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The Good End – Book Sample

The Good End

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”. [Az-Zumar (10)]

I bear witness that there is no true God but Allah who has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad 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 faraway from them) before they lead him to destruction (i.e. HellFire). Ibn Mas’ood  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 (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 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)]

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 3: 102)

He also said:

“And worship your Rabb [Lord] until there comes unto you the certainty [i.e. death].” (Qur’an 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 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 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.” [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, narrated that during one of his battles, the Prophet 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 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, and said: “I testify that you are the Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet said: “What is this?!” The man told him the whole story. The Prophet 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.” [Fath al Bari the explanation of Sahih Bukhari (7/538-4202) page 538. The first edition of Dar Ar-Rayyan (1988)].

Allah the All-Mighty, described His believing slaves (in the Holy Qur’an) as the ones who joined between fear of Allah’s punishment and sincerity in worship in their hearts. He the All-Mighty, said:

“Verily! Those who live in awe for fear of their Rabb [Lord]; And those who believe in the Ayat [proofs, verses, lessons,…] of their Rabb; And those who join not anyone [in worship] as partners with Allah; And those who give that [their charity] which they give [and also do other good deeds] with their hearts full of fear [whether their alms and charities are accepted or not], because they are sure to return to their Rabb [for reckoning]. It is those who race for good deeds and they are foremost in them [e.g. offering the compulsory, Salat [prayers] in their [early] stated, fixed times and so on] (Qur’an 23: 57-61).

This was the state of the reverend Companions. Ahmad narrated from Abu Bakr-As,Siddiq that he said:

“I wish I was a hair in a believer’s body.”

And he used to hold his tongue and say:

“This is the thing that led me to the ways (of destruction).”

 Ali Ibn Abi Talib used to fear two things: the long hope, and following desires. He said:

“Long hope makes (you) forget all about the Hereafter, and following desires hinders (you) from the way of Truth (i.e. Islamic monotheism, good deeds, obedience, etc.)”,

and also he used to say:

“Verily, this world has run away and the Hereafter is coming forward (to us) very fast. And there are sons for each one of them, so be of the sons of the Hereafter [i.e. loving the Hereafter and do good deeds that Allah has enjoined so that He may admit you to Paradise], and do not be of sons of this world (i.e. who love this world and who live their lives committing sins, disobedience, etc.) for in this world there are deeds and no accounts but Tomorrow (Day of Account) there will be only account and no deeds (that could be done).”

Sudden death was a detested thing in Islam because it comes to a person all of a sudden and gives him no time (to repent), he might be doing something evil and so his life will end on such a state.

The righteous predecessors (the reverend Companions and their followers) used to fear the bad end of one’s life with a great fear. Sahl At-Tusturi said: “The Siddiqun (truthful persons) used to fear the bad end of one’s life in any move or at any moment and they were described by Allah in the Holy Qur’an as: ‘their hearts are full of fear’” [Qur’an 23: 20]

The fear of the bad end (of one’s life) should be present in front of one’s eye in each and every moment for fear induces (the person) to work (i.e. do good deeds). The Prophet said:

“Whoever fears (should) walk at night (i.e. begins early and work very hard to complete his journey; that is he races for good deeds) and who walks at night, reaches home (Paradise). Allah’s good is expensive, Allah’s good is Paradise.”