On the Day of Judgment, every person will stand before Allah alone. No wealth, no status, no family, and no helper will accompany him. The only thing that will matter is what he sent forward for himself from his time in this world.
Allah says: "And you have come to Us alone as We created you the first time, and you have left whatever We bestowed upon you behind you." (Surah al-An'am: 94)
Every possession accumulated in this life — every house, every dollar, every car, every investment — will be left behind. The only currency that transfers to the next life is righteous action.
What Remains of Your Wealth?
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The son of Adam says, 'My money, my money!' But what part of your money do you truly have, other than what you ate and it was consumed, what you wore and it was worn out, and what you gave in charity and it remains (in the record of good deeds)? Other than that, you will depart and leave it to other people." (Muslim)
This hadith divides a person's wealth into three parts. The first — what you ate — is gone and gave you no more than sustenance. The second — what you wore — is gone and gave you no more than covering. The third — what you gave in charity — is the only portion that truly belongs to you, because it has been recorded and will meet you on the Day you need it most.
Everything else that a person accumulates and hoards and protects in this life will be distributed to his heirs the moment he dies. He leaves it all behind. The one who spent it in the way of Allah sent it ahead.
A Warning from al-Hasan al-Basri
Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) described the scene of the Day of Resurrection with a striking image: the son of Adam will be brought before Allah having left behind an intact and complete fortune in the world, but when Allah asks him what he sent forward for himself, he will have nothing to show. The wealth stayed in the world. The righteous deeds — or their absence — came with him.
This is the question every Muslim should ask himself now, while there is still time to act: what am I sending forward? What will be waiting for me when I arrive?
That same fear — of standing before Allah and finding something we never accounted for — is what moved the Salaf to tears, as we explore in A Crying Man Who also Makes Others Cry.
The Fortune That Matters
Fortune on the Day of Meeting Allah is not measured in what you owned but in what you did. The prayer prayed with khushu. The charity given sincerely. The knowledge sought and acted upon. The parent honored. The family raised upon the deen. The pages of Quran recited. These are the deeds that cross the barrier of death and precede their owner into the next life.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge that is benefited from, and a righteous child who prays for him." (Muslim)
The world is a planting ground. What you plant now, you will harvest then. The question is not whether you will meet Allah — you will. The question is what you will bring with you when you do.
For a moving description of what awaits the believers who prepare well, we recommend Driving the Souls to the Abodes of Happiness by Ibn al-Qayyim | $29.00.
If you are looking for more books to help you prepare for the akhirah and increase your righteous deeds, browse our full collection at The Islamic Book Cafe.
Baarakallahu feekum — The Islamic Book Cafe | Portland, Oregon
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