He said, “Act and do not rely on what is written. The Record is part of the unseen; we do not know what it contains. Whoever does good, that is a glad-tiding that he belongs to the people of good, and whoever does otherwise, that is a warning.” He further said, “Work, for everyone will be facilitated for that for which he was created.

So, my brother, if you see that Allah has smoothed the path for you to perform the deeds of the fortunate, then rejoice—you are of the fortunate. When you find yourself readily drawn to prayer, to giving zakat, to every act of goodness, and you possess God-fearingness, know and be glad that you are among the blessed, for Allah says: “But as for the one who gives, is mindful, and affirms the best promise—We shall ease his way toward ease” ⦗92:5-7⦘.

If, however, you notice the opposite—your soul opens up to sin, God forbid, and you feel constricted by acts of obedience—then beware, save yourself, and repent to Allah until He grants you ease. Know that when you turn to Allah, Allah turns to you. Even if you sin, no matter how great the sin, Allah Most High says: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy; indeed, Allah forgives all sins’” ⦗39:53⦘.

On this basis, when a person comes to the cemetery and the people sit around him, it is fitting for him to admonish them with something appropriate—such as this hadith or the report of ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Murrah, who related that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once came upon the funeral of a man from the Ansar, found them digging the grave but not yet finished, and so he sat down