An Unpromised Tomorrow

by: Fatimah Ali

 

The future: a theoretical horizon of endless possibilities;

A place packed with promises of potential capabilities

Tomorrow, we say.

Eventually, we say.

Let me remind you that there are two futures at bay.

 

Ephemerality and eternity.

How beautifully similar they sound on the tongue,

Yet the meaning emphasizes the difference among.

These two polar concepts draw the fine line

Between our two possible futures.

This world is instilled with temporary cultures,

Entrancing us with its alluring material.

 

So, naturally, we plan for that degree we so dearly want,

And that car that we can flaunt,

And that dream house from our thoughts,

And that American Dream we were taught,

But that isn’t the future you are guaranteed,

And there’s no wrong in trying to succeed

In this world’s pursuits of advancement,

But remember tomorrow isn’t promised

So, what have you done for the future that is?

 

Because all of this is absolutely ephemeral,

Yet amidst all of this temporal beauty,

Allah chose our souls to be eternal,

Because they belong to the next world,

The world of eternity, the world of hell and heaven

And I don’t know about you,

But I am investing in the highest of the seven.

 

Stay conscious of your purpose:

To Allah, we serve,

And preserve

This beneficial religion,

So that generations may be living

In peace,

And unity.

Elevate your imaan,

And keep Allah in your plan,

Because he is the reason your life ever began.

Tomorrow isn’t granted,

And, on the other hand, death is certain.

 

Thus, A delay of any period of time

May be delay of a lifetime.

Yet in our haste,

We spare time to waste,

And how ironic that sounds

When said aloud,

But irony

Doesn’t erase this unfortunate reality.

 

We are a written number of destined, yet unknown heartbeats,

Essentially, abstract timebombs lacking concrete warnings of decrease.

All you have is now,

And you can achieve as much as allow.

Remember self-doubt is a form of self-restraint,

And that’s just letting time play you at its own game.

 

So, utilize your time,

And keep Allah as your prime,

And treat procrastination as a crime

Against your precious time.

It’s the race against time;

Don’t let time outrace you to death.

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