Begin the New Year with Self-Introspection and a Life Manifesto
By: Mohammad Taukir Rahmani
Time is not merely a sequence of fleeting moments, it is a persistent call to the conscience, a whisper to the soul, a mirror to the self. The departure of Dhul-Hijjah and the arrival of Muharram on the Islamic calendar is not just a ritual flipping of pages. It is a moment of profound revelation; a pause that invites us to examine the past and realign our future. Every passing second asks us: “How deeply have you come to know yourself?”
The new year is not a superficial celebration—it is a silent revolution, a wake-up call for the spirit. Time, in its wordless flow, hurls urgent questions our way: What have you learned? What did you lose and what did you gain? Which dreams did you turn into reality, and which did you bury in the soil of neglect?
We are all passengers in a river of time that neither stops nor turns back. But in moments like these, when a new year knocks on the door of the soul—we must pause, bow down, and peer within: into our priorities, our relationships, our ambitions, and our sins. Time does not speak, yet it teaches. It silently counts our breaths, while we remain busy chasing illusions, unaware that we ourselves are being spent.
This merciless stream of time tangles us in memories of the past, distractions of the present, and anxieties of the future until we forget to ask the most important question: Who am I, and where am I heading?
To drift aimlessly in time without knowing one’s destination is a path to loss. Have we merely learned to float in the river of time, or have we swum towards salvation? Today, that question descends upon our conscience like a lightning bolt. Each moment of our life is a seed, it either disappears into barren soil or grows into a towering tree rooted in sincerity and purpose. If we don’t decide our direction today, the coming year too will become a graveyard of forgotten ambitions and faded resolve.
The beginning of the new year reminds us to reflect: Where have I reached in my journey of life? Have I done anything that will outlive me? Have I wiped the tears of an orphan? Raised my voice for the voiceless? Taken even a single step toward self-reform? These are not just sparks of feeling; they are beacons guiding the course of our existence.
Every person of consciousness must reflect on the purpose of their being. Without this, one becomes nothing more than a biological machine. When a human being lives without intention, he commits the worst injustice, not against others, but against his own soul.
In democratic politics, parties craft manifestos before elections, not just to attract the public, but to clarify their goals and commitments. If a party enters the arena without one, it loses credibility. Then what about us, the sovereigns of our own lives? Should we not formulate a manifesto for our existence? Should we not determine: What habits we must shed? What virtues we must cultivate? What knowledge we must pursue? What kind of company we must seek? And above all, for what purpose must we live?
Planning is the art of transforming existence into a meaningful life. Just as a party cannot win public trust without a vision, a person cannot become the traveler of his own destiny without a guiding ideal. Nations rise on manifestos; individuals evolve through self-accountability. Thus, let us present the deeds of the past year in the courtroom of our hearts. How many times did we call upon God, and how many times did we bow before the world? How often were we deceived by our ego, and how often did we choose the path of piety?
Yet the past is not merely a lament, it is also a teacher. Its bruises are blessings if they awaken our insight. The wounds, the detours, the lost hours—they all whisper that it’s not too late to begin again. Let this year mark the start of a spiritual awakening. Let us shatter the idols within—arrogance, envy, heedlessness, greed and turn our hearts into sanctuaries of sincerity.
Let us draw closer to those who radiate light, whose presence reminds us of God, and whose companionship pushes us to become better. May this year become a time for the renewal of the soul, the purification of the mind, and the reconstruction of the heart. Let knowledge guide us, worship sustain us, service define our destination, and virtuous companionship be our constant companion.
Life is a gift but without awareness, even gifts can become trials. Each mindful person must ask: “If I am alive next year, will I still be the same? Or will my eyes carry the light of repentance, my hands the strength of service, and my heart the certainty born of divine wisdom?” For life is not just about the passage of time, it is about living within time, purposefully and thoughtfully.
So come—let us turn the first hour of this new year into a sacred covenant. A covenant not written in mere words, but engraved through action; not uttered in wishful prayers, but brought to life through intention, effort, and sacrifice. Let us not reach this day next year only to ask once again: “Did anything truly change? Or did I, once again, lose myself in the rushing waters of time?”
