Health and well-being are a thousand blessings, and gratitude for these blessings lies in virtuous deeds. The value of the part of life that has passed is in the actions performed within it. Indeed, the heart becomes filled with joy and delight upon the success of one's past life, and every part of the body is immersed in a feeling of gratitude to Allah. If asked whether the portion of life that has passed should be considered non-existent, and your life's reckoning should begin from today, or rather, if you were given a new life, would you agree? The answer would be no, because jewels are buried in those days. How many trees stand ready, thanks to his efforts and hard work! His past land is like a lush and verdant garden, whose atmosphere is fragrant with all kinds of scents, and whose scenes are captivating and attractive, with an abundance of excellent, delicious foods and drinks. But if life has passed in heedless slumber, a person is even ashamed to call it his life. Whenever he remembers his shortcomings, he hates his own life. If the question from above is asked of him, he will answer in the affirmative, expressing his complete willingness, even his desire, because the field of the past has become frightening and deadly with stones, thorns, and even predatory and poisonous animals. Jaj bin Abi 'Ainiyah says that Jabir bin Zaid (may Allah have mercy on him) used to come to our mosque for prayer. One day, he came to us wearing old, worn-out shoes and said: "Sixty years of my life have passed. If I have not done any good deeds in them, then these two old shoes of mine are better than those 60 years of life."
In contrast, regarding the value of a life spent in the remembrance of Allah and preparation for the Hereafter, observe the saying of a man of God: "If you were to sell a moment of your devotion to Allah for the equivalent of the age of Noah in the kingdom of Qarun, you would still be at a loss in the deal" (Miftah al-Afkar).