Every Soul Is a Hostage to Its Deeds

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

“كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌ”

(Qur’ān 52:21)

“Kullu Amri’in Bimā Kasaba Rahīnun”

“Every person, for what he earned, is retained.” Ṣadaqa Llāhu l-‘Aẓīm.

Every person is responsible and accountable for himself. Whatever he earned, he will be treated accordingly. In the presence of Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla, whatever he did, he is responsible for himself.

A person will see what he himself did from worships, obediences and so. Nothing will be lost. The things done in dunyā are never lost. What is lost? If you have committed sins and you repent and ask for forgiveness for them, Allāh ﷻ makes them lost. He ﷻ erases them.

But if you persist thinking you are something, continue doing the same thing every day and show others this way, then you will be punished. You will give an account of what you have earned. Then, you will see what benefit it has given you.

Therefore, while in dunyā, they say a breath in dunyā is better than a thousand years under ground. Because as long as you are breathing, Allāh ﷻ forgives you and your sins are forgiven. Otherwise, it would already be in the past. When a person closes his eyes, his book is closed. The good deeds he had done are cut, except for three things, says our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam.

The first is a righteous child who does goodness and charity after you. It comes to you as goodness, and that will benefit him too. The second is good knowledge that you leave to people so that they can benefit from. And the third is doing a good deed for the benefit of the ummah; a mosque, madrasah, hospital, orphanage or whatever there is, even if it’s a fountain. Things that people benefit from. The du’ā’s of those who benefit from them will be accepted and will reach you.

Otherwise, you have done nothing. On top of that you have committed sins. And that was not enough. You’ve also been stubborn. You have defied Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla. Then, you will be in a bad state; not difficult but very bad. May Allāh ﷻ protect us.

So a person will find everything he does in ākhirah. ‘كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌ’, ‘Kullu Amri’in Bimā Kasaba Rahīnun’, ‘Every person, for what he earned, is retained.’ (Qur’ān 52:21). He is held. Just as if he is seized, like a hostage. If there is something against him, he will pay it and be freed. “No, I have nothing”, “Then, come here. That way, to the left side.” If there are a few things [deeds] there, then you can get out later. But if there’s nothing, you’ll stay there forever.

May Allāh ﷻ protect us. May Allāh ﷻ not make us obey our egos, in shā’a Llāh. Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq.

Al-Fatiha.

• Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbaniق

28 June 2025/ 03 Muharram 1447

Lefke, Cyprus

English starts from [04:59]:

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