We are in the abode of عمل and very soon we will move on to the abode of recompense. Take advantage of your life and all the opportunities Allah has given you to do good deeds. The good you have done in your life will be what benefits you in your grave. This should be something that we are always aware of.
When King Khalid of Saudi Arabia visited Shaikh bin Uthaymeen and saw his house, he felt sorry for him. He then offered to get a better house built for him. Ibn Uthaymeen said, "جزاك الله خير, I'm already having one built in Salhiyah"
His students then said, "We didn't know you were building a house there Sheikh" and he said, "This is the grave"
People fight and compete for the Dunya and they turn away from the real life, the life in the Aakhirah. The true believers concern is to prepare for that life.
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قـال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ( إذا مات العبد انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاث : صدقة جارية ، أو علم ينتفع به ، أو ولد صالح يدعو له)
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When the human being dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.” (Muslim)
When you die you will no longer have the opportunity to get reward, because your actions cease. Except for three, which continue to reap rewards even after your death:
1) صدقة جارية
E.g. Building a mosque. As long as people are praying in and benefitting from this mosque, the builder will continue to increase in reward, even after his death.
But not every charity will benefit the person; only charity which is done sincerely for the sake of Allah.
2) علم ينتفع به
The knowledge which you learn, act upon, and benefit others with is far better and more virtuous than continuous charity.
علم could be written knowledge you leave behind after your death or verbal.
People may discourage you and tell you that knowledge can be found everywhere nowadays. All you need to do is Google and you'll get thousands of webpages at the tip of your fingers.
Know that When Imam Malik wanted to write his Muwatta some people around him said, "Many people are writing it, what is yours compared to theirs?"
After his death, all the Muwattas were lost and destroyed, except for his.
If you do an action sincerely for the sake of Allah, then Allah will appreciate it. You are in a dealing with Allah, not the people. Do it so that Allah will accept it from you and add it to your scale.
Do whatever you can to benefit others. You don't know, maybe that action will benefit you while you're in your grave; That good deed which you may not have given much importance to.
3) ولد صالح يدعو له
It could be a righteous male or female descendant.
The Prophet ﷺ specified making دعاء. He didn't say praying, or fasting, or giving charity. This indicates that the best deed a person can do for his parents after their death is دعاء. The Prophet ﷺ will not guide his Ummah except to what's best for them.
Some of the individuals among the companions asked if they could give charity on their parents behalf when they passed away and he said yes. But when he legislated it himself he commanded us to make دعاء.
Not everyone can fast for their parents. Not everyone can give charity. But anyone can make دعاء.
While you're in this world put effort to make your son or daughter righteous. If you're really thinking about your future, this should be your concern.
A righteous son or daughter could be grandchildren or descendants. If you don't have children it could be your students whom you raise up on knowledge.
We don't know when death will come to us. We have to take advantage of our lives to do as much as we can of doing good deeds especially if we have health and free time.
Don't listen to the Shaytan who tells you to wait until you're older to do good. You don't know what your situation will be when you're older. You may not have the time or strength. And that's if you live till then. We are not even guaranteed tomorrow. Do as much as you can of good deeds now.
The gate of goodness is open and wide. Take advantage of it.
The most important knowledge that we have to spend our lives seeking is the knowledge about Allah's names and attributes. This is the purpose behind us being here in this world.
If you die while you are busy studying it, then you have died upon a thing which Allah loves.
[From Ibn Uthaymeens explanation of Riyad As-Saleheen]
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