As the Gregorian calendar turned to January 2, 2026, Professor Afis A. Oladosu presented a compelling discourse, urging a shift from celebratory revelry to deep spiritual introspection for the year ahead. Drawing from Islamic teachings, he framed the transition between years as a moment of profound anxiety and opportunity for the thoughtful individual.
The Spiritual Imperative at Year's End
Professor Oladosu, referencing the Quranic verse (9:36) on the twelve months with the Almighty, posited that the beginning and end of any calendar should inspire sober reflection, not frivolity. He cited a saying of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that a Muslim lives between a past whose record is unknown and a future whose decree is unseen. This, he argued, makes the new year a crucial time to take stock of spiritual failings, reconnect with the Creator, and repair damaged spiritual capital to avoid the consequences of past misdeeds.
He described a palpable feeling that something within us dies with each passing year, whether on December 31 or Dhul-Hijjah 30. This sensation, he shared, attunes him to the potential impermanence of the cosmos itself. To illustrate true faith, he narrated a story where the companion Abu Dhar defined his belief by stating he was never sure he would live to take his next step.
Practical Pillars for Success in 2026
Oladosu noted that many only engage in intense worship as a year ends, often unaware that the Islamic calendar was already in its third quarter, with Rajab 13 on that very day. He reminded readers that every day lived in God's obedience is itself a new year. The key to success, he proposed, is simple: be a mystic at night and a warrior for the good life by day.
The cornerstone of this strategy is the Tahajjud (midnight) prayer. He emphasized that succeeding through 2026's turbulence requires cultivating the habit of waking at night to connect with the Creator, a practice now adopted by other faiths. He lamented that Muslims who neglect Tahajjud often fall prey to evil forces and may even seek spiritual fulfillment outside Islam.
Secondly, success demands shunning vain talk and aligning with the truthful. Oladosu acknowledged this is difficult in a society where truth-tellers are often seen as enemies, loners, or enigmas, excluded from the circles of the powerful and political.
Thirdly, he stressed guarding one's chastity and being faithful to one's partner, identifying sexual incontinence as a major source of human perdition.
The Paramount Virtue of Patience (Sabr)
A significant portion of his advice focused on patience. He likened its position in Islam, via the fourth Khalifah, to the head on the human body. A lack of patience, he suggested, explains why some Nigerians frequently change their places of worship.
He shared a powerful parable of a man who helped a butterfly escape its cocoon with scissors. The butterfly emerged with a swollen body and shriveled wings, unable to fly. The struggle through the small opening was God's design to force fluid into its wings for flight. "Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our lives," Oladosu concluded. If God removed all obstacles, we would be crippled, never strong enough to fly.
He closed with a homespun analogy: beans cooked under pressure in a pressure cooker become more sumptuous. Similarly, the greater life's pressures, the higher one's potential station in the celestial world. The path to a successful 2026, therefore, is paved with spiritual discipline, ethical fortitude, and steadfast patience.
