WHAT WILL FLOW FOR YOU AFTER YOUR DEATH?

  

FAJR REMINDER: WHAT WILL FLOW FOR YOU AFTER YOUR DEATH?

Rabīʿ al-Akhīr 7, 1448 AH | 19 September 2026

When the early light of Islām began to shine through the message of the Prophet ﷺ, ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn (Raḍiyallāhu ʿAnhu) was among those who hastened to embrace the truth. He was one of the early Muslims who supported the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ and sacrificed for the sake of Allāh.

His wife, Khawlah bint Ḥakīm as-Sulamiyyah (Raḍiyallāhu ʿAnha), was also among the early Muslims.

Allāh (ﷻ) says:

“And the foremost are the foremost.”
[Sūrah al-Wāqiʿah 56:10]

ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn was among the noble Companions. He was an early Muslim, a Muhājir, and a man whose life reflected devotion, sacrifice, and a sincere desire to draw closer to Allāh.

He was deeply religious and desired to devote himself completely to worship. Because of this, he considered adopting tabattul—withdrawing from marriage and worldly pleasures in order to dedicate himself entirely to worship.

But the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ did not approve of this approach.

Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (Raḍiyallāhu ʿAnhu) narrated:

“Allāh's Messenger ﷺ forbade ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn from abstaining from marriage and other pleasures. If he had permitted it, we would have castrated ourselves.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5073]

This teaches us something profound about ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn. His problem was not a lack of devotion. Rather, his desire to worship Allāh was so strong that he wanted to go beyond what Allāh had legislated.

But the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ taught him that true devotion is not measured by how severely we deprive ourselves. It is measured by how faithfully we follow the guidance of Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ.

Islām is not monasticism.

The believer worships Allāh, but also fulfils the responsibilities Allāh has placed upon him. He fasts, but he also eats. He prays, but he also sleeps. He seeks the Hereafter, but he does not have to abandon the lawful blessings that Allāh has permitted.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“I pray and I sleep; I fast and I break my fast; and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1401]

This is the balance of Islām.

We should not neglect our worship, but neither should we invent a form of religious devotion that contradicts the Sunnah. What Allāh has made lawful does not need to be rejected in order for us to become closer to Him.

Let the Islām brought by the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ be sufficient for us.

After the migration to Madīnah, ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn stayed with the family of Umm al-ʿAlāʾ (Raḍiyallāhu ʿAnha), one of the Anṣār. He later became ill and passed away while staying with them.

Umm al-ʿAlāʾ (Raḍiyallāhu ʿAnha) narrated:

“ʿUthmān fell ill and I nursed him until he died.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2687]

After his death, Umm al-ʿAlāʾ said:

“May the Mercy of Allāh be upon you, O Abū as-Sāʾib. My testimony concerning you is that Allāh has certainly honoured you.”

But the Prophet ﷺ asked her:

“And what makes you know that Allāh has honoured him?”

She replied that she did not know.

The Prophet ﷺ then said:

“As for ʿUthmān, certainty has come to him. By Allāh, I hope good for him. By Allāh, I do not know what will be done with me, while I am the Messenger of Allāh.”

Umm al-ʿAlāʾ then said:

“By Allāh, I will never declare anyone pure after him.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2687]

What a powerful lesson.

Even concerning a noble Companion such as ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn, the Prophet ﷺ taught them not to speak with certainty about matters of the unseen.

We may hope for someone's good end. We may make duʿāʾ for them. We may mention their virtues and righteous deeds. But the ultimate judgement belongs to Allāh alone.

Then came something remarkable.

Umm al-ʿAlāʾ (Raḍiyallāhu ʿAnha) later saw ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn in a dream, and she saw a flowing spring.

When she told the Prophet ﷺ about the dream, he said:

“That is his good deed.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7004]

SubḥānAllāh.

A flowing spring.

What a beautiful image.

ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn had left this world, but his good deeds had not simply disappeared. They were represented by something flowing.

And one day, we too will leave this world.

Our hands will no longer be able to give charity.

Our tongues will no longer be able to speak words of remembrance.

Our feet will no longer be able to walk towards the masjid.

Our bodies will be placed beneath the earth.

Our names will eventually become memories.

But what we sent forward to the Hereafter will remain.

So ask yourself this morning:

What am I doing today that I would want to find flowing for me after I am gone?

What Qur'an are you reading?

What Ṣalāh are you protecting?

What charity are you giving?

What kindness are you showing?

What beneficial knowledge are you sharing?

What sincere duʿāʾ are you making?

What good deed are you doing secretly between yourself and Allāh?

Do not underestimate a small deed done sincerely for the sake of Allāh.

A day will come when we can no longer add anything to our record.

So while we still have time, let us send something ahead.

Let us leave behind deeds that continue to benefit us by the permission and Mercy of Allāh.

Before your final journey begins, ask yourself:

What will flow for me after my death?

May Allāh (ﷻ) have special mercy upon ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn (Raḍiyallāhu ʿAnhu), forgive him, and be pleased with him.

May Allāh grant us sincerity in our worship, keep us upon the Sunnah, accept our righteous deeds, and allow our good deeds to benefit us after our death.

Āmīn.