was done for show, which was obedience, and which was disobedience to Allah. He will then recompense you for all of it, rewarding the doer of good for his goodness and the evildoer for his evil. Ibn Wakīʿ narrated to us, saying: Ibn Yamān narrated to us, from Sufyān, from an unnamed man, from Mujāhid, concerning the words, “And say, ‘Act, for Allah will see your deeds, as will His Messenger and the believers.’” He said: “This is a threat.” End quote from his commentary on the verse. Mujāhid’s report is weak, as is evident, because al-Thawrī’s shaykh is unknown—may Allah have mercy on him.

Ibn Kathīr—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “Mujāhid said: ‘This is a threat from Allah Most High to those who disobey His commands: their deeds will be presented to Him, to the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and to the believers. This will inevitably occur on the Day of Resurrection, as He says: “On that Day you will be presented, and no secret of yours will remain hidden”; and He Most High says: “On the Day when secrets are laid bare”; and He says: “And what is within the breasts is brought forth.” Allah Most High may also disclose such deeds to people in this world. Thus, Imam Ahmad narrated that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “Even if one of you were to perform a deed inside a solid rock that had neither a door nor an opening, Allah would bring his deed before the people, whatever it might be.”

“Reports have also stated that the deeds of the living are presented in the intermediate realm to their deceased relatives and clansmen. It is related that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “Your deeds are presented to your deceased relatives and clansmen. If they are good, they rejoice in them; but if they are otherwise, they say: ‘O Allah, do not let them die until You guide them as You guided us.’” (Narrated by Ahmad and al-Tayālisī.)

“Al-Bukhārī said: Aisha—may Allah be pleased with her—said: ‘If the goodness of a Muslim’s deed pleases you, then say: “Act, for Allah will see your deeds, as will His Messenger and the believers.”’ The authentic hadith states: ‘When Allah intends good for His servant, He puts him to use before his death.’ They asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, how does He put him to use?’ He replied: ‘He guides him to a righteous deed and then takes his soul while he is engaged in it.’” (Narrated by Ahmad from Anas ibn Mālik.) End quote from al-Tafsīr al-Azīm.

The reports concerning the presentation of the deeds of the living to their dead are not established. I have demonstrated their weakness in my book Life in the Intermediate Realm.