The Reality of Wealth, Death, and the Hereafter

Five Questions on the Day of Judgment

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ said: "On the Day of Judgment, a person will not move from their place until they have answered these five questions: (1) How did you spend your life? (2) How did you spend your youth? (3) How did you earn your wealth? (4) Where did you spend it? (5) And how much did you act upon the knowledge you had?"¹ This is truly a frightening reality. Today, many people are heedless about how they are spending their lives. Young or old, countless people live as though death is still far away. Even the elderly often remain unaware that there is not second chance ahead; death is the next certainty. Young people should also reflect, for they will be questioned about how they spent their youth. Likewise, people strive passionately to earn wealth but often fail to consider whether it is earned through halal or haram means. The mindset becomes: "If someone is willing to pay, just take it," and so they gather as much wealth as possible. Yet the reality is that the greater wealth a person possesses, the greater the accountability that comes with it. Consider a traveler. The one carrying the most luggage is usually the one facing the greatest difficulty. Anyone who has travelled internationally by plane knows how those with excessive baggage spend more time and face more hassle at customs. In the same way, the lighter a person's load of worldly possessions, the easier their accountability will be in the Hereafter.

The Meaning of a "Heavy Burden"

Sayyiduna Anas رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ narrates that the Beloved Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ once took Sayyiduna Abu Dharr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ by the hand and said: "O Abu Dharr! Do you know that a very difficult mountain pass lies ahead of us? Only those carrying light burdens will be able to cross it." A man then asked: "Ya Rasulallah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّم!

Am I among those with a heavy burden or a light burden?" The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ asked: "Do you have today's food?" He replied, "Yes." The Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ asked: "Do you have tomorrow's food?" He replied, "Yes." He صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ then asked: "Do you have food for the day after tomorrow?" He replied, "No." The Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ said: "If you had food for three days, you would have been among those carrying a heavy burden."²

Today, the issue is not merely storing food for three days. Out of greed, our refrigerators remain packed with all kinds of food, and our homes are filled with things we have no real need for. Alas! What will become of us who are consumed by greed? The burden of excessive wealth. The burden of constantly wanting more. The burden of owning multiple shops and businesses, and even worse, the burden of sins: The burden of interest and bribery. The burden of fraud and deception. The burden of unlawfully consuming the wealth of others. How tragic! Our shoulders now carry burden upon burden. With such a load, how will we ever cross the Bridge of Sirat?³

Even in this world, the more wealth a person possesses, the greater their burden. The wealthier someone becomes, the greater their fear of thieves, robbers, and criminals. They may even become targets of extortion and threats such as, "Pay us, or we will kidnap your child or harm you." So, wealth itself can become a trial even in this life. A poor person may sleep peacefully on a sidewalk, while a wealthy person lies awake inside a locked home, constantly fearing that something might happen. This world is a place of reflection, not a place to attach our hearts to.

O lovers of the Messenger! Before the announcement is made, "So-and-so has passed away. Call the one who will perform the ghusl," before the washing begins, before the shroud is wrapped around us, before we are lowered into the darkness of the grave, and all of this could happen today, or perhaps tomorrow, remember that death is certain.

There is no escape from it. May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to wake up before death reaches us, to repent sincerely without delay, and to occupy ourselves with deeds that earn His pleasure? To increase the fear of Allah in our hearts, protect our faith, rid ourselves of sinful habits, become steadfast upon the Sunnah, fill our hearts with the love of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ, and attain the honor of being his neighbor in Jannat al-Firdaws, remain connected to the religious environment of Dawat-e-Islami. Travel every month for at least three days with the lovers of the Messenger in a Sunnah-inspired Qafilah, and evaluate yourself daily through the Pious Deeds booklet, submitting it to your responsible Islamic brother at the beginning of every month. If Allah Almighty wills, this will develop within us the mindset of preparing for the grave and the Hereafter.

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيبِ      صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

He Did Not Even Have One Dirham

Sayyiduna Awn ibn Mu'ammar رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ narrates: One day, Sayyiduna Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ said to his noble wife: “Fatimah! If you have one dirham, give it to me. Today I feel like eating some grapes.” She replied: "I do not have even a single dirham. Are you not the Amir al-Mu'minin? Do you not even possess one dirham?" In great concern, he replied: "Going without grapes is far easier than wearing the chains of Hell tomorrow."⁴

May Allah Almighty have mercy upon him and forgive us without accountability for his sake.

Dear Islamic brothers! What remarkable fear of Allah, Sayyiduna Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ possessed! Grapes are undoubtedly halal and pure, yet they are among the blessings of Allah Almighty, and every blessing will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment. Out of fear of the Hereafter, he refrained from eating them.

Alas! Today, we enjoy one luxury after another and constantly search for something even better. Even the finest homes no longer satisfy us, and we continue striving for bigger houses and grander villas. Dear Islamic brothers! While the other verses of Surah al-Takathur shake the heedless person and awaken them from their sleep of negligence, its final verse leaves those restless who fear Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty says:

ثُمَّ لَتُسْئَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ ۝

Then on that Day, you will most definitely be questioned about blessings.⁵

Three Explanations of This Blessed Verse

(1) Sayyiduna Ikrimah رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ said: When this blessed verse was revealed, the noble Companions رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ asked: "Ya Rasulallah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّم! Which blessings do we possess? We only have barley bread, and even that is only enough to fill half our stomachs." Revelation then came: "Do you not wear shoes? Do you not drink cool water? These too are blessings."

(2) Sayyiduna Ali al-Murtada رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ explained this verse by saying: "Whoever ate wheat bread, drank the cool water of the Euphrates, and had a home to live in, these are among the blessings about which they will be questioned." (3) The eminent Tabi'i Sayyiduna Imam Mujahid رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ said: "This verse refers to every worldly enjoyment and delight."⁶

While explaining the final verse of Surah al-Takathur, Sadr al-Afadil Allama Mawlana Sayyid Muhammad Na'im al-Din Muradabadi رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ writes: "You will be questioned about the blessings Allah Almighty granted you—such as health, ease, safety, comfort, wealth, and other worldly enjoyments. You will be asked how you used them and how you expressed gratitude for them. Failure to show gratitude will result in punishment."⁷

References

1 Tirmidhi, vol. 4, p. 188, Hadith: 2424

2 Mu'jam al-Awsat, vol. 3, p. 348, Hadith: 4809

3 Pul Sirat Ki Dehshat, p. 11

4 Tarikh al-Khulafa, p. 188

5 Al-Quran, Surah Al-Takathur, verse 8; translation from Kanz al-‘Irfān

6 Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur, Part 30, Surah al-Takathur, under verse 8, vol. 8, pp. 612–613

7 Tafsir Khaza'in al-Irfan, Part 30, Surah al-Takathur, under verse 8, p. 1118