The Legacy of a Deed

Every soul will surely taste death – it is an inevitable and unavoidable reality. When a servant dies, the record of deeds is closed, yet the impact of the deeds left behind continues – enriching the record and bringing comfort to his/her soul. In a Hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The intelligent one is he who holds himself accountable and acts for what comes after death, while the incapable one is he who follows his desires and merely places vain hopes upon Allah.”

That being said, among the most important works a servant must focus on for the life after death is the legacy they leave behind. Human life is limited in time, yet its essence, meaning, dignity, and honor depend on the strength of the faith that resides in the soul – faith that directs the course of life, preserves its continuity, and provides the energy to remain steadfast on the straight path.

Such a meaningful life is manifested in righteous deeds, for it is righteous deeds that lead to a good life and pave the way to the eternal gardens. For these deeds to fulfill their purpose, they must be accepted by Allah, as Solomon (peace be upon him) supplicated: “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me, and upon my parents, and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants” (27:19). Allah, exalted is He, also said: “Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will be rewarded with what is better” (28:84).

To be able to present a good deed on the Day of Judgment in a manner worthy of acceptance requires effort, sincerity, and care in its completion. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Deeds are judged by their endings.” He (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “When Allah wishes good for a servant, He uses him in this world before his death.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, how does He use him?” He replied: “He guides him to a righteous deed and then takes his soul while he is upon it.’”

Deeds have two aspects, as indicated in Allah’s words: “Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have sent forth and what they left behind; and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.” (36:12). The first aspect is what the servant presents before his Lord, and the second is the impact or legacy that follows from that action. This impact reflects the true value of the deed and indicates whether it is accepted or rejected. For example, regarding prayer: if it is performed without humility or attention to its conditions and pillars, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When a man performs the prayer well, completing its bowing and prostration, the prayer says: 'May Allah protect you as you have protected me.' And it is accepted. But if he performs the prayer poorly, not completing its bowing and prostration, the prayer says: 'May Allah abandon you as you have abandoned me.' Then it is twisted like a piece of cloth and struck upon his face.”

Similarly, regarding charity, Allah says: “O believers! Do not invalidate your charity with reminders ˹of your generosity˺ or hurtful words” (2:264). And in a Hadith: “There is a fasting person who gains nothing from his fast except thirst, and a standing (praying) person who gains nothing from his night prayer except sleeplessness.” The effect of such deeds is fruitless for their doer when they leave behind no trace, no impact – no record in the register, and no transformation in one’s conduct. Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported in a mawquf narration: “Whoever’s prayer does not prevent him from immorality and wrongdoing gains nothing from Allah except further distance.”

The meaning of paying attention to the ‘impact’ of one’s deeds is to ensure the goodness of the deed and to reflect on its consequences in order to perfect and complete it. This was the practice of the prophets, such as Ibrahim (peace be upon him), when he asked his Lord: “And grant me a mention [i.e., reputation] of honor among later generations” (26:84). This supplication encompasses a request for continuity and a perfect conclusion, seeking good praise during his life and its continuation after his death, so that the praise would invite the prayers and blessings of others upon him. Among the sayings of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) that have been passed down through generations and have left a lasting impact, Allah recorded in His Book his words: ‘"Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship. Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me” (43:26-27). This statement became a lasting word for posterity, guiding them back to the truth.

In contrast, consider the arrogant ones who act in wrongdoing. Allah says about them: “Let them bear their burdens in full on the Day of Judgment as well as some of the burdens of those they mislead without knowledge. Evil indeed is what they will bear!” (16:25). Similarly, regarding the people of Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun: “We made them leaders inviting to the Fire. And on the Day of Judgment, they will not be helped” (28:41).

Thus, every deed has an impact: if it is good, it nourishes the soul in the grave and increases glad tidings for the servant; if it is blameworthy, the sin multiplies and drives its doer into the Fire. This principle applies to every action a servant performs. Therefore, directing the heart to ensure the impact of one’s deeds guarantees proper performance, acceptance of the deed, protection from the curse, and the attainment of supplication.

In a practical sense, being mindful of what one leaves behind involves not only perfecting one’s deeds, but also caring for others and avoiding actions that bring about a curse. This principle applies to any action that affects others – that is, any action involving someone beyond oneself. Examples include using public baths, sharing water, the manner of communication, giving advice, and so on. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed: “Beware of the two accursed acts.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what are the two accursed acts?” He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: “Relieving oneself on the pathways of people or in their shade.”

For this reason, Allah described His servants: “The ˹true˺ servants of the Most Compassionate are those who walk on the earth humbly, and when the foolish address them ˹improperly,˺ they only respond with 'Peace'” (25:63). This is the mark of a person whose concern is to leave behind a good legacy through their actions and to be remembered after death in such a way that even the heavens and the earth would weep for them.

It is reported that a man came to Ibn ‘Abbas and said: “O Ibn ‘Abbas, what do you think of Allah’s statement: 'Neither heaven nor earth wept over them, nor was their fate delayed' (44:29)? Do the heavens and the earth weep for anyone?” He replied: “Yes. There is no creature except that it has a gate in the heavens through which its provision descends, and its deeds ascend. When a believer dies, the gate in the heavens through which his deeds would ascend and his provision would descend is closed, and the heavens weep for him. And when he is absent from his place of prayer on earth, where he used to pray and remember Allah, the earth also weeps for him. As for the people of Pharaoh, they left behind no righteous traces on earth, nor did any good of theirs ascend to the heavens. Therefore, the heavens and the earth did not weep for them.”