—along with his certain expectation of meeting Him and ultimately returning to Him; the smallness of this world in his heart and the greatness of the Hereafter in his sight; his eagerness for the Supreme Kingdom and the magnificent triumph stored up there; his tasting the sweetness of obedience and experiencing the delight of faith; the prayers offered for him by the bearers of the Throne and the angels who encircle it; the joy of the recording angels and their constant supplication on his behalf; the increase granted to him in intellect, understanding, faith, and knowledge; and, above all, Allah’s love for him, His turning toward him, and His rejoicing at his repentance. In return, He compensates him with a happiness and joy that bears no comparison whatsoever to the fleeting pleasure he once found in sin. These are but some of the effects of forsaking disobedience in this present world.
When such a person dies, the angels greet him with glad tidings from his Lord of Paradise, assuring him that he need neither fear nor grieve. He is transferred from the prison and constriction of this world to a garden from the gardens of Paradise, where he will enjoy bliss until the Day of Resurrection.
On the Day of Judgement, while people swelter in heat and perspiration, he will be shaded by the Throne.
And once the assembly disperses from before Allah, he will be directed to the right, together with Allah’s pious allies, the truly successful party.
“That is Allah’s favor; He grants it to whom He wills, and Allah is the Possessor of immense favor.” (Q 57:21)
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Ibn Saʿd relates in his al-Ṭabaqāt (1) that whenever ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz delivered a sermon from the pulpit and feared that self-admiration might overtake him, he would stop at once; and whenever he wrote a letter and sensed in it a trace of conceit, he would tear it up, saying, “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of my own soul.”