( لَهُمْ دَارُ) (For them will be the Home): A person’s home is where he settle down. It means more than just a house, which is a place of residence, because the home offers a person all the essentials he needs in life. Furthermore, Allah (swt) linked it to His name, the Peace, which means safe and reassurance. Allah (swt) says:

 تَحِيَّتُهُمْ يَوْمَ يَلْقَوْنَهُ سَلَامٌ ۚ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَرِيمًا 

(Their greeting the Day they meet Him will be, “Peace.” And He has prepared for them a noble reward.) (Al-Ahzaab: 44)

As Allah (swt) orders, the greeting of Muslims among each other is: “peace”. He (swt) also included peace in our prayer.

The word ‘peace’ here: ( لَهُمْ دَارُ السَّلَامِ ) (For them will be the Home of Peace) is the home where the person will settle down and find all what he desires from Godly bestowments.

(وَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ) (And He will be their protecting friend because of what they used to do): Allah (swt) does not allow anyone’s work to be lost, whether male or female. He (swt) says:

 وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ (39) وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ (40) ثُمَّ يُجْزَاهُ الْجَزَاءَ الْأَوْفَىٰ (41)

((39) And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives (40) And that his effort is going to be seen (41) Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense) (An-Najm: 39-41)

People will be rewarded according to their deeds, and they rely on their deeds except for the ones which were specified by the Prophet (saws) in the Hadith:

“When a man dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: A continuous charity, knowledge by which people derive benefit, pious son who prays for him.”[1]

All these acts are deeds that leave a trace behind them. Allah (sawt) says:

  إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ

(Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind,) (Yaseen:12)

So, “continuous charity” is included within the person’s deeds as it keeps on even after his death and knowledge continues on as well, Islam is a religion of knowledge. A pious son is also considered as a continuation of the person deed because he prays for his parents, therewith there is still a continuous deed associated with them even after their death. Nonetheless, it is not our deeds alone which will get us into Paradise. The Prophet (saws) explained that in the Hadith:

“None can enter Paradise through his good deeds.” They (the Prophet’s companions) said, ‘Not even you, O Allah’s Messenger?’ He said, “Not even myself, unless Allah bestows His mercy and favor on me.”[2]

Through the mercy of Allah (swt), we will be rewarded with Paradise for our good deeds. Had Allah (swt) not willed it, Paradise would not have been the reward for goodness.

[1] Sunan Al-Tirmidhi, the Book of Judgments, Hadith No. 1376.

[2] Musnad Ahmed bin Hanbal, Musnad Abu Huraira, hadith no. 7473.