Making Amends

Toothbrush? Check! Charger? Here! Hairbrush? Packed! Clothing? In the bag! Visa? Oh no, we haven’t got that! Before embarking on any trip, especially to a foreign country, every traveller makes certain preparations. Although packing the appropriate provisions and essentials forms an important part of the preparation, perhaps the most important part is for one to ensure that their travel documents are in order. When one arrives in a foreign land, the very first thing examined is the passport and visa. If they are in order, one will be granted entry and the remainder of the trip will be ‘smooth sailing’. However, if there is a problem with the passport or visa, then since the very first requirement has not been met, packing all the essentials and converting all the currency will be of little avail and assistance. Similarly, whether we are rich or poor, well-travelled or house-bound, there is one particular journey that each and every one of us will have to make. Furthermore, none of us knows the date of departure, and so it is vital for us to constantly remain in a state of preparedness. This is the once-in-a-after-lifetime-journey to the Aakhirah (Hereafter). Just as the first requirement on landing in a foreign country is the passport and visa, on landing in the Aakhirah, there will also be a first requirement. Meeting this requirement will ensure that the remainder of the checkpoints will go smoothly, while failing to meet this requirement will put us on the rocky road to further misery and difficulty. In this regard, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has forewarned us that the very first thing which we will be required to present on the Day of Qiyaamah will be our salaah. If our salaah meets the grade, then Allah Ta‘ala willing – the rest will be smooth sailing. However, if we fail to meet the very first requirement, we can well imagine the difficulty that will thereafter ensue. It is thus absolutely necessary that we get our salaah in order. Firstly, we should ensure that we perform our five daily salaah on time, and secondly, we should perform the qadhaa for any salaah that we have outstanding. If we fail to make amends for our salaah before our eyes close, we will regret, suffer and lament after our eyes close. At that time, it will be too late for us to make any amends. We thus need to perform all our salaah before our salaah (janaazah) is performed. In this regard, a few important masaa-il and guidelines of performing qadhaa (missed) salaah will Insha-Allah be posted next week. May Allah Ta‘ala bless us all with the courage and determination to make amends for our salaah, Aameen.