In the material world, currencies like dollars, dinars, and dirhams are fundamental to our daily transactions. They hold value, facilitate trade, and often become measures of one’s success and status.
However, in the Hereafter, these worldly currencies lose all relevance. Instead, the currency of ultimate value will be our good deeds. The richest and most successful people will be those with the best and most good deeds, and the poorest and worst of the people will be those with the least of good deeds.
Money has No Value in the Hereafter, Just Good Deeds
Allah, the Exalted, says in the Qur’an: “The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, but only he (will prosper) that brings to Allah a sound heart.” (Qur’an, 26:88-89).
Anas ibn Malik reported that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Three things follow a deceased person. Two of them return and one remains. His family, his wealth, and his deeds follow him. His family and wealth return, but his deeds remain.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari (6149) and Muslim (2960)).
Retribution Will be Based on Good and Bad Deeds
In this world, if you commit a crime, you will usually be fined by the police as a punishment for breaking the law. In the hereafter, however, justice will be established with good and bad deeds, not pounds, dollars or dirhams.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever has wronged his brother, should ask for his forgiveness today, as (in the Hereafter) there will be neither a Dinar nor a Dirham. In the Hereafter, if he has some righteous deeds, some of his hasanaat (good deeds) will be taken in proportion to his wrongdoing, and if he has no hasanaat some of the sayi’aat (bad deeds) of the one whom he wronged will be taken and added to his burden.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari (2449), Al-Tirmidhi (2419) and Ahmad (9613)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) also said: “Do you know who are bankrupt ones?” They said, “The one without money or goods is bankrupt.” The Prophet said, “Verily, the bankrupt of my nation are those who come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers, fasting, and charity, but also with insults, slander, consuming wealth, shedding blood, and beating others. The oppressed will each be given from his good deeds. If his good deeds run out before justice is fulfilled, then their sins will be cast upon him and he will be thrown into the Hellfire.” (Narrated by Muslim (2581), Al-Tirmidhi (2418) and Ahmad (8414)).
Abdullah ibn Unais said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘On the Day when the people will be gathered naked, uncircumcised, and empty-handed, they will hear a voice that will be heard by those far and near: ‘I am the King, I am the Judge. No one from the people of Paradise should enter Paradise while one of the people of Hellfire has a grievance against him until I settle it for him, and no one from the people of Hellfire should enter Hell while one of the people of Paradise has a grievance against him until I settle it for him, even if it is for a slap.’ We asked: ‘How will that be when we come to Allah naked, uncircumcised, and empty-handed?’ He replied: ‘By your good and bad deeds.'” (Narrated by Ahmad (16042), Al-Bukhari in “Al-Adab Al-Mufrad” (970), Al-Hakim (8941) and Al-Tabarani (14914)). Al-Haythami said in “Majma’ Al-Zawaid” (10/348): “The narrators in the chain are trustworthy.”).
The Status In Jannah or Jahannam is Determined By Deeds
The people’s good and bad deeds will be weighed to determine their value.
Allah, the Exalted, says: “And the weighing [of deeds] that Day will be the truth. So those whose scales are heavy – it is they who will be the successful. But those whose scale is light, they have doomed themselves for wrongfully denying Our signs.” (Qur’an, 7:7-8).
Depending on the level of good and bad deeds, people will be assigned their status in Paradise or Hell. Allah, the Exalted, says in the Qur’an: “They will each be assigned ranks according to their deeds. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.” (Qur’an, 6:132).
Conclusion
Money, wealth and possessions are temporary, but good deeds remain forever.
If you want to be a millionaire or billionaire in your eternal life, you should make every effort to perform as many good deeds as possible, for they will be your true measure of success in the Hereafter and will determine your ultimate status in Jannah.
May Allah grant us the ability to perform many good deeds to earn his Please and Mercy. Ameen.
