his body—how he wore it out; about his knowledge—what he did with it; and about his wealth—how he earned it and how he spent it.” (1)

A similar report from Ibn Masʿūd has already been cited (2), and a narration of comparable wording from Abū Dharr has likewise been recorded (3). Allah knows best.

Ibn Abī al-Dunyā also said: Suraij ibn Yūnus narrated to us; al-Walīd ibn Muslim narrated to us, from al-Ghaḍawwar ibn ʿUtayq (4), from Makḥūl, who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “O ʿUwaymir, O Abū al-Dardāʾ! How will it be with you when it is said to you on the Day of Resurrection, ‘Did you know, or were you ignorant?’ If you say, ‘I knew,’ it will be asked, ‘What did you do with what you knew?’ And if you say, ‘I was ignorant,’ it will be asked, ‘What excuse did you have for your ignorance? Why did you not learn?’” This has also been transmitted through another chain as a statement of Abū al-Dardāʾ himself (5). Allah knows best.

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Al-Bukhārī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Chapter: People will be called on the Day of Resurrection by their fathers’ names. He then cited the ḥadīth of ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “For every traitor a banner will be raised on the Day of Resurrection at his backside, and it will be proclaimed: ‘This is the treachery of So-and-so, son of So-and-so.’” (6)

Some scholars have said: If a banner is lifted for the betrayer so that he is recognized and disgraced, then what of those who persist in matters far graver than betrayal? How could banners not be raised over them as well? Yet the Lord—exalted is He—conceals and does not expose, as the earlier ḥadīths have shown.

It has likewise been reported by Aḥmad, from Hushaym, from Abū al-Jahm, from al-Zuhrī, from Abū Salamah, from Abū Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Imruʾ al-Qays will carry the banner of the poets of the Age of Ignorance into the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.” (7)

They said: If this is the case for such people, then it is still more fitting and proper that banners be raised for the Imams of guidance and for those who invite to goodness—namely the prophets and their followers. This is a fine observation, and the same applies to the Imams of tyranny and injustice. Allah—glorified and exalted—is best aware.

Abū Bakr ibn Abī al-Dunyā said: ʿAlī ibn al-Jaʿd and Muḥammad ibn Bakkār narrated to us; both said: Hushaym narrated to us, from Dāwūd ibn ʿAmr and from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Zakariyyā, from Abū al-Dardāʾ, who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: