O Brother, For Such a Day You Should Work
Since 2012-11-28
It is a day when the souls return to their Lord and Creator; a day when every soul be reckoned and account for all its actions and deeds, {So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. (7) And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it.} [Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8]
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All praise and thanks be to Allah, we praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness and we seek refuge in Allah from the evils inside us, and from the evils we commit, those whom Allah guides are not misled by others, and those who are misled by Allah have no other to guide them, and I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone with no partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
{Surely, unto your Lord is the return.} [Al-’Alaq 96:8]
{إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَ} العلق:8
Transliteration: Inna ila rabbika alrrujAAa
There is a verse in the Book of Allah that tears the hearts, it is a verse to which the hearts of the truthful pious humble. No sincere believer contemplates it in faith and belief but that it captures his heart and preoccupies his mind, and becomes his main concern. It is a verse of warn and a cry of alarm. It warns against a day; not like any other day, and a stand where all creatures will be resurrected.
It is a verse for which Allah has sent all the messengers, for which all the Books have been revealed. It differentiates between people; when a party will be in Paradise (those who believed in Allâh and followed what Allâh Messenger has brought them) and a party in the blazing Fire (Hell) (those who disbelieved in Allâh and followed not what Allâh Messenger has brought them).
That verse is the words of Allah Glorified and Exalted, {And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allâh. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.} [Al-Baqarah 2:281]
{وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى اللَّـهِ ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ} البقرة:281
Transliteration: Waittaqoo yawman turjaAAoona feehi ila Allahi thumma tuwaffa kullu nafsin ma kasabat wahum la yuthlamoona
It is a day when the souls return to their Lord and Creator; a day when every soul be reckoned and account for all its actions and deeds, {So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. (7) And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it.} [Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8]
{فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ ﴿٧﴾ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ} الزلزلة:7-8
Transliteration: Faman yaAAmal mithqala tharratin khayran yarahu (7) Waman yaAAmal mithqala tharratin sharran yarahu
O brother, it is the Day of Judgment; the Day when the Prophets are scared; every one of them will say, “O Allah, save us, save us.” It is the day when the Auliya’ [of Allah i.e. those who believe in the Oneness of Allah and fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which he has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], trembles in fear. A Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme dislike to it). It is the Day when all the secrets (deeds, prayers, fasting, etc.) will be examined (as to their truth). It is the Day when the (written) pages [of deeds (good and bad) of every person] are laid open, when creatures will be trialed. {That Day shall you be brought to Judgement, not a secret of you will be hidden.} [Al-Hâqah 96:18]
{يَوْمَئِذٍ تُعْرَضُونَ لَا تَخْفَىٰ مِنكُمْ خَافِيَةٌ} الحاقة:18
Transliteration: Yawmaithin tuAAradoona la takhfa minkum khafiyatun
On the Day when the witnesses will stand forth; when some faces will become white and some faces will become black, {(Remember) the Day when every person will come up pleading for himself, and every one will be paid in full for what he did (good or evil, belief or disbelief in the life of this world) and they will not be dealt with unjustly.} [An-Nahl 16:111]
{يَوْمَ تَأْتِي كُلُّ نَفْسٍ تُجَادِلُ عَن نَّفْسِهَا وَتُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ} النحل:111
Transliteration: Yawma tatee kullu nafsin tujadilu AAan nafsiha watuwaffa kullu nafsin ma AAamilat wahum la yuthlamoona
That Day shall a man flee from his father, and from his mother and his brother, and from his wife and his children. {Everyman that Day will have enough to make him careless of others.} [Abasa 80:37]
{لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ} عبس:37
Transliteration: Likulli imriin minhum yawmaithin shanun yughneehi
The Day of Judgment, the Day of reward, the Day of remorse, the Day of Mutual Meeting, the Day that is drawing near, the Day of return, the Day of Resurrection, the Day of Weighing, the Day of Disaster, the Day of Distress, the Day of Testimony, the Day of Decision, the Day about which there is no doubt, the Day which none can avert, the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His (Allâh’s) Leave, the Day when all voices will be humbled for the Most Gracious (Allâh), and nothing shall you hear but the low voice of their footsteps. Everyone on that Day hopes for the safety of himself and does not care about anyone around him; he says, “myself, O myself!!
O brother: Where are you from that day; do you remember its conditions? Where is your worry about its dismay and horror?
O brother: Where are you from that day; do you remember its conditions? Where is your worry about its dismay and horror?
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “on the Day of Resurrection people will sweat so profusely that their sweat will sink seventy cubits deep into the earth, and it will rise up till it reaches the people’s mouths and ears.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari 6532]
«يعرق النَّاس يوم القيامة حتَّى يذهب عرقهم في الأرض سبعين ذراعًا، ويلجمهم حتَّى يبلغ آذانهم» رواه البخاري
Ibrahim at- Taymi said, “Two things have stopped me from enjoying the pleasure of this worldly life; remembering death, and remembering standing before the Hands of Allah.”
If you forget death, remember
The Day of Resurrection and the heavens are swaying.
The sun (with its spacious light) is folded up;
It is close as if it treads on the heads of the slaves.
The stars are falling, scattering,
After lighting they are circling.
The seas exploded out of fear,
Like hell, they are bubbling.
The mountains are uprooted,
Walking, as if they were clouds.
Scripts are flying.
Secrets are unfolded.
Hellfire is ablaze;
The sinners are awaiting its roaring.
O brother: everything has a truth; the truth of your belief in that Day and its conditions is to bear its burden in your heart, to think deeply about it, to continuously mention and remember it. Truly, that Day will be a Hard Day, it will be far from easy for the disbelievers. This who has been unjust will be afraid on such a day; this who was negligent about it will be a loser on it. {(It will be said to the sinners): “Indeed you were heedless of this. Now We have removed from you your covering, and sharp is your sight this Day!”} [Qâf 50:22].
{لَّقَدْ كُنتَ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَـٰذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَاءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ} ق:22
Transliteration: Laqad kunta fee ghaflatin min hatha fakashafna AAanka ghitaaka fabasaruka alyawma hadeedun
{So worship what you like besides Him. Say (O Muhammad): “The losers are those who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Verily, that will be a manifest loss!”} [Zumar 39:15]
{فَاعْبُدُوا مَا شِئْتُم مِّن دُونِهِ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ الْخَاسِرِينَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ أَلَا ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِي} الزمر:15
Transliteration: FaoAAbudoo ma shitum min doonihi qul inna alkhasireena allatheena khasiroo anfusahum waahleehim yawma alqiyamati ala thalika huwa alkhusranu almubeenu
The day of death
The Day of Judgment of a person starts upon his death. Then, his status is revealed and his truth is unfolded. The day of his death reveals his secrets and shows his kind; his deeds are clarified and he is rewarded and treated according to his previous actions.
It is the moment of dying; the witnessed moment of departure; the moment where the slave sees the first glimpse of the Ghaib (Al-Ghaib: literally means a thing not seen. But this word includes vast meanings: Belief in Allâh, Angels, Holy Books, Allâh’s Messengers, Day of Resurrection and Al-Qadar (Divine Pre-ordainments). It also includes what Allâh and His Messenger informed about the knowledge of the matters of past, present, and future e.g., news about the creation of the heavens and earth, botanical and zoological life, the news about the nations of the past, and about Paradise and Hell.). The slave witnesses with a sharp sight that day the angels who come to him, their appearance is matching his deeds.
In the Hadith, the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “When a true believer is about to die, white faced angles of mercy come to him and say, ‘‘O peaceful soul, come out to the forgiveness and blessings of Allah, come to not an angry Lord’’, it will come out with a smell better than the fragrance of musk, that the angels hand him to one another. They come to the gates of heaven, the dwellers would say, “what a pleasant smell that has come to you from earth.” They take him to the spirits of the believers; by Allah they are more joyous with it than any of you when he meets a missed one. They will ask him, “What has so and so done? What has so and so done?” they will say, “Leave him. He was in the worries of the worldly life.” If he asks, “Has he not come to you?” they will answer, “He was taken to his bottomless pit (in Hellfire).” And when a disbeliever is about to die, the angels of torment come to him carrying rags, they say, “O wicked soul, come out to the wrath and anger of Allah, Glorified and Exalted.’’ It comes out bearing the stink of the most rotten corpse found on earth, till they come with it to the gates of earth. They wonder, “What is this stinking soul!” till they take it to the spirits of the disbelievers.” [Reported by An-Nasa’i 1832 and authenticated by al-Albani]
It is the moment of dying; the witnessed moment of departure; the moment where the slave sees the first glimpse of the Ghaib (Al-Ghaib: literally means a thing not seen. But this word includes vast meanings: Belief in Allâh, Angels, Holy Books, Allâh’s Messengers, Day of Resurrection and Al-Qadar (Divine Pre-ordainments). It also includes what Allâh and His Messenger informed about the knowledge of the matters of past, present, and future e.g., news about the creation of the heavens and earth, botanical and zoological life, the news about the nations of the past, and about Paradise and Hell.). The slave witnesses with a sharp sight that day the angels who come to him, their appearance is matching his deeds.
In the Hadith, the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “When a true believer is about to die, white faced angles of mercy come to him and say, ‘‘O peaceful soul, come out to the forgiveness and blessings of Allah, come to not an angry Lord’’, it will come out with a smell better than the fragrance of musk, that the angels hand him to one another. They come to the gates of heaven, the dwellers would say, “what a pleasant smell that has come to you from earth.” They take him to the spirits of the believers; by Allah they are more joyous with it than any of you when he meets a missed one. They will ask him, “What has so and so done? What has so and so done?” they will say, “Leave him. He was in the worries of the worldly life.” If he asks, “Has he not come to you?” they will answer, “He was taken to his bottomless pit (in Hellfire).” And when a disbeliever is about to die, the angels of torment come to him carrying rags, they say, “O wicked soul, come out to the wrath and anger of Allah, Glorified and Exalted.’’ It comes out bearing the stink of the most rotten corpse found on earth, till they come with it to the gates of earth. They wonder, “What is this stinking soul!” till they take it to the spirits of the disbelievers.” [Reported by An-Nasa’i 1832 and authenticated by al-Albani]
«إذا حضر المؤمن أتته ملائكة الرَّحمة بحريرةٍ بيضاء، فيقولون: اخرجي راضيةً مرضيًّا عنك إلى روح الله وريحان، وربٍّ غير غضبان، فتخرج كأطيب ريح المسك، حتَّى إنَّه ليناوله بعضهم بعضًا، حتَّى يأتون به باب السَّماء، فيقولون: ما أطيب هذه الرِّيح، الَّتي جاءتكم من الأرض، فيأتون به أرواح المؤمنين، فلهم أشدُّ فرحًا به من أحدكم بغائبه يقدم عليه، فيسألونه: ماذا فعل فلان، ماذا فعل فلان؟ فيقولون: دعوه فإنَّه كان في غمِّ الدُّنيا، فإذا قال: أما أتاكم؟ قالوا: ذهب به إلى أمِّه الهاوية، وإنَّ الكافر إذا احتضر أتته ملائكة العذاب بمسح فيقولون: اخرجي ساخطةً مسخوطًا عليك إلى عذاب الله -عزَّ وجلَّ-، فتخرج كأنتن ريح جيفةٍ، حتَّى يأتون به باب الأرض فيقولون: ما أنتن هذه الرِّيح، حتَّى يأتون به أرواح الكفار» رواه النسائى و صححه الألبانى
O brother: what a wise man he is, who ponders on his end, who prepares himself for it; that he obeys his Lord and pleases him. He performs the obligated and turns away from the prohibited. He hastens to do good; hoping for survival on the day of dying, for loftiness in the moment of departure. Souls are not bettered but by righteous good deeds; deeds that combines believing in the monotheism of Allah and avoiding setting partners to Him. {Verily joining others in worship with Allâh is a great Zûlm (wrong) indeed.} [Luqmân 31:13].
{إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ} لقمان:13
Transliteration: inna alshshirka lathulmun AAatheemun
What a wise man he is; who combines righteous deeds, including good morals with the devoted right acts of worship. These spirits are those about whom Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has said, {Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state (i.e. pure from all evil, and worshipping none but Allâh Alone) saying (to them): Salâmun ‘Alaikum (peace be on you) enter you Paradise, because of that (the good) which you used to do (in the world).”} [A Nahl 16:32]
{الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ ۙ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ} النحل:32
Transliteration: Allatheena tatawaffahumu almalaikatu tayyibeena yaqooloona salamun AAalaykumu odkhuloo aljannata bima kuntum taAAmaloona
These are the spirits whom are received by the keepers of paradise by saying, {And those who kept their duty to their Lord (Al-Muttaqûn: the pious) will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salâmun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein.”} [Az-Zumar 39:73]
{وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا خَالِدِينَ} الزمر:73
Transliteration: Waseeqa allatheena ittaqaw rabbahum ila aljannati zumaran hatta itha jaooha wafutihat abwabuha waqala lahum khazanatuha salamun AAalaykum tibtum faodkhulooha khalideena
In dying, brother, the truth about deeds is shown and the lowness of life is manifested. Nothing will benefit the dying person but his work; according to it, his deeds are sealed; and according to his end, he is resurrected. The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Whoever dies in a certain condition, Allah will resurrect him in the same condition.” [Authenticated by al-Albani 6543, in Sahih Al-Jami’ (the Authentic Collection)]
In dying, brother, the truth about deeds is shown and the lowness of life is manifested. Nothing will benefit the dying person but his work; according to it, his deeds are sealed; and according to his end, he is resurrected. The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Whoever dies in a certain condition, Allah will resurrect him in the same condition.” [Authenticated by al-Albani 6543, in Sahih Al-Jami’ (the Authentic Collection)]
«من مات على شيءٍ بعثه الله عليه» صححه الألبانى فى صحيح الجامع
Therefore, your condition during dying reflects your resurrection, your condition in your grave, and on the Day of Judgment.
It was said to a dying man, “Say, ‘there is no god but Allah.’“ He said, “what benefit is it for me to say what you are telling me to say. I have not left an act of disobedience but that I have committed it.” Then he died and did not say it.
The same was said to another man. He said, “what will this avail me? I do not know that I have ever prayed for Allah.” And he died without saying it.
Another man was told to say, “There is no god but Allah.” He said, “Whenever I want to say it, my tongue would not utter it.”
Those people are addicted to committing sins; therefore they failed to say “There is no god but Allah,” their final deeds are sinful. We ask Allah for safety.
O brother: you should know that as long as man hopes for life, he does not cut off his hope of this world. He may not allow himself to quit its pleasures and lustrous desires of sin and others. Satan will allure him to delay repentance to his old age. When he is ascertained of death, and despaired of life, he wakes up from his intoxication of the lusts of this worldly life. He then, will regret his negligence that he will almost kill himself. He will ask to return back to perform righteous deeds, however, he is not answered to that. Thus, he will suffer the stupor of death along with the agony of negligence.
Allah, Almighty, has warned his slaves from that in His Book so that they prepare for death, by repentance and good deeds, before it befalls them. Allah Almighty has said, {“And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islâmic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him (in Islâm) before the torment comes upon you, (and) then you will not be helped. [54]. “And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur’ân, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not!” [55]. Lest a person should say: “Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allâh (i.e. I have not done what Allâh has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), the Qur’ân, and Muhammad and at the faithful believers]} [Az-Zumar 39:54-56]
{وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ ﴿٥٤﴾ وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٥٥﴾ أَن تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ يَا حَسْرَتَىٰ عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطتُ فِي جَنبِ اللَّـهِ وَإِن كُنتُ لَمِنَ السَّاخِرِينَ} الزمر:54-56
Transliteration: Waaneeboo ila rabbikum waaslimoo lahu min qabli an yatiyakumu alAAathabu thumma la tunsaroona (54) WaittabiAAoo ahsana ma onzila ilaykum min rabbikum min qabli an yatiyakumu alAAathabu baghtatan waantum la tashAAuroona (55) An taqoola nafsun ya hasrata AAala ma farrattu fee janbi Allahi wain kuntu lamina alssakhireena
Some dying person was heard saying, “Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allah.”
Another one said, “This worldly life mocked me till my days have passed.”
Another one said about his death, “Do not be fooled by the worldly life as it has befooled me.” Allah Almighty has said, {Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allâh), he says: “My Lord! Send me back, [99]. “So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!” No! It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected.} [Al-Mu’minûn 23:99-100]
{حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ ﴿٩٩﴾ لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ ۚ كَلَّا ۚ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا} المؤمنون:99-100
Transliteration: Hatta itha jaa ahadahumu almawtu qala rabbi irjiAAooni (99) LaAAallee aAAmalu salihan feema taraktu kalla innaha kalimatun huwa qailuha
He has also said, {And spend (in charity) of that with which We have provided you before death comes to one of you, and he says: “My Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (i.e. Zakât ) of my wealth, and be among the righteous [i.e. perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) and other good deeds]. [10]. And Allâh grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allâh is All-Aware of what you do.} [Al-Munâfiqûn 63:10-11]
{وَأَنفِقُوا مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١٠﴾ وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهَا ۚ وَاللَّـهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ} المنافقون:10-11
Transliteration: Waanfiqoo min ma razaqnakum min qabli an yatiya ahadakumu almawtu fayaqoola rabbi lawla akhkhartanee ila ajalin qareebin faassaddaqa waakun mina alssaliheena (10) Walan yuakhkhira Allahu nafsan itha jaa ajaluha waAllahu khabeerun bima taAAmaloona
He has also said, {And a barrier will be set between them and that which they desire [i.e. At-Taubah (turning to Allâh in repentance) and the accepting of Faith],} [Saba’ 34:54]
{وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ كَمَا فُعِلَ بِأَشْيَاعِهِم مِّن قَبْلُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا فِي شَكٍّ مُّرِيبٍ} سبأ:54
Transliteration: Waheela baynahum wabayna ma yashtahoona kama fuAAila biashyaAAihim min qablu innahum kanoo fee shakkin mureebin
Some of the ancestors, including ‘Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, interpreted it that they asked for repentance when they were denied it. Al-Hassan said, “Fear Allah, O son of Adam. Do not gather two things; the stupor of death along with the agony of negligence.”
Ibn as-Sammak said, “Beware of the stupor and the remorse that death takes you by surprise while you are committing sin. What you will meet or see is beyond imagination.” (Latâ’if al-Ma’ârif (the nice knowledge) by ibn Rajab, p. 575)
The day of entering the grave
On that day, O brother, man’s existence is ceased. His family carries him, crying, putting him into the grave, throwing dust over his dead body. They will remain sad; for days; then, they will forget him.
As for him, he has entered into the world of Barzakh (a barrier). He is made to sit the day he entered his grave to be asked. On that day {So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. [7]. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it.} [Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8]
{فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ ﴿٧﴾ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ} الزلزلة:7-8
Transliteration: Faman yaAAmal mithqala tharratin khayran yarahu (7) Waman yaAAmal mithqala tharratin sharran yarahu
Let’s read live with this prophetic sermon which shows the final destination of man in his grave and tells us about the unseen that occurs in it. The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “When the dead person is put in his grave, he hears the footsteps of the mourners when they leave him and go their way. If he is a believer, prayer will be by his head, fast will be by his right, zakat will be by his left and all good deeds (such as charity, prayers, being good to people, al-Ma’rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) will be by his feet. He is to be come through his head, prayers will say, ‘there is no entrance here.’ Then he is to be come from his right, but fast will say, ‘there is no entrance here.’ He will be come from his left, however zakat is to say, ‘there is no entrance here.’ And he will be come from his feet but all good deeds (such as charity, prayers, being good to people, al-Ma’rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained), ‘there is no entrance here.’ He is then told to sit and he sits. He thinks he sees the sun setting, so he says, ‘leave me to pray.” They will answer, ‘you will. Tell us about what we ask you. What say you about this man? What do you say of him? And what do you bear witness about him?’ He answers, ‘It is Muhammad. I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allah and that he has been sent with the truth from Allah.’ He is then said to, ‘you have lived this way and you have died on the same way. Allah willing, you will be resurrected on the same way.’ Then a door of paradise is opened for him. He is said to, ‘this is your seat in paradise and this is what Allah has prepared for you.’ So he is overwhelmed with happiness and joy. Then a gate from hellfire is opened and he is told, “this is your seat and this is what Allah has prepared for you if you disobeyed him.’ His pleasure and rejoice increase and increase. Then his grave is widened to seventy cubits and is lighted for him. The body is returned to its original state. Its breath of life is put in the an-nasam at-tayyib, which is a kind of birds hanging by the trees of paradise. This is the words of Allah Almighty, {Allâh will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allâh Alone and none else), and in the Hereafter} [Ibrâhîm 14:27]. As for the disbeliever, when he is come to from the head, there is nothing there, from the right there is nothing, from the left there is nothing, when he is come to from his feet there is nothing there. He is told to sit. He sits, terrified and agonized. He is asked, ‘What say you about that man? What do you say of him? And what do you bear witness about him?’ He says, ‘What man?’ and he is not guided to mention his name. He is told, ‘it is Muhammad.’ But he says, ‘I do not know. I heard people saying something and I followed their lead.’ Then a gate from hellfire is opened for him and he is told, ‘this is your seat in hellfire and this is what Allah has prepared for you in it.’ He, then his remorse and destruction is increased. Then a gate from paradise is opened for him and he is told, ‘this is your seat in paradise and this is what Allah has prepared for you in it had you obeyed Him.’ his remorse and destruction increase more and more. Then his grave is tightened on him that his ribs mingle. This is the life of hardship which Allah has said about, {“But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’ân nor acts on its teachings.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.”} [Tâha 20:124].” [Considered good by al-Albani 3561, in Sahih at-Targhib]
Let’s read live with this prophetic sermon which shows the final destination of man in his grave and tells us about the unseen that occurs in it. The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “When the dead person is put in his grave, he hears the footsteps of the mourners when they leave him and go their way. If he is a believer, prayer will be by his head, fast will be by his right, zakat will be by his left and all good deeds (such as charity, prayers, being good to people, al-Ma’rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) will be by his feet. He is to be come through his head, prayers will say, ‘there is no entrance here.’ Then he is to be come from his right, but fast will say, ‘there is no entrance here.’ He will be come from his left, however zakat is to say, ‘there is no entrance here.’ And he will be come from his feet but all good deeds (such as charity, prayers, being good to people, al-Ma’rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained), ‘there is no entrance here.’ He is then told to sit and he sits. He thinks he sees the sun setting, so he says, ‘leave me to pray.” They will answer, ‘you will. Tell us about what we ask you. What say you about this man? What do you say of him? And what do you bear witness about him?’ He answers, ‘It is Muhammad. I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allah and that he has been sent with the truth from Allah.’ He is then said to, ‘you have lived this way and you have died on the same way. Allah willing, you will be resurrected on the same way.’ Then a door of paradise is opened for him. He is said to, ‘this is your seat in paradise and this is what Allah has prepared for you.’ So he is overwhelmed with happiness and joy. Then a gate from hellfire is opened and he is told, “this is your seat and this is what Allah has prepared for you if you disobeyed him.’ His pleasure and rejoice increase and increase. Then his grave is widened to seventy cubits and is lighted for him. The body is returned to its original state. Its breath of life is put in the an-nasam at-tayyib, which is a kind of birds hanging by the trees of paradise. This is the words of Allah Almighty, {Allâh will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allâh Alone and none else), and in the Hereafter} [Ibrâhîm 14:27]. As for the disbeliever, when he is come to from the head, there is nothing there, from the right there is nothing, from the left there is nothing, when he is come to from his feet there is nothing there. He is told to sit. He sits, terrified and agonized. He is asked, ‘What say you about that man? What do you say of him? And what do you bear witness about him?’ He says, ‘What man?’ and he is not guided to mention his name. He is told, ‘it is Muhammad.’ But he says, ‘I do not know. I heard people saying something and I followed their lead.’ Then a gate from hellfire is opened for him and he is told, ‘this is your seat in hellfire and this is what Allah has prepared for you in it.’ He, then his remorse and destruction is increased. Then a gate from paradise is opened for him and he is told, ‘this is your seat in paradise and this is what Allah has prepared for you in it had you obeyed Him.’ his remorse and destruction increase more and more. Then his grave is tightened on him that his ribs mingle. This is the life of hardship which Allah has said about, {“But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’ân nor acts on its teachings.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.”} [Tâha 20:124].” [Considered good by al-Albani 3561, in Sahih at-Targhib]
«إنَّ الميت إذا وضع في قبره إنَّه يسمع خفق نعالهم حين يولون مدبرين، فإن كان مؤمنًا كانت الصَّلاة عند رأسه، وكان الصِّيام عن يمينه، وكانت الزَّكاة عن شماله وكان فعل الخيرات من الصَّدقة والصَّلاة والمعروف والإحسان إلى النَّاس عند رجليه فيؤتى من قبل رأسه فتقول الصَّلاة ما قبلي مدخل، ثمَّ يؤتى عن يمينه فيقول الصِّيام ما قبلي مدخل، ثمَّ يؤتى عن يساره فتقول الزَّكاة: ما قبلي مدخل، ثمَّ يؤتى من قبل رجليه فيقول فعل الخيرات من الصَّدقة والصَّلاة والمعروف والإحسان إلى النَّاس: ما قبلي مدخل، فيقال له: اجلس فيجلس قد مثلت له الشَّمس، وقد أذنت للغروب، فيقال له: أرأيتك هذا الَّذي كان قبلكم، ما تقول فيه، وماذا تشهد عليه؟ فيقول: دعوني حتَّى أصلِّي، فيقولون: إنَّك ستفعل، أخبرنا عما نسألك عنه، أرأيتك هذا الرَّجل الَّذي كان قبلكم، ماذا تقول فيه وماذا تشهد عليه؟ قال: فيقول: محمد، أشهد أنَّه رسول الله، وأنَّه جاء بالحقِّ من عند الله، فيقال له: على ذلك حييت، وعلى ذلك مت، وعلى ذلك تبعث إن شاء الله ثمَّ يفتح له باب من أبواب الجنَّة فيقال له هذا مقعدك منها وما أعدَّ الله لك فيها، فيزداد غبطةً وسرورًا ثمَّ يفتح له باب من أبواب النَّار فيقال له: هذا مقعدك وما أعدَّ الله لك فيها لو عصيته فيزداد غبطةً وسرورًا ثمَّ يفسح له في قبره سبعون ذراعًا، وينور له فيه، ويعاد الجسد لما بدئ منه فتجعل نسمته في النّسم الطَّيِّب وهي طير تعلق من شجر الجنَّة فذلك قوله: {يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ} إبراهيم: 27، وإن الكافر إذا أتي من قبل رأسه لم يوجد شيء ثمَّ أتي عن يمينه فلا يوجد شيء ثمَّ أتي عن شماله فلا يوجد شيء ثمَّ أتي من قبل رجليه فلا يوجد شيء فيقال له اجلس فيجلس مرعوبًا خائفًا فيقال أرأيتك هذا الرَّجل الَّذي كان فيكم ماذا تقول فيه وماذا تشهد عليه فيقول: أي رجل؟ ولا يهتدي لاسمه، فيقال له: محمَّد، فيقول: لا أدري، سمعت النَّاس قالوا قولًا، فقلت كما قال النَّاس! فيقال له: على ذلك حييت وعليه مت وعليه تبعث إن شاء الله ثمَّ يفتح له باب من أبواب النَّار فيقال له: هذا مقعدك من النَّار وما أعدَّ الله لك فيها فيزداد حسرةً وثبورًا ثمَّ يفتح له باب من أبواب الجنَّة فيقال له: هذا مقعدك منها وما أعدَّ الله لك فيها لو أطعته فيزداد حسرةً وثبورًا ثمَّ يضيق عليه قبره حتَّى تختلف فيه أضلاعه فتلك المعيشة الضّنكة الَّتي قال الله: {فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَى} طه:124» صححه الألبانى و صحيح الترغيب
O brother: be prepared for the questioning; be ready for those terrors; as the grave is the first step to the Hereafter. In the grave, the truth about deeds is revealed.
Uthman ibn ‘Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, would shed tears till soaking his beard if he stood by a grave. He was asked: ‘‘paradise and hell do not make you cry if you mention them but mentioning the grave puts you into tears, why?’’ He answered, ‘‘I heard the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, saying, ‘the grave is the first step to the Hereafter, if you survive the grave what follows is lesser, if you do not survive what follows is more difficult’. [Reported by ibn Majah 3461, and considered good by al-Albani]
«إنَّ القبر أوَّل منازل الآخرة فإن نجا منه فما بعده أيسر منه وإن لم ينج منه فما بعده أشدّ منه» رواه ابن ماجه وحسنه الألبانى
For such a day, a wise man should work. The righteous doer will succeed while the evil doer will lose.
The Day of gathering
O brother: for such a day you should work. Your survival that day depends on your righteous deeds, {There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell): this is with your Lord; a Decree which must be accomplished. [72.] Then We shall save those who used to fear Allâh and were dutiful to Him. And We shall leave the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrongdoers) therein (humbled) to their knees (in Hell).} [Maryam 19:71-72]
{وَإِن مِّنكُمْ إِلَّا وَارِدُهَا ۚ كَانَ عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ حَتْمًا مَّقْضِيًّا ﴿٧١﴾ ثُمَّ نُنَجِّي الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّنَذَرُ الظَّالِمِينَ فِيهَا جِثِيًّا} مريم:71-72
Transliteration: Wain minkum illa wariduha kana AAala rabbika hatman maqdiyyan (71) Thumma nunajjee allatheena ittaqaw wanatharu alththalimeena feeha jithiyyan
your wealth will be of no avail that day, therefore do not sell your religion, today, by it.
Your high rank will not elevate you that day, {The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, (88) Except him who brings to Allâh a clean heart [clean from Shirk (polytheism) and Nifâq (hypocrisy)].”} [Ash-Shu’arâ’ 26:88-89]
Your high rank will not elevate you that day, {The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, (88) Except him who brings to Allâh a clean heart [clean from Shirk (polytheism) and Nifâq (hypocrisy)].”} [Ash-Shu’arâ’ 26:88-89]
{يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّـهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ} الشعراء: 88-89
Transliteration: Yawma la yanfaAAu malun wala banoona (88) Illa man ata Allaha biqalbin saleemin
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “It is said to the man from the dwellers of hellfire, ‘What if you had all (the wealth) that on earth, would you ransom yourself (from hellfire) with it?’ he will answer, ‘yes.’ Allah will say, ‘You have told a lie. I have asked you for lesser than this; I have taken your pledge while you were still in the loins of Adam, that you will not set any partners to Me; but you refused and insisted on setting partners to Me.’“ [Authenticated by al-Albani 8123, in Sahih Al-Jami’ (the Authentic Collection)]
«يُقال للرَّجل من أهل النَّار يوم القيامة: أرأيت لو كان لك ما على الأرض من شيءٍ أكنت مفتديًا به؟ فيقول: نعم؟ فيقول الله: كذبت قد أردت منك أهون من ذلك، قد أخذت عليك في ظهر آدم أن لا تشرك بي شيئًا فأبيت إلا أن تشرك» صححه الألبانى فى صحيح الجامع
O brother: remember that, {And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).} [Al-Imrân 2:185],
{كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ} آل عمران: 185
Transliteration: Kullu nafsin thaiqatu almawti wainnama tuwaffawna ojoorakum yawma alqiyamati faman zuhziha AAani alnnari waodkhila aljannata faqad faza wama alhayatu alddunya illa mataAAu alghuroori
and that you will return to your Lord, {Surely, unto your Lord is the return.} [Al-’Alaq 96:8].
{إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَىٰ} العلق:8
Transliteration: Inna ila rabbika alrrujAAa
You will be questioned, {“But stop them, verily they are to be questioned.} [As-Sâffât 37:24];
{وَقِفُوهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُم مَّسْئُولُونَ} الصافات:24
So be ready for the questioning of your return (to your Lord), be prepared for the questioning and the answering. Beware that you may suddenly return (to your Lord) and you will wish for your life to be prolonged, you will say, “My Lord! Send me back, [99]. “So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!” No! It is but a word that he speaks;} [Al-Mu’minûn 23:99-100]
{لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ ۚ كَلَّا ۚ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا} المؤمنون:99-100
Transliteration:Hatta itha jaa ahadahumu almawtu qala rabbi irjiAAooni (99) LaAAallee aAAmalu salihan feema taraktu kalla innaha kalimatun huwa qailuha
Prayers and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions
Prepared by Abu al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Fiqi
Ibn Khuzaymah House
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