Every human being is a link in the human chain which began with the coming of Adam and Eve on the earth. As a link in this important chain, man is required to keep two things in mind, one is regarding what he is sending before him and the other is what he is leaving behind. In this connection Allah says:
Let every person look at what he has sent for the morrow. (59:14)
One way of developing a strong link in the chain is to leave behind things that will continue to benefit us even though we are no longer physically alive in this world. We can achieve this by leaving those of our relatives and friends who pray for our forgiveness and well-being in Barzakh and in the Hereafter.
Allah taught the believers to pray as follows:
O our Lord, cover (us) with Thy forgiveness; me, my parents, and all Believers. (14:41)
Our Lord, forgive us, and our brethren who came before us in faith. (59:10)
We must also be careful regarding our deeds and actions; as it is only the good that will reach the Lord Who is the most High. In this connection Allah informs us as follows:
And whatever good you send forth for your own nafs, you shall find it in Allah’s presence of Allah. (74:20)
It is a known fact that evil cannot ascend, as Allah has placed a barrier below the first sky to protect whatever is above the lower sky from evil. He says:
And verily, We have adorned the lowest sky with lamps (stars), and We have made them missiles to drive away the Evil Ones. (67:5)
Allah has confirmed that the deeds of man are stored in two places; good up in the sky while evil is stored in a dungeon. He says:
Verily, the record of the wicked will be kept in Sijjin (a dungeon), (83:7)
Verily, the record of the righteous will be kept in illiyeen. (high place. (83:18)
It is because evil will be stored in the material world that it will be destroyed when the earth will no longer exist in its present form.
In addition to a person’s personal deeds, each one of us is required to leave behind things that will benefit others, e.g. knowledge, beneficial facilities, trained Islamic workers, etc. Every time a person should benefit from what is left behind by one who has gone before, that person will continue to benefit for what is done.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
"The good deeds that will reach a believer after his death are: knowledge which he learned and then spread; a righteous son whom he leaves behind; a copy of the Qur'an that he leaves as a legacy; a mosque that he built; a house that he built for wayfarers; a canal that he dug; or charity that he gave during his lifetime when he was in good health. These deeds will reach him after his death." (Ibn Majah — authenticated by Al-Albani)
As it is only one life we have to live, and our life span is fixed, let us make the best use of it, as the Hereafter is Eternal, and this short life span of ours can earn for us everlasting Bliss if properly managed.
Dr. Waffie is the Principal of Markaz al Ihsaan Institute of Islamic Theology, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Majlis ul Ulamaa (Council of Scholars) of Trinidad and Tobago. He can be contacted at drwaffiem@gmail.com
