This chapter is the continuation of the chapter 'Most awaited of Days'.
The Time of Judgment
"O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, so you will meet
(i e. the results of your deeds which you did.)" (Al-Inshiqaq 84:6)
In other words, every moment of a persons life, he or she is getting closer and closer to meeting his Lord and he will meet Him with all of his deeds. Nothing will be left hidden as a secret, whether the deed and action was in obedience to Allah or in disobedience to Him, resulting in sin. This verse also gives a warning to take care of ones time. Do not waste it and beware of your actions because it will either speak for you or against you.
Resurrected
When all forms of life are brought back to life, judgment will commence. Every creature that walked the earth, including animals, demons, and jinn, will be judged. All creatures will rise from the dead with a drooping head and a downcast gaze in fear and obedience of the Lord, each one marching toward his doom or bliss.
The Quran highlights the different treatment the righteous and the guilty will receive, which will begin from the moment of the Resurrection:
[Surat Maryam (Mary) 85-91]
The Day We shall gather the Muttaqun (pious) unto the Most Beneficent (Allah), like a delegate (presented before a king for honour).
And We shall drive the Mujrimun (polytheists, sinners, criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, etc.) to Hell, in a thirsty state (like a thirsty herd driven down to water),
None shall have the power of intercession, but such a one as has received permission (or promise) from the Most Beneficent (Allah).
And they (disvelivers) say: "The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: 'Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son ['Esa (Christ) ], and the pagan Arabs say that He has begotten daughters (angels, etc.)]."
Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing.
Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins,
That they ascribe a son (or offspring or children) to the Most Beneficent (Allah).
According to Prophet Muhammad pbuh, the Last Day will occur on a Friday. He said that Friday was the day that Adam was created, the day he entered Heaven, and the day he was cast out and sent to Earth. For these and other reasons, Friday is the sacred day of the week in Islam.
Believers
Those people who obeyed the commandments of their Lord and struggled against their own base, worldly desires, will be among the joyful.
" No doubt! Verily, the Auliya' of Allah [i.e. those who believe in the Oneness of Allah and fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which he has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve." (Yunus 10:62)
Their faces will be calm, glad for their righteous deeds and for their obedience to the Lord, All-Mighty.
Disbelievers
But those who acted upon their own worldly ambitions and lustful desires, will be full of grief and remorse. Their faces will be black with dust, with no nur (light) shining upon them. They will cry about the evil deeds they committed during their life on earth. They will repent and bite their fingers and wish they were sent back to amend and do good deeds, but no repentance or faith will be accepted after the sounding of the first blow of the Trumpet.
Distribution of the Books
Every person has a book in which all his or her deeds, good and bad, are recorded. On Judgment Day, these books will be distributed among the people like grade reports are distributed among school kids. According to the Quran some people will take their books by the right hand, and some will take them by the left hand. People will have no choice but to take hold of their books with the designated hand.
Those who take their books by the right hand will know they have been forgiven and will be admitted to Heaven. Proud of the good job they did in their lives, they will invite others to read their books: “ So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, "Here, read my record! Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting my account."
So he will be in a pleasant life
In an elevated garden." (69:19–22).
The opposite is true for those who take their books by the left hand. They will realize their bad deeds have earned them a place in Hell, and will shamefully hide their books from others. The Quran comments: “ But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, "Oh, I wish I had not been given my record. And had not known what is my account. I wish my death had been the decisive one. Of no profit to me has been my wealth! My power has perished from me!" ” (69:25–26).
In this situation, neither earthly wealth nor power will save this group from Hell. Allah says in the Quran that they will wish they would turn to dust.
Three Groups
Allah says in the Quran that on Judgment Day, there will be people whose faces are radiant with joy, and others whose faces are darkened with grief. In Surah 56, the Quran describes three distinct groups deserving three different destinies: “ When the Event (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) befalls.
And there can be no denying of its befalling.
It will bring low (some); (and others) it will exalt;
When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.
And the mountains will be powdered to dust.
So that they will become floating dust particles.
And you (all) will be in three kinds ( i.e. separate groups).
So those on the Right Hand (i.e. those who will be given their Records in their right hands), Who 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), Who will be those on the Left Hand? (As a disgrace for them, because they will enter Hell).
And those foremost (in faith), will be foremost (in Paradise)." (56:8–10).
The Quran promises “the foremost in the race” the best and highest Heaven, and says that they will be closest to Allah. The Quran says this elite group is “ A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islam). And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later time (generations). ” (56:13–14). They are the purest and dearest people to Allah.
The second group is that on the right hand. They, too, will be admitted to Heaven, although their bliss is supposedly of a lower level than the foremost in the race. The Quran describes them as “[a] multitude of those old, and a multitude of those of later time” (56:39–40). They are generally the rest of the righteous people.
Last, the group on the left hand is the remainder of humankind, who will be sent to Hell.
[Holy Quran 56:41-50]
And those on the Left Hand Who will be those on the Left Hand?
In fierce hot wind and boiling water,
And shadow of black smoke,
(That shadow) neither cool, nor (even) good,
Verily, before that, they indulged in luxury,
And were persisting in great sin (joining partners in worship along with Allah, committing murders and other crimes, etc.)
And they used to say: "When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be resurrected?
"And also our forefathers?"
Say (O Muhammad SAW): "(Yes) verily, those of old, and those of later times.
All will surely be gathered together for appointed Meeting of a known Day."
Bridge to Paradise
After the weighing of the deeds, everyone will be ordered to cross the Bridge to Paradise. The righteous friends of Allah, will pass it swiftly and the gates of Paradise will be wide open anticipating their entrance. The angels will greet them with the greeting of Peace and will congratulate them for their obedience to Allah and their good deeds.
As for the enemies of Allah, the disbelievers and the sinners, they will not be able to cross the Bridge at all and will fall into the raging fires of Hell. Therein they will abide. Those who had even an iota of faith in them, will eventually be taken out of the torment and entered into Paradise. Then, only the polytheists and disbelievers, who had no faith in Allah or the Last Day, will abide in the Hellfire for all of eternity. They will have absolutely no hope of being rescued from the Fire. The joy of the dwellers of Paradise, as well as the grief of the dwellers of Hell is without limit.
"Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds, they are the best of creatures. Their reward, with their Lord, is 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." (Al-Baiyyinah 98:7-8)
The reality of Paradise is far beyond description in any human language. As the Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) said, (it is) what no eyes has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and it has never occurred to a human heart. The best reward of Paradise is to see Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Allah gives a description of His Garden, which the righteous will inherit:
The description of the Garden, which the righteous are promised: in it are rivers of water, unchanging. Rivers of milk, the taste of which will never change, rivers of wine, a joy to those who drink from it and rivers of pure, clean honey. In it, there are for them all kinds of fruits and forgiveness from their Lord (Muhammad 47:15)
The dwellers of Paradise will be given silken garments to wear for their patience and perseverance. They will be reclining on soft cushions and raised thrones. The heat of the sun nor the coolness of the moon will afflict them. They will be adorned with pearls and silver and pure delicious fruits and drinks and pure companions.
The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) said that there is not a tree in Paradise, but its trunk is made of gold. In Paradise, there is a river called Kauthar, which was especially entitled to Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam). On the Last Day, the pious will drink from it and, thereafter, never feel thirsty. The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) was asked about the material the mansions of Paradise are made of. The Noble Messenger (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) replied, They are built of alternate bricks of gold and silver. And in place of limestone, pearls and gems have been used and the soil is of saffron, yellow and sweet smelling. He who enters this Mansion will live in peace and comfort and will remain immortal. He will never know death, nor will his clothes wear off, nor will his youth ever diminish. Instead, his youth will forever remain in full bloom. The salvation of the righteous is as a result of their faith and their works. As a reward, they will lie in a vast, peaceful, and pleasant Paradise with their Glorious Lord, a destination, whose size will be equal to the largeness of the earth and the sky.
An Adobe in Hell
On the other hand, those who disbelieved and denied Allah as their Creator, will have another, more different type of home, waiting for their entrance:
"And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none, but Him Alone, and perform salah and give zakah (charity), and that is the right religion. Those who disbelieved among the People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the Hellfire, to dwell therein forever. They are the worst of creatures."
(Al-Baiyyinah 98:5-6)
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Please pardon me if you find any errors.
A/N - Dear readers, hope you enjoyed the chapter as much as i loved researching and writing about it, do you guys want me to write about Hell first or about Heaven in the next chapters?
The sooner you answer, the sooner il post. :)