‘Adi ibn Hatim (Radiallahu ‘Anhu) said: Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“There is no one from you except that His Lord will speak with him, with no interpreter between them. Then he will look to his right and will see nothing except what he has put forth (of deeds) and he will look to his left and will see nothing except what he has put forth. He will look in front of him and see nothing except the Fire in front of his face. So fear the Fire even with half of a date. Whoever does not even find that, then with a kind word.” (1)
This is an amazing Hadith that contains the greatness of the Creator - a greatness that even the intellects cannot perceive, nor are the tongues able to express.
He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) informed within it that everyone of creation will be spoken to directly by Allah with no interpreter or intermediary. He will ask them about all of their deeds, the good of them and the evil, the small of them and the great, the past and present, those deeds the servant knows of and those which he has forgotten. That is due to His Greatness and Honor. Just as He created them and provided for them in one instant, He will resurrect them in one instant, and He will certainly bring all of them to account in one instant. So blessed is the one to whom belongs the greatness, honor, the great dominion and glory.
In this situation when He will bring them to account, there will be for the servant no helpers, nor assistants, no children, and no wealth. Rather, he will have come to Him individually, alone as He created him the first time. His deeds will have surrounded him on his right and left, waiting for recompense whether good or bad. In front of him will be the Fire from which there will be no escape. Will he have within him any way out? There is no way except by the mercy of Allah and by the deeds he has put forth which could save him from it.
For this, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) encouraged his nation to fear and protect themselves from the Fire even if it were with something insignificant such as half a date. If one cannot even find this, then even with a kind word.
Within this Hadith, there is evidence that from the greatest of things that save one from the Fire is doing good to the creation by one’s wealth and statements. A servant must not belittle any act of goodness even if it were something insignificant. The kind word includes advising the creation by teaching them what they do not know, and guiding them to what can benefit them in the Dunya and the hereafter.
It includes speech that brings happiness to the hearts, comfort to the chests, and brings about cheerfulness.
It includes remembering Allah and praising Him, mentioning His rulings and legislations. So every speech that brings one closer to Allah and from which Allah’s servants can benefit, then it is included under the kind word. Allah says:
“To Him ascends good speech and righteous work raises it.” [Al-Fatir : 10]
And He says:
“And the lasting good deeds. . .” [Al-Kahf : 46]
And they are every action or statement that brings one closer to Allah or brings about some benefit to His creation.
“Are better with your Lord for reward and better for (one’s) hope” [Al-Kahf : 46]
And Allah knows best.
Footnotes:
1) Recorded by al-Bukhari (no. 1413, 6539) and Muslim (no. 1016).
