The Good End (1/2)

Praise be to Allah whose Mercy embraced each and every thing and who keeps account of all things (i.e. He knows the exact number of every thing). He had mercy on whom He willed through that which he enjoined (on them to perform) on this world which (if they perform them) consequently raise their ranks on the Hereafter, so they (Muslims) were perseverant in His obedience and strove in His worship; if they are inflicted with calamities and show patience it will be good for them (in the Hereafter), and if favours are bestowed to them [by Allah] and they are thankful and grateful [for Allah], it will be good for them in the Hereafter, and concerning them Allah said:

“Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning”. [Surah Az-Zumar (10)]

I bear witness that there is no true God but Allah who has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)  is His Slave and Messenger who sent as a mercy for the Alamin, prayers from Allah be on him, his household and his reverend Companions.

A portion (of good) for a man in this world is his lifetime; if he makes good use of it in things that benefit him in the eternal abode (Paradise), then his trade will be of a great profit. But if he misuses it (his life) by committing sins and disobedience till he meets Allah in such a state, he is surely of those who are losers; how many of them in the graves?! He who is of a sound sense calls himself for account before Allah calls him to account (on the Day of Account), and fears his sins (and consequently get far away from them) before they lead him to destruction (i.e. Hell Fire). Ibn Mas'ood (radhiyAllahu ‘Anhu) said:

 “The (true) believer sees his sins (and himself) as if he is sitting at the side of a mountain which he fears it will soon fall upon him” [Reported by Bukhari (11/88-89) and Muslim]

How many a man who persisted on committing a small sin and was familiar with it and considered it to be nothing, and never thought of the greatness of the One whom he (the sinner) disobeyed and so it (this small sin) was the bad end (of his life and so he was admitted to Hell-Fire). Anas Ibn Malik (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) said:

“You do deeds, which you consider smaller than a hair, we used to consider as major sins at the time of Prophet U” [Reported by Bukhari (11/283)]

Allah the All-Mighty drew the believers attention in the Holy Qur'an to the importance of the good end (of one's life and deeds); He says:

“O you who believe! Fear Allah [by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden] as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam [as Muslims] with complete submission to Allah.” (Qur'an, Surah Al-‘Imran, 3: 102)

He also said:

 “And worship your Rabb [Lord] until there comes unto you the certainty [i.e. death].” (Qur'an, Surah Al-Hijr, 15: 99)

The order (in the previous verses) to fear Allah and worship Him (Alone) continues till one dies so that good end (of one's life and deeds) could be achieved. The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) informed us that there are some people who strive in doing obedience for a long time of their lives but shortly before they die they commit sins and disobediences and end their lives in such a state (and consequently they are admitted to Hell-Fire). The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

“A man may do deeds characteristic of the people of the (Hell) Fire, so much so that there is only the distance of a cubit between him and it, and then what has been written (by the angel) surpasses, and so he starts doing deeds  characteristic of  the  people  of  Paradise and enters Paradise. Similarly, a person may do deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise, so much so that there is only the distance of a cubit between him and it, and then what has been written (by the angel) surpasses, and he starts doing deeds of the people of (Hell-) Fire and enters Hell-Fire.” [Reported by Bukhari (11/417), and Muslim Narration no. (2643)- I translated the complete hadith for more benefit to the reader (Translator)].

Sahl Ibn Sa'd As-Saidi (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), narrated that during one of his battles, the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) encountered the disbelievers (polytheists, pagans, and idolaters), and the two armies fought, and each of them turned to their army camps. Amongst the (army of the) Muslims there was a man who would follow every single isolated pagan  and  strike  him  with  his  sword.  It  was  said:  “O  Allah's Messenger! None has fought so satisfactory as so-and-so (namely, that brave Muslim).” The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “He is from the dwellers of the Hell-Fire.” Then a man from amongst the people said: "I will follow him and accompany him in his fast and slow movements." The (brave) man got wounded, and wanting to die at once; he put the handle of his sword on the ground and its tip in between his breast, and then threw himself over it, committing suicide. Then the man (who had watched the deceased) returned to the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), and said: "I testify that you are the Messenger of Allah." The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “What is this?!” The man told him the whole story. The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

 “A man may do what may seem to the people as the deeds of the dwellers of Paradise, but he is of the dwellers of Hellfire and a man may do what may seem to the people as the deeds of the dwellers of Hell-Fire, but he is from the dwellers of Paradise.” [Reported by Fath al Bari the explanation of Sahih Bukhari (7/538-4202) page 538.  The first edition of Dar Ar-Rayyan (1988)].

(Continued)