Reflecting on the past year: A checklist from the Khalifa of the time

M Adam Ahmad, Al Hakam

As the world prepares to welcome a new year with dramatic public displays and short-lived celebrations, we must stop and think: what are we actually celebrating?

Can we say the passing year was a successful one for us? And if so, what metric are we using?

While calendars turn and clocks strike midnight, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih^aa draws our attention away from outward celebrations towards inward reflection, on ourselves and our actions.

The true distinction of a believer lies not only in refraining from vain pursuits and expressing aversion to them, but also in undertaking sincere self-examination (muhasaba-e-nafs).

The following questions were laid out by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih^aa in a Friday Sermon just before the new year, for us to reflect on whilst carrying out this process of self-examination in light of the year that has passed. The answers to these questions will truly determine how successful the year was:

Checklist for the year gone by

• What have we gained in the passing year, and what have we lost?
• Have we truly fulfilled the conditions of bai‘at by avoiding all forms of shirk – including hidden shirk expressed through deception, ostentation and self-centred desires? 
• Did we observe the five daily prayers with regularity and commitment throughout the year? 
• Did we strive to offer Tahajjud prayer consistently, recognising it as a means of spiritual nearness to Allah the Almighty? 
• Did we regularly recite durood (invoking blessings) upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa, recognising it as a condition for the acceptance of prayers? 
• Did we remain steadfast in seeking istighfar on a regular basis?
• Were our prayers, fasts, charities, financial sacrifices, service to humanity and time given to the Jamaat performed solely for the pleasure of Allah, or for worldly display and the approval of others?
• Did our hidden desires ever take precedence over obedience to Allah?
• Did we remain content with Allah in all circumstances, without complaint or resentment over unanswered prayers or hardships?
• Did we consistently remember and praise Allah the Exalted before beginning our actions?
• Did we sincerely endeavour to follow the teachings of the Holy Quran and the commands of the Holy Prophet^sa in their entirety?
• Did the past year pass in complete truthfulness, especially at moments when speaking the truth carried personal loss or harm? 
• Did we consciously distance ourselves from gatherings, media and influences that generate impure thoughts and moral corruption? 
• Did we make every possible effort to guard ourselves from lustful glances and to observe true modesty of the eyes? 
• Did we strive to abstain from all forms of immorality, harsh speech, verbal abuse and sinful conduct? 
• Did we protect ourselves from injustice in every form, even the slightest infringement upon the rights of others? 
• Did we remain free from all forms of dishonesty and betrayal, even towards those who wronged us? 
• Did we actively avoid creating or spreading discord, gossip and division among people? 
• Did we refrain from rebellious attitudes and defiance? 
• Were we able to restrain ourselves from being overcome by carnal passions in an age of widespread immodesty?  
• Did we refrain from causing harm to others through our hands or tongues, and practise forgiveness, humility and forbearance? 
• Did we fully avoid customs, innovations and vain practices driven by desire rather than guidance? 
• Did we abandon pride and arrogance, recognising them as among the gravest spiritual diseases after shirk? 
• Did we strive to attain the highest standards of good moral character and humility? 
• Did each day bring growth in faith and a renewed commitment to giving precedence to religion over worldly pursuits? 
• Did our love for Islam reach a level where it outweighed attachment to wealth, honour and even family? 
• Did we actively advance in compassion and sympathy for all of Allah’s creation? 
• Did we strive, using all our abilities, to benefit humanity and care for the needs of Allah’s creation? 
• Did we pray consistently for ourselves and our children to remain firm in obedience to the Promised Messiah^as and to grow in those standards? 
• Did we strengthen our bond of loyalty and obedience to the Promised Messiah^as to the extent that worldly ties became secondary? 
• Did we regularly pray to remain steadfast in loyalty and obedience to Khilafat, and nurture this attachment in our children? 
• Did we consistently pray for the Khalifa of the time and for the Jamaat? 

Having reflected upon the above questions, can we say that the year brought spiritual gain – or does it demand serious repentance, renewed resolve and earnest prayer for reform in the year ahead?

(Friday Sermon, 30 December 2016)