Hawzah News Agency – Allah, the Exalted, says in the Holy Qur’an:
«مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّیِّئَةِ فَلَا یُجْزَیٰ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا یُظْلَمُونَ.»
“Whoever brings virtue shall receive [a reward] ten times its like; but whoever brings vice shall not be requited except with its like, and they will not be wronged.” (An'am; 6:160)
Explanation:
Before any journey, if we are required to choose a travel companion, we take every possible precaution to select the best person—someone who will be a companion and support, rather than a burden.
We all know very well that an eternal journey lies ahead of us—a journey from which there will be no return. Those who had separated themselves from the path of God in this world will say on the Day of Resurrection:
«فَلَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا کَرَّةً فَنَکُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ.»
“Had there been another turn for us, we would be among the faithful.” (Shu'ara; 26:102)
Therefore, just as we are careful when choosing a companion for journeys in this world from which there is a return, we must not be indifferent when choosing a companion for the journey to the Hereafter, from which there is no return. We must seek a suitable and everlasting friend, companion, and fellow traveler.
And of course, the companion that can either help us in the grave, in purgatory (Barzakh), and also on the day of Resurrection, or become a heavy and undesirable burden upon our shoulders, is our deeds.
Imam Ali, peace be upon him, explains the importance of this matter in a narration:
«إِنَّ اِبْنَ آدَمَ إِذَا کَانَ فِی آخِرِ یَوْمٍ مِنْ أَیَّامِ اَلدُّنْیَا وَ أَوَّلِ یَوْمٍ مِنْ أَیَّامِ اَلْآخِرَةِ مُثِّلَ لَهُ مَالُهُ وَ وُلْدُهُ وَ عَمَلُهُ فَیَلْتَفِتُ إِلَی مَالِهِ فَیَقُولُ وَ اَللَّهِ إِنِّی کُنْتُ عَلَیْکَ حَرِیصاً شَحِیحاً فَمَا لِی عِنْدَکَ فَیَقُولُ خُذْ مِنِّی کَفَنَکَ قَالَ فَیَلْتَفِتُ إِلَی وُلْدِهِ فَیَقُولُ وَ اَللَّهِ إِنِّی کُنْتُ لَکُمْ مُحِبّاً وَ إِنِّی کُنْتُ عَلَیْکُمْ مُحَامِیاً فَمَا ذَا عِنْدَکُمْ فَیَقُولُونَ نُؤَدِّیکَ إِلَی حُفْرَتِکَ نُوَارِیکَ فِیهَا قَالَ فَیَلْتَفِتُ إِلَی عَمَلِهِ فَیَقُولُ وَ اَللَّهِ إِنِّی کُنْتُ فِیکَ لَزَاهِداً وَ إِنْ کُنْتَ لَثَقِیلاً فَیَقُولُ أَنَا قَرِینُکَ فِی قَبْرِکَ وَ یَوْمَ نَشْرِکَ حَتَّی أُعْرَضَ أَنَا وَ أَنْتَ عَلَی رَبِّکَ.»
“When the son of Adam reaches the last day of his life in this world and the first day of his life in the Hereafter—at the time of his death—his wealth, his children, and his deeds are brought before him.
First, he turns toward his wealth and says: ‘By God, I was greedy and miserly with regard to you. Now, what benefit do you have for me?’ His wealth says: ‘Take from me your shroud.’
Then he turns toward his children and says: ‘By God, I loved you and protected you. Now, what benefit do I have from you?’ His children say: ‘We will only accompany you until your grave and bury you there.’
Then he turns toward his deeds and says: ‘By God, I was devout and pious for your sake, even though it was difficult for me. Now, what benefit do I have from you?’ His deeds say: ‘I will remain with you in the grave and on the Day of Resurrection, until you and I are presented before your Lord.’” (Wasail al-Shi'a, v. 16, p. 105)
Thus, neglecting to choose the right companion will ultimately lead to eternal regret.
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