Every believer is on a journey. A journey that began the day they were born and will end the moment their soul is taken. Between these two moments lies a test. Success in this test depends on striving for good deeds, controlling one’s desires, seeking forgiveness, and relying completely on the mercy of Allah.
A Muslim should never feel satisfied with the bare minimum. Each day is an opportunity to increase in prayer, charity, remembrance of Allah, kindness, patience, and sincerity. Good deeds are not only acts of worship like salah and fasting, but also smiling at others, speaking truthfully, helping the needy, and removing harm from someone’s path.
However, it is important to understand something profound, when a person is able to do good, it is not solely because of their own strength or intelligence. It is a gift from Allah. The ability to wake up for Fajr, to give charity, to lower one’s gaze, or to forgive someone, all of it is from the mercy of the Most Merciful.
Recognizing this protects a believer from arrogance. Instead of feeling proud, they feel grateful. Instead of thinking, “I did this,” they say, Alhamdulillah, Allah allowed me to do this.
In today’s world, strength is often misunderstood. People think strength means dominance, power, wealth, or influence, but true strength lies elsewhere. The strong person is the one who controls their anger when provoked. The strong person is the one who resists sinful desires when tempted. It is easy to follow desires, it is difficult to restrain them. It is easy to react in anger, it is difficult to forgive and remain calm. Self control is a sign of faith. When someone restrains their anger for the sake of Allah, or lowers their gaze out of obedience to Him, that is real strength. That is real victory, victory over the self.
No matter how much good a person does, they will never be free from mistakes. Humans are weak. We fall short. We forget. We sin knowingly and unknowingly. That is why seeking forgiveness (istighfar) must be a daily habit. Asking Allah for forgiveness cleans the heart, increases provision, brings peace, and strengthens the relationship between the servant and their Lord. A believer never becomes arrogant about their deeds because they know they have shortcomings. They constantly say I seek forgiveness from Allah, “Astaghfirullah,” not only after sinning, but even after doing good, because they know their deeds are imperfect.
Death is the only guarantee in life. It can come at any time young or old, healthy or sick, rich or poor. It does not wait for someone to finish their plans or get ready later. For many, death is an unprepared event. It arrives suddenly, but for the believer who lives consciously, remembering Allah and striving to follow His guidance, death is not a shock, it is a meeting with their Lord. Preparation for death is not about wealth or status. It is about faith, sincerity, repentance, and consistency in following the straight path.
True preparation lies in holding firmly to what Allah has revealed in the Quran and following the teachings and example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Quran is guidance, light, and mercy. The Sunnah explains how to live that guidance in daily life. A person who prays as the Prophet ﷺ prayed, speaks truthfully as he spoke, shows mercy as he showed mercy, and avoids what Allah prohibited, such a person is preparing themselves for the Hereafter. This does not mean they are perfect. It means they are sincere and striving.
One of the most humbling realities is that no one will enter Paradise solely because of their deeds. No matter how much a person prays, fasts, or gives charity, their deeds alone are not enough to repay even the smallest blessing from Allah. Entry into Paradise is by the mercy of Allah. Our deeds are a means. They are proof of our faith and sincerity, but it is Allah’s mercy that ultimately saves us.
This understanding creates balance we work hard and strive. We do not become lazy, but we also do not become arrogant.
We combine effort with hope, and fear with reliance.
A believer must be between two, striving in good deeds and hoping in Allah’s mercy. They fear their shortcomings, yet trust in their Lord. They prepare for death, yet live with purpose. They control their desires, seek forgiveness constantly, and hold firmly to the Quran and Sunnah. If a person lives in this way, then when death comes, whenever it comes, they are prepared, by the permission of Allah.
سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك أشهد ان لا اله الا انت استغفرك وأتوب اليك