Part 1. Introduction.
Part 2. Belief in Allah. Oneness of Lordship (Tawheed al-Rububiyyah)
Part 3. Belief in Allah. Oneness of the Divine Names and Attributes (Tawheed al-Asma’ wa as-Sifaat)
Part 4. Belief in Allah. Oneness of Divinity (Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah)
Part 5. Belief in Allah. Idolatry, disbelief, hypocrisy
Part 6. Belief in the Angels
Part 7. Belief in the Revealed Books
Part 8. Belief in the Messengers
Part 9. Belief in the Last Day
Part 10. Belief in Divine Decree, Whether Good or Bad
The Last Day is the Day of Resurrection, when Allah will raise all His servants to life from their graves for reckoning and retribution; He will then judge them according to their deeds, and those who deserve to go to Paradise will be sent to it, while those who deserve to go to Hell, will be sent to it.
The Day of Judgement is referred to as “The Last Day” because it is going to be the last day of this world. Allah Almighty told people about this great Day, about what would happen on this day and also about the signs that would indicate its arrival, and Qur’an draws attention to this Day on numerous occasions.
Thus, for example, Allah the Almighty swears by this Day. Almighty Allah said,
“I swear by the Day of Resurrection…” Surah “Al-Qiyāmah”, ayah 1.
Also, Almighty Allah commanded to His Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that he should swear that all people would be resurrected. Allah the Almighty said, “The disbelievers pretend that they will never be resurrected. Say, ‘Yes! By my Lord, you will certainly be resurrected, then you will be informed of what you did; and that is easy for Allah.’ ” Surah “At-Taghābun”, ayah 7.
And Almighty Allah praises those who believe in this Day. Almighty Allah said, “…and who believe in the revelation which has been sent down to you and in that which was sent down before you, and they believe with certainty in the Hereafter. They are on true guidance from their Lord, and they are the successful.” Surah “Al-Baqarah”, ayahs 4-5.
And Almighty Allah condemns those who disbelieve in the Last Day. Almighty Allah said, “Ruined indeed will be those who denied the Meeting with Allah, and were not guided.” Surah “Yūnus”, ayah 45.
And Allah the Almighty has narrated that this Day is already near. Almighty Allah said, “The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder.” Surah “Al-Qamar”, ayah 1.
With regard to illustrative examples, Almighty Allah told people about those whom He had caused to die and then brought back to life in this world, referring to six such cases.
First: Almighty Allah said, “And remember when you said: ‘O Mûsâ! We shall never believe in you until we see Allah plainly.’ But you were seized with a thunder-bolt while you were looking. Then We raised you up after your death, so that you might be grateful.” Surah “Al-Baqarah”, ayahs 55-56.
This verse is about the people of Musa whom Allah mortified after they had said that and then resurrected them.
Second: Almighty Allah said, “And remember when you killed a man and fell into dispute among yourselves as to the crime. But Allah brought forth that which you were hiding. So We said, ‘Strike him (the dead man) with a piece of the cow.’ Thus Allah brings the dead to life and shows you His signs, so that you may understand.” Surah “Al-Baqarah”, ayahs 72-73.
This refers to the people of Musa from among the children of Israel who got into an argument with each other over who was the murderer, following which they were commanded to slaughter a cow and touch the body of the dead man with a piece of meat of the sacrificed cow, and when they did it, the man arose from his death, announced the name of his murderer and became silent again.
Third: Almighty Allah said, “Did you not think of those who went forth from their homes in thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, ‘Die.’ And then He restored them to life. Truly, Allah is full of bounty to mankind, but most men thank not.” Surah “Al-Baqarah”, ayah 243.
This verse is about the people from among the children of Israel who fled their homes when a plague broke out among them, so Almighty Allah first caused them to die and then He brought them back to life.
Fourth: Almighty Allah said, “Or like the one who passed by a town while it had tumbled over its roofs. He said, ‘Oh! How will Allah ever bring it to life after its death?’ So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up again. He said, ‘How long did you remain (dead)?’ The man said, ‘I remained a day or part of a day.’ He said, ‘Nay, you have remained (dead) for a hundred years, look at your food and your drink, they show no change; and look at your donkey! And thus We have made of you a sign for the people. Look at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh.’ When this was clearly shown to him, he said: ‘I know now that Allah is Able to do all things.’ ” Surah “Al-Baqarah”, ayah 259.
Now, the man who was passing by the town in ruins could not even imagine that Allah the Almighty would be capable of bringing all that back to life, so Allah caused the man to die for a hundred years and then brought him to life again.
Fifth: Almighty Allah said, “And remember when Ibrâhîm said: ‘My Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead.’ Allah said, ‘Do you not believe?’ Ibrâhîm said, ‘Yes, I believe, but to be stronger in faith.’ Allah said, ‘Take four birds, then cause them to incline towards you, then cut them to pieces, and then put a portion of them on every hill, and call them, they will come to you in haste. And know that Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.’ ” Surah “Al-Baqarah”, ayah 260.
This verse describes how Ibrahim asked his Lord to show him how He brought the dead back to life, so Allah commanded him to kill four birds, cut them up and place their pieces on top of the nearest hills, and then call back the birds, saying that they would fly back to Ibrahim.
Sixth: it refers to those people who stayed in their cave for many years. Almighty Allah said, “And they stayed in their cave three hundred years, adding nine years.” Surah “Al-Kahf”, ayah 25.
Almighty Allah also said, “Likewise, We awakened them that they might question one another.” Surah “Al-Kahf”, ayah 19.
Almighty Allah also said, “And thus We made their case known to the people, that they might know that the Promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour.” Surah “Al-Kahf”, ayah 21.
As for the contemplative reasoning in favour of the possibility of the resurrection of the death, they can be very different.
First: conclusion about the possibility of a second creation derived on the basis of knowledge about the first one, for the One Who managed to create it all for the first time, will be able to perform it again. Almighty Allah said, “And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. He says, ‘Who will give life to these bones after they are rotten and have become dust?’ Say, ‘He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation!’ ” Surah “Yā-Sīn”, ayahs 78-79.
Second: argument based on the knowledge of a possibility of producing a thing from its opposite, for example, the possibility of bringing forth hot and dry fire out of a cold wet green tree. Almighty Allah said, “He Who produces for you fire out of the green tree, when behold you kindle therewith.” Surah “Yā-Sīn”, ayah 80.
Third: argument based on the assumption that the One Who was able to create a great thing will certainly be able to create something small. Almighty Allah said,
“Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth, Able to create the like of them?” Surah “Yā-Sīn”, ayah 81.
Fourth: argument in favour of a possibility to resurrect the dead, based on the knowledge of the possibility of reviving the earth after its death. Almighty Allah said, “And among His signs, that you see the earth barren; but when We send down water to it, it is stirred to life and growth. Verily, He Who gives it life, surely, is Able to give life to the dead. Indeed, He is Able to do all things.” Surah “Fussilat”, ayah 39.
Fifth: argument in favour of a possibility of Resurrection based on the knowledge that after sleep comes waking, as sleep is like a minor death and waking is like a new life after death. Almighty Allah said: “It is He Who takes your souls by night, and has knowledge of all that you have done by day, then He raises you up again that a term appointed be fulfilled, then unto Him will be your return. Then He will inform you of that which you used to do.” Surah “Al-An‘ām”, ayah 60.
Sixth: argument in favour of the possibility of resurrection, based on the knowledge of Allah’s wisdom and justice, according to which both resurrection and reckoning are inevitable. Almighty Allah said, “Did you think that We had created you in play, without any purpose, and that you would not be brought back to Us?” Surah “Al-Mu’minūn”, ayah 115.
Knowledge of the Hour belongs exclusively to Allah, and we can only say that it will come suddenly.
Almighty Allah said, “They ask you about the Hour: ‘When will be its appointed time?’ Say, ‘The knowledge thereof is with my Lord Alone. None can reveal its time but He. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you except all of a sudden.’ They ask you as if you have a good knowledge of it. Say, ‘The knowledge thereof is with Allah Alone, but most of mankind know not.’ ” Surah “Al-A‘rāf”, ayah 187.
It is narrated that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “I and the Hour have been sent like these two” (and he held out his middle and index fingers). This hadith was recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
It is also narrated that when Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, answered questions about the coming of the Resurrection Day he used to say that he had no knowledge of it, suggesting that the people who asked him should devote themselves to something more appropriate, namely think about the best way to prepare themselves for this Day, and sometimes he talked about the minor day of resurrection, that is to say, about death.
Thus, for example, when Jibril, Allah be pleased with him, told the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: “Tell me about the final Hour”, the Prophet responded in this way: “The one asked does not know more than the one asking.” This hadith was recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
The two “Sahihs” report another hadith, which narrates that one day a Bedouin came and asked the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: “When will The Hour be established?”, — to what the Prophet replied: “It will surely come to pass. What have you prepared for it?”
Besides, the two “Sahihs” report another hadith, on the authority of Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, who said: “Some rough Bedouins used to visit the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and asked him, ‘When will the Hour be?’ He would look at the youngest of all of them and say, ‘If this should live till he is very old, your Hour will take place’ — he meant by the Hour their death”.
However, the texts of the Qur’an and the Sunnah contain clear signs that indicate that the Hour is nigh. Thus, for example, Almighty Allah narrates about the major signs, such as the smoke, the second descent of ‘Isa, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, the appearance of Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj (Gog and Magog), the rising of the sun from the West, the appearance of the Beast.
As to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, he mentions some details in relation to the signs which include the appearance of the Antichrist, three collapses of the earth: one in the west, one in the east, and one in the Arabian Peninsula, — the emergence of a fire from Yemen which will drive mankind to their place of assembly. Besides, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said that the Hour will not come until the following events have come to pass: two big groups will fight one another, and there will be many casualties — they will both be following the same religious teaching; nearly thirty deceivers (dajjal) will appear, each of them claiming to be a messenger from Allah; knowledge will be taken away; earthquakes will increase; time will pass quickly; temptations will appear; killing will increase; a fire will come out of the land of Hijaz, and it will throw light on the necks of camels at Busra.
All these signs, as well as other indications of the Hour, are divided into major and minor signs. Minor signs are further classified into those that have occurred and have ended, those which have occurred and continue to proliferate, and those signs which have yet to occur. As for the major signs, their time has not come yet, but when any of them occurs, the rest will come, too.
Belief in the Last Day implies belief in everything which is told in the Qur’an and the Sunnah in this respect, namely everything connected with death and what will happen after it.
Belief in death and things that accompany it includes the following:
1. Believing that in this world death is inevitable for all living things. Almighty Allah said, “Everyone shall taste death. Then unto Us you shall be returned.” Surah “Al-‘Ankabūt”, ayah 57.
Almighty Allah also said, “Everything will perish save His face. His is the decision and to Him you shall be returned.” Surah “Al-Qasas”, ayah 88.
2. Believing that everyone has a term appointed for them, and neither can one delay it nor advance it. This term is known to Allah. Not only did he establish it, He also determined the cause of death of everyone. Almighty Allah said, “And no person can ever die except by Allah’s leave and at an appointed term.” Surah “Āl-‘Imrān”, ayah 145.
Almighty Allah also said, “And every nation has its appointed term; when their term comes, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour.” Surah “Al-A‘rāf”, ayah 34.
3. Believing that none but Allah knows this term. Almighty Allah said, “No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is All-Knower, All-Aware.” Surah “Luqmān”, ayah 34.
4. Believing that some changes and experiences, which Almighty Allah talked about, take place before death: “…until when death approaches one of you, Our Messengers (angels) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty.” Surah “Al-An‘ām”, ayah 61.
Almighty Allah also said, “When the soul of a dying person reaches the throat, and you at the moment are looking on, but We are nearer to him than you, but you see not…” Surah “Al-Wāqi‘ah”, ayahs 83-85.
This verse indicates that when the soul of a dying person reaches the throat, agony starts. At this moment all the people present are looking at him, but as for Almighty Allah, He knows more about the dying man than the people, and His angels are closer to him than the people, but they do not see it.
When a sinner or a wicked person dies, he regrets everything that he has done and wants to return back to this world. Almighty Allah said, “When death comes to one of them, he says: ‘My Lord! Send me back, so that I may do good in that which I have left behind!’ No! It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them is a barrier until the Day when they will be resurrected.” Surah “Al-Mu’minūn”, ayahs 99-100.
With reference to taking the soul out of the body of a wrong-doer, Almighty Allah said this: “And if you could but see when the wrong-doers are in the agonies of death, while the angels are stretching forth their hands saying: ‘Deliver your souls! This day you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation because of what you used to utter against Allah other than the truth. And you used to reject His signs with disrespect!’ ” Surah “Al-An‘ām”, ayah 93.
It means that the angels are stretching their hands towards the wrong-doer, hitting him and tormenting him.
“Musnad” of Imam Ahmad and other collections record a hadith, reported by Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib, Allah be pleased with him, which tells that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “When a believer is about to leave the world and go forward to the next world, angels with faces white as the sun come down to him from heaven with one of the shrouds of Paradise and some of the perfume of Paradise and sit away from him as far as the eye can see. Then the angel of death comes and sits at his head and says: ‘Good soul, come out to forgiveness and acceptance from God.’ It then comes out as a drop flows from a water-skin and he seizes it; and when he does so, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant, but take it and place it in that shroud and that perfume, and from it there comes forth a fragrance like that of the sweetest musk found on the face of the earth. They then take it up.”
Then the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “But when an infidel is about to leave the world and proceed to the next world, angels with black faces come down to him from heaven with hair-cloth and sit away from him as far as the eye can see. Then the angel of death comes and sits at his head and says: ‘Wicked soul, come out to displeasure from God.’ Then it becomes dissipated in his body, and he draws it out as a spit is drawn out from moistened wool. He then seizes it, and when he does so, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant, but out it in that hair-cloth and from it there comes forth a stench like the most offensive stench of a corpse found on the face of the earth. They then take it up.”
Therefore, great and important events take place after death; some of them will happen in the grave, and some of them will occur after resurrection of the dead.
And here is what happens to a person in the grave:
Once a person is placed within his grave, he undergoes a trial, as two angels come to him and ask him questions: “Who is you Lord?, What is your religion?, Who is this man who was sent among you?” As for a believer, he will reply: “My Lord is Allah, and my religion is Islam,” — and to the third question he will respond: “He is Allah’s servant and His Messenger.” As for an infidel, he will answer all the questions in this manner: “Alas, alas, I do not know,” and a hypocrite or the one who doubts would say: “I do not know. I heard people saying something, so I said the same.”
After being questioned in the grave, the deceased stays therein till the very Day of Resurrection enjoying the blessing or suffering torments, which affect both the body and the soul or just the soul.
The evidence of the trial of the grave, which awaits everyone and which is related to the questioning carried out by the two angels, is found in many Qur’anic ayahs and hadiths that also narrate about the blessing and the torments in which we must believe in general and in particular; but we shall not speak about how exactly it will happen.
The indications which prove this are the following:
Almighty Allah said, “Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world and in the Hereafter…” Surah “Ibrāhīm”, ayah 27.
Almighty Allah also said, “…while an evil torment encompassed Pharaoh’s people. The fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon. And on the Day when the Hour is established, it will be said to the angels: ‘Cause Pharaoh’s people to enter the severest torment!’ ” Surah “Ghāfir”, ayahs 45-46.
The two “Sahihs” report a hadith, from Al-Bara’ bin Azib, Allah be pleased with him, which narrates that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “When a Muslim is questioned in his grave, he will testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger, and that is what is meant by Allah’s Statement: ‘Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world and in the Hereafter…’ ” Surah “Ibrāhīm”, ayah 27. ”
The hadith recorded in Imam Ahmad’s “Musnad”, on the authority of Al-Bara’ bin Azib, Allah be pleased with him, the beginning of which is cited above, also narrates that first the angels take the soul of the deceased up and then bring him back to earth.
Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “His soul is then restored to his body, two angels come to him, and making him sit up say to him: ‘Who is your Lord?’ He replies, ‘My Lord is Allah.’ They ask, ‘What is your religion?’ and he replies: ‘My religion is Islam.’ They ask, ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ and he replies: ‘He is Allah’s Messenger.’ They ask, ‘What is your source of knowledge?’ and he replies: ‘I have read Allah’s Book, believed in it and declared it to be true.’ Then one cries from heaven: ‘My servant has spoken the truth, so spread out carpets from Paradise for him, clothe him from Paradise, and open a gate for him into Paradise.’ Then some of its joy and fragrance comes to him, his grave is made spacious for him as far as the eye can see.”
As for an infidel, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said the following in his regard: “His soul is then restored to his body, two angels come to him, and making him sit up say to him: ‘Who is your Lord?’ He replies: ‘Alas, alas, I do not know.’ They ask, ‘What is your religion?’ and he replies: ‘Alas, alas, I do not know.’ They ask, ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ and he replies: ‘Alas, alas, I do not know.’ Then one cries from heaven: ‘He has lied, so spread out carpets from Hell for him, and open a gate for him into Hell.’ Then some of its heat and hot air comes to him, his grave is made narrow for him so that his ribs are pressed together in it.”
The two “Sahihs” record a hadith, reported on the authority of Anas bin Malik, Allah be pleased with him, who narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “When the servant is placed in his grave, his companions retrace their steps, and he hears the noise of their footsteps, two angels come to him and make him sit and say to him: ‘What do you have to say about this person (the Prophet)?’ If he is a believer, he would say: ‘I bear testimony to the fact that he is a servant of Allah and His Messenger.’ Then it would be said to him: ‘Look to your seat in the Hellfire, for Allah has substituted (the seat of yours) with a seat in Paradise.’ He would be shown both the seats. The hypocrite and the infidel are asked: ‘What do you have to say about this person (the Prophet?)’, they would reply: ‘I do not know; I held the opinion others held.’ They will retort: ‘You neither knew nor did you follow [the believers].’ He will then be given a blow with iron hammers and will utter a shout which will be heard by all who are near him, with the exception of men and jinn.”
The two “Sahihs” record a hadith, reported by Ibn Abbas, Allah be pleased with him, who narrated that one day the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, passed by two graves and said: “They are being tortured not for a great thing to avoid.” And then added: “Yes, for one of them used to go about with calumnies while the other never saved himself from being soiled with his urine.” Then the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, took a green leaf of a date-palm and split it into two pieces and fixed one piece on each grave and said: “May their punishment be abated till these (two pieces) get dry.”
It is also narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to call upon Allah asking Him to protect him from the torment of the grave and commanded other people to do the same, as it is proved by many hadiths.
There two types of torments in the grave:
1. There are incessant torments which people are exposed to all the time. Almighty Allah refers to this type in this verse: “The fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon…” Surah “Ghāfir”, ayah 46.
2. Other torments are transitory; they last for a while and then cease. This is the torment that some non-observant Muslims will experience, and the severity of their torment will depend on the severity of their sins. Then their punishment shall be lightened by virtue of supplication in favour of the deceased, charity, or other deeds.
Some of the people who have gone astray denied that people would experience torment or enjoy blessing in their graves. Their doubts emerged because they could not perceive it empirically, since they had never seen the dead being questioned or experiencing blessing or torments.
This can be answered in the following way:
1. Given that the Qur’an and the Sunnah are the main sources of all our knowledge regarding the Last Day, a Muslim has to accept and affirm all the evidence, and this is what distinguishes Muslims from all other humans, as they believe in the hidden and follow the right path thanks to the guidance of Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
2. In the Hereafter there are other regulations that cannot be judged according to the conceptions we are used to in this world. This means that we cannot conceive what exactly is happening to the deceased. We can just state that Allah’s power is great and He thought it necessary that people should not be allowed to see or hear what was going on in the other world, because otherwise they would not be able to bear it and because He worried that people would start burying one another, and also to distinguish the believers from the rest of mankind.
3. A human being is unable to comprehend everything. Thus, for instance, when Jibril, peace be upon him, descended to see the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and talked to him, none of the people who were near them saw him or heard him. Besides, we know that all that exists praises Allah, but we cannot tell exactly how it happens.
4. Almighty Allah makes it possible for us to see something similar even in this world, as a person can sometimes see something very pleasant and joyful in a dream, but other times quite the opposite of that, although in reality he is just sleeping in his bed, being far from what he sees, and his dreams are not accessible to the perception of others.
Something similar could be said about modern inventions. Thus, we are unable to perceive the processes happening in electric conductors until we touch a live bare wire, and it is different if we touch it with an iron object or with a wooden object.
People will rise up from their graves when Angel Israfil, peace be upon him, blows the Trumpet. The Qur’an states that he will do it three times.
1. At the first blowing of the Trumpet everyone will be struck with fear.
The first blowing of the Trumpet will destroy the established world order and throw everyone into confusion. Almighty Allah said, “And remember the Day on which the Trumpet will be blown — and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth, will be terrified except him whom Allah will exempt.” Surah “An-Naml”, ayah 87.
2. At the second blowing of the Trumpet all living beings of the world will be caused to die. Almighty Allah said, “And the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth will swoon away, except him who Allah wills.” Surah “Az-Zumar”, ayah 68.
3. At the third blowing of the Trumpet everyone will be revived and raised up from their graves. Almighty Allah said, “Then it will be blown a second time, and behold they will be standing, looking on.” Surah “Az-Zumar”, ayah 68.
The way people will be raised from their graves is described in a hadith reported by Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, and recorded in the two “Sahihs”. Aisha narrated: “I heard Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say, ‘On the Day of Resurrection people will be gathered barefooted, naked and uncircumcised.’ ”
“Sahih Muslim” reports a hadith, on the authority of Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad, Allah be pleased with him, who transmitted that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “The sun will be a distance of a mile from the creation on the Day of Resurrection. People will sink in their perspiration according to their deeds.”
In this situation the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, will intercede for people with the Lord, as Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa and ‘Isa, peace and blessings of Allah be upon all of them, will not undertake it, and this is going to be the Major Intercession, the Prophet’s greatest distinction and mark of his excellence.
By standing, here we mean that all people will stand before Allah, the Almighty, the Sublime. Almighty Allah said, “And they will be set before your Lord in rows, and Allah will say, ‘Now indeed, you have come to Us as We created you the first time…’ ” Surah “Al-Kahf”, ayah 48.
Almighty Allah also said, “That Day shall you be brought to Judgement, not a secret of you will be hidden.” Surah “Al-Hāqqah”, ayah 18.
Regarding the reckoning, Allah, the Almighty, the Sublime, will inform people of their good deeds and their bad deeds and will remind them of the matters they have forgotten. Almighty Allah said, “On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together and inform them of what they did. Allah has kept account of it, while they have forgotten it…” Surah “Al-Mujādalah”, ayah 6.
Almighty Allah also said, “Verily, to Us will be their return; then verily, for Us will be their reckoning.” Surah “Al-Ghāshiyah”, ayahs 25-26.
Almighty Allah also said, “So think not that Allah will fail to keep His promise to His Messengers. Certainly, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Able of retribution on the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens, and all creatures will appear before Allah, the One, the Irresistible. And you will see the disbelievers that Day bound together in fetters. Their garments will be of pitch, and fire will cover their faces, that Allah may requite each person according to what he has earned. Truly, Allah is Swift at reckoning.” Surah “Ibrāhīm”, ayahs 47-51.
At the same time the scrolls of deeds will be unrolled and everyone will be questioned, including the messengers and the members of their communities.
Almighty Allah said, “…then surely, We shall question those to whom it was sent and verily, We shall question the Messengers.” Surah “Al-A‘rāf”, ayah 6.
However people will be questioned and taken to account in different ways. As for Muslim believers, their sins will be disclosed to them, they will repent and the sins will be covered up for them.
The two “Sahihs” record a hadith on the authority of Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, who reported: “Once Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, ‘Whoever is fully taken to account about his deeds on the Day of Resurrection will surely be punished.’ I said, ‘Has not Allah said: ‘…he surely will receive an easy reckoning’ Surah “Al-Inshiqāq”, ayah 8?’ The Prophet said, ‘This means only the presentation of the accounts.’ ”
The two “Sahihs” record a hadith, transmitted by Ibn Umar, Allah be pleased with both of them, who heard the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say: “A believer will be brought close to his Lord on the Day of Resurrection, and enveloping him in His mercy, He will make him confess his sins by saying: ‘Do you remember doing this sin and this sin?’ He will reply: ‘My Lord, I remember.’ Then He will say, ‘I covered it up for you in the life of the world, and I forgive it for you today.’ Then the record of his good deeds will be handed to him. Regarding infidels and hypocrites, their evil acts will be exposed publicly and the witnesses will say, ‘These are the people who lied against their Lord.’ ”
Among the believers there are people who will enter Paradise without reckoning or torments, for example, those seventy thousand people who are referred to in a hadith transmitted by Ibn Abbas, Allah be pleased with both of them, which is recorded in the two “Sahihs”.
As for the infidels, their accounts will not be the same as the accounts of people whose good and bad deeds will be measured, for no good deeds will be in their records. Almighty Allah said, “And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust.” Surah “Al-Furqān”, ayah 23.
The reckoning of the infidels will consist in that they will be informed of their bad deeds and then condemned for them.
This is referred to the Balance that on the Day of Resurrection will be set up to weigh the deeds of Allah’s servants and distinguish them from one another, as well as to calculate their number. The deeds will be weighed after reckoning, because the reckoning is necessary to determine which deeds have been done and weighing them on the Balance is necessary for people to see how heavy their deeds are, according to which they will be recompensed.
Both the Qur’an and the Sunnah include many indications which prove the accuracy of the Balance.
Thus, for example, Almighty Allah said, “And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We to take account.” Surah “Al-Anbiyā’”, ayah 47.
Almighty Allah also said, “Then as for him whose balance of good deeds will be heavy, he will live a pleasant life. But as for him whose balance of good deeds will be light, he will have his home in the Abyss.” Surah “Al-Qāri‘ah”, ayahs 6-9.
“Sahih Al-Bukhari” reports a hadith, from Abu Hurairah, Allah be pleased with him, narrating that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “There are two words which are dear to the Beneficent Allah, and they are light for the tongue to say, but very heavy in weight in the balance. They are ‘Glory be to Allah the Great’ and ‘Glory be to Allah and His is the praise’ ” (“Subhan Allah Al-Azim” and “Subhan Allah wa-bi hamdihi”).
After the reckoning and weighing the deeds are over, each person will take the record of his deeds and will read what is written in it, and among people there will be some who will take records in their right hands and others who will take the record in their left hands from behind their backs. Almighty Allah said, “Then as for him who will be given his record in his right hand will say: ‘Here! Read my record! Surely, I did believe that I shall meet my account!’ So he shall be in a life, well-pleasing, in a lofty Paradise, the fruits in bunches whereof will be low and near at hand. We shall say to him, ‘Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!’ But as for him who will be given his record in his left hand, will say: ‘I wish that I had not been given my record and that I had never known how my account is! Would that it had been my end! My wealth has not availed me; my power has gone from me!’ ” Surah “Al-Hāqqah”, ayahs 19-29.
This is the name of a bridge that is laid across Hell over which the first and the last will pass, and whoever crosses it, will escape the Fire, and people will pass over the Bridge only after they have left the place of reckoning. The believers will cross the Sirat thus avoiding Hellfire; as for those destined to Hell, they will fall down from the Bridge directly to Fire. Almighty Allah said, “There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell): this is with your Lord; a Decree which must be accomplished. Then We shall save those who used to fear Allah and were dutiful to Him. And We shall leave the wrongdoers therein humbled to their knees.” Surah “Maryam”, ayahs 71-72.
The two “Sahihs” report a hadith, narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah, Allah be pleased with him: “One day the people said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?’ This hadith narrates the following words of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: ‘Then a bridge will be laid across Hellfire. I and my followers will be the first ones to go across it and none will speak on that Day except the Apostles. And the invocation of the Apostles on that Day will be: ‘O Allah, save! Save!’ In Hell (or over The Bridge) there will be hooks like the thorns of As-Sa‘dan.’ ”
“Sahih Muslim” records a hadith reported on the authority of Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, Allah be pleased with him, who narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Then the bridge would be set up over the Hell and intercession would be allowed and they will say: ‘O Allah, keep safe, keep safe.’ ” It was asked: “Messenger of Allah, what is this bridge?” He said: “The void in which one is likely to slip. There would be hooks, tongs, spits like the thorn that is found in Najd and is known as Sa’dan. The believers would then pass over within the twinkling of an eye, like lightning, like wind, like a bird, like the finest horses and camels. Some will escape and be safe, some will be lacerated and let go, and some will be pushed into the fire of Hell till the believers will find rescue from the Fire.”
After the believers have crossed the Sirat and have escaped the Fire, before entering Paradise they will be stopped at another bridge laid between Paradise and Hell. This would be done so that the offended could retaliate against their offenders regarding the wrongs they have committed in this world, and when they are purified through the retaliation, they will be admitted into Paradise.
Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “The believers, after being saved from the Hellfire, will be stopped at a bridge between Paradise and Hell and mutual retaliation will be established among them regarding wrongs they have committed in the world against one another. After they are cleansed and purified, they will be admitted into Paradise; and by Him in Whose Hand Muhammad’s soul is, every one of them will know his dwelling in Paradise better than he knew his dwelling in this world.” This hadith was reported by Al-Bukhari.
In reference to this bridge, there are differences of opinion among the commentators. While some of them considered it the closure of the Sirat, mainly that part of it which was adjacent to Paradise, others claimed it was another bridge.
It refers to the pond of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
The “Sahih” of Al-Bukhari and that of Muslim record a hadith, transmitted on the authority of Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘As, Allah be pleased with him, who narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “My Lake-Fount is so large that it takes a month’s journey to cross it. Its water is whiter than milk, and its smell is nicer than musk, and its drinking cups are as numerous as the number of stars of the sky; and whoever drinks from it, will never be thirsty.”
The two “Sahihs”, just as other collections, record many other hadiths which make reference to this pond.
Paradise and Hell are two types of dwelling that humans will make their home, which Allah Almighty has destined for His servants as reward of their deeds.
Paradise is the abode of bliss and manifestation of generosity towards those God-fearing believers who have got closer to Allah, have believed in Allah, His Messenger and in that which he has come to people with, who have submitted themselves to Allah and His Messenger, have worshipped Allah Alone sincerely and followed His Messenger. Almighty Allah said, “Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds, they are the best of creatures. Their reward with their Lord is ‘Adn (Eden) Paradise, underneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever, Allah will be pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord.” Surah “Al-Bayyinah”, ayahs 7-8.
Almighty Allah also said, “And march forth in the way which leads to forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious.” Surah “Āl-‘Imrān”, ayah 133.
Many pleasures await the righteous in Paradise, which no one has ever seen or heard of in this world, not even imagined them. Almighty Allah said, “No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” Surah “As-Sajdah”, ayah 17.
But the greatest pleasure for those who find themselves in Paradise will be the possibility of seeing their Lord with their own eyes, as it has been stated by the Almighty: “Some faces that Day shall be radiant, looking at their Lord.” Surah “Al-Qiyāmah”, ayahs 22-23.
The same point is referred to many times in various hadiths.
As for Hellfire, it is the abode of torture and humiliation which Allah has destined for His enemies from among the infidels who have not believed in Him and who have disobeyed His Messengers. Almighty Allah said, “And fear the Fire, which is prepared for the disbelievers…” Surah “Āl-‘Imrān”, ayah 131.
The wrong-doers will be punished and tormented in Hell in many ways. Almighty Allah said, “Verily, We have prepared for the wrong-doers a fire whose walls will be surrounding them. And if they ask for help, they will be granted water like boiling oil that will scald their faces. Terrible is the drink, and an evil dwelling!” Surah “Al-Kahf”, ayah 29.
Many Qur’anic verses and a lot of hadiths contain descriptions of Paradise and Hell, indicating that they have been created and that they exist nowadays, and make reference to the eternal bliss or the grievous punishment which awaits those who find themselves in Paradise or in Hell.
Both Paradise and Hell will last forever and will never pass away. Here is what Almighty Allah said about Paradise: “…its provision is eternal and so is its shade.” Surah “Ar-Ra‘d”, ayah 35.
Almighty Allah also said, “Verily, this is Our provision, which will never finish.” Surah “Sād”, ayah 54.
Almighty Allah also said, “…they will abide therein forever.” Surah “Al-Bayyinah”, ayah 8.
Almighty Allah also said, “They will never taste death therein except the first death.” Surah “Ad-Dukhān”, ayah 56.
Almighty Allah also said, “…nor shall they ever be asked to leave it.” Surah “Al-Hijr”, ayah 48.
Regarding Hell, Almighty Allah stated the following: “They will long to get out of the fire, but never will they get out therefrom; and theirs will be a lasting torment.” Surah “Al-Mā’idah”, ayah 37.
Almighty Allah also said, “Neither will it have a complete killing effect on them so that they die, nor shall its torment be lightened for them.” Surah “Fātir”, ayah 36.
Almighty Allah also said, “…to dwell therein forever.” Surah “An-Nisā’”, ayah 169.
Our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, will be the first among those who ask to open the gate of Paradise, and his followers will be the first people to enter it.
Only our Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, will intercede on behalf of the believers with the Lord asking for them to be admitted to Paradise; only he is granted the honour of the greater intercession and will intercede for all mankind with Allah so that He will pass judgement amongst His servants on the Day of Resurrection; and only he interceded for his uncle Abu Talib so that Allah would reduce his suffering in Hellfire, which will be allowed exclusively to our Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
As for other kinds of intercession, they will be granted to the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and other prophets, angels and righteous people.
Among them such types can be distinguished:
1. Intercession for wrong-doers who deserve Hell, that they may not enter it.
2. Intercession for some people who have entered Hell, that they might be brought forth from it.
3. Intercession for some of the believers who deserve Paradise, that they may be raised in status in Paradise.
Intercession of these kinds will only happen if the following two conditions are met:
1. Permission of Almighty Allah, as Almighty Allah said, “Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission?” Surah “Al-Baqarah”, ayah 255.
2. Allah’s approval of the one for whom intercession is made. Almighty Allah said, “And they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased…” Surah “Al-Anbiyā’”, ayah 28.
We know about everything that will occur in the Hereafter, in particular during the period between the death of a person and the Day of Resurrection, on the Resurrection Day, in Paradise and in Hell, — only by virtue of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and we believe in it, despite the lack of knowledge about the details of how it is going to happen.