Age 40 In The Quran
Forty years of age is strongly indicated by Quran as the age of maturity, age of conscious acceptance of Islam, and thus likely age of responsibility. Please see verse 46:15: 46:15 We instructed the human being to honor his parents. His mother bore him with hardship, gave birth to him in hardship, and his weaning lasts thirty months. Until he has attained his maturity, and reaches forty years, he says: “My Lord, direct me to appreciate the blessings You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do righteousness that pleases You. Let my progeny be righteous. I have repented to You; I am of those who have peacefully surrendered.” Hence, in God’s scheme for humans, 40 is the age of intellectual, emotional, and spiritual maturity and the age of decision. You are fully grown-up, responsible, and capable of taking an informed decision whether you want to live your life as a Muslim, who surrenders unconditionally to God and His commandments, or lead a life driven by ego and desire. Thus, a renewed repentance and the pledge with God to live a life of submission to His Will provides redemption and an opportunity to start life afresh. By the age of 40, you have seen enough vicissitudes in life, you have seen children grow up, grown-ups become old, and the old passing away. You have seen changes in fortunes of people, the impermanent and inherent short-lived nature of life, and thus, many of your misplaced priorities should be recalibrated at 40 (or soon after). This verse strongly indicates that through this renewal of pledge with God accompanied by repentance at the age of 40, God will accept your repentance. You would have the opportunity to start with a clean slate provided you have consciously accepted submission to God, in accordance with the spirit of this verse. In the next verse, God gives us this reassurance: 46:16 It is from these that We accept the best of their deeds, and We shall overlook their sins , among the dwellers of Paradise. This is the promise of truth that they had been promised.