Chapter 53 - Combining Hope and Fear (of Allah)

Allah, the Exalted, says:

"None feels secure from the Plan of Allah except the people who are the losers.'' (7:99)

"Certainly no one despairs of Allah's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.'' (12:87)

"On the Day (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) when some faces will become white and some faces will become black...'' (3:106)

"Verily, your Rabb is Quick in Retribution (for the disobedient, wicked) and certainly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (for the obedient and those who beg Allah's forgiveness).'' (7:167)

"Verily, the Abrar (pious and righteous) will be in Delight (Jannah). And verily, the Fujjar (the wicked, disbelievers, sinners and evildoers) will be in the blazing Fire(Hell).'' (82:13,14)

"Then as for him whose balance (of good deeds) will be heavy, he will live a pleasant life (in Jannah). But as for him whose balance (of good deeds) will be light, he will have his home in Hawiyah (pit, i.e., Hell)". (101:6-9)





Abu Hurairah reported: Messenger of Allah said,  

"If a believer had full knowledge of the chastisement of Allah, none would covet His Jannah; and were an infidel to know the Mercy Allah has, none would despair of His Jannah".  [Muslim].


Commentary:

1. This Hadith mentions the torments which one will have to suffer in consequence of Divine wrath. These are described to enable a sinner to save himself from them. It also tells about the infinite Mercy of Allah so that one will always be hopeful of.
2. Only such people will receive Allah's Grace and Mercy who are obedient to Him, while the disobedient will suffer the consequences of His Wrath.

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri reported: Messenger of Allah said,

"When a dead body is placed on a bier and men carry it on their shoulders, if the deceased was pious, it (the corpse) will say: `Take me in haste'; but if he was not, it will say (to its bearers): `Woe to it. Where are you taking it?' Everything except man hears its voice. Had a human being heard its voice, he would have surely died".  [Al-Bukhari].


Commentary: The speech of a dead is a matter of the realm of the Unseen (or Al-Ghaib) which is mentioned in this Hadith. A deceased person will certainly say what has been disclosed here. A Muslim must have absolute faith in it. Almighty Allah is certainly capable of endowing the power of speech on a deceased person as he does speak with the angels (Munkar and Nakir) when they come to the dead in the grave and question him. This Hadith is intended to induce people to virtues so that after death, one has not to say: "Woe to me! Where are you taking me?". One should spend the life in such a manner that after death when he is taken to the graveyard for burial, he should be in a position to say: "Hasten to take me to my grave so that I can enjoy Divine blessings there".

Ibn Mas`ud reported: Messenger of Allah said,

"Jannah is nearer to you than your shoelace, and so is the (Hell) Fire". [Al-Bukhari].


Commentary: Jannah is close to him who adopts the path of righteousness and he can easily attain it. Its opposite case is also equally true. He is close to Hell who takes the path of evil. Thus, this Hadith has an inducement for virtue and warning against evil.