Two Types of Blessings and the Questions of the Hereafter

While explaining the final verse of Surah al-Takathur, the renowned commentator, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ further writes: Blessings acquired through one's own effort (Kasbi blessings), which include sweets, delicious food, cold drinks, fine clothing, wealth, authority, and similar worldly possessions. Three questions will be asked regarding them: (1) Where did you acquire them from? (2) Where did you spend them? (3) How did you thank Allah Almighty for them? Blessings granted directly by Allah (Wahbi blessings). These are blessings in which a person's own effort plays no part, such as the sun, the moon, hands, feet, eyes, ears, and similar gifts. Two questions will be asked regarding them: (1) How did you use them? (2) How did you thank Allah Almighty for them?¹

Ah! The Finest Foods

Dear Islamic brothers! This is truly something to fear. Today, we have become obsessed with enjoying the finest foods and the greatest luxuries, yet we forget that one day we will become food for the worms in our graves and stand accountable in the Hereafter. We always want the very best and most delicious meals, and they must be served hot. Fine food itself is a blessing, and having it served hot is a blessing upon a blessing. Even plain tea is no longer enough. It must be milk tea, sweetened, and served piping hot. In this way, even a single cup of tea becomes a collection of countless blessings.

Likewise, halwa puri, pizza, stuffed parathas, all kinds of sweets, fresh fruits, dry fruits, delicious falooda, cold sweet drinks, almond and pistachio sheer khurma, soft drinks, ice cream, butter, cream, custard, kebabs, samosas, hot pakoras, fried fish, fried chops, tandoori leg, chicken tikka, seekh kebabs, burgers, and who knows what else, our materialistic nafs continues to crave and consume.

Although all of these foods are halal, every one of these blessings, and every other blessing, will be questioned on the Day of Judgment. Would that our food-loving nafs came under control. Would that we were freed from the habit of eating and drinking merely for entertainment and worldly pleasure.

Those Who Love Wealth Should Reflect

To understand the tremendous danger, we accept for a few moments of pleasure, consider this narration. In the 504-page publication Minhaj al-'Abidin, published by Maktabat al-Madinah, The Proof of Islam, Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ writes: "It has been narrated that the severity of the agonies of death is proportional to the worldly pleasures a person enjoyed. Therefore, the greater the pleasures they indulged in, the more severe the pain of death will be."²

A Glimpse of the Agonies of Death

Allamah Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti al-Shafi'i رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ narrates: "Death is more terrifying than all the horrors of this world and the Hereafter. It is more painful than being cut by saws, sliced by scissors, or boiled in cauldrons. If the dead were brought back to life and described the agonies of death, people would lose all enjoyment and all sleep."³

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيبِ      صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

Nine Frightening Sayings of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ About Accountability for Blessings

To increase our determination to avoid temporary worldly pleasures and to remind ourselves of the accountability for Allah's blessings, reflect upon these nine blessed sayings of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: (1) On the Day of Judgment, Allah Almighty will call one of His servants before Him and question them about their status and position just as He will question them about their wealth.⁴ (2) Every single step a person takes will be questioned on the Day of Judgment; they will be asked why they took that step.⁵ (3) The first question asked of a servant will include: "Did I not keep your body healthy? Did I not quench your thirst with cool water?

In other words, did you fulfill the rights of these blessings?"⁶ (4) A master and servant, and a husband and wife, will be brought forth and held accountable. A man will be told: "On such-and-such a day, you drank cool water with pleasure." A husband will be told: "Many others wished to marry this woman, yet I chose you for her. Did you fulfill the rights of these blessings?"⁷ (5) A believer will be questioned about every deed, even about applying kohl to their eyes.⁸ (6) A person who delivers sermons or speeches will also be asked: "What was your intention behind your speech?"⁹ Those who deliver bayans and speeches should reflect: Was the intention sincere to invite people towards righteousness, or was it praise, recognition, fame, or worldly gain? (7) Whoever calls others towards something will be resurrected alongside that invitation, even if they invited only one person.¹⁰ This highlights the importance of sincerity. Those engaged in individual efforts to invite others to Islam should also reflect on their intentions. (8) The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! Among the blessings about which you will be questioned are cool shade, fine dates, and cool water."¹¹ (9) On the Day of Judgment, every rich and poor person alike will wish that, in this world, they had possessed nothing more than the bare minimum needed to survive.¹²

Three Sayings of the Pious Predecessors About Accountability for Blessings

(1) Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umayr رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ said: "The more wealth a person possesses, the greater their accountability will be."¹³ (2) Sayyiduna Abu Dharr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ said: "On the Day of Judgment, the person who owned two dirhams will face a more difficult accountability than the one who owned only one."¹⁴ (3) The eminent Tabi'i Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah ibn Qurrah رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ said: "On the Day of Judgment, the most difficult accountability will be for the healthy person who lived a life of ease and comfort."¹⁵

Sadqa pyare ki haya ka ke na le mujh se hisab

Bakhsh be-poochhe, lajaye ko lajana kya hai¹⁶

Meanings of Difficult Words

Sadaqah: Means or mediation (wasilah). Be-poochhe: Without being questioned; without accountability. Lajaye: One who is already ashamed. Lajana: To disgrace or embarrass.

Explanation of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan's Couplet: In this couplet, Ala Hadrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ humbly supplicates before Allah Almighty: "O Allah Almighty! I ask You by the modesty and honor of Your Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ, please forgive me without taking me to account on the Day of Judgment. I am already ashamed of my sins, so do not further disgrace me by calling me to account."

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيبِ      صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

Twelve Years of Accountability

Dear Islamic brothers! The accountability of the Hereafter is an extremely serious matter. Read this moving narration and reflect deeply. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Amr al-As رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا narrates: After the passing of the organizer of this Ummah, the one filled with fear and awe of Allah, the leader of the people of Paradise, Amir al-Mu'minin Sayyiduna Umar al-Faruq رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ, I longed to know what had happened to him in the Hereafter. One day, I saw a magnificent palace in a dream and asked, "Whose palace is this?" An angel replied: "It belongs to Umar ibn al-Khattab رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ." Just then, Sayyiduna Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ emerged from the palace wearing only a sheet, as though he had just completed ghusl. I asked: "How did Allah Almighty deal with you?" He replied: "He dealt with me graciously." He then asked me, "How long has it been since I left you?" I replied: "Twelve years." He then said: "Only now have I finished my accountability."¹⁷

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

اَمِينْ بِجَاهِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيبِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

References

¹ Tafsir Nur al-Irfan, Part 30, Surah al-Takathur, under verse 8, p. 956

2 Minhaj al-'Abidin, p. 185, with slight wording changes

3 Sharh al-Sudur, p. 33

4 Mu'jam al-Awsat, vol. 1, p. 140, Hadith: 448

5 Tarikh Ibn Asakir, vol. 6, p. 54, Hadith: 1405

6 Mustadrak, vol. 5, p. 191, Hadith: 7285

7 Majma' al-Zawa'id, vol. 10, p. 633, Hadith: 18390

8 Hilyat al-Awliya, vol. 10, p. 31, Hadith: 14406, abridged

9 Mawsu'ah Ibn Abi al-Dunya, vol. 7, p. 294, Hadith: 514

10 Ibn Majah, vol. 1, p. 137, Hadith: 208

11 Tirmidhi, vol. 1, p. 163, Hadith: 2376, abridged

12 Ibn Majah, vol. 4, p. 442, Hadith: 4140

13 Al-Budur al-Safirah fi Umur al-Akhirah, p. 264, Statement: 774

14 Al-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, p. 121, Hadith: 797

15 Tarikh Ibn Asakir, vol. 59, p. 271

16 Hada'iq-e-Bakhshish, p. 171

17 Tarikh Ibn Asakir, vol. 44, p. 483