By Farhan Ahmed, Student of Islamic Studies, Institute of Islamic Education
New Years, the start of a fresh semester, and birthdays: What do they all have in common? Days like these signify a fresh start for almost every human being. We look forward to these days because they give us an opportunity to restart. For example, a couple of months ago a New Year just passed, leaving most of us feeling disappointed that we didn’t achieve the goals we wished we had. This New Year 2010, gives us the opportunity to start over and try to achieve new goals. It gives us the opportunity to leave whatever went wrong in the past and start over. We look forward to these days rightfully or wrongfully so, but we forget the bounties that Allah Exalted place within our din. He has given us a gift far greater than any of these days. This gift allows us to start over without any problems. This is the gift of repentance.