A Life Without Regrets and a Good Ending

A friend once told me that he wants to lead a life such that, when he dies, he doesn’t have any regrets.

How does one have that? Can we achieve in this world enough that we don’t regret anything?

We have a good living – we could have more.
We have a house – we could have two.
We have a car – we could have a better one.
We contributed to our family, but the family does not recognise our contributions.
We raise children – they haven’t become as we dreamed.
And on and on and on…

We regret everything, we regret our mistakes, we regret not having something we wanted, and sometimes we even regret having something.

But how can someone achieve a life without regrets?
The answer is simple – this is only by living a life for Allah (SWT)

Whoever is removed from the Fire and admitted into Paradise has indeed succeeded.

• Surah Ale Imran (3:185)

True success is ONLY achieved through the Pleasure of Allah and entering Al-Jannah.

When we live our lives with a mission to please Allah. We have an Akhirah-centric focus. We spend our life, our time, our wealth and our sacrifices for the sake of Allah, our life gets a meaning. Even if we have nothing in this world, have no “visible” achievements, our “efforts” get recognised by Allah.

And if we are honest and sincere about our work, we get the eternal reward – we live a life without regret.

An ending to be Envious about

Among the companions of the Prophet ﷺ was Abdullah ibn Jahsh (RA), an early Muslim who endured persecution, migrated for the sake of Allah, and dedicated his life to Islam.

Before the Battle of Uhud, Abdullah ibn Jahsh (RA) made a remarkable du’a. He asked Allah to let him face a fierce enemy in battle, to fight sincerely for His sake, and ultimately to be granted martyrdom. He even prayed that his body would be mutilated, so that on the Day of Judgment, when Allah asks what happened to him, he could answer, “It was for Your sake and for the sake of Your Messenger ﷺ.”

Allah answered his supplication. At Uhud, Abdullah (RA) fought with courage until he was martyred. After the battle, his body was found in the very condition he had asked Allah for.

Pause and reflect on the sincerity behind such a prayer. This was not the request of a reckless man seeking danger. It was the plea of a believer whose heart was completely attached to Allah and whose certainty in His promise was unshakable.

What makes his story so remarkable is not merely that he attained martyrdom, but the sincerity, conviction, and love for Allah that shaped his final moments. His was an ending that reflected a lifetime spent seeking the pleasure of Allah above all else.

What Will Your Life Mean?

When someone’s life in this world ends, they remain nothing but memories among people. Their contributions, their achievements, and even their wealth get distributed and fragmented.

But our life should mean something; we are not a mere creation of Allah (SWT) to live and die. We are Khalifa on this earth. We have a responsibility, and we have to face Allah – surely – on a day that is 50 thousand years long.

Allah (SWT) says in the Quran

˹Remember˺ when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to place a successive ˹human˺ authority on earth.”
Surah Baqarah (2:30)

In a narration recorded by Imam Muslim,

It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar (R) that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Beware. every one of you is a shepherd and every one is answerable with regard to his flock….” [Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

Being a shepherd means being “responsible” over your “flock”. Not everybody’s responsibilities are the same, nor their “flock”. Reading the rest of the narration:

… the Caliph is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs). A man is a guardian over the members of his family and shall be questioned about them (as to how he looked after their physical and moral well-being). A woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children). A slave is a guardian over the property of his master and shall be questioned about it (as to how he safeguarded his trust). Beware, every one of you is a guardian and every one of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust.

Our responsibilities are not to bring results or make change, but to do our part, to put our effort continuously. Towards an ending that is pleasing to our Lord.

When I’m closing my eyes, just as my friend wanted, I should be able to say I’ve done my part. I’ll fear about my mistakes as well as hope that Allah (SWT) accepts my work.

But I won’t have any regrets.

A Good Ending

A Life Spent in Obedience

The Prophet ﷺ said that when Allah wills good for a servant, He uses him — He guides him to righteous deeds before his death (Tirmidhi). The first thing you’ll need in your life for a good ending is the obedience of Allah.

You are Bound to Make Mistakes – Repent often

Mistakes are part of the lives of Insaan (mankind). Making Tawbah should not be kept for the last days of our life, but rather something we do every day and every moment. If making sincere repentance becomes a habit, we can hope to be granted permission to make Tawbah in our deathbed.

Guard your Heart

The scholars warn that certain habits darken the final moments. The story of ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Rawwad is sobering: he witnessed a dying man unable to utter the shahada, and learned the man had privately been given to drink — and that this is what overcame him at the end. Hidden sins shape hidden endings. What we do in secret matters most.

Lead a Life of a Mission-Driven Muslim

Your life should not be spent in vain. Muslims, as the Khalifa of Allah (SWT) on this earth, should have a mission in their life. A mission which you spend day and night achieving. Your self, time and wealth should be used to the fullest in pursuing your mission in life. Whether it is making a worldwide Dawah organisation or becoming a lifelong student of the Quran oneself.

Do Good in Secret, and Ask that it be Accepted

If all your good deeds are public, you have a chance of falling into the traps of Shaytan for Riya. Showing off is not always done in a bold fashion; it can be deep in your heart, without you even knowing. To tackle that, one must keep at least a few Ibadah purely private and for the sake of Allah alone.

Fear and Hope

In your whole life, whether you’re progressing well or falling short often, you should always have fear and hope balanced. Fear that Allah might not accept your work and you’ll face the punishment, hope that Allah will forgive your sins since with His endless Mercy.

Keep Asking Allah for It

When a companion asked the Prophet ﷺ how to secure a good ending, his answer was simply to keep asking Allah for it. The supplication is direct: Allahumma inni as’aluka husnal khatimah — “O Allah, I ask You for a good end.” It is not arrogant to ask. It is the most honest dua a believer can make.