WHAT WILL YOU TAKE WITH YOU?

 

FAJR REMINDER: WHAT WILL YOU TAKE WITH YOU?

Rabī' Al-Akhīr 18, 1448 AH | 30 September 2026

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Each morning, we wake up and immediately begin preparing for this world.

We think about the work waiting for us, the bills we must pay, the businesses we hope to grow, the homes we dream of building, the things we want to buy, and the goals we still hope to achieve.

We make plans for tomorrow.
We make plans for next week.
We make plans for next year.

But there is one journey for which none of us knows the date of departure.

The journey of death.

It is the one journey from which there is no return.

Every sunrise brings us one day closer to it, even though we may not feel it. Every breath we take is one breath fewer in this worldly life.

Allāh (ﷻ) says:

“Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your full reward on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Sūrah Āl-'Imrān 3:185]

Death does not wait until we have completed our plans.

It does not wait until we become financially comfortable.

It does not wait until we build our dream home.

It does not wait until we achieve everything we desire.

When our appointed time arrives, we will leave.

And at that moment, the things that occupied our hearts for years will suddenly lose their importance.

We spend enormous portions of our lives accumulating wealth, possessions, status, businesses and recognition.

There is nothing wrong with earning Ḥalāl wealth, building a business, having a beautiful home or enjoying the blessings of Allāh. But we must never forget that these things are temporary trusts.

One day, we will leave them behind.

The Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) beautifully described what happens when a person dies.

Anas Ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Three things follow the deceased: his family, his wealth and his deeds. Two return and one remains. His family and wealth return, while his deeds remain.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6149; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2960]

Think about that for a moment.

You may spend years building your home, but you will leave it.

You may spend years accumulating money, but you will leave it.

You may spend years purchasing beautiful clothes and possessions, but you will leave them.

People may love you deeply, but eventually they will return home.

The people who carried your Janāzah will eventually walk away.

The voices around your grave will become silent.

The footsteps will disappear.

And you will remain alone with what you sent ahead.

Allāh (ﷻ) warns us:

“The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you, until you visit the graves.”
[Sūrah At-Takāthur 102:1–2]

SubḥānAllāh.

How easily we become distracted by accumulating more while forgetting that our time is simultaneously running out.

So ask yourself:

What am I accumulating?

Am I accumulating only money?

Only possessions?

Only worldly achievements?

Or am I also accumulating what will benefit me when I stand before Allāh?

Accumulate Ṣalāh.

Accumulate Tawbah.

Accumulate Dhikr.

Accumulate Ṣadaqah.

Accumulate kindness.

Accumulate patience.

Accumulate forgiveness.

Accumulate beneficial knowledge.

Accumulate every sincere deed performed for the sake of Allāh.

The smile you gave someone.

The hungry person you fed.

The hardship you helped someone overcome.

The tears you wiped.

The person you forgave.

The knowledge you taught.

The Qur’ān you recited.

The hidden charity nobody knew about.

The sin you abandoned because you feared Allāh.

The prayer you performed when you were tired.

The temptation you resisted when nobody was watching.

These are the things you are sending ahead.

Allāh (ﷻ) says:

“Let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow.”
[Sūrah Al-Ḥashr 59:18]

That “tomorrow” is not merely another morning.

It is the eternal life that awaits us after this temporary world.

And Islām teaches us something even more beautiful: some deeds can continue benefiting us after our physical life has ended.

Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) said:

“When the human being dies, his deeds end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1631]

What a beautiful opportunity.

You may leave this world, yet your reward can continue.

A charity you established can continue feeding people.

Knowledge you taught can continue benefiting people.

A righteous child you raised can continue making Du‘ā’ for you.

Your body may be beneath the earth while your good deeds continue reaching you by the permission of Allāh.

One day, it will be our turn.

People may gather around us.

They may cry.

They may make Du‘ā’.

They may carry our body to the grave.

Then they will leave.

The grave will become quiet.

And we will be left with what we sent ahead.

On that day, our titles will not save us.

Our bank accounts will not accompany us.

Our possessions will remain behind.

Our social status will remain behind.

The number of people who knew our name will not matter.

What will matter is what stood between us and Allāh.

So do not wait for the announcement of your death before you begin preparing for it.

Prepare while you can still pray.

Repent while you can still repent.

Give while you can still give.

Forgive while you can still forgive.

Return people's rights while you still have the opportunity.

Mend broken relationships.

Call your parents.

Open the Qur’ān.

Make sincere Tawbah.

Help someone in need.

Remember Allāh.

Because every breath is an opportunity.

Every morning is another chance.

Every sunrise is another invitation to send something good ahead before the door closes.

So, before today's distractions take hold of your heart, stop for a moment and ask yourself:

If today were my last day, what would I wish I had done?

Would I wish I had prayed more?

Given more Ṣadaqah?

Asked Allāh for forgiveness more sincerely?

Forgiven someone?

Asked someone for forgiveness?

Called my parents?

Opened the Qur’ān?

Helped someone in need?

Remembered Allāh more?

Made Tawbah from a sin I keep postponing?

Whatever answer comes to your heart, do not unnecessarily delay it.

Tomorrow is not promised.

We may spend our entire lives preparing for tomorrow, only to discover that our final tomorrow has already arrived.

One day, we will leave everything behind.

Our clothes will remain.

Our money will remain.

Our homes will remain.

Our businesses will remain.

Our phones will remain.

Our photographs will remain.

Our names may remain on people's lips for a while.

But we will move on.

And then the question will no longer be:

“What did you own?”

It will be:

“What did you send ahead?”

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

Let us fill our record with Ṣalāh.

Let us fill it with Qur’ān.

Let us fill it with Ṣadaqah.

Let us fill it with kindness.

Let us fill it with repentance.

Let us fill it with forgiveness.

Let us fill it with sincere deeds that nobody knows about except Allāh.

Because one day, everything we have accumulated in this world will be left behind.

And when that day comes...

What will you take with you?

May Allāh (ﷻ) grant us the wisdom to prepare before we are called, the sincerity to worship Him correctly, the strength to repent from our sins, and the opportunity to leave behind deeds whose rewards continue after our death.

May Allāh make our final deeds our best deeds, our final words the testimony of faith, and our meeting with Him a meeting filled with His Mercy.

Āmīn Yā Rabbal-'Ālamīn.