333 – Al-Firyābī informed us, saying: Qutaybah ibn Saīd narrated to us, saying: al-Layth ibn Sad narrated to us, from Abū Qabīl, from Shufayy ibn Māti, from Abd Allāh ibn Amr ibn al-Ās, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us holding two books. He asked, “Do you know what these two ⦗753⦘ books are?” They replied, “No, O Messenger of Allah—not unless you tell us.” Referring to the one in his right hand, he said, “This is a book from the Lord of the worlds. It contains the names of the people of Paradise, together with the names of their fathers and their tribes. He then completed their enumeration, down to the last of them; no one will ever be added to them or taken away from them.” Referring to the one in his left hand, he said, “This is the book of the people of the Fire, containing their names, the names of their fathers, and their tribes. He then completed their enumeration, down to the last of them; no one will ever be added to them or taken away from them.”

His Companions asked, “Then what purpose is there in deeds, O Messenger of Allah, if the matter has already been settled?” He replied, “Adhere to the right course and strive to come as close to it as you can. A person destined for Paradise will have his life sealed with the deeds of the people of Paradise, whatever deeds he may have done ⦗754⦘; and a person destined for the Fire will have his life sealed with the deeds of the people of the Fire, whatever deeds he may have done.”

He then gestured with his hand, sweeping it aside, and said, “Your Lord has already settled the matter of His servants: ‘A party will be in Paradise and a party in the Blaze’ [al-Shūrā: 7].”