Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alayh)
IN A HADĪTH[1], RASULULLAH (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) mentioned the creation of the
human being and the end result of some people. The gist of the Hadīth is that sometimes a person spends
almost his entire life doing those deeds which are characteristic of the people
of Jannah, until there is only an arm span between him and Jannah. However,
towards the end of his life, he commits Kufr and enters the fire, to remain
therein eternally. May Allah
Ta’ala protect us all.
On the other hand, another person
may do the deeds characteristic of the people of Jahannum (hell) until he is
only an arm span from Jahannum, yet near the end of his life, he brings Imaan
in Allah Ta’ala, does righteous deeds and enters Jannah – to remain therein
forever and ever.
The question may arise: What is the benefit of good deeds, if at
the time of death one can lose one’s Imaan?
Once, when I was in the company of
Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi رَحْمَةُ
اللهِ عَلَيْهِ, Hazrat Mufti Saheb رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ explained this Hadīth and said that those people who
suddenly lose their Imaan before death, or give up Islam openly, had in actual fact lost their Imaan long before that
time. Due to their criticism of the Ahkaam (Laws) of Allah Ta’ala, or their
condemnation of Islam and Shari’ah,
or rejection of some teaching of Islam – all of which is frighteningly common
in these days – they had already committed Kufr. Allah Ta’ala then exposes the
person’s Kufr before death.
So the Kufr
that was concealed or hidden in the person’s heart – despite his outward, pious
actions such as Salaah, Zakaah, Hajj, ‘Umrah, etc. – is exposed at the time of
his death. Before dying, he utters something or does something which is clearly
Kufr and then dies in that condition and consequently enters the fire. His Kufr
was not something sudden, it was perhaps even life-long. May Allah Ta’ala
protect us all.
How many people pass their time in
mocking, ridiculing and condemning the laws of Allah Ta’ala: the Hijaab and
Niqaab, the laws of inheritance, Talaaq, the Command to lower the gaze, etc.?
They belittle the noble teachings and practices of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) like the beard,
Miswaak, men wearing their pants above their ankles and so forth. This
criticism and mockery are really directed to Allah Ta’ala since these are His
Laws. Such an attitude
has a destructive impact on one's Imaan – as outlined in the Hadīth.
On the other hand, another person
may have been leading a life of Kufr, but at heart he may have admired the
Islamic way of life – its purity, perfection and beauty. He may have
appreciated and respected the Commandments of Allah Ta’ala and the teachings of
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam). Allah Ta’ala then creates the
means for his guidance. He accepts Islam, dies on Imaan, gains salvation in the
Hereafter and enters Jannah. There are many known incidents of people who
accepted Islam in the latter stage of their lives and were also granted very
blessed deaths.
The Hadīth does not
mean that we should sit complacent, thinking that what has been destined will
happen – whether Jannah or Jahannum. A person works and strives for his or her
portion of the Hereafter. We should not allow shaytaan to make us use Taqdeer
as an excuse to be lazy in the matter of Deen. Thousands of Sahabah-e-Kiraam رَضِىَ الله عَنْهُمْ heard this narration, but we
have never found any one of them giving up doing good, and giving up striving
for the Aakhirah. On the contrary, we find that they made very concerted
efforts and they strived sincerely to earn the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.
Allah Ta’ala
has granted man intelligence and willpower; He has granted man guidance through
His Ambiyaa عَليْهِمُ السَّلام and His Kitaabs (revealed
books). He has informed man as to what is right and what is wrong, what is
Jannah and what is Jahannum, and what leads to each destination. The decision
then rests with man. If he accepts, it is to his gain. If he rejects, it is to
his loss.
‘Whoever
works righteousness benefits his own soul; Whoever works evil, it is against
his own soul: Nor is your Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His servants.’
[Surah Fussilaat 41 : 46]
May Allah Ta’ala grant
us Hidayah, Istiqaamat on Deen, Ikhlaas in all undertakings and death on Imaan.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq of learning Deen from our ‘Ulama-e-Haq so
that we understand Deen correctly, value the beautiful teachings of Islam and
work towards the goals of Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure and Jannah.
[1] Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith: 3208 and Sahih
Muslim, Hadith: 2643
