[dhikrullah.com] - Reminding because it benefits the believers!

A classic scene in a horror movie or horror fiction is when theres a group of people walking in a forest or graveyard [Allahu a3lam why you would randomly do that anwyay] and then as they walk together in a group..one by one they are each taken away from the group. And even though this might be scary or stupid or funny to some, our life can be seen in a similiar light..

Anas [radiaAllahu anhu] narrated that the messenger of Allah [salAllahu alayhi wa salam] said: “Three things follow a dead person: Members of family, his property and his deed. Two of them return; and one remains with him. The people and his wealth return; his deeds remain with him.” [saheeh Bukharee]

We spend our lives accumulating wealth and trying to be financially happy yet at the end of the day we take none of it with us when death comes to us. We break ties with our family over petty problems when we are commanded to keep the ties of kinship and just like the wealth, when death approaches it is too late, they also they also do not follow us. At the end of the day, the only one that matters is our good actions so we should concentrate most of our effort on these.

Just like in the films you go with a group [your deeds, your family and your wealth] and one by one they are snatched away from you until you are left with only yourself and your good deeds. At first there was three, two will be taken away and then there is one..*smiles*

Usually when you have a choice between a bunch of sweets, people tend to save the best sweet in the pack till last.why is this, probably because they want the taste of the best one to last in their mouth the longest. Or if they’re really fat then they just eat them all at the same time. Either way we can look at our deeds in a similiar way.

Abdullah ibn Masud narrates the messenger of Allah [salAllahu alayhi wa salam] said:

One of you may perform the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is not but an arm’s length between him and it, when that which has been written will outstrip him so that he performs the deeds of the people of the Hell Fire; one of you may perform the deeds of the people of the Hell Fire, till there is naught but an arm’s length between him and it, when that which has been written will overtake him so that he performs the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters therein.

We don’t know when Allah [aza wajal] will cause us to die, could be now,could be tomorrow or it could have even been before the end of this reminder. We dont know what our last deed could be or when it could be so we should try to make our current deeds our best deeds in order for them to be our last deeds so we can save the best till last *smiles*

Continuing on from the conversations the disbelievers will have with Allah [subhanahu wa ta3la]. This time on the day of Judgement, even before entering the hellfire, Allah [subhanahu wa ta3la] tells us what they will say, he says in Surah Sajdah, ayah 12:

وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذِ الْمُجْرِمُونَ نَاكِسُو رُؤُوسِهِمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ رَبَّنَا أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَارْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ

If you could but see , when those who are lost in sin will hang their heads before their Sustainer, [saying:] “O our Sustainer! we have seen, and we have heard! Return us, then, that we may do good deeds: for indeed, we are certain!”

[click here to listen to Salah Bukhatir reciting this ayah]

These people will be full of regret, just wishing to go back into this world and make up for their mistakes and to be given another chance to hear and obey Allah [aza wajal] and his messenger [salAllahu alayhi wa salam] and to do as many good deeds as possible.

So let us learn a lesson from these people and ensure that in this dunya, before we regret like them in the akhirah, that we be of those say : “Our Lord, we hear, we see and we obey”….before its too late *smiles*

Allah SWT says in Surah Ma’idah verse 48: If Allah willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you; so strive as in a race in good deeds.

Allah SWT here is telling us to do good deeds as if we are in a race. Racing towards good deeds and competing with each other is a deed commendable by Allah SWT. Doesn’t mean we have to put on our trainers and shorts and whatnot and start running for no reason but just bear this in mind insha’Allah next time you see an opportunity to give charity or someone asks for your help *smiles*