The Fragrance Of Good Intention Alerts The Angels

The Fragrance Of Good Intention Alerts The Angels
Knowledge of the hereafter

The narrator asked the Imam (A.S.) how do angels know the good intentions of a faithful person? The Hazrat replied: As soon as a servant thinks of doing a good deed his body emanates a pleasing fragrance. So the angels understand it and they record that good intention.

When a fellow thinks of committing an evil, the bad smell of it hurts the angels. If a man thinks of doing good, a good is at once noted in his record of deeds. Then, if he carries out that good deed, ten goods are noted in his record.

Man Jaa a…Yuzlamoon (Surah Anaam: 6, V: 160).

Translation: Just see His generosity. The one who will do a good deed will get ten-fold reward of it. But if a man commits an evil he will be punished only for that one crime or offense or sin and he will not be dealt with unfairly.

Respite In Recording Good And Evil

One of the Mercies and Generosities of the Most Merciful One is also this kindness that when a servant intends to do an evil the angel named Ateed wants to note it down. But the angel Raqueeb tells him: Just wait. Give him some respite. Perhaps he may feel ashamed at his intention and may repent over it. So that person is given a respite of about five to seven hours and no evil is entered in his work sheet. It is okay if he repents during thus time. Otherwise, the angels say: How shameless is this servant. Then they enter his crime.

They Note Even The Blowing In Fire

Narrations show that there are two records for every person. One is the record of Hasanaat (good) and another of Saiyiaat (evils). Each and every deed done by man is recorded in one of the two records. So much so that if a man blows in a furnace or fires that action too is noted down. It is mentioned in the Holy Quran: Wa Kullu…Mustaatarr. (Surah Qamar 54:52-53).

Translation: And whatever these persons have done has been noted in their records, that is, every big or small action has been noted in it.

The Master Of The Universe Ali (A.S.) Addresses Indecent Youth Talkers

Shaykh Sadooq (a.r.) has mentioned in his book Aqaaid that one day, Amirul Momineen (A.S.) was passing by a place where he saw a group of youths who were busy in senseless talking and joking. Hazrat said: Are you darkening your records of deeds by such foolish deeds? They replied: O Amirul Momineen! Do you angels even have such gossip? The Imam (A.S.) replied: Yes, they record even a blow in fire.

Yes, even if you pick up and throw away a little thorn from a thoroughfare, your eyes will be bright and cool tomorrow in Qiyamah, because you saved the servants of God from harm. If you find a peel of banana or any other fruit on a road and if you remove it with an intention of saving God's servants from falling down, then remember, even this small and insignificant deed will also not go unrewarded.

Wisdom Behind Record Of Deeds

Here arises a question that when God is All-knowing Himself why any need of recording deeds of His servants?

Kalla…Illiyyeen (Surah Mutaffifin 83:18)

Kallaa…Sijjeen (Surah Mutaffifin 83:7)

Why all this giving the record of good people in their right hands by the Karroobeen angels and their carrying upwards and the records of evil fellows downwards? The answer is that the Most Merciful God likes it that His servants may not even go near evils and sins. If he knows that there is someone who is recording his deeds as per God's Command, he will remain cautious.

O sinful servant! Beware! The Lord of the Universe has appointed two spies over you in addition to your own body organs so that man may have some shame. On the other hand, they may be encouraged to do good through their knowledge about the recording of deeds and its importance and their good consequences. For a clearer understanding: -

Come! Read My Worksheet.

How much happiness the student feels who stands first in the examination result. He dances and shouts so that all may know about his shining success. “Come and look at my result sheet!” Shouts the student, “I have stood first.”

Tomorrow, on the Day of Judgement too, when a Momin (Faithful) will be given his scroll of Deeds in his right hand his happiness will know no bounds and he will very joyfully tell everyone: O friends! O my acquaintances! Just read my Naam-e-Amaal (Record of deeds).

Haa Umuq…Kitaabiyah (19:69)

Look at this testimonial about the acceptance of my prayers, my fastings and my good deeds! I was always worrying about the accounting of this Day.

Innee Za Nanatu…Raaziyah (69:20-21).

I was sure that I would get my account. Then he will remain in desired luxury. So such a person will live forever with such good luck in paradise.

But how unlucky is the child who has failed in his examination. He will walk toward his home bowing his head in a very unhappy state of mind. He will be telling to himself: How nice had I died and not seen this dark day of ashamedness. Sometimes such badly affected children also become ill. Multiply the degree of effect of this example a thousand times. You will have an idea of the pitiable condition of sinners when they will be given their record of deeds in their left hand.

I Wish They Had Not Given Me My Record Of Deeds

Wa Amma…Sultaniyah (Surah Haqqah 69:25-29).

Translation: And whose record of deeds will be given in his left hand will say: I wish! I should not have been given my record of deeds and I should not have known what my account was (result). I wish death would have finished me forever. Alas, my wealth did not avail me anything. O, my kingdom has gone in vain.

He will say so only because he will observe that his record has nothing but shame. He will wish for death after which there would be no death again and everything would end permanently. Then he will wail: My money did not help me and so my land and my power all have left me lurking in pain and shame.

How The Record Will Be Given From Behind

There also will be some people in the field of Mahshar on the Day of Qiyamah, who will be handed over their records of deeds from behind:

Wa Ammaa…Sa ee Rah (Surah Inshiqaq 84:10-12)

Translation: But the one who will be given his record of deeds from behind will pray for death and he will enter hell-fire.

This (giving of record from behind) can be in two ways: First, both of his hands may be tied to his be tied to his back and his head will be turned so that he can read his record. Another way can be that his left hand will pierced in his chest forcing it to come out in his back and then his face will be turned and he will be ordered to read his record:

Iqra' Kitabaka…Haseeba (Surah Israa 17:14)

(We will ask him): Read your record of deeds. Today you are sufficient to take your own account. He will himself read back-bitings, false allegations, lies, shameless utterances and actions, assaults on others' honor and all other evils committed by him in his worldly life. Likewise, he will also read the offenses done by his body organs. He will raise a wailing voice. “This book is such that it has not left even any big or small deed of mine without writing it down. Whatever he has done in the world will be now before his own eyes.

Ya Wai La Ta Na…Ahadaa (Surah Kahf 18:49).

Translation: Alas, this is my misfortune! What type of book is this which leaves neither a little error nor a great crime without recording. And they will find inscribed whatever they had done in the world and your Lord will not do even the slightest injustice to anyone.

Severe Pain After Reading The Record

Some people will be such that reading their records of deeds all the joints of their bodies will disintegrate. Blood and dirt will begin to flow from their eyes. It is mentioned in a Hadith of the Holy Prophet that, at that time, a voice will come a Voice: “Is there this record even a single deed which you had not done?” He will reply: No, O My Lord! Everything recorded in this sheet is true. Then he will bow his head in shame.

No Suspension Or A Suspension For A Thousand Years

On the Day of Judgement, man will, in a split second, remember all of his lifelong deeds and also see them recorded in a scroll or sheet. It will be a very strange realm. Everyone's record will appear clear before everyone's eyes. Some people will be able to become free accounting within seconds. They will be Sulehaa (pious people). But some people will remain suspended in their accounting for a thousand years, not because their record will be very lengthy but what will be aimed at will be the pain and hardship due for them. Some people's accounting will take very little time, such as for milking a sheep. The time taken for some people's account will be, so to say, from Zuhr (noon) to Asr (afternoon). Some will remain suspended in accounting for forty years, a thousand years and even up to fifty thousand years in some cases.

God Tidings For The Friends Of Ahle Bayt (A.S.)

Wa Ayaab…Alaikum

It is mentioned by Shaykh Mufeed (r.a.) through consecutive evidences in Bihar-ul-Anwar vol. 3 that Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: Qaa La Izaa…Hisaabahum meaning: On the Day of Qiyamah God Almighty will entrust the accounting of our Shias to us. Then if there will be anything due to God, we will request God to grant it to us and it will be granted. Then whatever will be due to us from them we will forgive. Then the Hazrat recited this verse: Inna Ilainaa… Yaabahum (Surah Ghashiyah 88:65-66)

The Holy Prophet Will Pay Up For The Rights Of The Shias

In the same book (Bihar-ul-Anwaar vol. 3) there is another narration relating to the accounting on the Day of Judgement wherein the Hazrat says, after the mention of God's rights and Imam's rights (which will be forgiven):

Fa Maa…Anhum

Meaning: If Shias will have to pay up the dues of people, the same will be paid up to the concerned people by the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his household).

May the Most Merciful Allah make us the Shias of Aale Muhammad (A.S.) and also raise us with them on the Day of grand gathering. (Aameen).

Thanks To God Our Account Has Been Entrusted To Generous Persons

The good tidings for Shias is that, on the Day of Judgement, Almighty Allah will call every community with their Imam. Subhanallah! How lucky is the deed the auditor of which will be Hazrat Hujjat Ibn-ul-Hasan (May God hasten his appearance). When the Hazrat will look at our deeds, though we will be bowing our heads down due to our shameful deeds, we will be hopeful because of being his lovers that the Hazrat will intercede for us. Thanks to the Merciful God that our accounting will be in the hands of the one who will be extremely generous and who will be having a very high status in the court of God Who alone is worth worship.

Meezaan (Balance)

The Meezaan (Balance) of the Divine Justice in which there is not the slightest chance of deviation or mistake is the Holy Prophet of Hazrat Maulaa-e-Kaainaat Amirul Momineen Ali (A.S.). If the Namaz or prayers of all the earlier and the latter people are compared with the prayer of Ali (A.S.) the latter's prayer will surpass all others prayers.

Hazrat Imam Sadiq (A.S.) is reported to have said: AL Mawaazeen…meaning: The balances or scales which will be established on the Day of Judgement, for weighting the deeds of people will be the Prophets and their legatees. They are the Aale Muhammad (A.S.). Our prayers will be brought to the field of the Grand Gathering (Mahshar) and it will be observed whether or not they have any resemblance with the prayers of Ali (A.S.). Whether or not we have anything like the high virtues of Ali bin Abi Talib (A.S.) like generosity, courage, bravery, self-respect, manliness, kindness, justice and fair-play etc. Have we any of it to an extent!

Of course, it is an established fact that doubtlessly it is impossible that our deeds and prayers and fastings and our virtues could ever be like those of Imam Ali (A.S.). The only thing to be seen is that our deeds must not be contrary to the character of Amirul Momineen and the Holy Imams (A.S.); that they should not be deviated or divergent from that. So, God forbid, if you have extended your hand towards any prohibited thing or have eaten the property of others unlawfully then do remember that you have turned away from the balance of the truth.

* The Hereafter - Ma'ad. Chapter 3. By Ayatullah Dastghaib Shiraazi (q.s.).