Muslim b. Yasar said that when ‘Umar b. al-Khattab was questioned about the verse, “When your Lord took their offspring from the backs of the children of Adam...” 1 he replied that he had heard God’s messenger say when he was questioned about it, “God created Adam, then passed His right hand over his back and brought forth from it his offspring, saying, ‘I have created these for paradise and they will do the deeds of those who go to paradise.’ He then passed his hand over his back and brought forth from it his offspring, saying, ‘I have created these for hell and they will do the deeds of those who go to hell’.” A man asked, “What is the good of doing anything, messenger of God?” to which God’s messenger replied, “When God creates a man for paradise He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to paradise, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to paradise, for which He will bring him into paradise. But when He creates a man for hell He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to hell, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to hell, for which He will bring him into hell.” Malik, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.
The Covenant of Allegiance
This narration expounds upon the divine covenant mentioned in Surah Al-A'raf (7:172), where Allah extracted from the loins of Adam all his future progeny and took their testimony of His Lordship. The passing of Allah's hand over Adam's back symbolizes this primordial covenant establishing humanity's innate recognition of divine sovereignty.
Divine Decree and Human Action
The hadith illuminates the delicate balance between divine predestination (qadar) and human responsibility. While Allah's foreknowledge encompasses the ultimate destiny of souls, this does not negate human agency. The Companions' question reflects the natural human concern regarding the relationship between divine decree and moral accountability.
The Prophet's response demonstrates that divine decree operates in harmony with human choice. Those destined for Paradise are naturally inclined toward righteous deeds, while those destined for Hell gravitate toward evil actions. Their final deeds serve as manifestations of their inherent dispositions and confirm their ultimate destinations.
The Wisdom in Final Actions
The emphasis on the "final action before death" (khātimatu 'amal) holds profound significance in Islamic eschatology. This teaching encourages constant spiritual vigilance and persistence in righteousness, for one's ending ultimately reflects the totality of one's spiritual journey. The sealing of one's record with a righteous deed indicates divine acceptance, while an evil final act reveals the true nature of the soul.
Scholarly Perspectives
Classical scholars like Imam al-Tahawi emphasized that this narration must be understood within the framework of divine justice and wisdom. Allah's knowledge of destinies does not compel humans toward particular actions; rather, it encompasses their free choices. The Ahl al-Sunnah maintain that while affirming divine decree, humans remain accountable for their consciously chosen deeds.
This teaching serves as both a warning against complacency and an encouragement to seek Allah's mercy, for the ultimate outcome remains unknown to creation and rests solely with the Creator's wisdom and justice.