If you want a good end, then you must live an honorable life

**nihichan** · #1 18th November 2008, 03:05 AM

“If you want a good end, then you must live an honorable life (in the service of Allah).”

Post-Fajr Talk by Shaykh Hatem Al-Haj
Masjid Tawheed 3/1/08

Our life is dependent upon the last action that we do before death.

‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud, radiyallahu ‘anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, the most truthful, the most trusted, told us:

“…I swear by Allah - there is no God but He - one of you may perform the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is naught but an arm’s length between him and it, when that which has been written will outstrip him so that he performs the deeds of the people of the Hell Fire; one of you may perform the deeds of the people of the Hell Fire, till there is naught but an arm’s length between him and it, when that which has been written will overtake him so that he performs the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters therein.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

What leads to a good end? Allah doesn’t want us to fall into destruction or misguidance. As Allah says:
What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allah Appreciative and Knowing. [Qur'an 4:147]

So we must strive to live in the obedience of Allah in order to obtain an ending that is noble.

There was this brother who was very active in the da’wah. His personality reflected a high level of righteousness. Just a few weeks ago, he passed away (rahimahullah, may Allah have Mercy on him), and he passed away at a pretty young age, around his early 40’s. This is considered an old age for some of you, but for some of us it is a pretty young age. He has made Hajj for the past 5 years, and for some reason, after just concluding Hajj, he had a strong desire to make Umrah, after leaving his children in Madinah. Something was in him that forced him to go back to Makkah, even though he had just performed Hajj. As he was on his way to Makkah, he got into a car accident and passed away. He was reciting talbiyah.

Labbaika Allahumma Labbaik. Labbaik La Shareeka Laka Labbaik. Innal-Hamdah, Wan-Nematah, Laka wal Mulk, La Shareeka Laka.
“Here I am O Allah (in response to Your call), here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise, grace and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner.”

Now, this brother’s whole life was surrounded around the talbiyah. He lived his life in the service of Allah. Just as he died a noble death, his life of da’wah was reflective of these words, “O Allah, here I am at your service.”

If you want a good end, then you must live an honorable life.
Examples from the lives of the Khalifahs who took the right path, the Khulafaa ar-Rashidoon..

Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq (radiAllahu anhu), on his deathbed, appointed ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab as his successor, as the new Khalifah. Before departing from the dunya, he chose the best person on earth after him to be the Khalifah and he felt content with that.

Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiAllahu anhu), while praying Fajr salaah, was stabbed by Abu Lu’Lu’ al-Majushi (the Magian). Umar, in fear that he may not have fulfilled his duty completely as Khalifah by neglecting somebody, inquired whether the attacker was a Muslim or not. When he was told that it wasn’t a Muslim, he was glad because his life was dedicated to helping the Ummah, including all the Muslims. Even during this time, he saw a young man with his dress dragging on the floor. He said to him, “O my nephew (to address him in a kind manner)! Raise your garment, for it pleasing to your Lord, and it’ll allow your garment to last longer.” He was advising people to do good even towards the end of his life.

Uthman ibn Affan (radiAllahu anhu), when the fitnah started and a group of people were outside his house, even the grandson of the Prophet (pbuh), Hussein, was willing to defend Uthman against any attackers, but Uthman did not want anyone to shed a single drop of blood for his sake. He did not want fitnah to spread amongst the Muslims. When some of the men broke through the door, Uthman was reciting the Qur’an, Suratul Baqarah, and they moved forward to kill Uthman (radiAllahu anhu).

Ali ibn Abi Talib (radiAllahu anhu), on his way to the Fajr prayer, was attacked by a Khariji (a member of an extreme sect which broke away from Islam). Ali ibn Abi Talib said to the people who caught the guy, that if he (Ali) were to live, he would do justice to him himself, otherwise that they should feed him until then, and if they were to execute him, then they should not torture him. Even in this moment of his life, Ali wanted to set a good example for the Muslims, that justice should not be compromised for the sake of personal injuries.

Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. [Qur'an 6:162]

The scholars have taken from this ayah, that if you want a death for Allah, then you must live your life for Allah, in the service of Allah.