“Carpe diem” is a Latin expression that means “seize the day”. It came to my mind as I was reading the Quran, I connected something I’ve been wondering about for some time… to this well known Latin expression. How so? Let’s take a look…
Consider the following ayat. Whenever I’ve read statements like this…
سورة السجدة ١٢
رَبِّهِمْ رَبَّنَا أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَارْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ
سورة الشعراء ١٠٢
فَلَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
سورة الشورى ٤٤
وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِن وَلِيٍّ مِّن بَعْدِهِ ۗ وَتَرَى الظَّالِمِينَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ يَقُولُونَ هَلْ إِلَىٰ مَرَدٍّ مِّن سَبِيلٍ
Surah As-Sajda 32:12
“Our Lord! We have seen and we have heard: Now then send us back (to the world): we will work righteousness: for we do indeed (now) believe.”
Surah Ash-Shu’araa 26:102
“‘Now if we only had a chance of return we shall truly be of those who believe!'”
Surah Ash-Shura 42:44
For any whom Allah leaves astray, there is no protector thereafter. And thou wilt see the Wrong-doers, when in sight of the Penalty, Say: “Is there any way (to effect) a return?”
… I’ve always wondered… what good would that do? Pretend for a moment that such a wish would be granted… a return… born, raised, a life striving to learn new things… would they even be granted remembrance of the fact that they have been going through the same thing once before?
سورة طه ١٥
إِنَّ السَّاعَةَ آتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ
Surah Taa-Haa 20:15
“Verily the Hour is coming – My design is to keep it hidden – for every soul to receive its reward by the measure of its Endeavour.
Just picture this… a student fails on a test and after seeing the answers asks the theacher if they can retake the test again. The teacher’s reply? Yes? Not very likely. In this case, the Creator has the ability to erase any memory of previous experiences, but… we’re talking about the same person going through life all over again… how would this person be any different if they remember nothing?
سورة الأنعام ١٥٨
هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَوْ يَأْتِيَ رَبُّكَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَ بَعْضُ آيَاتِ رَبِّكَ ۗ يَوْمَ يَأْتِي بَعْضُ آيَاتِ رَبِّكَ لَا يَنفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ آمَنَتْ مِن قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِي إِيمَانِهَا خَيْرًا ۗ قُلِ انتَظِرُوا إِنَّا مُنتَظِرُونَ
سورة الإسراء ٨٤
قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَىٰ شَاكِلَتِهِ فَرَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ سَبِيلًا
Surah Al-An’aam 6:158
Are they waiting to see if the angels come to them, or thy Lord (Himself), or certain of the signs of thy Lord! the day that certain of the signs of thy Lord do come, no good will it do to a soul to believe in them then if it believed not before nor earned righteousness through its faith. Say: “Wait ye: we too are waiting.”
Surah Al-Israa 17:84
Say: “Everyone acts according to his own disposition: But your Lord knows best who it is that is best guided on the Way.”
All things considered…
سورة ق ٢٩
مَا يُبَدَّلُ الْقَوْلُ لَدَيَّ وَمَا أَنَا بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
Surah Qaaf 50:29
“The Word changes not before Me, and I do not the least injustice to My Servants.”
With all this in mind, we are given one chance, a generous opportunity with all that we have been granted in this life…
سورة النحل ٧٨
وَاللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّن بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Surah An-Nahl 16:78
It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when ye knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that ye may give thanks (to Allah).
Carpe diem. It all comes down to the following… انتهز الفرصة اغتنم اليوم, اغتنم اللحظة … seize the opportunity, seize the day, seize the moment… in short… make your day a good one.
I hope you found this an interesting input and that it brought something to consider.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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