One thing that I have personally learnt over the course of many years now is that the best way to achieve peacefulness of mind and heart is to read Quran every day.  The examples that Allah SWT has shared with us through Quran provide meaningful relevance and guidance to us every moment of our life.  Often times I hear kids of today’s generation and many times their parents say “The Holy Quran was sent around 1500 years ago to the people of those times based on the life they lived then and the challenges they faced at that time”.  It is understandable that some of the “ways of living” that were present at that time are no longer relevant (for e.g.:  travelling on foot for days to reach a destination, or travelling on camels, etc.), what has not changed is the basic foundational life needs.  Humankind lived in family setting then, they live in family setting today.  Humankind worked and earned their daily bread and butter then they still do that today.  They had responsibility towards family, work, friends, neighbors, etc. and that is still true today! Hence the advice, information and truth that is shared with and through Quran was not limited to the situations present then but is relevant and much more needed today.   

Allah SWT is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and everything in and around it.  The book that He sent down to us is sure to be a book that stores in it innumerable gems of self-awareness, self-reflection and self-improvement that were applicable to every single human born in those times, before it and after and every one of us can take the guidance from it and live our lives to the best of our ability. 

To reiterate some of these lessons at a high level:

1. Remember Who You Are and Why You Are Here
2. Be Mindful of Time
3. See Opportunity in Calamity
4. Remain Firm & resist influences from outside and within
5. Be sincere, productive and kind in your effort and leave the rest to Allah SWT
6. Words Matter – so choose your best words when you speak
7. Enjoy blessings of Allah SWT by admiring nature
8. Think for Yourself by asking guidance from Allah SWT
9. Seek and speak the truth
10. Be Grateful

As you look through each and every one of these at a deeper level, you will realize that whether it is year 600 or year 2022, these moral lessons remain unchanged.  These lessons serve as basic foundations in every era, be it stone age, golden era or the new digital era, one thing we know that is constant is this:  Quran and its teachings are timeless! 

In today’s world, wherever you turn to, you will find people going around in circles trying to look for answers, get some closure, or get some type of peace and relief from their day-to-day challenges and problems.  In the world of “2-minute noodles” or “same-day shipping”, the art of patience is almost non-existent.  Instead of being kind and peaceful towards others and wishing the best for them, people are so fraught with jealousy or consumed with selfish thoughts, that they are just inept to break that barrier and make the difference between right and wrong.

The Holy Quran is a book of guidance.  It presents us with lessons of high morality in relation to the world and the people, teaches us courtesy and tact, introduces the basics of healthy lifestyle, and helps us navigate life with a balanced, well-thought out and positive perspective.  Be it your time with your family, friends or relatives or your time at work, it provides you divine wisdom every step of the way so you are never lost in the crowd and never stray from the right path!

The Holy Quran was sent down for ALL HUMANITY!  It is slowly making its way into people’s lives all over the world and anyone that has access to this divine wisdom should consider themselves the chosen one.  Allah SWT wanted us to have this guidance and hence we are either born listening and reading this holy book and continue growing under its shade and guidance, or we come into it through the change of hearts (a miracle of Allah SWT) and experience the benefits for the rest of our lives.    

So let’s make a promise to ourselves that as we turn over a new page in our book of life and the number on the pages changes from 2021 to 2022, we will remember to Thank Allah SWT for blessing us with a life that allows us to experience the new year and to remember these timeless lessons from Quran and apply these principles as we try our best to live our lives everyday! 

Be sure to live a life that is more rewarding than it has been in the past years!

Be sure to give back to the community!

Be sure to express gratitude!