In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
"What really counts are good endings, not flawed beginnings." [Ibn Taymiyyah]
A portion (of good) for a person 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. HellFire).
Life in this world is of many types but death is of two kinds only -- good ending (Husnul Khaatimah) or bad ending (Suu-ul Khaatimah)).
We should now ask ourselves: "If I die in the state I am today, will I die with Husnul Khaatimah or Suu-ul Khaatimah?"
Allah Almighty draws the believers attention in the Qur'an to the importance of the good end (of one's life and deeds). Allah Almighty says:
ـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٠٢[Qur'an, AleImran 3:102]
O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]. (102)
وَٱعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ ٱلْيَقِينُ ﴿٩٩[Qur'an, Al-Hijr 15:99]
And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death). (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.
A person who dies with Husnul Khaatimah is reassured by the angels that good awaits him. He has died with faith in Islam and his good deeds will benefit him all the more.
نَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَبْشِرُوا۟ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾ نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَآؤُكُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِىٓ أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ ﴿٣١﴾ نُزُلًا مِّنْ غَفُورٍۢ رَّحِيمٍ ﴿٣٢[Qur'an, Fussilat 41:30-32]
Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah " and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. (30) We [angels] were your allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish] (31) As accommodation from a [Lord who is] Forgiving and Merciful." (32)
Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) 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” [Bukhari & Muslim]
How many a person 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 (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “You do deeds, which you consider smaller than a hair, we used to consider as major sins at the time of Prophet.” [Bukhari (11/283)]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) 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 disobedience and end their lives in such a state (and consequently they are admitted to Hell-Fire).
“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.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
These are some of the causes of Suu-ul Khaatimah:
1. Delaying Repentance
Turning in repentance to Allah from all sins is an enjoined duty on every mature Muslim at any moment as is stated in the words of Allah:
وَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٣١ ...[Qur'an, An-Nur 24:31].
...And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed. (31)
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to ask Allah's forgiveness one hundred times every day although Allah has already forgiven him his sins. He (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “O people! Turn in repentance to Allah. Verily! I turn in repentance to Him one hundred times every day." [Muslim].
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) stated that the one who turn in repentance to Allah (sincerely) from a sin is as the one who has (committed) no sin. [Ibn Majah]
One of the shaytan's tricks by which he beguiles people is delaying repentance. Shaytan insinuates to the sinner to delay his repentance for he has enough times to do that and if he wants to repent now and commits the same sin afterwards then his repentance will never be accepted again, and he will be of those who are admitted in Hell. Or shaytan insinuates to him (sinner) that who he (the sinner) reaches the age of fifty or sixty he may then turn into repentance - sincere repentance - and may retire in the mosque (for optional prayers) and may do many optional good deeds, but now he is in his youth hood and his golden age. So he should entertain himself and not to exhaust it with obedience. These are some of shaytan's tricks by which he induces people to delay their repentance.
Some of the righteous predecessors (reverend Companions and their followers) said: “I warn you of ‘I will’ (i.e. do not say I will repent later) for they are (i.e. these words) one of shaytan's most atrocious forces. The similitude of the firm believer who turn in repentance to Allah from each and every sin and at any time out of fear of the bad end (of his life) and out of love to Allah, and the careless one who delays his repentance as the similitude of a group of people who are on a journey and entered a village; the firm believer bought whatever helps him to complete his journey and waited ready for the day to leave (the village) and the careless one would always say: "I will get ready tomorrow." Then the leader of the journey announced the departure and this careless one has nothing (to help him continue his journey). This similitude is for the people of this world; the firm
believer never regrets on any thing when death comes to him but the careless sinner will say when he is resurrected from death: "O my Rabb (Lord), send me back (to the world) so that I may do good deeds in that world (which I left behind).”
2. Hope in long life
It is the reason behind the misery of many people when shaytan beguiles them and makes them think that they have a long time to live and successive years in which one can dream of things and achieve them, so shaytan induces them to spend these years achieving their hopes and making real their dreams and forgetting all about the Hereafter and making no mention of death and if one makes mention of death they feel annoyed because it makes their lives distressed and spoils their desires. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) warned us of these two
things which is a great warning saying:
“I mostly fear for you two things: Following desires, and the long hope (in life); following desires hinders you from (accepting) the Truth (i.e. Islamic Monotheism, etc.), and long hope is (going to lead you towards) loving this world to a extent that you will stop thinking in the Hereafter and the Islamic obligations enjoined on you.”
[Ibn Abu Ad-Dunya narration with a weak chain of narrators. Al-Iraqi (commentary) on Al-Ihya (4/433)].
If a person loves this world more than the Hereafter, he will prefer it (this world) and strive hard to gain its delights, enjoyments and pleasures and forgets all about the Hereafter and all about building his `house' in Paradise near his Lord with those whom Allah has favored of the Prophets, truthful, martyrs, and the righteous ones, and best are those as a company.
Having short hope in life will appear (in one's deeds) as stepping towards doing good deeds and making good use of one's life for the days of one's life are preordained and one's breath is counted already and what passes away
(of one's life) will never come back or restored, and on the way (of one’s life) there are many obstacles which the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) mentioned in his hadith saying:
“Step towards (good) deeds before seven [obstacles hinder you from doing them (deeds)]: Do you wait but for abject poverty that makes you forget (Islamic obligations on you), extravagant richness, destructive diseases, detested senility, death, or Pseudo Messiah; (these are all) absent evils that are being waited or the Hour (which is also being waited) and it is more detested and harder (on you than all these).” [At-Tirmidhi]
Abdullah Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said: The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) once held my shoulders and said: “Live in this world as (if you are) a wayfarer or a stranger (who will sooner or later leave the town he is staying in).”
And Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to say: “If you will live till night, do not wait for the next day (i.e. do not have hopes that you will live to the next day), and if you wake up in the morning do not have hope that you will live till night. And take (advantage) from your health for (the times when you are afflicted with) diseases (and can not perform any obedience) and take advantage of your life for death (i.e. do every possible obedience in your life before death comes to you for then no deeds can be performed.” [Bukhari and At-Tirmidhi].
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), guided the believers to the way they should follow to get rid of the long hope in life and to think thoroughly of (the truth of our existence in) this world; he ordered them to remember death and visit the graves frequently, to wash the dead before putting them in their graves, to follow the funeral processions, to visit sick people and to visit the righteous people because all these matters awaken the heart and deliver it from its unawareness and lighten it (with the light)
Remembering death
Remembering death induces one to lead an ascetic life, and long for the Eternal World (in Paradise) and consequently it induces the person to strive in doing righteous deeds and not to incline to one's forbidden desires in this world, which is not permanent.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Make mention of the destroyer of desires (i.e. death) very often."[At-Tirmidhi no. 2049, Ibn Majah no. 4258].
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said that a man from Ansar asked: “O Messenger of Allah, who is the soundest of people and most generous (in manners)?" The Prophet said: “The soundest of people and most generous in manners is the one who makes mention of death very often and prepares himself fully for it; Verily, these are the ones who are the soundest of people. They gained the honor in this world and the glory in the Hereafter.” [Ibn Majah].
The Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) from the inhabitants of Madinah, who embraced Islam and supported it and who received and entertained the Muslim emigrants from Makkah and other places. The person then thinks thoroughly of these dead people in the graves; weren't they once those of strong bodies, and of great wealth, commanding orders and forbidding (things), and this day (in their graves) their bodies are being eaten by worms and their bones are perished. Then this person thinks, can he escape death or death will inescapably take him and consequently prepares himself fully for the Hereafter by doing righteous deeds for they are the beneficial currency in the Hereafter.
Visiting cemeteries and seeing graves
It is regarded as the best admonition for the hearts, when a person sees these dug out dark places and when; he remembers the moment when the beloved ones of the dead person pour sand over him after placing him in his tomb and closing it with some clay bricks, then they disperse away from him and inherit his money and own his properties (according to the Islamic laws of inheritance), and his women will marry other men after his death and after a little while he will be forgotten although he was the one who is obeyed if he ordered for something to happen and the one who is not disobeyed when he forbids something. When a person thinks of all that while visiting the cemetery, he will realize the benefit of the Prophet's hadith:
“Visit the graves for they remind you of death.” [Muslim 976]
Washing the dead and following funeral processions
Turning the dead body of the dead from one side to the other while washing it is a great admonition (for us and for the one who does the washing) for when he (this dead person) was alive, none could turn him to any side or even get nearer to him except with his permission, and he may be of those who were of a great strength and a tremendous awe but now (as a dead) he is a unmoving body that the washer can turn it to the side he wants.
Mukhul Ad-Dimashqi used to say - whenever he sees a funeral: “Go ahead (i.e. and follow the funeral) for we will all going to die, (this is) a great admonition (for us), a swift unawareness (is our state in this world), the first and the last (of us) will go away (die) bearing no mind (out of fear).”
Uthman ibn 'Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) used to cry whenever he follows a funeral procession and stands on a grave. It was said to him: “When you make mention of Paradise and Hell-Fire you do not cry but whenever you stand near a grave you cry!” He said: ‘I heard the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) say: “(Being in) the grave is the first stage of the stages of the Hereafter, if he (i.e. the dead person) was delivered [by Allah] safely from it, what follows it is much easier, but if he is not delivered from it, then that which is after (this stage) is much worse.” [narrated by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]
Visiting Righteous People
Visiting righteous people awakens the heart and encourages the soul (to do righteous deeds) for when the visitor sees how the righteous people strive in doing good deeds and how they compete each other in doing obedience to seek the pleasure of Allah only, and to win His Paradise paying no attention to this world and its attractions for these hinder them from walking on the honored path (i.e. Islamic Monotheism, obedience...).
Allah Almighty ordered His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) to accompany such people and show perseverance in doing that:
وَٱصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُۥ ۖ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُۥ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُۥ فُرُطًا ﴿٢٨[Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:28]
And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect. (28)
Al-Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked: "O Abu Hasan (father of Al-Hasan)! What shall we do? Shall we sit with people who make-our hearts in our mouths (out of fear)?" He said: "By Allah! To sit with people who make you fear (now) so that you would feel safe later (in the Day of Resurrection) is better than sitting with people who make you feel safe (in this world) till fear comes to you (on the Day of Resurrection)."
3. Persistence in Acts of Disobedience and sins
The person who persists in sin will accustom his heart to sinful acts. They will become natural to him. All such deeds that become typical aspects of our lives will come to us at the time of death. If we are accustomed to righteousness and obedience and the doing of good deeds, it will be in this frame of mind that we die.
If a person gets used to any sin and never repents from it, shaytan will seize his heart (over power it), and it (the sin) will be the only thing that he thinks of even in the last moments of his life, and if his friends induce him to utter the two testification at time of death - so that the last thing he would say is “La ilaha-illa Allah [There is no God but Allah]” - sin will have control over his mind and he will utter only what he used to commit of sins.
The following are some real stories:
**There was a man who used to work as an auctioneer in the market. When death came to him his sons induced him to utter the two testifications [i.e. saying: “Ashhadu Anna La lllaha IllaAllah Wa'anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah – There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger]," the father only said: "Four and half, four and half.”
**It was said to another: Say, “La ilaha-illa Allah” shd said: “Many times she would say that she had got
tired.”
** A person who was very fond of alcohol was dying. He was encouraged to say La illaaha illaallah, but all he could say was: "Pour another glass for me."
** Two young men were driving around the city listening to music. They were in a very bad accident. One of them escaped with little harm, while the other one was badly hurt. When the friend who was not hurt realized that his friend was dying he encouraged him to say: La illaaha illallaah, all he could do was to sing the lyrics of the song he had been listening to in the car.
And death may reach the person (who insists on committing sins) while he is committing the sin and he will meet Allah on such a state and He (Allah) would be angry with him. The Prophet said: “He who dies on something (i.e. doing it), Allah will resurrect him on the same state (he was in) before his
death.” [Al-Hakim]
4. Corrupt Beliefs
Even though this person may perform good deeds, may even renounce the world in piety, some of his beliefs are false. He is convinced that his belief’s are true and correct. It doesn’t cross his mind that he may be in error. This discovery is only made when Sakaraatul Maut reaches him. And, though he may be upon the truth in some of his belief’s, his falsehood will delete him.
قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَـٰلًا ﴿١٠٣﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا ﴿١٠٤[Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:103-104]
Say, [O Muhammad], "Shall we [believers] inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds? (103) [They are] those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well in work." (104)
Whether such beliefs are held due to one’s opinions or are taken from others, the person falls into this danger. His good deeds are of no benefit to him. Without correct belief, which is based upon the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, nothing will benefit him.
5. Deviation From The Straight Path
He who possesses correct belief and is upon the straight path, but then leaves it will cause himself Suu-ul Khaatimah. A person may know the truth and live in accordance with it for some time. Yet he follows shaytan when he commands him to reject faith.
كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ قَرِيبًا ۖ ذَاقُوا۟ وَبَالَ أَمْرِهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿١٥﴾ كَمَثَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ إِذْ قَالَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ ٱكْفُرْ فَلَمَّا كَفَرَ قَالَ إِنِّى بَرِىٓءٌ مِّنكَ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿١٦[Qur'an, Al-Hashr 59:16-17]
فَكَانَ عَـٰقِبَتَهُمَآ أَنَّهُمَا فِى ٱلنَّارِ خَـٰلِدَيْنِ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿١٧
[The hypocrites are] like the example of shaytan when he says to man, "Disbelieve." But when he disbelieves, he says, "Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds." (16) So the outcome for both of them is that they will be in the Fire, abiding eternally therein. And that is the recompense of the wrong-doers. (17)
6. Deterioration of Faith
Deterioration of faith begins in this way. A Muslim feels himself sufficient in his knowledge and fails to see his weaknesses. Slowly he loses even the knowledge that he has because he fails to put it into practice. He neglects the Sunnah and perhaps feels the spiritual path of faith is sufficient for him. Practical affairs, for which we take guidance from the Sunnah, such as; how to eat and sleep, how to pay zakat, become unimportant to him. Though spiritual worship is rewarded, often the practical deeds are of more benefit to a Muslim in life and may even be of greater reward.
For example: Scholars are of the opinion that recitation of the Qur’an is rewarded, although seeking knowledge is of greater reward. Recitation without knowledge and practical application is fruitless.
مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًۢا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٥[Qur'an, Al-Jumu'ah 62:5]
The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. (5)
7. Weakness in Faith
Faith to many people is a matter of the heart, an inner belief. However, Islamic faith is much more.
The definition of faith in Islam is: A belief in the heart supported by words from the tongue and actions of the body. Faith in Islam cannot simply be an inner belief, nor words from the tongue, it must be backed up by actions. This is where many Muslims fail in faith.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٨﴾ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٩[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:8-9]
And among men there are some who say, “We believe in Allah and in the Last Day”, yet they are not believers. (8) They try to deceive Allah and those who believe, while they are not deceiving anyone except themselves, although they are unaware of it. (9)
You cannot simply hope for Paradise, you must work for it. We must consequently pass many trials and tests in order to obtain it. If our attitude and our actions do not convey what we carry in our hearts and voice from our mouths, our faith is weak, and therefore deficient. Often times, such weaknesses in faith are caused by one’s love for the dunya, the worldly life. The love of dunya can become excessive causing faith to become so weak that one lives for this world only, dreading death, as it represents the end of worldly life, that he loves so much. If Sakaraatul Maut reaches him while in this state, he will find himself doubtful in faith and can end with Suu-ul Khaatimah.
Muslims may die with minor and major Suu-ul Khaatimah. Perhaps, they were believing practicing Muslims, but fell into innovation in religion. Whether or not they fall into the minor or major category depends upon the seriousness of that which they involve themselves in. Of course the most serious is that which concerns one’s Aqeedah, definitely casting one into the major Suu-ul Kaatimah.
Those of the minor category are those who have faith yet die upon sin. On the Day of Judgment, the Scale will weigh their deeds, good and bad. This will determine whether they are the people of Hell or the people of Paradise.
8. Suicide
If a Muslim is afflicted with a calamity and shows patience and seeks Allah's pleasure in that, this calamity will increase his rewards. But if the Muslim gives up (of Allah's mercy) and feels unsatisfied with his life and thinks that the best way to get rid of his problems and agonies is to commit suicide, in that case he chose disobedience and incurred Allah's anger on himself and killed his own self without just cause.
Narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling in the Hell-Fire (forever) and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the Hell-Fire (forever).” [Bukhari (3/180)].
Narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: "A man witnessed the battle of Khaybar with the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and he said about a man claiming to be a Muslim: "This (man) is from the dwellers of Hell-Fire." When the battle began, the man [whom the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) talked about strove satisfactorily and he was wounded badly. Then it was said to the Prophet: "The man you talked about earlier strove in the battle satisfactorily and died (isn't he a martyr?!)." The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "To Hell-Fire (he shall go)." Doubt sneaked to the hearts of the Muslims. While being in such a state, it was said that the man did not actually die but wounded badly. When night came, the man could not bear the pains and killed himself (i.e. committed suicide). The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was told the matter and then he said: "I bear witness that I am Allah's slave and Messenger." Then he ordered Bilal to announce for people that: "None will enter Paradise but a believer. And verily, Allah may support this religion (Islam) with a wicked (sinful) man." [Bukhari narration (6/125) and Muslim]
On the authority of Jundub ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
There was amongst those before you a man who had a wound. He was in [such] anguish that he took a knife and made with it a cut in his hand, and the blood did not cease to flow till he died. Allah the Almighty said: My servant has himself forestalled Me; I have forbidden him Paradise. [al-Bukhari]
Means to good ending
Allah made ways to lead Muslims to the good end (of one's life), and they are:
1. To fear Allah in secrecy and in public and to hold fast with that which the Prophet gave us (of laws) for these are the ways of salvation.
Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٠٢[Qur'an, AleImran 3:102]
O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]. (102)
And a (Muslim) slave should ward off sins completely for major sins lead one to Hell and persisting on committing minor sins will make them major sins. And the committing of minor sins and turning not in repentance to Allah nor
asking his forgiveness will turn into "Ran" (covering of sins and evil deeds) on the heart.
The Prophet said: “Beware of minor sins, (for they are) as traveling people who wanted to take a rest in a valley, this brought a piece of fuel wood and that brought another piece of fuel wood till they managed to cook their bread (or meal). If one commits minor sins persistently they will lead him to destruction (i.e. Hell-Fire).”
[Ahmad 5331].
2. Remembering Allah all the time: He who remembers Allah all the time and the last thing he says in his life was: ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ [there is no god worthy of worship but Allah], he would entertain the Prophet's glad tiding for he said: “He whose last words were ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ enters Paradise. [Abu Dawood (3116) and Al-Hakim (1/351)]
Said Ibn Mansoor narrated it from Al-Hassan that he said: The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was asked: ‘Which deeds are the best in Allah's view?’ He said: “To die while remembering Allah very much with your tongue.” [Abu Dawood]
O Allah make our deeds (in this life) the best ones, and the best of our days the days when we meet You and make us of those whom You have favored with bounties in Your Paradise and Your Presence.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Related Archive:
Revive the Sunnah -- Fortress of Protection From All Types of Evil
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