Nurturing the Soul and Choosing Righteousness: An Nawawi 4

On the authority of Abdullah ibn Masood (ra), who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he is the truthful, the believed, narrated to us, “Verily the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s womb for forty days in the form of a nutfah (a drop), then he becomes an alaqah (clot of blood) for a like period, then a mudghah (morsel of flesh) for a similar period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows his soul into him and who is commanded with four matters: to write down his rizq (sustenance), his life span, his actions, and whether he will be happy or unhappy (i.e., whether or not he will enter Paradise). By the One, other than Whom there is no deity, verily one of you performs the actions of the people of Paradise until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him, and so he acts with the actions of the people of the Hellfire and thus enters it; and verily one of you performs the actions of the people of the Hellfire, until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him and so he acts with the actions of the people of Paradise and thus he enters it. - Al Bukhari and Muslim

After 120 days/4 months, the angel is sent to the foetus, marking the limit for abortion according to Islamic scholars. If an abortion occurs after this period, or before it but the foetus has human-like features, it must be washed, prayed upon (Janazah prayer), buried, and given a name. This underscores the gravity Islam places on the dignity of every soul. The mention of the angel blowing the soul into the foetus raises our awareness of the dual nature of our existence. We experience a minor death when we sleep, and a major death when our souls depart from our bodies. These moments are predetermined by Allah, who ordains our sustenance, lifespan, actions, and ultimately, our destination in the Hereafter.

The profoundness of this Hadith reminds me of this ayah in Surah Qamar (54:49), where Allah emphasizes, "Indeed, We have created everything, perfectly preordained." Our destinies are inscribed by Al Aleem (all knowing) and Al Hakeem ( all wise). Every step we take, every breath we inhale, and every choice we make is meticulously accounted for in the divine plan. The hadith brings to light the reality that our destinies are not random; rather, they are a reflection of our own actions, actions that are willed by Allah swt.

The Prophet SAW goes on to illustrate the profound consequences of our choices. Imagine you have fine your whole life engaging in deeds characteristic of the people of Jannah. You draw near to one of the 8 gates of Jannah, there’s an arm's length between you and the eternal bliss that awaits. Yet, the divine decree prevails, and you deviate from the righteous path, consequently finding yourself entering the abode you sought to avoid. On the other hand, imagine your deeds mirroring those destined for the Hellfire, yet finding yourself at the threshold of Paradise, with only an arm's length separating you from eternal joy. This isn’t to say that you should commit sins or to say that you won’t be going to Jannah but in fact it was told to us as a motivation for you to spend your life in the way of the righteous, in the way of the Saliheen. This serves as a powerful reminder of the delicate balance between destiny and human free will. While Allah has decreed our destinies, He has also granted us the “freedom” to choose our actions. In Surah Al-Insan [76:29-30], Allah declares, "Surely this is a reminder. So let whoever wills take the ˹Right˺ Way to their Lord. But you cannot will ˹to do so˺ unless Allah wills. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise."

This Hadith underscores the importance of living a life pleasing to Allah. It is a reminder that we die upon what we are, whether good or evil. We must recognise that our development doesn’t occur overnight but in stages do we should constantly strive to be better. Draw inspiration from the hadith to cultivate an unwavering connection with Allah. In every choice we make, in every interaction, and in every moment of solitude, be mindful of the angels recording our deeds. Strive to align your actions with the teachings of Islam, seeking the pleasure of Allah and the eternal rewards of the Hereafter.

Action Points:

• Awareness of Destiny: Understand that your destiny is meticulously crafted by Allah, encompassing your sustenance, lifespan, actions, and destination in the Hereafter.

• Reflection: Reflect on the nature of your deeds, instill humility, preventing us from becoming complacent in our righteousness.

• Sincere Repentance: Recognize the potential for deviation from the path of righteousness. Engage in sincere repentance and seek Allah's forgiveness

• Seek Allah’s Guidance: Continuously seek Allah's guidance and protection, in your hardships and in your ease, turn to Him in prayer and supplication, acknowledging your dependence on His mercy.

• Gratitude and Patience: Understand that both prosperity and adversity are integral parts of Allah’s plan and thank him constantly

• Righteous Deeds: incorporate righteous deeds into your daily life. Acts of kindness, charity, and obedience to Allah contribute to a record that may lead to the gates of Paradise.

• Recite the Dua for guidance: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى [ O Allah! I ask you (to bestow me with) guidance, God consciousness purity and independence.]