“The matter will be too grave for that.” (1)

That is, too grave for them to look at one another, for everyone will be preoccupied with himself.

Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—said: Belief in the Last Day includes believing in everything the Prophet—may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace—informed us would occur after death. You must therefore believe in the trial of the grave—that is, the test the deceased will undergo after he is buried and his companions depart. Two angels will come to him and question him about his Lord, his religion, and his prophet. You must also believe that the grave is either a garden from the gardens of Paradise or a pit from the pits of Hell—that it contains either punishment or reward. You must likewise believe in Paradise and Hell. Everything pertaining to the Last Day is included in the words, “that you believe in Allah and the Last Day.”

As for divine decree, it is the ordainment of Allah—Glorious and Exalted is He. In other words, you must believe that Allah Most High has ordained all things. Allah created the Pen and said to it, “Write.” It asked, “What shall I write?” He said, “Write all that will occur until the Day of Resurrection.” At that very moment, the Pen wrote all that would occur until the Day of Resurrection. (2)

Thus, the faith referred to in His words, “except those who believe,” encompasses belief in the six fundamentals of faith explained by the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

The second quality is mentioned in His words, “and do righteous deeds.” This means that they perform righteous deeds, including prayer, zakat, fasting, Hajj, dutifulness to parents, maintaining ties of kinship, and other such deeds. They do not confine themselves merely to what is in the heart; rather, they act and bear fruit. Righteous deeds are those that comprise two things:

First: sincerity to Allah—Glorious and Exalted is He.

Second: conformity to the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.