Requirements for a Good End
Dialogues
“Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remained steadfast, the angels will descend upon them, [saying], ‘Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.’” (Surah Fussilat, 30).
The noble Prophetic tradition states: “Whoever’s last words are ‘There is no god but Allah’ will enter Paradise.” It also states: “When Allah intends good for a servant, He employs him.” It was asked: “How does He employ him, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “He enables him to perform a righteous deed before death.”
I believe that, in addition to being enabled to perform a righteous deed and uttering the testimony of faith before death, there are also fundamental and specific ethical requirements in today’s turbulent world that may ensure a good ending for a Muslim. Some of these include:
- Remembrance of Allah, the Exalted and Mighty: Allah, the Exalted, says in the Holy Quran: “So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.” (2:152). The remembrance of Allah in this verse refers to obeying Him, adhering to His commands, and refraining from His prohibitions.
It also refers to constantly remembering Allah in the heart and on the tongue. I believe that whoever Allah enables to persist in remembrance, and who implements to the best of his ability the noble Prophetic advice: “Let your tongue always be moist with the remembrance of Allah,” may increase his chances of achieving a good ending. He may also be the quickest to remember and utter the testimony of faith before death. Remembrance, of course, fortifies the heart and limbs against the evil inclinations of the self.
- Piety (Taqwa) of Allah, the Exalted and Mighty: One who fears his Lord in private and in public, monitors himself, and compels himself to adhere to moral uprightness as expected of him as a Muslim, and who treats people justly even at the expense of his own fluctuating human desires, may fulfill a key requirement that leads him to a good ending before death.
- Doing good and giving charity: One who treats other human beings with kindness and does not cease giving charity as much as he is able, as if he is preparing his heart and mind for a good ending. Doing good to people, especially Muslims, and giving charity to the poor and needy, paves the way for a good ending.
- Guarding the tongue: “Indeed, a servant may speak a word that causes him to fall into the Fire, a distance greater than that between the East and the West.” And they said: “O Messenger of Allah, which aspect of Islam is the best?” He replied: “That from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe.”
A Kuwaiti writer
