The Cause of a Bad Ending for Those Who Appear Righteous

Question:
May Allah reward you with good and do you good. You say that you have heard of people who were righteous and fulfilled their obligatory duties, but Allah brought about a bad ending for them, may Allah protect us from that. How can one be saved, may Allah have mercy on you?

Answer:
A person must be sincere in his deeds for Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and he must strive to obey Allah. If he commits violations, he must repent to Allah. If a person rectifies his deeds for Allah (Mighty and Majestic), he is likely to be granted a good ending. However, if he does the opposite, committing evil deeds and disobeying Allah (Mighty and Majestic), he is likely to be granted a bad ending. Deeds are judged by their endings, but endings have causes that the servant performs. If the servant holds fast to the obedience of Allah, avoids the prohibitions of Allah, and is sincere in his intention for Allah, he is likely to be granted a good ending. As for the one who is negligent in the obedience of Allah, commits sins, and does not care about violations, he is likely to be punished and to be granted a bad ending. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . So he (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded to work and to take the means, and a person should not look to divine decree and destiny, or look to the endings, and be lazy about working, saying that the outcome depends on the ending, and be lazy and discouraged from obedience; for this is from Satan. Rather, he performs the righteous deed and hopes that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will grant him a good ending. Allah the Exalted said: And Ya'qub (peace be upon him) said: The meaning of this is that they should hold fast to the obedience of Allah and His oneness, and be sincere in their deeds for Him, so that He may grant them a good ending.