If Only We Had Done More

Today being the last day of the Gregorian calendar 2011, people tend to make new year resolutions and think about the past, of what they have done in the last year and how they could improve on it. I believe this should be done on a daily basis. If we need to improve on something or do something why wait for a year why not start it today. And how many times after doing something we felt that if only we had done a little more, it would have been better.... 

This reminds me of a story that goes as follows-

Once, a group of people were travelling on rocks at night.  A voice came from the sky that whosoever picks up the rocks will regret and whosoever doesn't pick up the rocks will regret. Now, the people were confused. 

How can this be? Whether you pick up the rocks or not, you will regret! 

Anyway, some people picked up the rocks and some didn't. In the morning when they reached up their homes, they saw that the rocks turned into diamonds! 

Now, those people who didn't pick up the rocks started regretting, saying - “If only we had picked up some rocks.” And those people who did pick up some rocks also started regretting, saying – “If  only we had picked up some more rocks.”! 

Both sides ended up regretting. 

Dear Muslims, this same incident will indeed take place with us on the Day of Judgement. Those people who spent their time in useless activities will start regretting by looking at those who achieved a great position in Paradise by spending their time well in ways that pleases Allah. And as for those who did achieve a position in Paradise will also start regretting by looking at those who did a lot more than them and are even in higher in status. 

“Alas ! if we had only done more to please Allah.”