To Live a Life of No Regrets

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is a transcript of discourse delivered by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

One of the differences with the life of this world and that of barzakh is that in barzakh we will be able to see our past and our future destination.  Here, in this world we can only see our past and present.  We do not know our destination.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ یسٓ

إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ وَكُلَّ شَىۡءٍ أَحۡصَيۡنَـٰهُ فِىٓ إِمَامٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ (١٢) 

Verily We shall Give life to the dead, and We Record that which they sent before and that which they leave behind, and of all things have We Taken Account in a clear Book (of evidence). (Surah YaSin:12) 

Nothing will be left unrecorded regarding the activities of an individual.  One of the meanings of “that which they leave behind” is that of swadaqat al-jariyah.  If our family prays for us or if we have left something behind that people can benefit from; these things would be of great benefit to us.  We must never forget Allah (s.w.t.) does not only Record the good that we do but He also Records those things that we did and that we left behind that were of no value to anyone including ourselves.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ النّحل

مَا عِندَكُمۡ يَنفَدُ‌ۖ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ بَاقٍ۬‌ۗ وَلَنَجۡزِيَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوٓاْ أَجۡرَهُم بِأَحۡسَنِ مَا ڪَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ (٩٦) 

What is with you must vanish: what is with Allah will Endure.  And We will certainly Bestow, on those who patiently persevere their reward according to the best of their actions. (Surah an-Nahl:96) 

Allah (s.w.t.) Records those things that would be of benefit to us that we send before and that would continue to benefit us after we leave this earth.  He also Records those things that we left behind that would have caused harm to others and were valueless.  Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) is reported to have said on the Day of Judgment the deeds of man would be divided into two; that which was done for Allah (s.w.t.) and that which was done for the world.  More importantly of barzakh is regret that some people would experience when they see their destination: 

سُوۡرَةُ المنَافِقون

وَأَنفِقُواْ مِن مَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِىَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوۡلَآ أَخَّرۡتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ۬ قَرِيبٍ۬ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ (١٠) 

And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have Bestowed on you, before death should come to any of you and he should say, “O my Lord!  Why did You not Give me Respite for a little while?  I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good.” (Surah al-Munafiqun:10) 

When certain people go to barzakh and they see the benefit and loss suffered they would plead to Allah (s.w.t.) to go back and only then would they be the most righteous, charitable and better.  This is an important lesson for all of us.  We cannot wait for when reality comes to us to transform our lives.  When Pharaoh was drowning and he saw death fast approaching he shouted, “I believe in the God of Moses.”  All the along he paid no heed to the numerous signs Allah (s.w.t.) Sent to him.  Only when he saw his end nearing and he remembered the type of life he lived in the world, and the misery of the stay in barzakh then he believed.  We must not wait to be like that. 

The Message is clear.  This is possibly why the Qur’an is called Kitab al-Mubin.  Everyone can understand the rules.  We do not need a scholar to explain to us.  We do not wait until it is too late.  That should be out of the question for believers.  We do not sacrifice everything for this world.  We remember Allah (s.w.t.) Records what is sent before and what is left behind.  We do not fall into the situation that the unbelievers would find themselves in, as Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ النّبَإِ

... يَوۡمَ يَنظُرُ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مَا قَدَّمَتۡ يَدَاهُ وَيَقُولُ ٱلۡكَافِرُ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى كُنتُ تُرَٲبَۢا (٤٠) 

… the Day when man will see (the Deeds) which his hands have sent forth, and the Unbeliever will say "Woe unto me! Would that I were (mere) dust!" (Surah an-Naba’:40) 

We must try to strike an appropriate balance in this world so that when death comes we will be prepared and not be in a state of regret when placed in barzakh.  We want to be from amongst those who will be pleased to meet our Lord and He would be Pleased to meet us, insha’Allah.  The time to improve and make amends is now; we must not procrastinate.  None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.  We beg Allah (s.w.t.) to Help us and Bless us to be alert to making the best use of our life in this world and to have no regrets when we depart for the next.