Even a Lifetime of Worship Is Dwarfed by His Mercy
A 30-second reminder that keeps every believer humble.
📍 لا تغتر بعملك مهما فعلت
Do not be deceived by your deeds, no matter what you have done.
قال رسول الله ﷺ:
لو أن رجلاً يجر على وجهه من يوم ولد إلى يوم يموت هرمًا في مرضاة الله عز وجل لحقره يوم القيامة.
The Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him) said: If a man were to be dragged upon his face from the day he was born until the day he dies, having reached old age in seeking the pleasure of Allah The Almighty & Majestic — he would still deem it insignificant on the Day of Resurrection.
📙 As-Silsilah As-Saheehah (446) – authenticated by Al-Albānī
What Al-Manāwī Saw Behind the Words in his commentary of the narration in Fayḍ al-Qadīr
قال المناوي في شرحه للحديث في "فيض القدير":
لما يرى وينكشف له عياناً من عظم نواله وباهر عطائه":
"Because of what he shall witness and see with his very eyes of the immense generosity and the overwhelming bounty of Allah."
Reflection & Lessons
This profound ḥadīth teaches humility before Allah, no matter how abundant one’s worship & servitude may seem. Even a lifetime of devotion — symbolized by a man dragged upon his face in servitude to Allah عز وجل — will appear trivial when confronted with the magnitude of Allah’s mercy, gifts, and reward on the Day of Judgment. Al-Manāwī’s commentary, "لما يرى وينكشف له عياناً...", beautifully captures this reality: it is not that the deed itself is worthless, but rather that the manifestation of Allah’s generosity will be so vast that all human effort will pale before it. Hence, the believer’s heart remains humble, reliant, and grateful, recognizing that salvation is not by deeds alone, but by Allah’s Grace and Mercy.
Take-Away for the Modern Muslim
- Humility check: Your longest ṣalāh, your biggest donation/charity, your most sincere duʿā’ is still less than a drop compared to Allah’s ocean of rewards from His never ending Bounty.
- Hope booster: The same hadith that crushes arrogance, lifts despair. If a lifetime of worship is small, then a moment of sincere repentance is gigantic in His sight.
- Daily habit: Never leave off the authentically established duʿā to be recited every morning & evening’: يا حَـيُّ يا قَيّـومُ بِـرَحْمَـتِكِ أَسْتَـغـيث ، أَصْلِـحْ لي شَـأْنـي كُلَّـه ، وَلا تَكِلـني إِلى نَفْـسي طَـرْفَةَ عَـين – “O The Ever-Living, O The Self-Subsisting One Upon Whom everything depends, by Your mercy I call on You to set right all my affairs, and do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye.”
Reflection, Lessons and other notes by Translator. (Maldive Organics)