Weighty Deeds

The news of the hereafter revives the inattentive hearts and awakens the heedless souls.

Ponder with me upon the situation. On that Day, the blast of the Horn will convulse creation and it will be followed by a second blowing of the trumpet. And people will rise to the Lord of the worlds. Unclothed, barefoot, their lips shriveled, they will be staring with horror from what they see and their hearts will be torn.

Hud (11) 103: Indeed in that is a sign for those who fear the punishment of the Hereafter. That is a Day for which the people will be collected, and that is a Day [which will be] witnessed.

On that day, one flees from their brother, their mother, their father, their spouse and their children. Each one of them on that day has something that occupies them. On that day, the disbeliever will say, I wish I was dust! And the transgressor would like to ransom all that is on earth to be among the successful.

And on that day, the scale is set to weigh the deeds of every person. It is a very precise and sensitive scale that weighs atoms and the smallest of weights. Allah Almighty said:
Al Anbiya (21) 47: And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant.

At the scale, minds get lost and there is astonishment and no emotions for others. For a person only remembers themselves. For after the scale, there is only paradise or fire. Allah Almighty said:
Al Mominoon (23) 102-103: (102) And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] – it is they who are the successful. (103) But those whose scales are light – those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally.

In that situation, the most precious commodity is a good deed that can be added to one’s scale. So what about if that good deed is very weighty and heavy on the scale? How will that person feel? And what joy will fill their hearts and overcome them?

Rejoice, o people of faith, for there are good deeds and easy acts of obedience that make the scales heavy.

The first of the deeds that makes the scales heavy is implementing tawhid. If tawhid settles deeply into the heart, it bears the fruit of sincerity and loving Allah, and fearing Him and relying upon Him. So one will not call aside from Allah knowing that they cannot harm or benefit them. And one does not seek help except from Allah the Exalted. And one does not put their trust except in their Lord. And one does not take an oath by other than Allah. And one does not follow other than Allah.

If the tawhid is ingrained, then the person will be sincere in their deeds, and does not perform deeds for the sake of reputation or showing off. And they follow the way of the Prophet ﷺ and do not innovate in religion. And does not do anything that reduces or corrupts their tawhid. This person genuinely says and performs deeds implementing “ La Illaha Illa Lah”. For that reason, it makes the scale heavy and La Ilaha Ila La saves a person.

One of the greatest things that makes the scales heavy is good character.

The Prophet ﷺ said:
There is nothing heavier that is placed on the scales than good character. [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2003]

And from the easiest matters that makes the scales heavy is the remembrance of Allah. And how much do we fall short in this regard. Allah Almighty said:
Fussilat (41) 35: But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great portion [of good].

For there are known remembrances that are beloved to Allah. Our Prophet ﷺsaid:
Two words are light on the tongue, weigh heavily in the balance, and are loved by the Most Merciful One, Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdih, Subḥānallāhi ‘l-`Athīm (Glorified is Allah and praised is He, Glorified is Allah the Most Great.). [Al-Bukhari 7/168, Muslim 4/2072.]

And the Prophet ﷺ said:
Purity is half of iman (faith). Al-hamdu lillah (all praise and gratitude belong to Allah) fills the scales, and subhan-Allah (how far is Allah from every imperfection) and Al-hamdulillah (all praise and gratitude belong to Allah) fill that which is between heaven and earth. [Muslim 223]

From the rights of a deceased believer is to offer funeral (janaazah) prayer for them and follow their funeral procession until they are buried. And although this is easy to do, it is a deed that is great and big on the scale. The Prophet ﷺ said:
Whoever attends a funeral until he offers the funeral prayer will get a reward equal to one Qirat; and whoever attends it until the deceased is buried will get a reward equal to two Qirats.” It was asked: “What are the two Qirāts?” He replied: “Like two huge mountains.” And in a narration for Ahmad the Messenger of Allah was asked about a Qirat and he responded that it was like the Mount of Uhud. [Bukhari 1325, Muslim 945a]

These are some righteous deeds that are weighty on the scale. May Allah make us from among the doers of them as well as other weighty good deeds and grant us steadfastness upon the straight path.

Oh Muslims:Just as the good deeds, the bad deeds can be weighty on the scale. However, unlike the good deeds, bad deeds are not multiplied in number. Their weightiness is from being amplified in significance. For instance, bad deeds become amplified when performed in an honorable place like the sacred places of Allah. Allah Almighty said:
Al Hajj (22) 25: And [also] whoever intends [a deed] therein of deviation [in religion] by wrongdoing – We will make him taste of a painful punishment.

So if this is the warning to the one wanting to do a sin, then how about the one who actually does a sin?

And the misdeed gets amplified if it is done at an honorable time. Allah Almighty said of the sacred months:
At Tawbah (9) 36: So do not wrong yourselves during them.

And the misdeed is amplified if it is performed by someone who the people take as a role model. Allah said:
Al Ahzab (33) 30: O wives of the Prophet, whoever of you should commit a clear immorality – for her the punishment would be doubled two fold.

And the misdeed is amplified if there is no driver for it. The Prophet ﷺ said:
There are three to whom Allah will not speak to on the Day of Resurrection nor will He purify them, and they will have a painful punishment, an aged adulterer, and a lying king and an arrogant beggar. [Muslim 107]

So every believer should understand the weights the good and bad deeds. And to not underestimate any of them. For one does not know. Perhaps some deed that was trivialized could be the reason for them entering heaven or entering the fire!!!

So whoever plants in the worldly life will harvest in the hereafter. And whoever was heedless of preparing for the harvest will be regretful in the hereafter.

Allah Almighty said:
Al Qariah (101) 6-11: (6) Then as for one whose scales are heavy [with good deeds], (7) He will be in a pleasant life. (8) But as for one whose scales are light, (9) His refuge will be an abyss. (10) And what can make you know what that is? (11) It is a Fire, intensely hot.

May Allah make us among those who redeem themselves before it is too late. May Allah help us in performing righteous deeds and fill our scales with plenty of weighty good deeds. Indeed Allah is All Hearing, Answering.

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