The opportunities that lie ahead of us

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ﴾

{And hasten to the forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous} [Surah aal-`Imraan (3): 133]

And also:

﴿سَابِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّـهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّـهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ﴾

{Race toward the forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth; prepared for those who believed in Allaah and His Messengers. That is the bounty of Allaah which He gives to whom He Wills, and Allaah is the possessor of great bounty.} [Surah al-Hadeed (57): 21]

Ali Banat - may Allaah have mercy on him - the brother from Australia, a name which got famous on social media, and especially more so after his death a few days ago.

There are many lessons which can be learned from his life, which can be summed up in two points:

1. He was given that which was not given to many and will not be given to many...

2. We have been given that which he was not...

A BRIEF INTRO:

Ali Banat owned a successful security and electrical company, and by his own admission, led a lavish lifestyle. In October 2015, after he was diagnosed with stage 4 adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare type of oral cancer, and was given only seven months to live, he went on to sell his business and his possessions and founded the Muslims Around The World (MATW) Project, which focuses on providing food, education and other humanitarian aid programs in African countries such as Togo, Ghana and Burkina Faso, as well as Bangladesh. He became known on social media through a short documentary he did, titled “Gifted With Cancer”. When asked why he called his cancer a gift, he said, “Because Allaah has given me a chance to change.” Getting cancer, he said, taught him to be grateful for the things he used to take for granted, like “breathing fresh air”. Ali spent the next few years dedicating his life to humanitarian work and when he was well, was even able to personally visit the communities that benefited from the MATW Project. In September 2016, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia closed Banat’s bank account without any prior notice and for unknown reasons. [Wikipedia]

1. PATIENCE WHEN AFFLICTED WITH A CALAMITY:

Whenever a person hears the unpleasant news, the loss of a friend, the death of a relative, or about his own terminal illness etc., he goes through stages of mourning and grief. The psychiatrists have divided this into five stages.

The 5 stages of grief:

i. Denial:

The first reaction to learning of terminal illness or death of a cherished loved one is to deny the reality of the situation. “This isn’t happening, this can’t be happening,”

ii. Anger:

Frustration gives way to anger, we are not ready to accept the reality, and we may lash out and lay unwarranted blame for the death or sickness on someone else.

iii. Bargaining:

The normal reaction to feelings of helplessness and vulnerability is often a need to regain control…

If only we had sought medical attention sooner…

If only we got a second opinion from another doctor…

If only we had tried to be a better person toward them…

Secretly, we may try to make a deal with our Lord in an attempt to postpone the inevitable.

iv. Depression:

Just when your friends may think you should be getting on with your life, a long period of sad reflection will likely overtake you. Encouragement from others is not helpful to you during this stage of grieving. During this time, you finally realize the true magnitude of your loss, and it depresses you. You may isolate yourself on purpose, reflect on things you did with your lost one, and focus on memories of the past. You may sense feelings of emptiness or despair.

v. Acceptance:

You learn to accept and deal with the reality of your situation. Acceptance does not necessarily mean instant happiness. You will start to look forward and actually plan things for the future. Eventually, you will be able to think about your lost loved one without pain; sadness, yes, but the wrenching pain will be gone. You will once again anticipate some good times to come, and yes, even find joy again in the experience of living.

Real Patience:

The above are the stages which many people go through when afflicted with a calamity, but that is not patience. Eventually, a person learns to cope with the loss, but real patience is at the initial stage. We have been instructed to control our emotions, and not to wail or tear the clothes or slap the cheeks etc.

Anas Ibn Maalik رضي الله عنه narrated: The Prophet ﷺ passed by her while she was weeping over a grave (of her son), and he said to her: ❝Be afraid of Allaah and be patient.❞ The woman said (to the Prophet): ‘Go away from me, for you do not know my calamity.’ Anas added: The Prophet ﷺ left her and proceeded. A man passed by her and asked her: ‘What did Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ say to you?’ She replied: ‘I did not recognize him.’ The man said: ‘He was Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ.’ Anas added: So that woman came to the gate of the Prophet ﷺ and said: ‘O Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ! By Allaah! I did not recognize you!’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝No doubt, patience is at the first stroke of a calamity.❞ [Saheehain]

And when a calamity strikes or when one suffers a loss, we have been instructed to say al-Istirjaa`:

﴿إِنَّا لِلَّـهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ﴾

{To Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return}

And also to say:

اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا

❝O Allaah, reward me for my affliction and give me something better than it in exchange for it.❞

The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Whoever says this (i.e. the above two) at the time when he suffers a calamity, then Allaah will reward him for his affliction, and would give him something better than it in exchange.❞ [Saheeh Muslim]

2. THAT WHICH HE WAS GIVEN: OPPORTUNITY

THE OPPORTUNITY:

What Ali Banat was given was: an opportunity. He was given an opportunity to repent, opportunity to mend his ways, and an opportunity to do more good deeds.

Muhammad Ibn Khaalid as-Sulamee narrated from his father, who said that his grandfather - who was a Companion of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ - said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ say: ❝If a certain rank has previously been decreed by Allaah for a person, and which he has not attained by his (good) deeds, Allaah afflicts him in his body, or his wealth or his children. Then He تعالى makes him bear it with patience, until He causes him to reach the rank that Allaah had previously decreed for him.❞ [Sunan Abu Dawood (3090) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (2599)]

THE AFFLICTION:

In his own words, this cancer was a gift for him. In fact, any affliction – big or small – which Muslims suffer, it helps them in effacing their sins and in increasing their ranks:

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ said: ❝If Allaah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials.❞ [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5645)]

The Prophet ﷺ also said: ❝No Muslim is afflicted by harm, be it the pricking of a thorn or something more (painful than that), but Allaah thereby causes his sins to fall away just as a tree sheds its leaves.❞ [Saheehain]

The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Believing men and Believing women will continue to remain under the trials in regards to their lives, children, and property until they meet Allaah, the Exalted, without having any sin.❞ [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2399) and graded as “Hasan Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Note: These trials help in effacing minor sins, but as for major sins, they are effaced through sincere repentance, as the Prophet had said: ❝Five (daily) prayers and from one Friday prayer to the (next) Friday prayer, and from Ramadhaan to Ramadhaan are expiation for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals) provided one does not commit the major sins.❞ [Saheeh Muslim (450)]

MANY ARE NOT GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY:

Merely having money, time and health is not sufficient if one is not guided by Allaah or given the opportunity to repent. Many passed away while they were chasing this Dunya without getting an opportunity to repent, either in a car accident, or nightclubs collapsing or catching fire, or choking on their own vomit when intoxicated, or getting killed. Sudden death upon evil is in itself a punishment from Allaah and the cause for eternal regret and sorrow – may Allaah have mercy on us.

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِالْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ * فَلَوْلَا إِذْ جَاءَهُم بَأْسُنَا تَضَرَّعُوا وَلَـٰكِن قَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ * فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا فَرِحُوا بِمَا أُوتُوا أَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ * فَقُطِعَ دَابِرُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ۚ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ﴾

{Verily, We sent (Messengers) to many nations before you (O Muhammad ﷺ). And We seized them with extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss in health (with calamities) so that they might humble themselves (i.e. believe with humility) * When Our torment reached them, why then did they not humble themselves (i.e. believe with humility)? But their hearts became hardened, and Shaitaan made fair-seeming to them that which they used to do * So, when they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened for them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, UNTIL IN THE MIDST OF THEIR ENJOYMENT IN THAT WHICH THEY WERE GIVEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE TOOK THEM (IN PUNISHMENT), AND LO! THEY WERE PLUNGED INTO DESTRUCTION WITH DEEP REGRETS AND SORROWS * So the root of the people who did wrong was cut off. And all praise and thanks are Allaah’s, the Lord of the `Aalameen (mankind, jinn, and all that exists)} [Surah al-An`aam (6): 42-45]

`Ubaid ibn Khaalid al-Sulami رضي الله عنه said: The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Sudden death is a wrathful catching.❞ [Sunan Abu Dawood (3110) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

If a person gets an opportunity before his death, he repents for his sins, does more good deeds, pays off his debts etc. But in the case of dying suddenly (like in a car accident etc.), he departs from this world without correcting his affairs and carrying the burden of all his sins upon himself.

NOT ONLY IS IT IMPORTANT LIVE A GOOD LIFE, BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO DIE UPON GOODNESS:

Narrated `Abdullaah Ibn Mas`ood that the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝A man amongst you may do (good) deeds till there is only a cubit between him and Paradise and then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of the (Hell) Fire, and (ultimately) enters Hell (Fire). And similarly a man amongst you may do (evil) deeds till there is only a cubit between him and the (Hell) Fire, and then what has been written for him decides his behavior, and he starts doing deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise, and (ultimately) enters Paradise.❞ [Saheehain]

And in the narration of Sahl Ibn Sa`d, the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝A person may do deeds that seem to the people as the deeds of the people of Paradise while in fact, he is from the dwellers of the (Hell) Fire: and similarly a person may do deeds that seem to the people as the deeds of the people of the (Hell) Fire while in fact, he is from the dwellers of Paradise. VERILY, THE (RESULTS OF) DEEDS DONE DEPEND UPON THE LAST ACTIONS.❞ [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and the wording is his, and Saheeh Muslim]

We do not affirm Jannah for Ali Banat, but what is apparent to us is that he died upon goodness, may Allaah accept it from him.

3. THAT WHICH WE ARE GIVEN: OPPORTUNITY

THE OPPORTUNITY:

As long as we are alive, upon Islaam, doing good deeds, fulfilling the obligations, and shunning evil and sins, this is our opportunity to do good. Every single day we live, every single second we live, is an opportunity for us to make the positive change and impact. What Ali received was his share of the opportunity, and while we are still alive, we should ask Allaah to give us ours:

It was narrated from Talhah Ibn `Ubaidullaah رضي الله عنه that two men from Balee came to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ. They had become Muslim together, but one of them used to strive harder than the other. The one who used to strive harder went out to fight and was martyred. The other one stayed for a year longer, then he passed away. Talhah said: “I saw in a dream that I was at the gate of Paradise and I saw them (those two men). Someone came out of Paradise and admitted the one who had died last; then he came out and admitted the one who had been martyred. Then he came back to me and said: ‘Go back, for your time has not yet come.’” The next morning, Talhah told the people of that and they were amazed. News of that reached the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ and they told him the story. He ﷺ said: ❝Why are you so amazed at that?❞ They said: “O Messenger of Allaah, the first one was the one who strove harder, then he was martyred, but the other one was admitted to Paradise before him. The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Did he not stay behind for a year?❞ They said: “Yes.” He ﷺ said: ❝And did not Ramadan come and he fasted, and he offered such and such prayers during that year?❞ They said: “Yes.” The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said: ❝The difference between them is greater than the difference between heaven and earth.❞ [Sunan Ibn Maajah (3925) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. See also Musnad Ahmad (1389, 1403, 8400), a similar narration was also narrated by Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, Musnad Ahmad (8399), and from `Ubaid Ibn Khaalid al-Sumalee رضي الله عنه, Musnad Ahmad (16076). See Saheeh al-Jaami` (1316), Saheeh al-Targheeb (372, 373, 3365, 3366)]

This Hadeeth is clear that obligatory deeds (i.e. the five daily prayers, Zakaah, Fasting in Ramadhaan etc.) are far more superior to voluntary deeds (the Nawaafil prayers, the general Sadaqah, optional Fasting etc.) in terms of their merit and rewards. A person lives his whole life neglecting obligatory deeds, but when death approaches, he wants to amass as many voluntary deeds as possible. For us, while we are alive and still have the opportunity, we should not neglect any of the obligatory deeds, and at the same time work on doing more voluntary deeds, especially those voluntary deeds which the Prophet ﷺ would not miss even while traveling.

GOOD DEEDS PERFORMED WHILE ONE IS YOUNG, HEALTHY AND HOPING TO LIVE IS BETTER THAN GOOD DEEDS PERFORMED WHEN ON THE DEATHBED:

A lot of people dream or plan to change themselves and mend their ways when they reach old age. Some do not reach that stage of life. Some do reach that age and change, while others reach that age and still hang on to their evil ways as they find it difficult to change. Living a life of disobedience and then expecting to change overnight?!

The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Allaah will give shade, to seven, on the Day when there will be no shade but His. (Among these seven will be): ‘a youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allaah.❞ [Saheehain]

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said: “‘Youth’ (al-Shaab) is an age between 15 years and 30 years.” [Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (1/462)]

Meaning: A youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allaah from his childhood. We have to sincerely beseech Allaah to guide our children and should work on their proper upbringing in the obedience of Allaah.

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah ﷺ! Which charity is the most superior in reward?’ He ﷺ said: ❝The charity which you practice while you are healthy, and feeling stingy, and fearing poverty, and hoping to become rich [in another narration it is: and hoping for a long life]. Do not delay it to the time of approaching death and then say: ‘Give so much to such and such, and so much to such and such.’ And it has already become the possession of so and so (i.e. the heirs).❞ [Saheehain]

NOTE: There is a narration in Sunan Abu Dawood that the Prophet ﷺ is supposed to have said: ❝A man giving a dirham as Sadaqah (charity) during his life is better than giving one hundred dirhams as Sadaqah (charity) at the moment of his death.❞ [Sunan Abu Dawood (2866) and graded as “Dha`eef” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Dha`eefah (1321). What is in the Saheehain is authentic and more than sufficient]

Narrated Sa`d Ibn Abee Waqqaas رضي الله عنه: I was stricken by an ailment that led me to the verge of death. The Prophet ﷺ came to pay me a visit. I said: “O Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ! I have much property and no heir except for my single daughter. Shall I give two-thirds of my property in charity?” He ﷺ said: ❝No.❞ I said: “Half of it?” He ﷺ said: ❝No.❞ I said: “One-third of it?” He ﷺ said: ❝You may do so) even though one-third is also too much. It is better for you to leave your off-spring wealthy than to leave them poor, asking others for help. And whatever you spend (for Allaah’s sake) you will be rewarded for it, even for a morsel of food which you may put in the mouth of your wife.❞ [Saheehain]

There are many who change only because they are terminally ill, and have received the doctor’s verdict, and when the hope for living long diminishes, and when the heirs have already set their sights on the wealth. This is when many decide to give charity as much as possible, knowing that their wealth will be worthless to them after a few days, and when they realize that the remaining wealth will not be theirs anymore. But the best `Ibaadah is done when one is young, healthy, and hopes for long life.

BEING A MILLIONAIRE IS NOT A CONDITION TO MAKE AN IMPACT, AMONG THE BEST CHARITY IS THAT WHICH IS GIVEN WHEN THE MAN IS HIMSELF DESTITUTE:

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ was asked: Which kind of Sadaqah (charity) is the most excellent? He ﷺ replied: ❝That which is given by one who does not have much property. And begin charity by those under your care.❞ [Sunan Abu Dawood (1449, 1677) and Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (2526) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝A (single) Dirham was better than a hundred thousand Dirhams.❞ They said: O Messenger of Allaah, how? He ﷺ said: ❝A man had two Dirhams and gave one in charity, and another man went to part of his wealth and took out a hundred thousand Dirhams and gave them in charity.❞ [Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (2527, 2528) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

The former gave in charity half of his wealth, and the latter gave an insignificant portion of his wealth. Therefore, the Sadaqah of the former is superior.

OPTIONAL CHARITY IS NOT LIMITED TO SPENDING WEALTH ONLY:

Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه said: Some of the (poor) Companions of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said to the Prophet ﷺ: O Messenger of Allaah, the affluent have made off with the rewards; they pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give [much] in charity by virtue of their wealth.” He ﷺ said: ❝Has not Allaah made things for you to give in charity? Truly every Tasbeeh [saying: ‘Sub-haan Allaah’] is a charity, and every Takbeer [saying: ‘Allaahu Akbar’] is a charity, and every Tahmeed [saying: ‘al-Hamdulillaah’] is a charity, and every Tahleel [saying: ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah’] is a charity. And commanding the good is a charity, and forbidding an evil is a charity, and in man's sexual intercourse (with his wife) there is a Sadaqah.❞ They said: O Messenger of Allaah! Is there a reward for him who satisfies his sexual passion among us? He ﷺ said: ❝Do you not see that if he were to act upon it [his desire] in an unlawful manner then he would be deserving of punishment? Likewise, if he were to act upon it in a lawful manner then he will be deserving of a reward.❞ [Saheeh Muslim]

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported: The poor Emigrants came to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ and said: The wealthy will have higher ranks and lasting bliss. He ﷺ asked: ❝How is that?❞ They replied: They offer Salaah (prayer) as we do; they observe fast as we do They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and `Umrah, and go for Jihaad, and they spend in charity (but we cannot). [And they also free the slaves but we are unable to do so.] The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Shall I not teach you something with which you may overtake those who surpassed you and with which you will surpass those who will come after you? None will excel you unless he who does which you do.❞ They said: Yes, please do, O Messenger of Allaah! He ﷺ said: ❝You should recite the Tasbeeh [Sub-haan Allaah], the Takbeer [Allaahu Akbar], the Tahmeed [al-Hamdulillaah] thirty-three times after each Salaah.❞ [Saheehain]

Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, commanding good and forbidding evil is charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is a charity for you. Your seeing for a man with bad sight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is a charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is a charity for you.❞ [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (1956) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES:

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Allaah will give shade, to seven, on the Day when there will be no shade but His. (These seven persons are) a just ruler, a youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allaah (i.e. worships Allaah sincerely from childhood), a man whose heart is attached to the Masaajid, two persons who love each other only for Allaah’s sake and they meet and part in Allaah’s cause only, a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illicit intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allaah, a man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left-hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity), and a person who remembers Allaah in seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with tears.❞ [Saheehain]

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS BEING FIRM AND CONSTANT IN DOING GOOD DEEDS:

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝The deeds of anyone of you will not save you (from the (Hell) Fire).❞ They said: Even you (will not be saved by your deeds), O Allaah’s Messenger? He ﷺ said: ❝No, even I (will not be saved) unless and until Allaah bestows His Mercy on me. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allaah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target (Paradise).❞ [Saheehain]

Narrated `Aaishah رضي الله عنها: Allaah's Apostle ﷺ said: ❝Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise. And that the most beloved deed to Allaah's is the most regular and constant even though it were little.❞ [Saheehain]

Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Do not revile my Companions; [by him in whose hand my soul is], if one of you spent the amount of gold equivalent to Uhud (in Allaah’s cause), it would not amount to as much as the mudd of one of them, or half of it.❞ [Saheehain]

Concentrate on the quality of the deed and not the quantity. A few deeds which are done with sincerity and upon the Sunnah are better than many deeds which are done insincerely or against the Sunnah.

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عليه وسلم: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence which would be like a part of the dark night. During (that stormy period) a man would be a Believer in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening or he would be a Believer in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning and would sell his faith for worldly goods.❞ [Saheeh Muslim (169)]

The most important part is to be firm upon the Deen. With so many people around us causing Shubuhaat (doubts and confusion), and with so many channels for Shahawaat (fulfilling the desires in a Haraam way), we are bound to slip and go astray. So, we should constantly ask Allaah to keep our hearts firm upon the religion, as the Prophet ﷺ often used to do so.

4. CONCLUSION:

From the people who passed away, some got the opportunity and some did not. They will be recompensed for what they did – good for good, and evil for evil. And we will be recompensed accordingly. So, while getting fascinated by the actions of others, we should not forget the opportunities which lie ahead of us. The race is still wide open:

﴿تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ ۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبْتُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُسْأَلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ﴾

{That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned and you of what you earn. And you will not be asked of what they used to do. } [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 134, 141]

اللهم اجعل خير أعمالنا خواتمها، وخير أعمارنا أواخرها، وخير أيامنا يوم نلقاك.