... Especially for the youngsters...

والذين يبيتون لربهم سجدا وقياما

"And (the special servants of Allah) are those who spend their night in front of their Rabb in prostrating and standing." (S 25: V 64)

In this verse, Allah Ta'ala is speaking about His servants who are a bit more special than others. Thus it means that spending the night in Ibaadah makes a person become a servant a bit more special to Allah Ta'ala. It brings him close to his Rabb.

When one analyses this verse, one will realize how much he has lost out and how much he is still losing out in his life. This is because, first of all, there are many of us who are not even performing the 'Isha Salah and those who are performing it, may not be punctual in their Salah. And those who are punctual, may be engaged in several futile things at night. They may  be spending their time watching television or with their computer. And there are those who do not perform Salah at all and they waste their time by going to weddings, engagements, promenades, etc.

It is very sad that we neglect such opportunities that could bring us closer to none other than our own Rabb who created all of us and created everything which is around us. It is our Rabb whose treasure is filled with everything that one needs and wants.

If a person does not have the courage to spend even a little time in Ibaadah during the night, then at least, he must not waste it by committing forbidden things. It is better that he goes to sleep with the intention of performing Salaah in congregation. According to Hadith, he will get the reward of a whole night of Ibaadah.

In one Hadith, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said that there are two favours that many people suffer defeat: health and free time. Health is a favour which people do not enjoy forever. Likewise, a person is only free for a certain amount of time. Thus, one must know how to take benefit from these two things before losing them and before it is too late. A time may dawn in our life where we may desire to do Ibaadah, but either we will not have health or we will not have time.

Above all, our youngsters should consider this matter well. They have health, energy and free time. They must benefit from it. According to a Hadith, a youngster who spent his youth in the Ibaadah of Allah Ta'ala, will get shade under the throne of Allah Ta'ala on the day of Qiyaamah.

May Allah Ta'ala give all of us the Taufeeq to spend our life in matters that Allah Ta'ala loves! Ameen.

[English version of "… Surtout pou banne jeunes…" – Al Jamiat – Vol.5 No.11]