remained. In the final moments of his life, he desired to eat fish. Fish was sought, but not a single fish could be found in the entire city. I was commanded by Allah Almighty to arrange fish for him so that the reward of the final good deed may also be given to him in this world, leaving him empty-handed for the Hereafter.”

After narrating this, he asked the other angel: “And you—where are you going?”

He replied: “In such-and-such city, there is a Muslim whose final moments have also arrived. He has already been afflicted with trials in exchange for the sins he has committed, and now no sins remain in his record except one. In these last moments he felt thirsty and wished to drink water. I have been commanded to spill his water so that, through this final trial, his last remaining sin may be erased, and he may leave this world completely purified of sins.”^[1]

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه ! Dear Islamic brothers, behold the majesty of our Most Merciful and Compassionate Lord! We are His servants; whether He grants us happiness or tests us with trials, it is all His decree, and in every state it is His favour upon us. Yet how astonishing is His mercy—we commit sins, making ourselves worthy of Hell, but our All-Powerful and All-Sustaining Lord wipes away our sins through trials and makes the path to Paradise easier for us.

Detesting Disbelief Is Essential

Dear Islamic brothers, اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه, we are Muslims—undoubtedly this is an immense blessing of Allah Almighty. Reciting the Kalimah and being Muslim will, اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه, become a means of entering Paradise and being saved from Hell. But remember! Merely being Muslim is not enough for salvation and entry into Paradise; rather, it is necessary to leave this world with faith intact.

Therefore, we must be concerned about the protection of our faith. Allah Almighty has granted us the blessing of īmān; we must value it, express gratitude for it, and continuously maintain hatred for disbelief.

It is stated in a blessed Hadith: