The Impacts of Belief in hereafter upon human life

1. Lecture 13
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
Significance of the Day of Judgment:
 Among the triad of E’emaan, E’emaan on the Day of Judgment is the most profound as it
effects a person’s actions and character the most. For an individual, just the notion that one day
he will appear in the divine court, where he shall be scrutinized and held accountable for every
single action that he took in this world, is enough to keep some one on the right track. Hence his
actions due to this E’emaan will be in the best possible shape; Qur’aan speaks about such
persons in these words:
“…they fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned.” (An’Nur: 37)




“And whosoever feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure
evil desires. Then verily, Paradise will be his resting abode.” (An’Naze’aat: 40-41)
Saying of the holy Prophet (saw)
“A wise person is that who controls his mutinous self and acts for the life which follows death.”
(Tirmizi)
 In this world it is not possible to give a proportionate retribution of good or bad act. For this, a day
of justice is necessary. This day is called Day of Judgment or Hereafter.
Occurrence of Qiyamah:
1. Death: The Qiyamah of an Individual
 The death of an individual is a Qiyamah in miniature. According to a saying of Prophet (saw):
“The one who has died, for him Qiyamah has occurred.” (Nissai)
 Death is an inevitable reality:







“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid
your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to
Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of
deception (a deceiving thing).” (Aal-e-Imran: 185)

2. Lecture 13
2
 The disobedient will go through a grievous process of dying.






“Then how (will it be) when the angels will take their souls at death, smiting their faces
and backs? That is because they followed that which angered Allah and hated that
which pleased Him. So, He made their deed fruitless.” (Muhammad [saw]: 27-28)
 The pious people will be greeted when they will go through the process of death.




“Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state (i.e. pure from all
evil, and worshipping none but Allah Alone) saying (to them): Salamun ‘Alaikum
(peace be on you) enter you Paradise, because of that (the good) which you used to do
(in the world).” (An’Nahl: 32)
2. Transference to an Arbitrary World (Barzakh):






“Until, 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 Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected.”
(Al-Momenun: 99-100)
3. Resurrectionafter Death:
 Every one will be brought back to life after death






“And the Trumpet will be blown and behold from the graves they will come out quickly
to their Lord. They will say: “Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of
sleep?” (It will be said to them): “This is what the Most Gracious (Allah) had
promised, and the Messengers spoke truth!” (Yaseen: 51-52)
 Some people will be raised blind from their graves.






3. Lecture 13
3


“But whosoever turns away from My Reminder, verily for him is a life of hardship and
We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” He will say: “O my Lord!
Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)?” (Allah) will say: “Like
this: Our Ayat came unto you, but you disregarded them, and so this Day, you will be
neglected.” (Ta-Ha: 124-126)
4. Appearance in the plain of Hashr:
Once resurrected everyone will be brought in the plian of Hashr.[







“And the Day We shall cause the mountains to pass away (like clouds of dust), and you
will see the earth as a leveled plain, and we shall gather them all together so as to
leave not one of them behind. And they will be set before your Lord in rows, “Now
indeed, you have come to Us as We created you the first time. Nay, but you thought that
We had appointed no Meeting for you.” (Al-Kahf: 47-48)
5. Distribution of Book of Deeds:
Every one will be handed over their respective book of deeds.







And the Book (one’s Record) will be placed, and you will see the Sinners, fearful of that
which is therein. They will say: “Woe to us! What sort of Book is this that leaves
neither a small thing nor a big thing, but has recorded it with numbers! And they will
find all that they did, placed before the, and your Lord treats no one with injustice.”
(Al-Kahf: 49)
6. Accountability:
 The process of accountability will take place on the basis of deeds.


“…and whether you disclose what is in your own selves or conceal it,
Allah will call you to account for it.” (Al-Baqarah: 284)
 Process of accountability will be in two phases:
1. Collective accountability of each nation during which prophet of each nation will
testify that he had delivered the commandments of Allah to his nation. Now nation is
responsible for their deeds.





4. Lecture 13
4
“How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring
you [O’ Muhammad (saw)] as a witness against these people.” (An’Nisa: 41)
2. Individual accountability of each person.


“And every one of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Maryam: 95)
 The very first question from each individual would be regarding “Salaat”:
The holy prophet (saw) said, “First thing for which a person will be accountable for,
on the Day of Judgment will be ‘Salaat’, if this is perfect then rest of the actions will be
perfect if this is imperfect then all other actions will be imperfect. (At Tibrani)
The people of Paradise will ask from the people doomed for hellfire:


“What has caused you to enter Hell?” They will say: “We were not of those who used
to offer the Salat (prayers).” (Al-Mud'dath’thir: 42-43)
 Then the whole process at length will commence. Each person will have to account for five
questions:
“The feet of son of Adam (as) will be immobilized until he has not answered the following five
questions.
1) How did he live his life?
2) How did he spend his youth?
3) How did he earn his living?
4) How did he spend whatever was earned?
5) How much did he act upon the knowledge he acquired?”
(Muslim)
In Qur’an the process of individual accountability is narrated as follows:













“O man! Verily, you are striving hard and returning towards your Lord with your
hardships, and you will meet Him. Then as for him who will be given his Record in his
right hand, he surely, will receive an easy reckoning, And will return to his family in
joy! But whosoever is given his Record behind his back, he will invoke (for his)
destruction, And he shall enter a blazing Fire, and made to taste its burning. Verily, he
has among his people in joy! Verily, he thought that he would never return (to Us)!
Yes! Verily, his Lord has been ever beholding him!” (Al-Inshiqaq: 6-15)
 The whole humanity will be divided into three groups.

5. Lecture 13
5







“And you (all) will be in three groups. So those on the Right Hand (i.e. those who will
be given their Records in their right hands) – how (fortunate) will be those on the
Right Hand! (As a respect for them, because they will enter Paradise). And those on
the Left Hand (i.e. those who will be given their Record in their left hands) – how
(unfortunate) will be those on the Left Hand! (As a disgrace for them, because they
will enter Hell). And those foremost [(in Islamic Faith of Monotheism and in
performing righteous deeds) in the life of this world on the very first call to embrace
Islam] will be foremost (in Paradise). These will be the nearest (to Allah).”
(Al-Waqi’ah: 7-11)
7. False excuses of the disobedients: Polytheists and Hypocrites
Polytheists and hypocrites will offer false excuses to cover their crimes.





“There will then be (left) no Fitnah (excuses or arguments) for them but to say: “By
Allah, our Lord, we were not those who joined associates with Allah. Look! How they
lie against themselves!” (Al-An’am23, 24)





“On the Day when Allah will resurrect them (hypocrites) all together (for
accountability); then they will swear to Him as they swear to you (O Muslims). And
they think that they have something (to stand upon). Verily, they are liars!”
(Al-Mujadilah: 18)
8. Witness from Allah:
Allah (swt) will bring forth all the witnesses:



“…and the Book will be placed (open), and the Prophets and the witnesses will be
brought forward, and it will be judged between them with truth, and they will not be
wronged.” (Az-Zumar: 69)





6. Lecture 13
6





“Till, when they reach it (Hell-fire), their hearing (ears) and their eyes and their
skins will testify against them as to what they used to do. And they will say to their
skins, “Why do you testify against us?” They will say: “Allah has caused us to speak
as He causes all things to speak.” (Fussilat: 20-21)
9. Sinners will have no way for salvation:





“And fear the day (of judgment) when no person shall avail another, nor shall
compensation be accepted from him, nor shall intercession be of used to him, nor
shall they be helped.” (Al-Baqarah: 123)









“The sinner would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by
his children, his wife, his brother, his kindred who sheltered him and all that are
in the earth, so that it might save him. By no means! Surely, it is a flaming fire
taking away the head skin! Calling that, who turned and fled (from truth).”
(Al-Ma’arij: 11-17)
10. Crossing the Bridge of Saraat:
The bridge of Saraat is the main hurdle to reach paradise. It is a bridge over the Hell, one
would have to cross it with the light of his E’emaan and deeds, since the roadway will be
absolutely pitch dark.

















7. Lecture 13
7
“On the Day you shall see the believing men and the believing women – their light
running forward before them and by their right hands. Glad tidings for you this Day!
Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever! Truly, this is
the great success! On the Day when the hypocrites – men and women – will say to
the believers: “Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!” It will be said:
“Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!” So a wall will be put up between them,
with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy and outside it will be torment.”
(Al-Hadid: 12-13)
11. Journey of Disobedient towards Hell:
The people destined for hell will be herded towards it in groups.













“And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups till when they reach it; the
gates thereof will be opened (suddenly like a prison at the arrival of the prisoners).
And its keepers will say: “Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves,
reciting to you the Verses of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of
yours?” They will say: “Yes,” but the Word of torment has been justified against the
disbelievers! It will be said (to them): “Enter you the gates of Hell, to abide therein.
And (indeed) what an evil abode of the arrogant!” (Az-Zumar: 71-72)
12. Doers of good deeds’ journey towards Paradise:
People destined for the Paradise will be directed towards Paradise in groups.






“And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups till when
they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and
its keepers will say: Salamun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so
enter here to abide therein forever.” (Az-Zumar: 73)
13. Punishment of Disobedient in Hell:
The disobedients will go through an extreme torment in Hell.





8. Lecture 13
8




“…garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over
their heads. With it will melt what is within their bellies, as well as (their) skins. And
for them are hooked rods of iron. Every time they seek to get away there from, from
anguish, they will be driven back therein, and (it will be) said to them: “Taste the
torment of burning!” (Al-Hajj: 19-22)
14. Reward for doers of good deeds in Paradise:
The people of belief will be welcomed and honored in Paradise.















“(It will be said to the true believers of Monotheism): My worshippers! No fear shall
be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve, (You) who believed in Our Ayat (proofs,
versus, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and were Muslims (i.e. who submit totally to
Allah’s Will, and believe in the Oneness of Allah –Monotheism). Enter Paradise, you
and your wives, in happiness. Trays of gold of cups will be passed round them; (there
will be) therein all that inner selves could desire, and all that eyes could delight in
and you will abide therein forever. This is the Paradise which you have been made to
inherit because of your deeds which you used to do (in the life of the world). Therein
for you will be fruits in plenty, of which you will eat (as you desire).”
(Az-Zukhruf: 68-73)