What is the interpretation of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Then the decree overtakes him, and he acts with the deeds of the people of the Fire, and he enters it”?
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The questioner : What is the interpretation of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 2643a?
The Shaykh : This, my son, is very serious, very serious. It requires a person to cut off self-admiration from himself. He should not say, “I did it, I did it,” regarding the one who acted with the deeds of the people of Paradise until there was only an arm’s length between him and it. This means in terms of time, meaning his end is near. It does not mean in terms of rank that he ascended by his deeds until there was only an arm’s length left, because if that were the case, Allah the Exalted would not have abandoned him. But it is in terms of time, until there was nothing left. Pay attention, my boy, to this: until there was only an arm’s length between him and it. What does this mean? In terms of time. As for his deeds, they are nothing. All his past deeds are nothing, because if his deeds had raised him to the point where there was only an arm’s length between him and Paradise, Allah the Exalted would not have abandoned him. How would He abandon him while He says:Sahih Muslim 2675h Do you understand now? Good. If someone asks: How can his deeds be the deeds of the people of Paradise? We say: Yes, this is as it appears to people. As it appears to people, he is from the people of Paradise. We ask Allah to protect us and you from this state. It is a difficult state. And what indicates this condition is what al-Bukhari narrated: We ask Allah for safety. And what does “I will keep him in view” mean? I will be with him and see him until the end. And may Allah protect us. What was the end? What was his end? That he killed himself. I ask Allah to make my ending and yours good. We must be cautious in matters and look at what we are in, and not be proud of ourselves. Our deeds, whatever they are, our sins are great and many. Do you understand now? So I ask you: What is the meaning of His saying: Sahih al-Bukhari 3332?
The questioner : In terms of time.
The Shaykh : In terms of time, not in terms of rank. That is, until his end approaches, he acts with the deeds of the people of the Fire, like this man now. His deeds were the deeds of the people of Paradise as they appeared to us. When his end approached, this happened. Do you understand? As for a man who acts with the deeds of the people of Paradise, is sincere to Allah, and follows the Messenger of Allah, until he is in a high rank where there is only an arm’s length between him and Paradise, it is not possible that Allah the Exalted would abandon him, because Allah is more generous than His servant, Glorified and Exalted is He.
that one amongst you acts like the people deserving Paradise until between him and Paradise there remains but the distance of a cubit, when suddenly the writing of destiny overcomes him and he begins to act like the denizens of Hell and thus enters Hell
إن الرجل يعمل بعمل أهل الجنة حتى ما يكون بينه وبينها إلا ذراع فيسبق عليه الكتاب فيعمل بعمل أهل النار فيدخلهاThe Shaykh : This, my son, is very serious, very serious. It requires a person to cut off self-admiration from himself. He should not say, “I did it, I did it,” regarding the one who acted with the deeds of the people of Paradise until there was only an arm’s length between him and it. This means in terms of time, meaning his end is near. It does not mean in terms of rank that he ascended by his deeds until there was only an arm’s length left, because if that were the case, Allah the Exalted would not have abandoned him. But it is in terms of time, until there was nothing left. Pay attention, my boy, to this: until there was only an arm’s length between him and it. What does this mean? In terms of time. As for his deeds, they are nothing. All his past deeds are nothing, because if his deeds had raised him to the point where there was only an arm’s length between him and Paradise, Allah the Exalted would not have abandoned him. How would He abandon him while He says:
I draw near him by the length of a fathom
من تقرب إلي شبرا تقربت إليه باعاA man was with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in one of the battles, and he was a brave man who did not leave for the enemy any stray or scattered thing but he dealt with it. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This man is from the people of the Fire.
أن رجلا كان مع الرسول عليه الصلاة والسلام في إحدى الغزوات وكان رجلا شجاعا لا يدع للعدو شاذة ولا فاذة إلا قضى عليها فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : هذا من أهل النارThis was a great matter for the Muslims. They said: How can this brave, bold man be from the people of the Fire? So a man said: By Allah, I will keep him in view.
فعظم هذا على المسلمين قالوا : كيف يكون هذا الرجل الشجاع المقدام كيف يكون من أهل النار ؟ فقال رجل : والله لألزمنهSo he kept him in view. This man was hit by an arrow from the enemy, so he panicked, drew his sword, placed its tip on his chest, and then leaned on it until it came out of his back.
فلازمه فأصيب هذا الرجل بسهم من العدو فجزع فسل سيفه ووضع ذبابه على صدره ثم اتكأ عليه حتى ظهر من ظهرهThe man who had kept him in view returned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah. He said: How? He said: The man you mentioned to us yesterday as being from the people of the Fire did such and such. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: A man may act with the deeds of the people of Paradise as it appears to people, while he is from the people of the Fire.
عاد الرجل الذي لزمه إلى الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم وقال : أشهد أنك رسول الله قال : بم ؟ قال : إن الرجل الذي ذكرت لنا بالأمس أنه من أهل النار فعل كذا وكذا فقال صلى الله عليه وسلم : إن الرجل ليعمل بعمل أهل الجنة فيما يبدو للناس وهو من أهل النارso much so that there is only the distance of a cubit between him and it
حتى ما يكون بينه وبينها إلا ذراعThe questioner : In terms of time.
The Shaykh : In terms of time, not in terms of rank. That is, until his end approaches, he acts with the deeds of the people of the Fire, like this man now. His deeds were the deeds of the people of Paradise as they appeared to us. When his end approached, this happened. Do you understand? As for a man who acts with the deeds of the people of Paradise, is sincere to Allah, and follows the Messenger of Allah, until he is in a high rank where there is only an arm’s length between him and Paradise, it is not possible that Allah the Exalted would abandon him, because Allah is more generous than His servant, Glorified and Exalted is He.