In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Some people say that there are 40 worst things about turning 40! However, the fact is that some of the things they’ve mentioned are either related to the natural ageing process or habits, desires etc. As for the first affair, Allaah [The Exalted] said:

[ وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمۡ ثُمَّ يَتَوَفَّٮٰكُمۡ‌ۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرۡذَلِ ٱلۡعُمُرِ لِكَىۡ لَا يَعۡلَمَ بَعۡدَ عِلۡمٍ۬ شَيۡـًٔا‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬ – And Allah has created you and then He will cause you to die, and of you there are some who are sent back to senility, so that they know nothing after having known (much). Truly! Allah is All-Knowing, All-Powerful]. [Surah An-Nahl. Verse 70]

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمۡ فِى رَيۡبٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡبَعۡثِ فَإِنَّا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِنۡ عَلَقَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِن مُّضۡغَةٍ۬ مُّخَلَّقَةٍ۬ وَغَيۡرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍ۬ لِّنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمۡ‌ۚ وَنُقِرُّ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡحَامِ مَا نَشَآءُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ۬ مُّسَمًّ۬ى ثُمَّ نُخۡرِجُكُمۡ طِفۡلاً۬ ثُمَّ لِتَبۡلُغُوٓاْ أَشُدَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ وَمِنڪُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ وَمِنڪُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرۡذَلِ ٱلۡعُمُرِ لِڪَيۡلَا يَعۡلَمَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ عِلۡمٍ۬ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا‌ۚ وَتَرَى ٱلۡأَرۡضَ هَامِدَةً۬ فَإِذَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهَا ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱهۡتَزَّتۡ وَرَبَتۡ وَأَنۢبَتَتۡ مِن ڪُلِّ زَوۡجِۭ بَهِيجٍ۬

O mankind! If you are in doubt about the Resurrection, then verily! We have created you (i.e. Adam) from dust, then from a Nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge i.e. offspring of Adam), then from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood) then from a little lump of flesh, some formed and some unformed (miscarriage), that We may make (it) clear to you (i.e. to show you Our Power and Ability to do what We will). And We cause whom We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed term, then We bring you out as infants, then (give you growth) that you may reach your age of full strength. And among you there is he who dies (young), and among you there is he who is brought back to the miserable old age, so that he knows nothing after having known. And you see the earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells and puts forth every lovely kind (of growth). [Surah Al-Hajj. Verse 5]

Allaah [The Exalted] said:
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَڪُم مِّن تُرَابٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِنۡ عَلَقَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ يُخۡرِجُكُمۡ طِفۡلاً۬ ثُمَّ لِتَبۡلُغُوٓاْ أَشُدَّڪُمۡ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُواْ شُيُوخً۬اۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ مِن قَبۡلُۖ وَلِتَبۡلُغُوٓاْ أَجَلاً۬ مُّسَمًّ۬ى وَلَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ

He, it is Who has created you (Adam) from dust, then from a Nutfah [mixed semen drops of male and female discharge (i.e. Adam’s offspring)] then from a clot (a piece of coagulated blood), then brings you forth as children, then (makes you grow) to reach the age of full strength, and afterwards to be old (men and women), though some among you die before, and that you reach an appointed term, in order that you may understand. [Surah Ghaafir. Verse 67]

Allaah [The Exalted] said:
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ جَعَلَكُمۡ أَزۡوَٲجً۬اۚ وَمَا تَحۡمِلُ مِنۡ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلۡمِهِۚۦ وَمَا يُعَمَّرُ مِن مُّعَمَّرٍ۬ وَلَا يُنقَصُ مِنۡ عُمُرِهِۦۤ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍۚ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ۬
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ جَعَلَكُمۡ أَزۡوَٲجً۬اۚ وَمَا تَحۡمِلُ مِنۡ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلۡمِهِۚۦ وَمَا يُعَمَّرُ مِن مُّعَمَّرٍ۬ وَلَا يُنقَصُ
مِنۡ عُمُرِهِۦۤ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍۚ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ۬

And Allah did create you (Adam) from dust, then from Nutfah (male and female discharge semen drops i.e. Adam’s offspring), then He made you pairs (male and female). And no female conceives or gives birth, but with His Knowledge. And no aged man is granted a length of life, nor is a part cut off from his life (or another man’s life), but is in a Book (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz) Surely, that is easy for Allah. [Surah Al-Faatir. Verse 11]

Allaah [The Exalted] said: [وَمَن نُّعَمِّرۡهُ نُنَڪِّسۡهُ فِى ٱلۡخَلۡقِ‌ۖ أَفَلَا يَعۡقِلُونَ – And he whom We grant long life, We reverse him in creation (weakness after strength). Will they not then understand?] [Surah Yaa Seen. Verse 68]

As for the second affair (habits, desires, lifestyle), believers strive to obey Allaah. Read here by Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allaah preserve him]: https://www.abukhadeejah.com/muslim-lifestyles-choices-and-adopting-non-muslim-practices-that-conflict-with-islamic-teachings-islam-4-1/

So, one lives a lifestyle that is not in opposition to Islam and fights his desires. Read on this link regarding the obligation to strive against one’s evil desires: https://salaficentre.com/2020/10/10/1-shaytaans-severe-enmity-and-the-constant-jihaad-required-from-us-against-him-and-our-souls/

Finally, here are the 40 so called worst things they’ve mentioned! 

They say, “When you reach forty, you are are referred to as “Middle-aged”. Say to them, “All praise and thanks be to Allaah, Who granted us Islam and that is enough as a blessing”.

They say, “When you reach forty, you find yourself in “Mid-Life crises”. Say to them, “Believers in Allaah and the last day do not make this worldly life their goal; rather they strive for the Afterlife with love of Allaah, fear of Allaah and hoping for Allaah’s Mercy”.

They say, “When you reach forty, you begin to notice wrinkles and the very first grey hair”. Say to them, “The appearance of wrinkles does not bother the believers, because Allaah does not look at our images; rather He looks at the hearts and deeds. So, believers hope for Allaah’s Mercy and the eternal paradise”.

They say, “When you reach forty, you expect Colonoscopies”. Say to them, “There is no harm in seeking medical treatment. The seal of the Prophets Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said: “Allaah did not send down any disease except that he also sent its cure”. In another narration, the Prophet said, “One who has knowledge of it knows it, and one ignorant of it is ignorant”. [Sunan Ibn Mājah 3438 and declared authentic by Imaam Albaanee in Sisilah As-Saheehah 4/208]

They say, “When you reach forty, your younger-year tanning comes back to haunt you”. Say to them, “This is why Muslims are taught – from an early age – to give paramount importance to their hearts and deeds and not harm themselves in pursuit of beauty”.

They say, “When you reach forty, none of the celebrities your nieces, nephews, and kids like are recognizable”. Say to them, “Muslim children are to be nurtured to emulate the seal of the Prophets Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] and not celebrities. Allaah [The Exalted] said:

[لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا – Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much].

They say, “When you reach forty, touching your toes is gets harder”. Say to them, “Allaah [The Exalted] said:

[وَمَن نُّعَمِّرۡهُ نُنَڪِّسۡهُ فِى ٱلۡخَلۡقِ‌ۖ أَفَلَا يَعۡقِلُونَ – And he whom We grant long life, We reverse him in creation (weakness after strength). Will they not then understand?]

They say, “When you reach forty, you start worrying about menopause”. Say to them, “This is part of the ageing process and all praise and thanks be to Allaah”.

They say, “When you reach forty, ointments become part of your shopping list”. Say to them, “There is no harm if you take care of your skin, but believers are not obsessed with outward appearance whilst the heart is attached to other than Allaah and the temporary worldly life”.

They say, “When you reach forty, your favorite bands either break up or fade from view”. Say to them, “Music is haraam”.

They say, “When you reach forty, Mammograms are now on your annual to-do list”. Say to them, “The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ‘Allaah did not send down any disease except that he also sent its cure”. In another narration, the Prophet said, “One who has knowledge of it knows it, and one ignorant of it is ignorant'”. [Sunan Ibn Mājah 3438 and declared authentic by Imaam Albaanee in Sisilah As-Saheehah 4/208]

They say, “When you reach forty, you start think that in 10 years you’ll be 50”. Say to them, “Only Allaah knows who will reach 50, so what concerns the believer is that he or she prepares for the afterlife as soon as the age of puberty starts”.

They say, “When you reach forty, the kids out there address you as ma’am or sir, and you call college-aged people kids”. Say to them, “Respect for elders is a good thing. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ‘Whoever does not show mercy to our young ones, or acknowledge the rights of our elders, is not one of us”. [Musnad Aḥmad 7073]

They say, “When you reach fort, hair sprouts up in some pretty bizarre places”. Say to them, “That is part of the ageing process and believers accept the decree of Allaah”.

They say, “When you reach forty, “Drinking alcohol isn’t what it once was, you need significantly more coffee, your period becomes irregular, hair starts thinning and bowel movements aren’t the same as they used to be”. Say to them, “Alcohol is haraam and needing more coffee depends on a person’s habit. Irregular period, thinning hair and a change in bowel movements is part of the ageing process. Allaah said: [وَمَن نُّعَمِّرۡهُ نُنَڪِّسۡهُ فِى ٱلۡخَلۡقِ‌ۖ أَفَلَا يَعۡقِلُونَ – And he whom We grant long life, We reverse him in creation (weakness after strength). Will they not then understand?]

They say, “When you reach forty, it means that you’re halfway to 80”. Say to them, “Only Allaah knows how long a person will live. However, a long life is beneficial when utilized in obedience to Allaah and not wasted in evil desires. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ‘Shall I not tell you who is the best of you? The best of you is the one who lives the longest life, if he is righteous and does good deeds’. As-Silsilah As-Saheehah 2498] The Prophet said, ‘The best of you are those who live the longest and do the best deeds’. [Saheeh Al-Jaami 3263] The Prophet said, ‘No one is better in the sight of Allaah than a believer who lives a long life in Islam because of his saying Subhaan-Allaah (tasbeeh), Allaahu akbar (takbeer) and Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (tahleel)’. [Silsilah As-Saheehah 654] A Bedouin said, ‘O Allaah’s Messenger! Who is the best of people?’ He said, ‘The one who lives a long life and does good deeds'”. [Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmidhi 1899]

They say, “When you reach forty and a bartender cards you, you’re flattered”. Say to them, “Believers do not go to haraam places”.

They say, “When you reach forty, facebook posts are less often selfies and more often pictures of cakes”. Say to them, “Muslims can benefit from the internet, but neither for selfies nor idle pursuits”.

They say, “When you reach forty, getting out of bed elicits a moan, turning out the lights annoys you, seeing a young person out, without a jacket, not shivering, drives you crazy, you constantly lose your glasses, your doctor’s appointments multiply, you need more fiber and there’s a days-of-the-week vitamin holder on the counter”. Say to them, “The Prophet used to go to bed early, so follow this practice and there will be no moaning. Turning the lights only annoy us when the youngest person in the house does so to mess about whilst we are reading. A young person in the cold without a jacket shows the blessing of youth and it should be utilized in obedience to Allaah. So, when you see a young person in the cold without a coat, don’t get crazy; rather say, ‘MaaShaaAllaah’. As for needing more fibre and vitamins, this is part of the ageing process. Allaah said: [وَمَن نُّعَمِّرۡهُ نُنَڪِّسۡهُ فِى ٱلۡخَلۡقِ‌ۖ أَفَلَا يَعۡقِلُونَ – And he whom We grant long life, We reverse him in creation (weakness after strength). Will they not then understand?]

They say, “When you reach forty, thongs are out of the question, commercials about anti-aging creams are your demographic, you regret all the times your mom told you to moisturize your neck and you didn’t listen, melatonin is crucial to falling asleep, mascara is no longer a preference, rather it’s a must. You never know if you’re going to wake up cold or hot, the Lane Bryant, Harriet Carter, and Gold Violins magazines arrive, you inspect every single mole”. Say to them, “Thongs are a private affair and we don’t know what people wear underneath their garments. Commercials about anti-aging creams do not enter the believer’s mind, rather believers seek to increase in good deeds for the afterlife. As for wishing that you should have listened to Mum’s advice, then indeed this is good, so use it as a positive thing to advise the youth. As for sleep, then there are other natural alternatives to use. As for not knowing whether you’ll wake up hot or cold, this does not matter as long as one wakes up for Fajr prayer. As for mascara and magazines, the believer does not preoccupy herself with nonsense, rather she prepares for the afterlife. And if their husbands are righteous, then indeed what they give precedence is the piety of the wife and not merely how she looks because beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.

They say, “When you reach forty, the doctor keeps warning you about blood pressure”. Say to them, “There’s no harm in taking precautions, because if one is healthy and strong, he or she can perform more acts of worship”.

Finally, forty is a blessed age, so a believer remembers what Allaah has commanded when one reaches such an age. Allaah said:

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا ۚ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship and she brings him forth with hardship, and the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty (30) months, till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says: ‘’My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims [submitting to Your Will].

Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “This is from Allaah’s kindness to His servants and also that parents deserve to be thanked; therefore, Allaah commanded the off-spring to be dutiful and kind to their two parents- to speak to them kindly, spend on them and through other ways of kind treatment. Then Allaah [The Most High] stated the reason behind this command and mentioned what the mother endured due to her child- the severe difficulties she faced during pregnancy, then the great difficulty of childbirth, breast feeding and baby-sitting. These difficulties are not present for a short period- an hour or two; rather its time period is lengthy [ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا– Thirty months]. And in most cases the period of pregnancy is nine months or (a bit less or more), and then breast feeding during the remaining months after childbirth.

Then Allaah said: [حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً – Till when he (i.e. the person) attains full strength and reaches forty years]– the period in which he exits youth and attains complete [discernment, maturity etc.]; [ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي – And reaches forty years, he says: My Lord! Grant me the power and ability]- Meaning: Grant me the ability through speech and deeds [أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ – that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents]- Meaning, to be grateful due to the blessings of Islam and the things You have given me in the worldly life; and to be grateful to You for granting me the ability to utilise these worldly blessings in acts of obedience to You, because You are the One Who guided me towards them and the One Who preserve them. Therefore, a person should acknowledge the favours of Allaah, declare his inability to thank Allaah the way Allaah deserves and praises Allaah [The Most High] for such favours. Likewise, the blessings that are bestowed upon the parents are blessings for their offspring, because the children will receive some of those blessings through their parents, especially the blessing of the Religion of Islaam, because indeed the righteousness of parents – through knowledge and deeds- is the greatest means for the offspring to be righteous.

Then Allaah said (i.e. that this person who has reached the age of forty says): [وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ – And that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You]- Meaning, so that such deeds are based on everything that will make them upright and safeguarded against corruption.

Then Allaah said (i.e. that this person who has reached the age of forty says): [وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي – And make my off-spring good]-Meaning, just as I ask for goodness for myself, I also ask Allaah to make the affairs of my off-spring good. [إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ – Truly, I have turned to You (Allaah) in repentance] from sins and disobedience, and I return to obeying You; [وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ – And truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will)]. (1)

Imaam Ash-Shawkaani [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:
وفي هذه الآية دليل على أنه ينبغي لمن بلغ عمره أربعين سنة أن يستكثر من هذه الدعوات

And in this verse, there is evidence that indeed it is befitting for the one who has reached the age of forty to increase in making these supplications.

رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will). (2)

[Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Ar-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan]
[Ref 2: Fat’hul Qadeer 5/22]