Is it true that the boons – whether legitimate or illegitimate – that we enjoyed in this world will decrease the boons in the hereafter?

A scholar explains the verse "Ye received your good things in the life of the world, and ye took your pleasure out of them" as follows in his book: Every boon and flavor, whether legitimate or illegitimate, enjoyed and tasted in this world will decrease something from the flavors and boons of the hereafter. Man will not be called to account from the legitimate pleasures in the world but the rewards and pleasures he will receive in the hereafter will be decreased based on the pleasures and boons he enjoyed in the world. To what extent is it true?

Dear Brother / Sister,

"And on the Day that the Unbelievers will be placed before the Fire, (it will be said to them): ‘Ye received your good things in the life of the world, and ye took your pleasure out of them: but today shall ye be recompensed with a Penalty of humiliation.’…” (al-Ahqaf, 46/20)

There are degrees for two groups of people of Paradise and each group who are disappointed from their deeds; they have various degrees for their deeds based on the good and bad deeds they did. The people of Paradise have different degrees. Those who were decreed to be punished also have different degrees. For, their deeds are different in terms of both nature and form. The degrees of their punishment are also different. Therefore, the following is stated: This is done so that the consequences of their deeds will be paid to them fully without any oppression or injustice.    

Therefore, the reckoning of some people is completed in the world while that of others is completed in the hereafter. Thus, the unbelievers will receive the rewards of their good deeds in the world since they work only for the world; they will be addressed as follows when they are sent to fire on the Day of Judgment:

"You received your good things in the life of the world."

The following was reported from Hz. Umar:

“If I wished, I would eat the best food and put on the best clothes among you. However, I saw that Allah told a nation that their good deeds disappeared. He said to them, "You received your good things in the life of the world." I want to leave my good deeds to the hereafter.” 

It is narrated that when Hz. Umar went to Damascus, a very nice meal was prepared for him. He said, “This is for us but what is for the Muslims that died? They only ate a little barley bread.” Khalid b. Walid said, “There is Paradise for them.” When he said so, Hz. Umar started to weep. “By Allah, if this is our share from temporary worldly boons and if they died without eating, it means – Allah knows – the distance between us and them in Paradise is very long.” Once, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) went to the people of Suffa. They were mending their clothes with leather because they could not find any fabric.   

He said to them, “Are you better today or on a day when you will wear a nice garment in the morning and another nice garment in the evening, when you will have several dishes on your dinner tables and when your house will be covered like the Kaaba is covered?” They said, “We are better today.” He said, “Yes, you are better today.”

Ibn Zayd read the following verses in the interpretation of this verse:  

"Those who desire the life of the Present and its glitter to them We shall pay (the price of) their deeds therein― without diminution." (Hud, 11/15)

"To any that desires the tilth of the Hereafter, We give increase in his tilth; and to any that desires the tilth of this world, We grant somewhat thereof, but he has no share or lot in the Hereafter." (ash-Shura, 42/20),

"If any do wish for the transitory things (of this life), We readily grant them--such things as We will, to such persons as We will: in the end have We provided Hell for them..." (al-Isra, 17/18)

He said, “These are the people who received their good things in the life of the world.”

Man is not called to account for the boons that he enjoys legitimately. However, the boons of this world lead man to heedlessness to a certain extent. This will affect his rank in Paradise.

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