United States of Islam

by: Zeemad Khan

The fifth article of faith in Islam is to believe in the Final Day, the Day of Judgment, when people will be resurrected and gathered for Judgment, and then will be given the glad tidings of Paradise or the doom of Hell-Fire. This is a very big topic, so I will only mention some of the events of the Last Day and I will be very brief.

Muslims believe that when a person dies, the Trial of the Grave begins, which involves questioning the deceased person in his grave about his Lord, his religion, and his Prophet. Allah says: “Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep worshipping Allah Alone and none else), and in the Hereafter. And Allah will cause to go astray those who are Zaalimoon (Polytheists and wrong-doers), and Allah does what He wills.” (Ibrahim: 27) The believer will say: “Allah is my Lord, Islam is my religion, and Muhammad is my Prophet.” The unbeliever or the hypocrite will say: “I do not know. I heard the people saying something and I said it.” The believers will abide in their graves with comfort and upon death, they will be greeted by the Angels and will be given the good news of Paradise as Allah says: “Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state (i.e. that is pure from all evil and worshipping none but Allah) saying (to them): ‘Salaamun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you) enter Paradise, because of that (the good) which you used to do (in the world).’” (An-Nahl: 32).

Muslims believe that there is a punishment of the grave and a torment of degradation for the transgressing unbelievers. Allah says: “….And if you could but see when the Zaalimoon (polytheists, wrong-doers, and evil-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 punishment of humiliation because of what you used to utter against Allah other than the truth. And you used to reject His signs.”‘ (Al-An’am: 93).

Muslims believe in the resurrection, when Allah will bring life back to all those who have died, and when the Angel Israfeel shall blow the horn for the second time as Allah states: “And the trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and who are in the Earth shall fall down fainting (swoon away), except him whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown a second time, and behold they will rise (standing), gazing around them.” (Az-Zumar: 68). People will arise from their graves, answering the call of Allah (The Lord of all Creation). Allah says: “And (remember) the Day when We shall roll up the heaven like a scroll rolled up for the books. As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it.” (Al-Anbiya: 104).

Muslims believe that whatever we do in this world, good or bad, is precisely recorded and these records shall be shown to us on that Day. Some will get their records in their right hands and some will get them in their left hands or behind their backs. Allah says: “Then as for him who will be given his Record in his right hand, he shall surely receive an easy reckoning and he will return to his family in joy (rejoicing). But whosoever is given his Record behind his back, He will invoke (for his) destruction, and he shall enter a Blazing Fire, and be made to taste its burning.” (Al-Inshiqaaq: 7-12); Allah also says: “And we have fastened every man’s deeds to his neck, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a book which he will find wide open. (It will be said to him): ‘Read your book. You yourself are sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day.”‘ (Al-Isra’: 13-14).

Muslims believe that the scales of deeds will be set up on the Day of Judgment, and that no soul shall be wronged, Allah says: “So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom shall see it.” (Az-Zalzalah: 7-8); “Then, those whose scales (of good deeds) are heavy, they are the successful. And those whose scales (of good deeds) are light, they are those who lose their ownselves, in Hell will they abide. (Al-Mu’minoon: 102-104); and “Whoever brings a good deed shall be rewarded ten times the like of it, and he that does evil shall only be rewarded the like of it, and they shall not be wronged.” (Al-An’am: 160).

Muslims believe in Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) intercession (Shafa’ah) for the people of Paradise to enter therein. This intercession is exclusively limited to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) will implore Allah to begin the Judgement of Mankind, to judge among His servants when they suffer from the worries and troubles that they cannot bear on that Great Day. The Intercession also includes some believers who are to be taken out from the Fire. This mediation is granted to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and to others among the Prophets, the believers, and the angels. Some of the believers will be taken out of the Fire without the intercession of any one, but only by Allah’s Grace and Mercy.

Muslims believe in the Hawd (Cistern, Basin or Pool) and river of al-Kawthar of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which was granted to him by Allah (Surah al-Kawthar – chapter 108), the water of which is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey and better in fragrance than musk. Each of its length and width is the distance of a month’s travel. Its glasses are as stars in beauty and number. Those who strictly adhered to the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Sunnah and stayed away from innovations brought into the religion will come to drink from this Great Cistern after which they shall never be thirsty again.

Muslims believe in the Sirat (The Bridge over Hell-Fire). People pass over it according to their deeds; the first of them as fast as lighting, then as fast as wind, then as fast as birds, and then as fast as a running man. The Prophet will be standing on the path, saying: “Lord, Save! Save!” as some people’s deeds will fall short. Some of them will come crawling. At both sides of the path there are hooks designed to take whom Allah wills; some are saved but bruised; others are thrown into the Hell-Fire. (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

Muslims believe in Paradise and Hell-Fire. Paradise is prepared for the righteous and those whom Allah has favoured and blessed. No eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and no human being has ever thought of the blessings that they will enjoy there, Allah says: “No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” (As-Sajdah: 17). Hell-Fire is prepared for the unbelievers and the wrong-doers. The punishment, the humiliation, the torture and the horror in it cannot be visualized, Allah says: “….Verily, We have prepared for the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers), a Fire whose walls will be surrounding them. And if they ask for help (relief, water) they will be granted water like boiling oil that will scald their faces. Terrible is the drink, and an evil dwelling place!” (Al-Kahf: 29).

“….And whosoever believes in Allah and performs righteous good deeds, He will admit him into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever. Allah has indeed granted for him an excellent provision.” (At-Talaq: 11); “Verily, Allah has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a Blazing Fire (Hell). Wherein they will abide forever, and they will find neither a Wali (a protector) nor a helper. On the Day when their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say: ‘Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger (Muhammad)!’” (Al-Ahzab: 64-66).

Some people have been confirmed Paradise in the Qur’an and the Sunnah either by name or description. It is narrated by ‘Abd –ar-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf who said that The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Abu Bakr will be in Paradise, ‘Umar will be in Paradise, ‘Uthmaan will be in Paradise, ‘Ali will be in Paradise, Talhah will be in Paradise, al-Zubayr will be in Paradise, ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf will be in Paradise, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas will be in Paradise, Sa’eed ibn Zayd will be in Paradise, and Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarraah will be in Paradise.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3680). Other Companions have also been given the glad tidings of Paradise, such as Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, ‘Abd-Allah ibn Salaam, ‘Ukaashah ibn Muhsan and others, but the ten mentioned above are called the ten who were given the glad tidings of Paradise because their glad tidings came in one hadeeth. Likewise, some people have been confirmed Hell-Fire in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Among those who are mentioned by name are Abu Lahab, ‘Amr Ibn Luhai al-Khuza’i, and others (al-Bukhaari and Muslim). Among those mentioned by description is every unbeliever, polytheist, or hypocrite.

Muslims believe in all that is mentioned in the Qur’an and the Sunnah concerning the Day of Judgement and its Terrors – may Allah save us from them. For more information, please refer to the books by Dr. ‘Umar S. al-Ashqar – “The Minor Resurrection (what happens after death),” “The Day of Resurrection” and “Paradise and Hell”.