Deeds are by their Conclusion

It  is  possible    that   a  man   traverse    the  Straight   Path   in  the beginning   of  his life, then  deviate  from  it and  travel  one  of the paths  of Shaytan,  hence  he is cut  off  from  Allah  and  destroyed.

"Indeed   one  of  you will work  the  deeds  of the  People  of Paradise until  there  is only a cubit  or fathom  between  him and it and then  he will work   the  deeds   of  the  denizens   of  the  Fire  and enter  it."[1]

Conversely   it is possible  that  a person   travel  one  of  the  paths of the  Shaytan  in the beginning  of his life and then  good  fortune come  his way, and he traverse  the Straight  Path  and thereby  reach Allah. It is essential  that  a person   firmly  traverse   the  Straight Path  from  the  beginning   of the  journey  to the  end:

“That is the bounty of Allah which He gives unto whom He will.”[2]

 “And Allah summons to the Abode of Peace, and leads whom He will to a straight path.”[3]

Many are the people who turn back after having travelled part of the journey and give up. The hearts are between two fingers of the fingers of the All-Merciful.[4]

“Allah confirms those who believe by a firm saying.”[5]

My beloved!  Those who falter in the path across the desert

Are many, but those who reach the end are few.