The Seventy Eighth Call: The Obligation to Look into our Deeds for the Hereafter

The Seventy Eighth Call: The Obligation to Look into our Deeds for the Hereafter

 

 

Almighty Allah says (what can be translated as): "O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow - and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do (18) And be not like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient (19) Not equal are the companions of the Fire and the companions of Paradise. The companions of Paradise - they are the attainers [of success] (20)" Surat Al-Hashr

 

Almighty Allah commands believers to fear Him by following His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. Let every believer look into the good deeds he puts forth for the Day of Judgment. Almighty Allah reaffirms the importance to have Taqwah and fear Him as He is All-Acquainted and All-Aware of people’s affairs and deeds for which He shall hold them accountable.

 

Do not be like the people who forget Allah and do not mention Him, so He makes them forget to make the good deeds that would benefit them in the Hereafter and save their souls from torture on the Day of Judgment. Such people who do not mention Allah and do not make good deeds are the transgressors who are violating the obedience of Allah Almighty.

 

On the Day of Resurrection, the people of the Hellfire and the people of Paradise are not equal. Indeed, the people of Paradise are the winners of Allah’s blessing, contentment and Paradise.

 

Such fear of Allah is a mental state that words cannot fully describe. It is a condition that makes the human heart alert, feeling Allah’s presence at every moment. It keeps man always on the watch, fearing that Allah may see him in a condition that displeases Him. A believer knows that Allah’s eye watches everyone and every heart at every moment. How and when can man be in a situation that Allah does not see.

 

"And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow…" (Verse 18) Again, this is a statement that means far more than the total sum of its words. The mere thought of it places before a man’s heart the record of all actions he did throughout his life. He looks carefully at every line, adding up his total sum after looking at every detail. When he has done so, he knows what he has sent ahead of him for his future life. This alerts him to his weaknesses and shortcomings, even though he has done much good. How would he feel if his net balance shows little in the way of good actions? This is bound to keep the human heart always awake, looking always for ways and means to improve its record of good deeds.

 

This verse, which excites all these feelings among believers, adds further notes to increase their sensitivity and strengthen their feelings of awe as they look at their position with Allah: ''…and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.'' (Verse 18)

 

The next verse warns them against a totally different situation: "And be not like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves." (Verse 19) This is a very strange situation, but a true one. Anyone who forgets Allah will remain in this present life without a bond that pulls him towards a higher horizon. He lives without a goal that gives his life a meaning higher than that of grazing cattle. In such a situation man becomes oblivious of his own humanity. This fact leads to another whereby such a person forgets his own soul. He makes no preparation for his next life, which is long-lasting, permanent. He does not take account of it when he looks at the balance of his deeds. "Those are the defiantly disobedient." (Verse 19)

 

The following verse states that such people are the dwellers of the fire. It advises the believers to take a route different from theirs. After all, the believers are the ones going to heaven and their route is bound to be different: ''Not equal are the companions of the Fire and the companions of Paradise. The companions of Paradise - they are the attainers [of success]'' (Verse 20)

 

The two groups are different in nature, condition, way of life, direction and destiny. They are set on two different courses, which cannot meet in line, feature, plan, strategy or method of action. They cannot be in the same camp, neither in this present life nor in the future one. "The companions of Paradise - they are the attainers [of success]." (Verse 20) Thus their fate is clearly stated, but that of the ones destined for the fire of hell is not even mentioned. It is too well known to deserve mention.