From the moment we open our eyes to this world, life begins to demand effort. From childhood to adulthood, every stage of existence brings its share of struggles, expectations, and responsibilities. We move from school benches to work desks, from learning alphabets to chasing deadlines — all in an endless cycle of striving. It seems as though every breath we take comes with a new challenge waiting to be faced.

As children, we wake up early for school, spend long hours studying, and return home exhausted, only to continue learning at the madrasa. Growing older, we pass through primary, secondary, and tertiary education, hoping life will get easier after graduation. Yet, we soon realize that the challenges only change shape. For some, it's postgraduate research filled with stress and sleepless nights. For others, it's the pressure of work, the rising cost of living, and unending bills.

Even traders and homemakers are not left out. The trader opens shop at dawn, faces fluctuating markets, and works tirelessly to survive. The housewife begins her day before sunrise, catering to her family, cooking, cleaning, and serving — only to repeat the same routine tomorrow. Such is the reality of life: constant effort and motion that only ends with death.

Allah reminds us of this truth in Surah At-Takāthur (102:1–8), warning that the pursuit of worldly gains distracts us until we enter the grave. True realization dawns only when life ends — when the veil is lifted, and certainty replaces illusion. That is when we understand that rest never belonged here, but in the eternal peace of Jannah.

So, dear believer, do not delay righteousness. Do not wait to pray, give charity, or seek forgiveness "when things get easier." The world's deadlines never stop — but life's deadline surely will. Let's make Qur'an, dhikr, and Salah our daily companions, seeking Allah's mercy until the true rest — in Jannah — finally comes.

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