Echoes of the Past and Reflection of the Now.

The flight landed at Fajr time. Spend the night sleeplessly on flight preparing content for the conference I had come to attend. When I reached home, there was a calling I couldn’t explain. My mind was tired from a long sleepless travel, but my heart was calling towards going to the mountains.

After talking a little bit with my family, I took the bike and rode to the mountain. I felt a rush of nostalgia rushing through my blood. I used to come to this very spot four years ago every day after Fajr to recite Quran and contemplate. I used to do most of my readings here. Sitting on the mountains have a deep tranquility.

I suddenly had a feeling of sadness on how fast time went. It was like reality hit fast, taking me away from the trance of nostalgia I was enjoying. It was a moment of realization that four years had passed quickly.

There will come a moment when you realize you are 24, yet it feels as though just yesterday, you were 15. You won't be able to comprehend how swiftly these years have flown by, how your life has been quietly divided into 'befores' and 'afters.' The fiery passions of youth will begin to mellow, and though everything outwardly remains the same, your heart will perceive the world differently. When you gaze upon old photographs and grainy videos captured on simple phones, a wave of nostalgia will wash over you.

Familiar scents will transport you back to childhood, evoking memories of friends with whom you no longer share your days. Casual hangouts will evolve into cherished reunions, and the taste of your mother’s home made imperfectly perfect food will become the finest cuisine you've ever known.

There will be days when it feels as though you have not achieved everything you set out to achieve. In those moments, I pray you remember to take a deep breath and release the tightness in your chest. Step out into the sunlight, feel the warmth on your skin, and embrace the life Allah has blessed you with—because before you know it, 34 will arrive.

Cherish each moment, seek Allah's guidance in all you do, and remember that every day is an opportunity to draw closer to Him and to the person you are destined to become. Learn to enjoy the present. That’s the secret to joy and peace.

As you navigate the fleeting moments of life, remember that time is a precious gift from Allah, one that slips through our fingers faster than we often realize. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ reminded us, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death.”

Embrace each day as a new opportunity to grow, to worship, and to draw closer to Allah. The past has shaped you, and the future is uncertain, but the present is where you can make a difference. Live in the now, for it is in these moments that you build your path to Jannah, and it is through gratitude and mindfulness that you find true peace. Remember, every breath you take is a chance to seek Allah’s pleasure and to cherish the life He has blessed you with. So, hold fast to the present, for it is the most valuable time you have.