Old age is the final stage of life, beyond which no destination remains except death. This phase of life serves as a wake-up call from the slumber of heedlessness and inspires a person to turn towards good deeds. However, if one remains negligent even in this stage, what will their condition be in the Hereafter?

Thus, Allah Almighty says in the noble Quran:

وَ ہُمۡ یَصۡطَرِخُوۡنَ فِیۡہَا ۚ رَبَّنَاۤ اَخۡرِجۡنَا نَعۡمَلۡ صَالِحًا غَیۡرَ الَّذِیۡ کُنَّا نَعۡمَلُ ؕ اَوَ لَمۡ  نُعَمِّرۡکُمۡ مَّا یَتَذَکَّرُ فِیۡہِ مَنۡ تَذَکَّرَ وَ جَآءَکُمُ  النَّذِیۡرُ ؕ فَذُوۡقُوۡا  فَمَا لِلظّٰلِمِیۡنَ  مِنۡ نَّصِیۡرٍ ﴿٪۳۷﴾

They will scream therein. “O Our Lord! Remove us that We may do righteous deeds as opposed to what we used to do.” “Did We not grant you such age in which one who understands would have understood, and a warner came to you? So now taste retribution, there is no helper for the oppressors.”^[1]

Under the interpretation of this blessed verse, according to one opinion in the books of Quranic exegesis, ( النَّذِیۡرُ ؕ) refers to old age. Imam al-Baghawī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states that when a single hair turns white, it tells the others, "Prepare yourselves as the time of death is near."^[2]

This shows that old age is also among the harbingers of death. It is a stage in life where a person should abandon the desires of the self, detach themselves from worldly love, and turn wholeheartedly toward Allah Almighty. The remaining days of life should be spent in the remembrance of death and preparation for the Hereafter.

Despite spending their entire lives concerned for the Hereafter and adhering to the commands of Allah almighty, upon noticing a single white hair in their beard or head, our pious predecessors would retreat