The hadith is authentically reported in the two Sahih collections, and it affirms the preordained decree and Allah’s prior knowledge of what will occur. However, it does not mean that a person is forced into sin, nor that his righteous deeds are wasted without a reason.
The scholars have explained that the person who performs the deeds of the people of Paradise and then has an evil end is, in principle, someone whose deeds appear to people to be the deeds of the people of Paradise, while inwardly he has some hidden defect or concealed evil trait that people do not know about, and then it becomes apparent at the time of his death. This is why another hadith states: “A man may perform the deeds of the people of Paradise as they appear to people, while he is actually among the people of the Fire...”
A person may have a hidden evil trait or persist in a sin that leads to a bad ending. Likewise, someone who performs the deeds of the people of Hellfire may have a hidden quality of goodness that becomes a cause for a good ending. All of this falls within Allah’s prior knowledge and decree. It is neither injustice to the servant nor coercion forcing him to do what he does.
It is important to understand that divine decree does not eliminate causes. Allah تعالى knows what the servant will choose and has written it, but He also knows that this servant will reach his final outcome through his deeds and choices. Therefore, it is incorrect for a person to say: “Since it has already been written that I am among the people of Paradise or Hellfire, there is no need to act.” Allah تعالى has made faith, obedience, repentance, supplication, and seeking His help causes for happiness, forgiveness, and guidance.
The servant is therefore commanded to act. He does not know what has been written for him. His duty is to strive in obedience, struggle against his own desires, repent from sins, and ask Allah for steadfastness and a good ending.
The hadith also does not mean that someone who is sincere toward Allah, believes in Him, does good deeds, and remains steadfast upon that path will be abandoned without reason at the end of his life. Rather, whoever is sincere with Allah and follows the path of faith and excellence is deserving of Allah’s guidance and steadfastness. Allah تعالى says:
“Allah keeps firm those who believe with the firm word in the worldly life and in the Hereafter.” [Ibrahim: 27]
And He سبحانه says:
“As for those who strive for Our sake, We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with those who do good.” [Al-‘Ankabut: 69]
Therefore, a believer should not understand this hadith as a call to despair or abandon righteous deeds. Rather, it is a warning against becoming deceived by one’s deeds, a call to fear a bad ending, to continue in obedience, to repent from sins, and to ask Allah for steadfastness until death.
The preordained decree does not mean that Allah punishes a servant merely because of what He knew about him. Rather, He holds him accountable for what he did and chose. Allah تعالى does not wrong anyone, nor does He allow the deeds of those who do good to be lost.
The Muslim must therefore combine both matters: believe in divine decree, perform acts of obedience, seek Allah’s help, and do not rely upon the decree as an excuse to abandon righteous deeds. Allah تعالى has made causes for every matter, and He is the Creator of both the causes and their outcomes.
And Allah تعالى knows best.