt with early marital spats dictated my future navigation; how I reared my first child influenced my later habits with my other children, and so forth. True, I picked up some habits along the way (I never drank caffeine early on in my life; now, I am addicted to one freshly-brewed quality tea every morning, and one freshly-ground espresso drink every afternoon), and dropped others (I used to love sleeping on the floor, and felt it gave me a better sleep – obviously that is a habit that only single people can practice!), but by and large, my ‘routine’ and lifestyle has remained the same.
Hence, be extra vigilant of your habits at this age, and realize that the hard work and good habits that you incorporate earlier in your life will help you throughout the rest of your life. It is easier to develop good habits at a younger age than to drop bad ones later on in life.
5) Take advantage of your health and energy while you can!
Wisdom and maturity might increase as you age from twenty to forty, but alas, strength and power does not! Looking back at those years, I can’t believe how much energy I had. I could get by on small quantities of food (or even skip meals without any adverse effect); didn’t require much sleep; had no trouble falling asleep; and could rough out the worst of conditions. I took my health completely for granted.
How much energy I had! Looking at people older than me, and seeing their aches and pains and arthritis and diseases, it never occurred to me that each and every one of those elders was at one point in their lives as young and vibrant as I was. I could never imagine myself with those problems.
Yet, as the years turn into decades, slowly but inevitably time begins to catch up, and you no longer can be as vigorous, as vivacious, as energetic, as you once were. Knee joints begin to hurt, back pains become more common, sleep becomes an issue, you can no longer skip meals so easily ….and the list goes on, and continues to grow, year by year.
Indeed, it was none other than our Prophet who reminded us to take advantage of our youth before we become old.
6) You’ve all heard of the adage ‘time flies’. Life will teach you how true that really is.
I have such vivid memories of those years, and yet they seem so far away. At times, when I recall memories from those years, I am startled to realize that fifteen or twenty or twenty five years have passed since then. How could two decades have gone by so quickly? Where did that time all go?!
And I know that as I grow older, I will also look back at these very years that I am currently living in in the same way.
Do not procrastinate what needs to be done today until tomorrow. You want to fill up your time with matters that will benefit you religiously, and worldly. Accomplish much, aim high, get things done, and you will live a full and wonderful life. Waste time, and you will end up watching the years fly you by as you stand bankrupt of any lasting good. The choice is yours.
7) Life will get tougher, not easier.
We tend to exaggerate our problems at a younger age, thinking that no one has it worse than us. Looking back, I am now amused at what I considered to be ‘huge’ problems (the first time my first car broke down, I quite literally felt as if my life had come to a halt!). For those of us who live in stable family environments, away from war zones, with adequate financial stability (meaning: we will not starve to death no matter what happens), it is a very safe bet to say that the most painful problems of our lives are yet to come.
I say this not to make our young men and women depressed, but to make them put things into perspective. One of the most painful moments of most people’s lives comes when they see their children extremely sick or in some type of threat. At that moment, nothing that has ever happened to you as a twenty-year old could ever have been a serious problem. So, when you are tense about that exam or having missed a paper assignment or going through a tough patch with someone whom you love, take a deep breath, and realize that life is not all that bad!
8) The single most important decision of your entire life will probably be made in this decade: the choice of a spouse.
I cannot imagine a decision that will have more impact on the entire rest of your life than choosing the partner whom you intend to spend the rest of your life with! Your careers may easily change, and the field that you initially studied for typically becomes a launching pad into an entirely different trajectory. However, ‘changing’ spouses is not something that anyone willingly undergoes, and choosing a life-partner will have an immediate and a long-term effect on you. It will influence your character, shape your religion, bring you untold happiness and sadness and joys and pains, affect the genes of your progeny, and dictate the nature of the rest of your life (and even afterlife).
As a person who was going into Islamic studies, I knew that I needed to find a life partner who would be willing to sacrifice much for me. I am very fortunate to have been blessed with a wife who has always supported me in my efforts, and I am extremely grateful to Allah that I have ‘my Khadija’! But I can honestly say that many, many of my friends who wanted to become students of knowledge or otherwise benefit their communities, were forced to abandon their plans because of spousal issues. And the same goes for other choices that you will have to make: spouses must sacrifice for each other, and who sacrifices what for whom will decide the both of your fates.
So, be picky, and look at the most important criterion: character. Beauty truly is skin deep, and what really counts is good manners and religion. When you are all alone with your spouse, with absolutely no one to help or support you, nothing will bring about a better relationship than the both of you fearing Allah for the consequences of your actions.
9) Your obnoxious behavior will come back to haunt you, while your love and kindness will always benefit you.
Sadly, people (especially family) don’t forget. Yes, they might forgive, but they don’t forget. If you hurt someone, or do something stupid or rude, it will always be remembered, and occasionally brought up. One harsh incident might cost you an entire relationship,
As Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” One incident in which you humiliated a friend, or were caustic to a family member, will always affect your future with that person. And an incident where you showed your mercy, or kindness, can win over someone as a true ally for as long as you live.
So be wise, don’t act rashly, and err on the side of mercy.
10) No one – and I mean no one – will ever love you, or care for you, or be as concerned for your welfare, as your parents. Cherish them in every way possible for as long as you have the opportunity to do so.
It is one of the saddest aspects of growing up that children, and especially teenagers, treat their parents in a rude manner. We are all familiar with the Quranic and prophetic commandments regarding good treatment of parents. Unfortunately, for many of us, those commandments do not seep into our hearts at a young age (and for a few unlucky ones, never!).
I have said many times in my talks, “You will never understand the love of your parents until you become a parent yourself, and it is only then that you will realize all that they did for you, they did out of love.” Even if you don’t have children of your own, however, try your best to give them the love and kindness that they deserve, and honor them with kindness.
It is true that all of us are at times extremely frustrated with parental expectations, or parental advice and rebukes, but our religion teaches us to control that anger and not express it verbally. ‘Zip it up!’ I advise my own teenager when I see he is about to get irritated with his mother (or me!). ‘Talk to us when you’ve calmed down. It’s okay to feel angry, it’s not okay to show it.’ (Alas, that advice doesn’t always work on him!!).
No one knows how long one’s parents will be around; take advantage of their presence, to earn your place in Paradise, and to have the best memories of serving them for as long as you live as well.
Now that I’ve passed this milestone, I ask Allah that He blesses me and my family to see many more positive milestones in my life and in theirs.
O Allah! Allow me to be thankful to you for all that you have bestowed upon me, and upon my parents! Bless me to continue to do good deeds that are pleasing to you! And make me from your righteous and beloved servants! Ameen.
[Note: for those of you forty and above, what advice would you want to give to our younger readers? And for those of you in your twenties: what advice on this list resonated most for you, and why? Leave a comment with your wisdom below!]
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Hassan
June 2, 2015 at 12:49 PM
Salaam. May Allah give you many more 40 years on earth with health and emaan. Are you turning 40 solar calendar or lunar?
Nasra
September 6, 2015 at 12:36 AM
Hamdillah,this is so nice.I’m not 20,im 18,but this helps alot!best advice is the one related to family and their most important..inshAllah I’ll always keep that in mind !Jazikallahu khair for this !
Hassan
June 2, 2015 at 12:57 PM
Salaam again. I firmly believe that Allah has plans for us and they play out for our benefit if we are sincere. Any change in your thinking/circumstance may not have ended you here where you are. Yes, in hindsight we regret over-zealousness of 20 year old man, but imagine if it was not there, we may have ended up having a PhD Yasir Qadhi in Chemical Engineering working at Saudi Aramco and listening to Nouman Ali Khan and regretting that he did not go into Islamic Studies.
khatam khan
June 2, 2015 at 2:03 PM
Salaam, your article brought me to tears both happy and sad. Many times we reminisce about what better we could have done esp when hitting or nearing forty! I only hope inshallah I can give sound advice to my children and ask Allah to guide to them in all that they do and bless my parents for their hard work and sacrifices.
Irfan
June 2, 2015 at 2:14 PM
May Allah give you a blessed and long fruitful life. May Allah give us taufeeq to please him. Ameen.
Nida
June 2, 2015 at 3:27 PM
I am in my twenties and I am exactly as you describe above. What resonated most with me is that I am not as grateful and gracious to my parents as I should be and I am very stubborn about my views when I should infact take what my elders advise me into serious consideration. This article was an eye opener for me.
Maryam
June 2, 2015 at 3:37 PM
ALHAMDULILLAH ,your atticle is so inspiring . Please can I use this opportunity to ask a question. We as human are always asked to plan ahead and set a goal for the future but I observed that all through my life Allah has always set my life towards a different direction in all my endeavor . I don’t know whether to keep praying and leave everything to Allah because sometimes I feel my heart is always deceiving me. Please what advice can you give to me Dr. Yasin?
sofiat
June 2, 2015 at 5:37 PM
Salam alaykum.
Jazakallah khairan ford write up.
pls, I will like to receive reply to sis Maryam question in my inbox too. thanks.
Abdul-Hakeem
June 3, 2015 at 6:26 AM
I will also be grateful if I can receive an answer to sister Maryam’s question
Maryam
October 4, 2015 at 7:42 AM
Assalamu alaikum! Me too.
Ali
June 4, 2015 at 4:19 PM
Walaikum assalam warahmatullahi
Bismillah.
It seems to me that Allah (swt) wants you to submit to His Will. He will reward you for all your prayers, dua, and hope you have in Him inshaAllah. But if you resign to His Will, then things will all fall into place. The peace you will get from that — there is no replacement for it.
For boys like me, that includes the kind of employment you will get. So even if I get a super prestigious degree, I should be happy with an analyst level job rather than team lead/manager.
Similarly, sisters like you may have something that they have a goal for but there are some traditional realities that will always persist. Also, I think 25 years is a good age when a person does not look at life as “goals” but rather as “tasks”. There are multiple takes on that perspective. It’s about intentions too.
My younger sister encourages me to do istikhara in all things, even like before going to meet someone, like a professor at school for an important meeting or an employer for an interview. Maybe you can try doing that as well.
And Allah knows best.
sikander
June 5, 2015 at 4:19 PM
Ability to plan for future is also given by Allah. So plan for future and pray to Allah to keep you on right path and you get benefits through your plan.
Delphine
June 13, 2015 at 12:58 PM
The most important lesson to learn is that Allah (swt) knows best for everyone. If you never got what you asked means Allah withheld them for a purpose, for which could destroy us. For Allah gives at the appointed time and can’t be faulted.
Anonymous
June 2, 2015 at 3:46 PM
This is a great article but I think for muslim females it is different. I would tell a muslim female or any female to not be so fearful. Try things, do things. If you have a dream that you have worked hard for and poured your soul into then stick with it. Don’t let the naysayers discourage you. Believe in yourself!! I would also tell her find a good spouse when you are young otherwise you could end up like many muslim females single, childless and alone in your 40s and beyond. Its a subject that gets sweeped under the rug. Muslim men always have an easier time finding a spouse.
Sadeqa
June 4, 2015 at 1:39 AM
I was surprised and pleased to see someone express the point of view of a Muslim woman. I totally agree that this issue is always swept under the rug. The above article is good but it is clearly written from a male perspective (# 8). Looks like Muslims females should limit themselves to be the ‘sacrifice’ for someone else’s life. Why she could not seek the same from her spouse? Or why they can’t support each other? I wonder why Muslim females get some form of respect only as ‘old mothers’ and not as young promising individuals. I also wonder why marriage has taken the form an unequal business deal instead of a loving human relationship. This prevalent attitude in the Muslim society makes it difficult for Muslim females to find a supportive spouse. They are between a rock and a hard place and no one dares to speak about it.
Anon
June 4, 2015 at 10:47 AM
“And the same goes for other choices that you will have to make: spouses must sacrifice for each other, and who sacrifices what for whom will decide the both of your fates.” He clearly stated that all spouses must do the same. Just because he mentions the sacrifices of his wife, does not mean that he did not sacrifice for her, or that their case is the same for all marriages.
Zahra
June 4, 2015 at 2:08 PM
You need to go out and do what you want. You can not expect others to change or sympathize with you. I picked-up the pieces. All you need to do is believe in yourself and forget what other think of you. You have Jannah ahead of you inshaaAllah and I know this might not be what you or other sisters want to hear, but remember Allah is there hearing your every call. Allah has the power to accept you dua, but if he did not it is, because of his knowledge of you. Hope for the very best and do not despair in the hope of Allah. :)
Rasyad
July 30, 2019 at 12:35 AM
Please don’t bring your own ego into Syeikh’s topic. He clearly said both parties should make sacrifice. Salaam.
Abubakar
June 2, 2015 at 5:48 PM
Assalamu Alaikum. I will like to start by saying ALHAMDULILLAH WAS SALATU WAS SALAMU ALA RASULILLAH. After that I will like to express my appreciation for this effort of yours JAZAKALLAHU KHAIRAN. I am currently in my 20s and since my early teenage years I have always had a goal to bring change to the system and process of life we muslims live by. I happened to be opportuned by the will of ALLAH to attend your last Lecture at Leeds grand masjid and it was very motivational. After reading this article I come to realize two points(point 1 and point 2) you stated are countering my view. I just want to ask if I am being just an overzealous kid for thinking and hoping to bring change or that my view of life will eventually change as time goes on? May Allah accept and reward your efforts. Aamiin
Ali
June 4, 2015 at 4:25 PM
Walaikum assalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu
Alhamdulillah wassalaatu wassalam ‘ala Rasulillah.
MashaAllah it’s good to always have Hope in Allah. I think there just needs to be a balance between idealism and reality. I would never recommend to not be ideal, but I would never recommend to ignore the ground facts.
And more importantly, the condition of the heart needs to be sound. In other words, can you “feel” your heart and are you spiritual? If not, maybe you need to do istikhara for each task and try to leave things to Allah (swt) than relying on your own ability alone to do things.
And Allah knows best.
Syeda
June 2, 2015 at 5:58 PM
MashaAllah.. Alhumdulilah such a nice article I have read..May Allah guide us, our children and our relatives..Jazakallahu khairan brother Yasir Qadhi for writing this article…It is really inspire me and I will show it to my son , when he will be his twenty In Sha Allah..Now my son is 8 months..May Allah bless you and your family brother Yasir
Numan
June 2, 2015 at 6:02 PM
The last 2 points resonated very deeply with me. I ask Allah to preserve sheikh.
Miriam
June 2, 2015 at 6:29 PM
Asalamualaykum the entire article was relevant and extremely useful.
Kawthar
June 2, 2015 at 6:37 PM
Salam! Each point is exactly what someone in their 20’s needs to hear. The advice that resonated with me the most is 2) The most important source of practical knowledge is life itself. I tend to believe that I am good at certain things I have never experienced, such as being a parent or a wife. Your advice really puts me in my place :) and makes me realize that I should never believe that I am good at something I have yet to experience. I should humble myself, educate myself in preparation, and pray that I will insha’Allah play the role one day in the manner that pleases Allah SWT. Jazzak Allah khair, Sheikh!
Daniel
June 2, 2015 at 6:54 PM
asalam alaykum…maa shaa ALLAH every single point of the above ten is remarkable more especially about getting a spouse, family, parents and people’ feelings as a result of ur deed…may ALLAH reward u enormously..ameen
Aaron
June 2, 2015 at 7:27 PM
Salaam,
The parts you said concerning parents struck me. Please make du’a for me that my parents would be pleased with me before Allah calls them unto Him. And that we would all be gathered in Jannah with Rasulullah (S.A.W), the shahabah and all of the righteous. Aamiin.
As for any addition of advice, I’d say that a combination between youth and experience is the best and unbeatable in shaa Allah.
I’m gonna give you an example of two soccer teams (I’m not gonna name them). Both intitially had youth and experience in their ranks.
One of the team, decides to move on and let go of the older players who have experience, and decided to stick with the youth instead.
The other team decided to stick with ‘the youth and experience policy’. The result?
The one who decided to stick with the youth and experience policy continues to win trophies and the one who got rid of the older players with expereience had a trophyless drought for around nine years.
The drought finally ended ( with Allah’s permission of course) after that team decided to bring players with great mentality and experience.
The practical knowledge for us (IMO) is as youth, we should always reach out to our wiser elders for counsels. Being close to wiser elders will in shaa Allah increase our wisdom, strengthen our mentality, and hold us back from the things we could regret doing in the future.
I regret some parts of my life where I distanced myself from the elders. When I look back, I guess I was really stupid and gullible back then. And I have yet to achieve anything that I can be proud of by distancing myself from them.
Only after I try to open myself to them and listen to them, some sense finally returned to me.
For example, one of the advice they gave me is about discipline. In everything you do you have to be discipline. Skills are useless if u have no discipline to train them etc (that’s how I remember it I think).
So yes. I would really advise this to any people who are still in teens and twenties.
When you are young, look to older people for experience. The benefits would be like the things I have said before (and possibly even more in shaa Allah).
Not doing this, however, you could end up ‘trophyless’ i.e achieving nothing like the team who decided to get rid of experience (unless Allah wills otherwise).
P.S: Actuallyyy, if we as youth could start to reaaallyy listen to our wise parents when we were kids and consistently do that throughout our lives, we would be spared from a looooooot of trouble in shaa Allah.
P.S.S: I dare not give examples from the time of the Prophet (S.A.W) or even Qur’anic on this combination of youth and experience because I’m not a scholar. But maybe Shaykh Yasir could do so? :)
Wallahu a’lam.
Airan Nassir
June 2, 2015 at 8:44 PM
First and foremost allow me to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work brother Yasir ,May Allah (swt) shower you and your family with his mercy and his blessing ,I am so grateful that we have scholars like you,i can’t thank you enough.Every article or every subject that you post i read , enjoy and cherish so much.every piece of advice from you it is a whole world of knowledge to me and to my family and i thank you for that.May Allah (swt) guide us all and protect us all as one unite ummah .we are always looking forward to listen to your advice and guidance thank you thank you and thank you.
Airan.
Mohammed Jahed Hossain
June 2, 2015 at 10:49 PM
I think point 5 was sort of a reminder for me to be more productive with my time, I feel like I waste too much time in social media. I have a question sheikh, when did you how did you and how long did you stay and complete your studies in Medina University? I’m thinking of going there to study, maybe after high school.
Alif_haa
June 4, 2015 at 6:50 AM
Sheikh talked about it in the program Witness With Waheed. I believe it is on youtube.
N
June 3, 2015 at 12:32 AM
Assalamualikum w,
MashaaAllah Beautiful artical so much to learn from it, I would make dua as I always do for all my teachers that may Allah accept your efforts and may you see the fruit of it in this world and the hereafter abundantly, may Allah bless your kids and spouse and give them the same reward for supporting you, and may Allah make us and our children like you to strive and work hard for our religion solely for His sake. Indeed the acceptance of our actions only depends upon the level of our sincerity towards our maker, may Allah give you more tawfeeq and strength to please your creator, may Allah keep you steadfast until you meet him and us as well.
جزاك الله خيرا في الدنيا والآخرة
Zuhra Ali
June 3, 2015 at 2:04 AM
you said it all brother Yasir! haven’t gotten to 40 yet but exactly what you said is what I would have said. I look up to you so much in many things in life. you are my inspiration and mentor. may Allah preserve you increase in knowledge and wisdom, bless you, your family and honor you with the highest station in jannah. Ameen. jazakallahu kheyran brother
Abdulrahman
June 3, 2015 at 1:42 AM
Assalamu Alaekum
Number 10 realy reasons with my current life, My dad passed away 2 months prior my birth and my mother had to bear all the pain & struggle to make my life straight forward Alhamdulillah she managed as i have a strong Islamic background but that came with a cost as my mom did all she could . Now that am 22yrs old am starting to reflect on my past and the love my mam had for me although sometimes i could throw back words at her and feel irritated but now i’m coming to understand why.
May Allah give her long life and forgiveness and jannah in Akhira in sha Allah.
FaSi SyEd
June 3, 2015 at 4:14 AM
Assalamualaikum.
Brother it was something incredible from you and I believe it’s the best I have learned from you.
JazakAllahu khairan.
May Allah swt bless you with more and more true knowledge and wisdom eachday.
yusof
June 3, 2015 at 5:39 AM
Salam Sheikh, your advises makes a lot of sense even for me being 33 this year. I will try my best to carry the points to my daughter and hopefully she will learn from them too.
alrayyes
June 3, 2015 at 8:09 AM
Just thought I’d throw this quote in here:
“Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age.”
Sameer
June 3, 2015 at 10:11 AM
Assalamu alaikum, I sincerely find the entire article ‘a pearl of wisdom’. Now that I’m turning 25, I’ve had few experiences and a bit of learning which allowed me to realize many things (infact each one of the points 1-7). 8,9&10 – wise words indeed..those are the ones I need to concentrate on. But habit developing, parental care and respect, caring more for grandparents -those would resonate in my mind, because I’m already concerned much about that!
May Allah bless u sheikh in all your endeavours and keep u in the straight path, Assalamu alaikum
Hamze yassin
June 3, 2015 at 4:40 PM
M around twenties, I need an advice from the Dr
Malieka
June 3, 2015 at 6:24 PM
Assalamu Alaykum
I was deeply moved by the article. I am 23 and I have realised a few of the points mentioned. Alhumdullilah.
Firstly, what touched me the most was the advice regarding our parents. I have been blessed with truly amazing parents and I try my best to honour them.:-) Alhumdullilah. I want my parents to be pleased with me so ultimately Allah is pleased with me. And if there is one thing I regret the most is hurting my parents.
Secondly it is easy for us to judge people from afar, but if we were in that same situation would we do the same thing or something worse… Having the book knowledge and having to put what you learnt into practice is two very different things. Sometimes we need to learn the hard way in order to become learn and stronger.
Thirdly, life does become harder the older you become. I always thought once I left school my life would become easier. I definitely thought wrong, but Allah gives us the strength to overcome obstacles we never even imagined.
Lastly, I really do need to work on my habits and other aspects mentioned in the article as well inshaa Allah. I also feel as youth sometimes we are soo scared and obsessed what other people will think about us, we might miss a golden opportunity. Sometimes we need to be brave and take chances. If it was a mistake we need to learn from it. We are human after all and it’s in our nature to make mistakes, but the key is to learn from those mistakes.
Jazakallah for writing this article. :-) I feel that I really benefitted from it.
Umm Arafat
June 23, 2015 at 6:44 AM
@Malieka,
Learning from experience: There is a saying that we all learn from mistakes,
The smart learn from OTHERS mistakes and the fools learn from their OWN mistakes.
Muhammad Fahreza
June 3, 2015 at 6:54 PM
Salaam. Jazakallah khayr for sharing your thought. May Allah rewards you and bless you by Jannah
Atiqul
June 3, 2015 at 10:46 PM
Assalamualaikum,
I would like to express my gratitude, for your valuable advices on life. I am in my thirties and was in need for guidance in life. Without any doubt, your suggestions and advices will be helpful in this regard.
May the Almighty Allah grants you eternal Blessing and Jannah.
Nusrat
June 4, 2015 at 12:05 AM
Salaam Sheikh,
I would also like to thank you for sharing your wisdom in a humble and loving way. What struck me was your comment about habits. Being recently married, I’m trying to nip some bad habits in the bud — it’s so hard, but I’m really trying, and your words inspire me to keep trying. Jazakallah khair fidunya wal akhirah.
Moeez Ahmed
June 4, 2015 at 12:49 AM
As a 22 year old; 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 at this point in my life have really resonated with me. To an extent, where I almost cried because of how much sense they make. I’m really glad that I stumbled upon. Whether it was through divine intervention that I come about this on my own or through mere chance, this was wisdom I really needed to hear. There are tons of self help books that give advice about various predicaments and at this moment I believe the advice Dr. Qadhi has given seems quite fundamental.
Rafi Malik
June 4, 2015 at 2:50 AM
Asalamualykum brother in forty ?
. Masterpiece write up, the line ” a young man (or woman) at twenty really is just a teenager, plus one. ” I found this to be the heart of the write up.
May Allah swt bless you and me….ameen
Rafi malik
Srinagar Kashmir
azimullah ansari
June 4, 2015 at 3:50 AM
assalam o alikum. your writ up opens up my past pages of life again. i do not know the exact date and year of birth as i belong to a rural simple society where date hardly matters. but roughly calculated with the major incidents of my parents lives it seems that this year or last year i might have passed this age. but this year many things happened in my life which is unique in many senses. the difficulties i fount next to unbearable which steered me toward finding solution on net and luckily i found a article which suggested seven strategies viz namaz, dua, repentance, etc. this article arouse interest on net an alhamdollilah i found you, mufti ment, green, dr bilal philips and my life changed. though born in muslim family but hardly i had been muslim. i redefined my life and found that i have wasted my almost forty years of life. now i try to find a company of people like you all around which is very hard. i acknowledge that i thrive on the lectures of yours and pray to allah and his mercies. in my youth i considered that i know islam better since i have attended jammia millia islamia, aligarh muslim university and jawaharlal nehru university and faced a lot of religious intricasies. but with the interaction of a new world i found i know nothing about islam. i desire that islam should be made available all the adolescents so that they could realise their potentials. please remember me too in your dua. allah hafiz
Maryam
June 4, 2015 at 4:31 AM
Assalamu alaikum. Very insightful article. I would to also have an answer to Maryam’s question (above). May Almighty ALLAH continue to guide you and increase you in knowledge.
Faiza
June 4, 2015 at 5:44 AM
Assalamu Alaikum. This is a great advice. I really understood your meaning of ” Your life is not all that bad”. I believe it is always important to truly appreciate all that we have. A warm bed, clothes on our back and a hot meal is something most people do not appreciate. A broken an iphone can cause us to be hysterical by thinking our lives cannot operate well without such things. But coming from a nation where families can barely afford to feed or clothe their children, I always say Alhamdulillah, my life is better than billions of others. The true struggle is to work and improve my relation with Allah swt. I pray that when I turn 40, I wouldn’t look back to 24 and not regret how I spent my years. My struggle at this age is to pray and choose my spouse wisely. As you said, that person will influence and shape my future. May Allah guide us, protect and forgive us. Amin. Thank you Dr Qadhi.
Hawah Ali
June 4, 2015 at 5:47 AM
thank you Dr.Yasin I was impressed when you said that you can never know the love of your parents until you become one because I have seen it since am also a parent now . may Allah bless you
Tijjani Rabe
June 4, 2015 at 7:10 AM
Assalamu Alaikum.
Your article is interesting. It reminds me of my younger years, albeit without my parents. You reminded me of my late grand ma who nurtured me from childhood and brought me up after the demise of my parents. may Allah have mercy on them all. I remembered how I considered what I felt was her overbearing attitude. It was when I got married and have my children grew up that I came to terms with her expectations and desire to model my life. By Allah I have noticed all my reactions to her from my child when I am making similar attempts to mould him. May Allah grant her, my parents, and all other Muslim faithfuls Jannatul firdaus. Jazakallah.
Moona
June 4, 2015 at 7:48 AM
This was one of the best from you, for the younger ones. You have engraved the words of most parents hearts for their children. This is the norm these days that the children think they know it all. And their attitude towards the adults, they think the older people are from another planet. They hardly want to sit with you & share experiences. What points hit me are 1,3, 4,& 8. The 11 point is also that would benefit the younger generation the most, so to save themselves before loss. Learning from other people’s mistake & experience gives one an edge for the future out come. Blessings.
Dil
June 4, 2015 at 7:49 AM
Assalam alaikum, very inspiring article. It got my eyes watery.
P.s- Since you already got ur ‘Khadija’ seek Aisha and Zainab ☺?(jokes)
Zainab
June 4, 2015 at 8:14 AM
Almost each point is so true and practical , but 1st and 8th point are the one I have learned from my life so far. Jazak Allah khair fid duniya wal Akhirah, ustadh for this amazing article.
Anees Hafeez
June 4, 2015 at 9:03 AM
Assalamualikum, I really agree with Br. Yasir’s advice, only
Problem is , it takes us forty years to see the truth. As a grandmother, I still can hear my mother say, you will understand it when you are a mother. The adventurous nature of youth is what gives vibrancy to the world, but this has to be tamed and moulded by advice like Br. Yasir’s. Our youth, our future, listen and follow.
Benjamin Tan
June 4, 2015 at 10:24 AM
Salam to you, the blessed author : used your article to reply to my daughter, Salam to you. see http://www.facebook.com/benjamin.tan.33671 – tks a lot.
brother
June 4, 2015 at 11:21 AM
Salam,
I apologise. I’m not always “into” your work (may Allah forgive me). But, with that said, when you grab me, you really grab me & take my heart on a ride – Ma sha Allah.
May Allah reward you.
hilal
June 4, 2015 at 1:11 PM
Nyc article but I really loved the 8th point
Mahamoud
June 4, 2015 at 1:30 PM
Thank you very very much brother Yasir for this useful article. May Allah reward you better than it.
Ramona
June 4, 2015 at 9:25 PM
Salaams.
This is one of the most beneficial articles I have ever read. I literally fit under every single point that you have made and it has brought me to tears. I’m going to make a promise to myself about changing my behavior towards my family. Enough is enough, I’ve come way too far with my disobedient ways and now it’s time to turn back. Inshallah with the help of Allah, anything is possible. Jazak’Allah khairun for this amazing article.
Muhammad
June 5, 2015 at 5:20 AM
This article resonates so much with me (I’m in my twenties now), i prefer the floor to my mattress and so on… but if i might ask sheihk how can having “two undergraduate degrees and four graduate degree” be a fortune/misfortune ? Because I presently have a B Sc. Computer Sci with two certifications and looking forward to my graduate degree (computing) and another undergraduate (in Islamic Studies) if Allah permits. May Allah increase you in knowledge, wisdom and age Ameen
Abubeker
June 5, 2015 at 8:46 AM
I’m 23 now (I feel so old saying it out loud!) and studying in college. For me number 4 ( Habits developed
now typically stay
with you.) is the one that really hit home with me. Because, sometimes I feel like I’m being too lazy and when I read your article the idea that I might grow to old age( i.e. forty!)with this habit scared me to death; so jezakellah sheikh for the wakeup call.
Mariam
June 6, 2015 at 9:13 AM
Salaams, im 20 and I have to say the bit about the parents and grandparents really hit me hard.
Im going to visit my grandma right now inshallah!!!
Stephanie Ali
June 8, 2015 at 6:28 PM
For the older readers:
The article is a wonderful tool for those who take advantage of its wisdom. I admire the author of the article and may Allah (SWT) continue to allow us to gain knowledge through him. However, I must comment on my reflections after reading the article. Some of us, as myself are over 40. In my case, I am a few weeks away from forty- four. I found myself feeling like the “different” one because the events and accomplishments on my timeline are not what is considered normal. I started a family and have had 7 children along with 2 failed marriages. If I knew now what I knew then! I have struggled daily with my life choices and continue struggling. But, I am raising Muslim children with beautiful characters, and practicing Islam. I went back to college at the age of 38 and just graduated with a Bachelor’s this May. I have now been accepted to GRAD school. If your time line is not like the article. Don’t give up. Pursue your plans in life. There are road stops and obstacles along the way, (I had a major car accident) but there is room for the “older” student in the classroom or whatever your challenge might be. I have to remind myself that even though over 40, life does not stop; goals are possible, and perseverance must persevere! The Qu’ran states:
O ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah; that ye may prosper. 3:200
So, for those who feel they have detoured from their aspirations or goals, my advise is to continue and put effort into what is meaningful to you. The timeline of life is diverse, so continue your legacy! Don’t feel you have nothing to offer because you are nearing 40 or past 40. There is much you can offer our community. May Allah’s (SWT) blessing be upon you all!
YVARSEE
June 8, 2015 at 6:34 PM
Assalam alaykum! Right on the mark, haha XD Very practical indeed MaShaAllah.
Liza
June 9, 2015 at 10:14 PM
Salaam,
This was a very good read. Being in my twenties, two things called out to me. 1. picking one’s spouse and 2. cherishing our parents. As a person looking to get married I am grateful for this advice. Furthermore, thank you for pointing out the significance of our parents and that we may not always understand them but we are required to be by their sides.
Jazak Allah Khair
Mohammed Rafiq
June 10, 2015 at 7:14 AM
As salaam o alaikum, Jazak Allah for the wonderful article. While reading I was feeling the run of the 40 year right in front of me. The irony is the truth is revealed it is just only convincing self to accept it, but alas each one of us fail if not to the same extent. It is only the hidayah of Allah karim can saw one and all from the falsehood. May Allah grant best of both the world to all his creation.
Zubeida Malik
June 13, 2015 at 6:01 AM
You TOTALLY hit all the nails on the heads!!!!! Brilliant! I feel exactly the same way. Jazakumullahu khayra. Hope my kids read it with open minds.
Hassan Mahfooz
June 14, 2015 at 4:25 AM
Your article brought me to tears
AbuIbraheem
June 15, 2015 at 12:12 AM
my 2 cents:
To younger readers:
Learn to listen to the wisdom of your parents and elders. If you think you are smart, then smart means you would want to know whats coming in life. The only way to know that (be smart) is to listen to your parents very carefully and rationally. Make your own decisions but take as many advises from your elders as possible. Trust me, you will not regret.
If you are a parent:
Make sure you have a relationship with your children as a friend, not as a parent or the boss. It will not work. Only when you have a friendly relation with your own children will they listen to you and trust you. If you act like a boss all the time, they will keep their distance. To earn the respect of your children you must be their friend, not their boss.
Spouse Selection:
Couldnt agree more with the Sheikh here. Spouse is the partner that makes or breaks the life.
My advise to myself when i was 20:
Fear only Allah, and be fearless.
Most important thing you can achieve in your life:
Trust in Allah swt. If you have not achieved this you have failed your life. How to achieve it: DUA, frequent, for everything you want in your life. DUA is your navigation in this life to reach your destination. If you are Dua less you have no navigation.
jazakAllahukhair
Rabeeya
June 20, 2015 at 7:35 AM
May ALLAH reward you with good :)
it brought me tears
and gave me a chance to introspect and
in shaa Allah reform :)
Zainulabideen
July 2, 2015 at 12:03 PM
MashaaAllah what a great post !
May Allah SWT bless Dr Yasir Qadhi and give us the taufeeq to benefit from this advice.
Ameen suma Ameen
Asma
July 11, 2015 at 3:02 PM
Asalam u alaikum….I am about to reach my mid-twenties and I can exactly relate where this is going. I absolutely loved this article. A sincere advise from a grown up which I will cherish forever.
Erim
July 13, 2015 at 6:25 AM
Assalam Walekum.I
This is the first time I have come across a truly inspiring article.I will skype my mother right now.Inshallah.Also quote about family and friends to my older brother and sister.I have not spoken to them for 7 months.Your article has inspired me to take them to Old India and meet all of Our Dear Deceased Father’s living relatives.This will ignite in our hearts trust once again.I see the habit I need to break.I will leave it to Allah willing.Jazakallah.
Hawa
July 13, 2015 at 5:17 PM
I once told a sister that she needed to spend more time with her daughter and I will never forget the look on her face -the saddest look. I immediately apologized when I saw how hurt she looked and even went home and baked her a cake but she’s never been as open or close to me as before. If instead, I would of said how smart her daughter was and how much I loved spending time with her, then that would of made our relationship much better and she would of saw the good in spending more time with her daughter. So don’t tell someone something bad about themselves -even though it’s true- unless they ask you or are talking to you about it. Rather, be an example for the good of that bad behavior. You never know what someone is going through.
hmm
August 30, 2015 at 2:36 AM
Salam
how is everybody doing
just wondering what time is jalsa
jazakallah
-brother habibullah
Asif
October 3, 2015 at 7:32 PM
JazakAllah khair for this article.
I’m a 35 you physician and find lots of wisdom in your list. One thing that I would add is below,
Whenever given the choice between two things, both being apparently permissable, and you are unsure which to choose, choose that which would be most pleasing to Allah (swt).
Ahmad
October 4, 2015 at 2:29 AM
Jazakal Allahu khair. What an inspiring article. I am forty but I found it benefitial as I read this loudly to my children who are below thirteen to inspire them. We all enjoy it and thank you so much.
Hannah
October 12, 2015 at 4:48 PM
This is a very eloquently and wisely worded post. As I move deeper into my twenties, I find myself collecting different pieces of wisdom from people older than me who have lived and experienced more. Your advice that rings most relevant with me is that of creating good habits now rather than trying to get rid of bad ones later. While it certainly takes practice, I find that being conscious and acknowledging that I need to create stronger habits is a step in the right direction. Thanks for posting such insightful thoughts!
Kamaldeen
November 18, 2015 at 1:38 PM
SALLAM alaykum. alhamdullilah for not missing the reflection on this article
Keumala Fadhiela
November 29, 2015 at 7:49 PM
Alhamdulillah I am 23 years old. I am very pleased that Allah gives me opportunity to enjoy this life. Spending quality time with family, gathering with friends and beloved person, discussing with lecturer, making interactions with society, and breathing freely are great blessing. Alhamdulillah. I read this article as like as “fire” for my in this early morning. May Allah blesses us everywhere, everytime. Have a fascinating Monday :)
Rose Taylor
January 3, 2016 at 4:33 AM
What a beautiful piece. I’m 60 plus now and remember, from the time I became a parent, thinking that had I listened to everything my mum had said, I’d be a better and more successful person now. God bless
Saeed Purcell
January 5, 2016 at 12:58 PM
Salaamun ‘Alaykum wa-Rahmatullaah,
May Allaah preserve you my dear Shaykh, and little brother. At almost 47 years of age I have mulled over many of these same thoughts. If there was one additional point I would add to this list of beneficial advices, it would be SLOW DOWN — patience is truly a magnificent gift, and in this ever quickening world it becomes more and more valuable due to its endangered nature. In all my years, the one thing I feel would have benefitted me most in my ‘youth’ would have been a greater and more essential quality of patience. The Chinese have a saying that runs something like this; the hasty word said in a moment, can having effects which last a thousand years. As always, Allaah knows best.
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Harun
May 13, 2016 at 2:46 AM
I am pleased and have truly learnt something. Thanks Sheik. May Allah continues to bestow His Abundance in all ramifications to you and your entire family. Amin
Abdul-Gafar
January 9, 2017 at 3:51 AM
Ma shaa Allah!
These are priceless words of wisdom!!!
Hindia
November 30, 2017 at 4:24 PM
Aselam aleykum werahmetulah weberekatuhu. This is GOLD. 2,3,4&7 spoke to my soul directly. May Allah bless you and muslimmatters.org team many more successful years so we can learn from you. ??
Muznah
September 5, 2020 at 2:07 PM
Great article. I agree with most of it. However, he family over friends part I do not agree with. I have personal experience where I met my best friend at the age of 30 and have been friends with her for ten years now. She has been with through thick and thin and have supported me when everyone left or showed their colors. Before meeting her I used to think of friendship just like you had described it. When we became friends she explained to me what true friendship means and how in Islam it is promoted (Abu Bakr and the Prophet PBUH, and what the Ansar did at the time of Hijra). After explaining all this she has acted on it for ten years and showed what true friendship truly means. Friends are not meant only for enjoyment, or having fun rather they are there when you need them the most with sincerity and empathy. I was told that I will be hurt and how friends eventually leave you and family stays. I have experienced true friendship and the sweetness of it is unmatched! I love your lectures and learn so much from you, but as I was reading this blog I just wanted to let you know that the perspective of friendship is truly greener on the other side! :)
Safia Andleeb
September 7, 2020 at 12:51 PM
All of them our so true. In our young age we tend to focus much on others of what they do and be quick to judge. But it is actually the best time to invest in oneself. The self development that occurs in early ages benefit life long.