Tomorrow Never Comes

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 9 October 2025 I've always been fascinated by this statement of the Russian great Ivan Turgenev, "If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin." Ivan Turgenev's quote emphasizes the importance of taking action rather than waiting for the perfect conditions to begin. In life, we often find ourselves hesitant to embark on new endeavours until we believe that all the stars have aligned, all the circumstances are favourable, and all the necessary preparations are complete. However, Turgenev wisely suggests that if we adopt such a mindset, we will perpetually stand still, never beginning anything at all. The quote serves as a reminder that waiting for the moment of absolute readiness is an illusory endeavour. True progress and growth come from pushing past our fears and uncertainties, taking the first step towards our goals, even if everything is not perfect. By doing so, we unlock opportunities for learning, improvisation, and adaptation, ultimately enabling us to move forward and achieve our desired outcomes. Perfect moment or opportunity never comes, we've to create it because there's no such thing as perfect or infallible. Remember, tomorrow never comes. The word 'tomorrow' was created for tarrying minds and also for those indecisive people who keep dilly-dallying. The word 'tomorrow' caters to those who struggle with making decisions and who are prone to procrastination. 'Tomorrow' is a crutch for individuals who find it difficult to act in the present moment or commit to a particular course of action. 'Tomorrow' is a sign of indecision and hesitation, implying that those who frequently rely on this word may often struggle with taking decisive action or fulfilling their commitments in a timely manner. We all must be conscious of our tendencies to procrastinate and emphasize the importance of taking decisive action in the present to avoid becoming trapped in a cycle of delay and indecision. Saint Kabir put it so succinctly, "Kal Kare So Aaj Kar, Aaj Kare So Ab / Pal Mein Pralay Hoyegi, Bahuri Karega Kab" (What's to be done tomorrow must be done today and what's to be done today must be done this very moment, because life is precarious. You never know what might happen the very next moment). "Ye Sochte Hi Rahe Aur Bahaar Khatm Hui/ Kahan Chaman Mein Aashiyana Bane, Kahan Na Bane " (We kept thinking and the spring got over/ Where to build a house in the garden and where not to). Procrastination and dilemma are the Siamese twins. "Maine Poochha Jo Zindagi Kya Hai/ Haath Se Gir Ke Jaam Toot Gaya" (Poet Gopal Mittal says, when he asked what's life, the goblet fell from the hand and broke). It's so fragile and also alarmingly agile. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/tomorrow-never-comes/d/137158 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism