Now, we are on one side of the bank, we will soon leave it to put our feet on other side. One step will get us out of a bank and another step will get us to the other. We stand between two banks to welcome and farewell at the same time; we depart a complete year we fulfilled in it what Allah Almighty has destined, and we receive a new year A year has gone “In this night, a year will die. It will go with our memories, pains and wishes to where it will never come back again. “The other year comes with stretched arms to take piece of our own selves and part of our own lives and gives us nothing in return.” “Is life something but years after years? Are we something but memories and pain? …..” The time of departure has come: The time of this year departure has come. It gathers its belongings and packages its traveling bag. At the same time, all people are moving; some sold their souls to release themselves from punishment and others sold their souls to be liable to punishment! A complete year has gone with all its days. It contained glances of wisdom, events and lessons to be taught. Glorified be Allah that there is no God but Him! How many people did become regretful this year?! And how many others did become happy? How many children did become orphans?! How many wives did become widows?! How many husbands did become widowers? A sick person recovered, a healthy person died, people burry their deceased relative, and others carry home their bride in procession! A house in joy because of having a new born, another receives condolences for missing someone, there are hugs and tears of meeting, hugs and tears of departure, pain turn to be joy, joy turn to be pain, someone wishes the end of the day to have an end to his solicitude and grief and worry, and another wishes his day last forever to enjoy his joy, happiness and pleasure! Days pass by its traveler like years And years pass its traveler like days Years passing with joy and tranquility Like days Succeeding it fowl days Like burden of years Someone stops traveling where he has a place to rest while another travels to find provision and shelter. A person has come, a person has gone, a person became sick, a person had been buried … etc. conditions are always changed and people are always replaced; so, glorified be Allah! How wise is His arrangements! How great is His doing! He provides honor, dignity and power to whomever He wants and takes them from whomever He wants! He gives whomever He wants by His grace, and deprives whomever He wants by His justice! He creates what He likes and chooses! Matters come after each other to increase the wisdom of the sane and wake up the inattentive from his mindfulness! So, whoever does not take lessons from whatever is going around him; he has mistreated himself. At the end of the year, people’s desires become varying and their feelings become disparate; some of them become happy, others become sad, and others in-between the two. The prisoner becomes happy, because the end of a year makes the time of his release nearer. He impatiently counts nights and days; although, in the past, he was not to feel the pass of the months and years. Another person becomes happy, because the end of the year means to him collecting the rent of apartments or real estate he had rented to invest its turnover and profits. Another person becomes happy, because the end of the year means to him having a promotion or any other reason except the reasons that are about the supreme goal, the hereafter. Therefore, a person who feels joy because days and years are passing without any account or taking lessons from them has wronged himself. The sane person is the person that takes lessons from yesterday, does his best today, and prepares himself for tomorrow. Among the greatest wisdoms of years passing, change of conditions and persons is its being a proof for the perfectness of the Greatness of Allah Almighty and His Self-Existence Take care of your times: The sane person should take care of his times, count his breath, invest his time well, and never waste moments of his life in something that does not benefit him in this life and in the hereafter too. The years are short, death is close, and there is a definite end to every creature despite its long life. It was said to prophet Nuh (peace of Allah be upon him), after he had stayed among his people a thousand years less fifty years: “How did you observe this worldly life?” Prophet Nuh (peace of Allah be upon him) replied, “It is like a person gets in from one door to get out from another.” O Allah, make the end of our year good, and make our future good. Verily, You are most Hearer, Responsive to invocations O Allah, make this year a year of good and blessing for Islam and Muslims. Finally, Prayers and Peace of Allah be upon our prophet, Muhammad, and all his family and companions.