“Praise be to Allah! No one today has more honored guests than I.” He then went and brought them a cluster of dates containing unripe, dried, and fresh ripe dates, and said, “Eat from these.” He took up the knife, but the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “Be careful not to slaughter a milk-giving animal!” He slaughtered a sheep for them, and they ate from it and from that cluster of dates, and they drank. When they had eaten their fill and quenched their thirst, the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said to Abū Bakr and Umar, “By Him in whose Hand is my soul, you will surely be questioned about this blessing on the Day of Resurrection. Hunger drove you from your homes, and you did not return until you had received this blessing.” (1)

Another narration states: “By Him in whose Hand is my soul, this is among the blessings about which you will be questioned on the Day of Resurrection: cool shade, wholesome fresh dates, and cool water.” (2) This proves that both the believer and the disbeliever will be questioned.

The nature of the questioning, however, will differ. The believer will be questioned by way of being reminded of Allah’s blessing upon him, so that he rejoices and knows that the One who blessed him in this world will also bless him in the Hereafter. In other words, just as He graciously bestowed His blessing upon him in this world, He will graciously bestow His blessing upon him in the Hereafter. As for the disbeliever, he will be questioned by way of reproach and made to feel remorse.

We ask Allah Most High to employ us in obedience to Him and to make what He has provided us an aid in obeying Him. He is indeed powerful over all things.