If the deed is written before birth, why work?
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The Shaykh : As for what concerns the deed, and that a person’s deed is written as good or bad, this is the arena of people. That is, someone says, “If my deed is written, why do I work?” Everything is written. If one were to remain silent, because a person’s deed is written as wretched or happy, why not leave off work and say, “I rely on what is written”?
We say, “No, that is a mistake,” because the Companions raised this to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when he said: We say, “Work, my brother, and when you work, Allah will make it easy for you for what you were created for.” Then we ask this man who wants to rely on what is written: “Do you know now that you are written as wretched?”
Answer: Does anyone know that he is written as wretched? No. Does any of us know that he is written as happy? But praise be to Allah, the immediate glad tidings for the believer is to be guided to work. If you see that Allah has guided you to righteous work, then rejoice, for Allah says: If you know that Allah has made righteous deeds easy for you, and they have become easy for you, and you love them and desire them, then this is glad tidings for you. So work.
Have you seen if you said, “Are my children written?” The children that a person has, daughters and sons, are they written or not written? Answer, everyone? What is the answer? Is this easy? Are your children, whom it is decreed that they be for you, written with Allah or not?
Fine, they are written. If a person says, “If I am not married, if my children are written, where will they come from? Will they grow on his head or on the roof of the house, or what?” He must work and get married so that children come to him. Likewise, the one who is written among the people of Paradise must work so that he becomes among the people of Paradise. And this is a very important point. Do not let Satan delude you and say, “I have no need for work; everything is written.” Work, my brother. Work righteously, and I am confident and I promise you that whenever you are sincere to Allah, following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then whenever you perform an act of obedience, your faith increases, your heart becomes illuminated, you desire obedience, and obedience becomes like an instinct with which you were created. But if you meet the commands of Allah with lethargy.
We say, “No, that is a mistake,” because the Companions raised this to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when he said:
None of you is there but that his place in Paradise and his place in the Fire has been written. They said, “O Messenger of Allah, if so, shall we leave off work and rely on what is written?” He said, “No, work, for everyone is facilitated for what he was created for.”
ما منكم من أحد إلا وقد كتب مقعده من الجنة ومقعده من النار قالوا يا رسول الله إذا ندع العمل نتكئ على ما كتب قال : لا اعملوا فكل ميسر لما خلق لهAnswer: Does anyone know that he is written as wretched? No. Does any of us know that he is written as happy? But praise be to Allah, the immediate glad tidings for the believer is to be guided to work. If you see that Allah has guided you to righteous work, then rejoice, for Allah says:
But as for he who gives and fears Allah, and affirms the best, We will facilitate for him the best.
فأما من أعطى واتقى بالحسنى فسنيسره للحسنىHave you seen if you said, “Are my children written?” The children that a person has, daughters and sons, are they written or not written? Answer, everyone? What is the answer? Is this easy? Are your children, whom it is decreed that they be for you, written with Allah or not?
Fine, they are written. If a person says, “If I am not married, if my children are written, where will they come from? Will they grow on his head or on the roof of the house, or what?” He must work and get married so that children come to him. Likewise, the one who is written among the people of Paradise must work so that he becomes among the people of Paradise. And this is a very important point. Do not let Satan delude you and say, “I have no need for work; everything is written.” Work, my brother. Work righteously, and I am confident and I promise you that whenever you are sincere to Allah, following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then whenever you perform an act of obedience, your faith increases, your heart becomes illuminated, you desire obedience, and obedience becomes like an instinct with which you were created. But if you meet the commands of Allah with lethargy.