In humans, ageing represents the accumulation of changes in the body over time. Ageing is the process of growing old, with a number of transitions in the journey of life. People do not become old or elderly at any specific age. Traditionally, age 60 has been designated as the beginning of old age. A life is the period from birth to death; each phase comes with different responsibilities and expectations, which of course vary by individual and culture.
Aging is a normal and natural process that everyone must undergo at his or her own time and pace. The rate at which one ages cannot be completely controlled; however, it is influenced by several factors including emotional attitude, family history, lifestyle, and chronic medical conditions. The destructive effects of the passage of years are observable in one`s own body . The changes human being experiences through out his life are recounted in Quran as follows:
“ It is Allah Who created you in a state of (helpless) weakness, then gave (you) strength after weakness, then, after strength, gave (you )weakness and a hoary head He creates as He wills, and it is He Who has all knowledge and power.” [30: 54]
The process of human aging is complex and individualized, that occurs in the biological, psychological and social sphere. Biological aging is characterized by progressive age-changes in metabolism and physico-chemical properties of cells, leading to impaired self-regulation, regeneration, and structural changes in functional tissues and organs. It is a natural and irreversible process which can run as successful aging process, typical or pathological.
Time seems to pass very quickly and each day brings further physical weakness and more impaired thinking rather than fresh dynamics, after a certain peak in the growth. In brief, growing old is a manifestation of man`s inability to control his body, life and destiny. Time’s adverse effects on the body become visible during this period. Allah Subhanahu informs us about this in Qur`an:
“It is Allah who creates you and takes your souls at death; and of you there are some who are sent back to a feeble age, so that they know nothing after having known (much): for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.”[16:70, 40:67, 67:14]
In medicine and throughout modern history, the scholars, writers, including Shakespeare, have characterized advanced old age as a period of a second childhood and childish behavior, to describe older adults as they need care similar to that of children. Elderly people fail to do many tasks requiring physical strength, changes in judgment, impaired thinking, difficulties in walking; maintaining balance and speech and gradual memory loss, and changes in mood and behavior are only few symptoms of diseases commonly seen in old age.
This is evidently not a random process. Allah reminds man about the temporary nature of this world, and also about the quality of the life that deteriorates at certain stages of life. This process serves as clear reminder that life is slipping away. Allah reminds about this mater in the verse below:
“O mankind! if ye have a doubt about the Resurrection,) (consider) that We created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech-like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, in order that We may manifest (our power) to you; and We cause whom We will [ 22:5, 23:12-14]
Growing old is unavoidable. Yet seeing the celebrities becoming odder has a deeper influence on us since their physical deterioration is evidently observable. It is clear evidence that no matter how beautiful, wealthy or successful or young you are, the inevitable end for human beings is old age. Everyone experiences this process and eventually dies.