Hadith 12214

(حديث مرفوع) حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ ، أَخْبَرَنَا حُمَيْدٌ ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ، أَنّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : " لَا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ لَا تَعْجَبُوا بِأَحَدٍ حَتَّى تَنْظُرُوا بِمَ يُخْتَمُ لَهُ ، فَإِنَّ الْعَامِلَ يَعْمَلُ زَمَانًا مِنْ عُمْرِهِ ، أَوْ بُرْهَةً مِنْ دَهْرِهِ ، بِعَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ ، لَوْ مَاتَ عَلَيْهِ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ ، ثُمَّ يَتَحَوَّلُ فَيَعْمَلُ عَمَلًا سَيِّئًا ، وَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَعْمَلُ الْبُرْهَةَ مِنْ دَهْرٍ بِعَمَلٍ سَيِّئٍ ، لَوْ مَاتَ عَلَيْهِ دَخَلَ النَّارَ ، ثُمَّ يَتَحَوَّلُ فَيَعْمَلُ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا ، وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْرًا اسْتَعْمَلَهُ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ " ، قَالُوا : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، وَكَيْفَ يَسْتَعْمِلُهُ ؟ ، قَالَ : " يُوَفِّقُهُ لِعَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ ، ثُمَّ يَقْبِضُهُ عَلَيْهِ " .
It is narrated from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do not be amazed at anyone until you see what his end is like, because sometimes a person spends his whole life or a long period in good deeds, so that if he were to die in that state, he would enter Paradise. But then a change occurs in him and he becomes involved in sins. Similarly, a man remains involved in such sins for a long time that if he were to die in that state, he would enter Hell, but then a change occurs in him and he becomes engaged in good deeds. And when Allah Almighty intends good for a servant, He uses him before his death. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked: How does He use him? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He grants him the ability to do righteous deeds before he dies, then He takes his soul."
Hadith Reference مسند احمد / مسند المكثرين من الصحابة / 12214
Hadith Grading حکم دارالسلام: إسناده صحيح