There was once a maid who worked for a family of Sayyids (descendants of Nabi sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). She was totally ignorant regarding the laws of Deen and would not even offer her salaah. When she aged, this family would take care of her because they felt indebted to her for all the service that she had rendered to them. As her last moments came close, she began to say something which no one could understand. Finally a learned person was called and he realised that she was saying: “laa takhaafee walaa tahzanee” (don’t fear and don’t grief). He told them to inquire from her why is she saying this. After much difficulty she replied: “There is a group of angels present who are repeating these words.” Then he inquired: “Do you understand what is being told to you?” She replied: “I cannot understand it, but I can sense that they are consoling me.” He then asked: “On what action are you being blessed in this way?” After some time she replied: “These angels are saying: ‘You haven’t done much good deeds in your life. However, there is one deed of yours which Allah Ta‘ala really liked. Once you bought some ghee (clarified butter) from a shop. When you came home and boiled it, a gold coin came out from inside. Initially you thought of keeping it for yourself since no one was aware of it. Then the thought came to your mind that “Allah is watching”, because of which you returned it to the shopkeeper. It is on account of this deed that you are being comforted in this way.’” (Jawaahir Paare vol. 1, pg. 156)
Lesson: The Quraan Majeed declares that those who adopt taqwa (Allah consciousness) will be given glad tidings at the time of their death. This month of Ramadhaan is a training process for this consciousness of “Allah is watching”. Just as we abstain from food and drink even in private merely because “Allah is watching”, we need to leave out all sins for the rest of our life because “Allah is watching”.