A year that has passed, a year we have to build! 
 Years pass by like this, but every passing year leaves behind some questions, some experiences, and some bitter and sweet realities. The past years have taught us that merely the change of time does not change the circumstances, but the change in thinking, attitude, and action makes the real difference. Somewhere we repeated mistakes, somewhere opportunities slipped away, and somewhere silence increased the loss in our share. Now that 2026 stands before us, this year is not a name of fear or despair, but a message of self-accountability, reform, and new resolve. This is the time that we, learning from the experiences of the past, move towards a better, more conscious, and responsible future. When we say that 2026 has to be made better, the first thing to decide is what is the foundation of our life. If the foundation is weak, no matter how beautiful the building is, it will not last long. The same principle applies to the life of an individual and to the history of nations. Therefore, the first angle of reform is that we make it our primary goal to spend our lives in the light of the Quran and Sunnah.
 The Quran is not just a book for recitation, but a guide to understand and improve life. It tells us what the true status of man is, what his responsibilities are, and on what principles he should live. Similarly, the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is not just a name of a few deeds, but a complete practical example that teaches how to implement the instructions of the Quran in daily life. When the Quran gives guidance and the Sunnah shows the way, balance comes into life and the purpose also becomes clear. Today, our tragedy is that we have put religion on the edge of life. The Quran is present in our homes, but not included in our decisions; the Sunnah is on our tongue, but not reflected in our attitudes. The result is that despite having facilities, we are restless, despite having knowledge, we are confused, and despite having worship, we appear to be victims of moral weakness. If 2026 is to be made a year of real change, then this distance that has arisen between our claims and our actions has to be eliminated.
 Living life in the light of the Quran and Sunnah means that our affairs, whether they are domestic, educational, economic, or social, should be based on the principles of justice, honesty, truthfulness, and piety. These are the values that make the individual strong and the society righteous. When a person's character becomes correct, the circumstances automatically start to change, because the beginning of change always comes from within. This is the reason why the first angle of building 2026 does not need any slogans or temporary emotions, but requires a conscious decision. If we make the Quran and Sunnah the center of our lives, then the coming year will not only be a new page in history, but will become the beginning of a new intellectual direction, a new practical method, and a purposeful life.
 When we resolve to make the Quran and Sunnah the foundation of our lives, then the most important requirement that comes before us is knowledge. Because without knowledge, neither religion can be understood correctly nor can the world be dealt with in the right way. That is why the second angle of making 2026 better is that we ourselves acquire the best possible education and also adorn our relatives, friends, and especially our children with quality and balanced education. Religious education determines our intellectual identity and spiritual direction. The Islamic sciences such as Quran, Hadith, Aqeedah, Fiqh, Ilm-e-Kalam, Sufism, Ethics, Human Sciences, and Animal Sciences teach man how to recognize Allah, how to understand himself, and how to treat creation. These sciences create awareness, responsibility, and moral balance within man, and give him insight instead of blind imitation.
 But neglecting worldly sciences along with religious sciences is also a serious mistake. Subjects such as Science, Mathematics, Sociology, History, Biology, Physics, E-commerce, and Political Science give us the ability to understand the times, analyze systems, and make our place in the modern world with dignity. These sciences not only give us employment but also enable us to play an effective role in the construction of society.
 The real need is that we see religion and the world not as opposites but as complementary to each other. When religious insight is combined with worldly skills, a person comes into existence who is both virtuous and capable. Such a person proves to be beneficial not only for himself but also for his society. If we want our generations to be safe from intellectual chaos, moral decline, and identity crisis in 2026, then we have to pay serious attention to the education of our children today. This is not only the responsibility of the school or madrassa but the joint responsibility of parents, family, and the entire society. This balanced inheritance of knowledge is the capital that can improve the coming time and this is the second angle without which no real change is possible.
 When a person makes the Quran and Sunnah the foundation of his life and expands his consciousness through knowledge, then the first test of his character comes in his attitude towards his parents. Therefore, the third and most important angle of making 2026 better is that we consider the respect, service, and appreciation of our parents not just a moral sentiment but a religious duty, as the Quran and Sunnah teach us. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty has commanded good behavior towards parents immediately after His worship. This arrangement itself is a testimony to how great the respect of parents is in the sight of Allah. The Quran teaches us not to raise our voice in front of parents, not to say 'Uff' to them, and always speak to them in a soft tone. These commands are not just words but form a complete moral system, the purpose of which is to strengthen the family and balance the society. The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ provides us with a practical example in this matter. The Prophet ﷺ declared the service of parents as one of the doors of Paradise and counted their disobedience among the major sins. This teaching makes us realize that the respect of parents is not limited only to their life but even after them, maintaining a relationship with them through prayer, charity, and good deeds is worship.
 In today's era, when busyness, material priorities, and selfishness have created coldness in relationships, the concept of respecting parents is weakening. Sometimes in the name of knowledge, progress, and freedom, we ignore those people under whose prayers we have reached here. If 2026 is to be made truly meaningful, then we have to seriously review this attitude. In the light of the Quran and Sunnah, respecting parents does not only mean providing financial assistance but also listening to them, respecting their feelings, understanding their loneliness, and accepting their old age as a blessing. When we correct our relationship with our parents, blessing, peace, and intellectual balance are automatically created in our lives. This is the reason why this third angle of reforming 2026 reminds us that big changes do not come from big slogans but from small but true attitudes. The respect of parents is the foundation on which a righteous individual, a strong family, and a healthy society are built.
 When a person makes the Quran and Sunnah the foundation of his life, makes knowledge a means of improvement, and considers the respect of parents as his duty, then the relationship that deserves the most attention after that is the relationship of the teacher. That is why the fourth angle of making 2026 better is that we respect our teachers, listen to their words carefully, understand their advice and instructions, and create their reflection in our practical lives. In Islam, the status of a teacher is not just of someone who teaches a subject but of someone who guides, shows the way, and shapes the personality. What teachers teach is not just words, but they build generations with experience, sincerity, and responsibility. There is a lesson in every advice and a good hidden in every instruction, provided that we have the courage to listen and understand.
 In the light of the Quran and Sunnah, the etiquette of knowledge is itself a part of knowledge. The knowledge that is acquired without respecting the teacher neither enters the heart nor is reflected in the character. That is why our ancestors considered politeness, silence, and attention in front of the teacher as the first condition of knowledge. The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ teaches us that knowledge becomes fruitful only with respect, patience, and good manners. In today's era, when criticism has become easy and tolerance difficult, sometimes the status of teachers is considered merely as salaried employees. This attitude is not only a sign of moral decline but also a cause of academic loss. If we want our youth to be knowledgeable, virtuous, and conscious in 2026, then we have to give the teacher's status its due place.
 Respect for teachers is necessary in every situation, whether there is disagreement, whether circumstances change, or whether times move forward. Their prayers, their guidance, and the direction given by them can improve a person's entire life. This is the reason why respect for teachers is not just a social tradition but a religious, moral, and intellectual responsibility. This fourth angle reminds us that the nations that respected their teachers, progressed in knowledge, civilization, and leadership. And this is the path that can make 2026 truly meaningful and dignified.
 When a person makes the Quran and Sunnah the foundation of life, recognizes the value of knowledge, fulfills the rights of parents and teachers, then this moral responsibility is imposed on him that he should be loyal to the educational institutions that refined his thinking and played a role in building his future. That is why the fifth angle of making 2026 better is that we work seriously for the promotion and good name of our college or university. Educational institutions are not just buildings or degrees, but these are the centers where a person's thinking is formed, his temperament is shaped, and his abilities are directed. The student or graduate who values his institution actually values knowledge. Making the name of one's institution bright is not only through advertising slogans but through one's character, one's hard work, and one's practical life.
 Working for the promotion of the institution means that wherever we are, we should prove through our morals, honesty, and academic standards that we have been students of a dignified institution. Serious work in the academic field, a positive role in social service, and honesty in professional life are all the means through which the reputation of a college or university is established. Similarly, if the teachers, students, and graduates associated with the institution remain connected to their institution through academic programs, research activities, and educational guidance, then this relationship is transferred to generations. The spirit of the Quran and Sunnah also teaches us that the means through which good is obtained should be valued and participated in its promotion.
 Unfortunately, sometimes we forget our institution after getting education, even though that institution has become our identity. If 2026 is to be given a truly positive turn, then we have to change this attitude and maintain a living and active relationship with our institutions. This fifth angle gives us the awareness that a strong institution makes a strong society, and the good reputation of institutions is actually a guarantee of the nation's future. If we consider the promotion of our educational institutions as our duty, then 2026 can become a year of knowledge and dignity not only for us but also for the coming generations.
 Especially, I cannot complete this talk without mentioning my educational institution Darul Huda Islamic University, where I got the opportunity to get education and where I saw the practical example of the combination of religion and the world. The prominent feature of Darul Huda Islamic University is that along with high-quality religious education, worldly sciences are also taught with seriousness, order, and purpose. This is the balance that the Ummah and society need today. This institution has not only given us bookish knowledge but has also given us the way of thinking, the courage to question, and the consciousness to connect knowledge with action. Here, along with Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, and other Islamic sciences, worldly education is also given importance according to modern requirements, so that the student is not only religious but also understands the problems of the times and is able to offer solutions.
 While studying at Darul Huda, the feeling repeatedly arises that knowledge is not just a means of personal development but a trust that should be used for the welfare of society. This is the reason why every student associated with this institution has the responsibility to increase the good name of his institution through his character, his speech, and his practical life. I believe that if students and graduates like us put the knowledge gained from Darul Huda Islamic University into practice with sincerity, then this institution can become a bright example not only in the academic field but also on the intellectual and moral level. In the context of 2026, working for the promotion and dignity of our institution is actually a practical expression of loyalty to knowledge, teachers, and the system of education that taught us to think and live.
 When we consider all the angles of our reform - Quran and Sunnah, knowledge, respect for parents and teachers, and service to institutions - then a bitter but inevitable truth stands before us, and that is that silence is no longer possible. Especially in today's global scenario, and more than that in our own country India, the way Muslims are being targeted is a question mark for any living conscience.
 It is no longer a hidden fact that incidents of discrimination, violence, innocent killings, deprivation of justice, and violation of honor and dignity against Muslims are constantly increasing. Somewhere there are heart-wrenching incidents of rape with mothers and sisters, somewhere houses are being demolished by bulldozers, and somewhere Maktabs, Madrassas, and cemeteries are being declared illegal and snatched from Muslims. These are not just accidents but a symbol of organized insensitivity and injustice. In such circumstances, the most dangerous attitude is to become a silent spectator. The Quran and Sunnah do not teach us to bow down to oppression, but give us the courage to stand up for the truth, demand justice, and stand with the oppressed. However, this struggle should be in the legal sphere with awareness, wisdom, and without emotional turmoil.
 We have to be aware of our rights, understand the constitutional ways, and strengthen our voice through education, unity, and organization. This fight is not to spread hatred but to get justice; this struggle is not against anyone but to protect our existence, honor, and freedom. If we want the coming time to be better for us, then 2026 gives us the message that we should understand our responsibility, come out of the shell of fear, and develop the courage to speak the truth. History is a witness that the nations that struggle in an organized, conscious, and steadfast manner for their rights, eventually achieve their place. This last angle reminds us that along with self-reform, defense of existence is also necessary. Because until honor, justice, and freedom are not protected, no progress, no education, and no plan can be complete. Now is the time for us to wake up, understand, and move forward responsibly for ourselves and for the coming generations.

Written by: Muhammad Fida Al-Mustafa Qadri
Contact Number: 9037099731
PG Scholar: Darul Huda Islamic University, Kerala