INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT (AFTER DEATH)

INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT (AFTER DEATH)

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com

https://web.facebook.com/abba.abana

emails:gonidamgamiri@yahoo.com; abba.abana@gmail.com

THURSDAY 10^TH RABI AL THANI 1439 AH – 28^TH DECEMBER 2017 CE

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu. Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sallalhu alaihi Wasalam) is His slave and Messenger.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY

One of the most important aspects of Islam is the belief in a Day of Judgment. It is one of the six articles of faith and is central to the Islamic concept of accountability. For Muslims, the present life is not the goal; rather, it is the life after death that is the focus. This does not mean that Muslims should not enjoy their lives, but it does mean that they have to be conscious of God in all aspects of their life knowing that they will be asked about their decisions.

The Day of Judgment is mentioned repeatedly in the Qur’an. Moreover, it has more than one name, including the Day of Accountability, the Day of Resurrection, the Hour, and the Last Day. Each of the names of that day highlight an aspect of it.

Verse 30 in chapter 3 describes what will occur on that day:

On the day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah cautions you (to fear) Him. And Allah is full of kindness to those that serve Him.

Another example, verse 185, comes from the same chapter:

Every soul will taste of death. And ye will be paid on the Day of Resurrection only that which ye have fairly earned. Whoso is removed from the Fire and is made to enter paradise, he indeed is triumphant. The life of this world is but comfort of illusion.

As these two verses illustrate, on this day, Muslims believe that they will be resurrected both physically and spiritually and will be asked by God about their lives, after which their final destination will be determined.

In Islamic belief, no one, including the Prophet Muhammad, knows when the Day of Judgment will occur, but that there are signs that will indicate its coming. Once that day occurs, the world as we know it will be completely altered. There are many examples, especially in the early revelations, in the Qur’an where that transformation of the world is described. One example is verses 1 through 5 on chapter 84:

When the Sky is rent asunder, (1) And hearkens to (the Command of) its Lord–and it must needs (do so)– (2) And when the Earth is flattened out (3) And casts forth what is within it and becomes (clean) empty (4) And hearkens to (the Command of) its Lord–and it must needs (do so)–(then will come Home the full Reality)(5).

The Day of Judgment underscores the belief in the importance of accountability and God consciousness in everything Muslims do. It is for this reason that there are many descriptions of this day and why it is considered one of the articles of faith that makes someone a Muslim.

What do you know about the Islamic belief in the Day of Judgment? What is your reaction to the descriptions in the Qur’an of that day? How do other faith traditions view the end of the world? What role does that belief have in the faith? Please share your comments below.

 

 

 

 

سورة مريم   ( 19 )

تَكَادُ السَّمَاوَاتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنشَقُّ الْأَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدًّا {90} أَن دَعَوْا لِلرَّحْمَنِ وَلَدًا {91} وَمَا يَنبَغِي لِلرَّحْمَنِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا {92} إِن كُلُّ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِلَّا آتِي الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدًا {93} لَقَدْ أَحْصَاهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدًّا {94} وَكُلُّهُمْ آتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَرْدًا {95}

It is well nigh that the heavens might crack and the earth split asunder and the mountains crumble down at this hideous thing that they ascribe a son to the Merciful! It does not behoove the Merciful to adopt a son. All those who are in the heavens and the earth, are going to be presented before Him as servants, for He has encircled them and kept a strict account of them; everyone will be presented before Him individually on the Day of Resurrection. (Holy Quran 19.95)

سورة مريم   ( 19 )

أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ بِآيَاتِنَا وَقَالَ لَأُوتَيَنَّ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا {77} أَاطَّلَعَ الْغَيْبَ أَمِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّحْمَنِ عَهْدًا {78} كَلَّا سَنَكْتُبُ مَا يَقُولُ وَنَمُدُّ لَهُ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ مَدًّا {79} وَنَرِثُهُ مَا يَقُولُ وَيَأْتِينَا فَرْدًا {80}

Then, have you seen the person who denies Our Revelations, and boasts, “I shall continue to be blessed with riches and children?” What! has the unseen been revealed to him? Or has he taken a pledge from the Merciful? By no means! We will record whatever he boasts of, and will increase his chastisement all the more and We will inherit all that he talks of (the riches and the helpers of which he boasts of), he will appear before Us all alone(Holy Quran 19.77-80).

سورة الأنعام  ( 6 )

وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلآئِكَةُ بَاسِطُواْ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُواْ أَنفُسَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ {93} وَلَقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا فُرَادَى كَمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَتَرَكْتُم مَّا خَوَّلْنَاكُمْ وَرَاء ظُهُورِكُمْ وَمَا نَرَى مَعَكُمْ شُفَعَاءكُمُ الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ أَنَّهُمْ فِيكُمْ شُرَكَاء لَقَد تَّقَطَّعَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَضَلَّ عَنكُم مَّا كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ {94}

Would that you could see these wicked people, when they are in the agonies of death, and the angels are out-stretching their hands and saying, "Come, yield up your soul; today you will be awarded a disgraceful torment for the false things you attributed to Allah and for the rebellion you showed against His Revelations." (And Allah will add,) "So, you have come before Us all alone, as We created you at first. Now, you have left behind all that We gave to you in the world; and now We do not see with you those intercessors who, you believed, had a share in molding your destinies: all the relations between you have been cut off, and all those, in whom you trusted, have left you in the lurch."(Holy Quran 6.94)

 

 

سورة الكهف   ( 18 )

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا {46} وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ الْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى الْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا {47} وَعُرِضُوا عَلَى رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّن نَّجْعَلَ لَكُم مَّوْعِدًا {48} وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا {49}

This wealth and the offspring are mere transitory adornment of worldly life: in fact the abiding good deeds are best in the sight of your Lord in regard to their end, and hold out for you greater hopes. The only thing, for which you should prepare, is the Day when We will set the mountains in motion, and when you will find the Earth quite naked, and We will muster together all human beings in a way as to leave none at all behind, and all will be presented before your Lord in rows-Well! you may see that you have come before Us in the same condition in which We created you at first: You were under the delusion that We had not fixed any time of appointment with you-Then the record of deeds will be set before them. At that time you will see that the criminals will be afraid of the record of their book of life and will say, "Woe to us! What sort of a book this is! It has left nothing unrecorded of our doings, small or great." They will see before them everything, whatsoever they had done, and your Lord will not be unjust to anyone in the least(Holy Quran 18.46-49).

SHAFAA’AH (INTERCESSION) AFTER DEATH

SHAFAA’AH (INTERCESSION) AFTER DEATH

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com

https://web.facebook.com/abba.abana

emails:gonidamgamiri@yahoo.com; abba.abana@gmail.com

THURSDAY 10^TH RABI AL THANI 1439 AH – 28^TH DECEMBER 2017 CE

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu. Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sallalhu alaihi Wasalam) is His slave and Messenger.

1.0        INTERCESSION IS WHOLLY IN THE HANDS OF ALLAH (Subhanahu Wa Taala)

In this brief article it is clear to every fair-minded person that the correct kind of intercession is intercession that depends on the permission and approval of Allaah, because all intercession belongs to Him. That also includes asking for intercession from living people who are able to do that concerning worldly matters, for which Allaah has granted permission. It should be pointed out here that this kind of intercession is permitted because Allaah has given permission for it, since it involves no kind of emotional attachment to the person, rather the point is that it is a means, like all other means which Islam permits us to use. The kind of intercession which is forbidden is asking someone other than Allaah to do something that no one is able to do except Allaah, because intercession belongs to no one besides Allaah, and no one can do it unless Allaah grants him leave and approves of him. (1) Judgment on that Day will wholly rest with Allah, (2) On that Day no intercession will avail except the one for whom the most Merciful has given permission and be pleased to give him a hearing.

So whoever seeks intercession from anyone else has transgressed upon the exclusive preserve of Allaah and has wronged himself, and has exposed himself to being deprived of the intercession of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) on the Day of Resurrection.

2.0 SHAFAA’AH (INTERCESSION) ACCORDING TO HOLY QURAN

It is Allah Who takes the souls at death and the soul of the one, who has not yet died, during sleep. Then He withholds that for whom He decrees death and restores the souls of others till an appointed time. In this there are many signs for the people who reflect. What! Have they taken besides Allah others as intercessors? Say to them, "Will they intercede even if they have no power whatever nor understanding?" Say, "Intercession is wholly in the power of Allah. His is the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth. Then, to Him you will be returned." When Allah alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter, are filled with anguish; but when others beside Him are mentioned, they are at once filled with joy. (Holy Quran 39.42-45)

That will be the Day when all the people will gather together and witness everything that will happen there. We are deferring that only for a fixed term. When that Day will come, no one shall dare speak a word except with Allah's permission. Then some people shall be damned, while others blessed.( Holy Quran 11.105)

Surely the righteous will be in bliss, and the wicked will indeed go to Hell. They will enter it on the Day of Recompense, and will never be able to be absent (to flee) from it. And what do you know what the Day of Recompense is? Yes, what do you know what the Day of Recompense is? It is a Day when no one will have the power to do anything for another. Judgment on that Day will wholly rest with Allah. (Holy Quran 82.19)

Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His own permission?( Holy Quran 2.255)

On that Day, when the Trumpet will be blown and We will muster the criminals while their eyes will be dimmed (with terror), they will whisper to one another, "You hardly stayed for ten days on the Earth." We know full well what they will be talking; (We also know that) at that time the most careful estimator among them will say, "No, your life on the Earth was but for a day.” They ask you, "Well, where will the mountains go on that Day?" Say to them, "My Lord will reduce them to fine dust and scatter it away. He will turn the Earth into an empty level plain, wherein you will neither see any curve nor crease." On that Day the people will come straight to the call of the summoner; no one will dare show any haughtiness, and all the voices will be hushed before the Merciful and you will hear nothing but a whispering murmur. On that Day no intercession will avail except the one for whom the most Merciful has given permission (to intercede) and be pleased to give him a hearing. He is fully aware of all that is before the people and of all that is behind them but others do not have full knowledge of it.( Holy Quran 20.102-110)

(O Prophet,) say {to the polytheists (Mushriks)} "Call those whom you worship as deities instead Of Allah. They neither own an atom's weigh of anything in the heavens nor in the earth, nor have they anything to share in either, nor is any of them a helper of Allah. And no intercession before Allah can avail anyone except for the one for whom Allah permits it. So much so that when dread is gone from their hearts, the people will ask (the intercessors), "What reply did your Lord give?" They will say, “The right reply! And He is the Exalted, the Great!"( Holy Quran 34.23)

The fact is that your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then Himself rose over the Throne of His Kingdom, and is directing the affairs of the universe. None can intercede with Him except after His permissions That is Allah, your Lord: so worship Him. Will you not then understand? (Holy Quran 10.3)

And dread the Day when no one will avail anyone in any way; nor will any ransom be accepted from anyone; nor will intercession profit anybody; nor will the offenders be helped from any quarter. (Holy Quran 2.123)

The Day the hidden secrets are held to scrutiny, then man will neither have any power of his own nor any helper. (Holy Quran 86.9/10)

O Believers, spend of the wealth We have bestowed upon you (in Our way) before the Day comes when there will be no buying and no selling: when neither friendship nor intercession will be of any avail. Those, who adopt the way of disbelief are indeed the wrongdoers. (Holy Quran 2.254)

And guard yourselves against the Day when no one will avail anyone anything; nor will intercession be accepted from anyone; nor will anyone be acquitted for any (amount of) ransom; nor will the guilty ones be helped from any quarter.( Holy Quran 2.48)

Allah it is Who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days, and then Himself rose over the throne. You have no supporter and helper besides Him nor any intercessor before Him. Will , you not then take heed? (Holy Quran 32.4)

And leave alone those who have taken their faith as a sport and pastime and have been deluded by the life of this world; nevertheless, go on admonishing them by reciting the Qur'an to them lest any person should be seized because of his own deeds, and that too at the time, when there would be no protector, no helper and no intercessor to rescue him from Allah, and when no conceivable amount of ransom would be accepted from him; this is because such people shall be seized in consequence of what they themselves had earned; they shall get boiling water to drink and a painful torment to suffer for their rejection of the Truth.( Holy Quran 6.70)

And, O Muhammad, admonish with this (knowledge based on Revelation) those, who fear that one Day they shall be brought before their Lord in such a state that they will find none other than Allah (with competent powers) as protector or intercessor: it may be that (by this admonition) they adopt the God-fearing attitude. (Holy Quran 6.51)

The Day when all people will be naked, and nothing of them will be hidden from Allah. (On that Day it will be asked:) "Whose is the Kingdom today?" (The whole universe will cry out:) Of Allah, the One, the Omnipotent (It will be said): "Today every living being will be recompensed for what it has earned: none will be wronged today And Allah is swift at reckoning." O Prophet, warn them of the Day that has approached near, when the hearts will leap up to the throats and the people will he standing mute, grief stricken: the wrongdoers will neither have any kindly friend nor any intercessor who may be listened to. Allah is aware of the treachery of the eyes and even of the secrets that the breasts keep hidden, and Allah will judge with full justice. As for those whom they (the mushriks) invoke instead of Allah, they shall judge nothing. Indeed, Allah alone hears everything and sees everything. (Holy Quran 40.20)

Every person is a pledge for his own deeds, except the people of the right hand, who will be in Gardens. There they will ask the culprits, "what has brought you into Hell?" They will reply, "We were not of those who offered the salat (prayer), and we did not feed the poor, and we used to join with those who indulged in idle talk against the Truth, and we used to belie the Day of Recompense, till the inevitable overtook us." At that time, no intercession of the intercessors will avail them anything. (Holy Quran 74.48)

These people worship besides Allah those which can neither harm nor benefit them, and say, "These are our intercessors with Allah." O Muhammad, say to them, "Do you presume to inform Allah of that thing which He knows not to be either in the heavens or in the earth?" He is absolutely free from and exalted above what they associate with Him. (Holy Quran 10.18)

Allah originates the creation; then He it is Who will repeat it, and then to Him you will be returned. And when the Hour is established, the criminals will be dumb-founded; none of those whom they have set up as associates (with Allah) will intercede for them, and they will even disown their associates.( Holy Quran 30.13)

Would that you could see these wicked people, when they are in the agonies of death, and the angels are out-stretching their hands and saying, "Come, yield up your soul; today you shall be awarded a disgraceful torment for the false things you attributed to Allah and for the rebellion you showed against His Revelations." (And Allah will add,) "So, you have come before Us all alone, as We created you at first. Now, you have left behind all that We gave to you in the world; and now We do not see with you those intercessors who, you believed, had a share in molding your destinies: all the relations between you have been cut off, and all those, in whom you trusted, have left you in the lurch."(Holy Quran 6.94)

Surely for the righteous there is an abode of success. Gardens and vineyards and maidens of equal age and brimful cups. There they shall neither hear vulgar talk nor any falsehood, a reward and sufficient gift from your Lord, from the All-Merciful God, Who is the Owner of the heavens and the earth and of everything lying between them, before Whom none can have the power to speak. The Day when the Spirit and the angels shall be standing up in ranks, none shall speak except the one whom the Merciful may permit, and who speaks what is right. That Day is sure to come. Now whoever wills, let him take the path back to his Lord. We have warned you of the torment which is near at hand. The Day when man will see all that his hands have sent forward, and the disbeliever will cry out: "Would that I were mere dust! " (Holy Quran 78.31-40)

He alone is God in heavens and God on earth: He is the All- Wise, the All-Knowing. Highly blessed is He to Whom belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth and of all that lies between them. He alone has the knowledge of the Hour of Resurrection, and to Him you shall all be returned. Those whom they call upon beside Him have no power of intercession except that one may testify to the Truth by virtue of knowledge. (Holy Quran 43.86)

The day is coming near, when We will present the righteous people like honored guests before the Merciful, and drive the criminals to Hell like thirsty flocks. At that time no one shall have the ability to intercede except the one who may have received permission from the Merciful. (Holy Quran 19.87)

And there are many angels in the heavens! Their intercession can avail nothing until Allah permits it in favor of whomever He wills and is pleased with. (Holy Quran 53.26)

They say, "The Merciful has offspring (children)." Glory be to Allah! they are His mere servants who have been honored: they do not exceed the limits in their talk before Him and just do His bidding. He knows whatever is before them and also whatever is hidden from them; they "do not intercede for anyone except for the one for whom Allah pleases to hear a plea, and they live in awe of Him And if anyone of them were to say, "I am also a deity besides Allah", We would send him to Hell, for this is the recompense from Us for such workers of iniquity. (Holy Quran 21.29

As the Ark was moving on with them amid waves like mountains, Noah cried out to his son, who was at a distance, "My son! Embark with us and be not with the unbelievers." He answered, "I am going to climb up a mountain that will protect me from waters." Noah said, "Today there is nothing to protect from Allah's judgment except that He Himself should take pity on anyone." In the meantime a wave came between them and he was among the drowned. It was commanded, "O Earth! Swallow up your waters, and O Sky, cease your rain!" Accordingly the waters sank into the Earth. The decree was carried out; and the Ark rested upon Mount Judi. And it was proclaimed: "Gone are the workers of iniquity!"

Noah called out to his Lord, saying, "My Lord! My son is of my family, and Thy promise is surely true and You are the greatest and the best of all rulers." In answer it was said, "O Noah! He is not of your family; he has turned out to be a worthless act. So do not ask Me anything of which you have no knowledge. I admonish you that you should not behave like ignorant people." Noah meekly replied, "My Lord, I seek Your protection from asking You anything of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have Mercy on me, I will indeed be one of the losers". (Holy Quran 11.42-47)

Allah cites for the disbelievers the example of the wives of Noah and Lot. They were married to two of Our righteous servants, but they betrayed their husbands, and they could not avail them anything against Allah. To both it was said, "Enter the Fire along with those who enter," And for the believers, Allah cites the example of the wife of Pharaoh, when she prayed, "My Lord, build for me, in Your Presence, a house in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his work and save me from the wicked." And (Allah) cites the example of Mary, daughter of Imran, who had guarded her chastity. So We breathed into her body of Our Spirit, and she testified to the Words of her Lord and His Books, and she was one of the obedient. (Holy Quran 66.12)

O Prophet, you cannot give guidance to whom you please, but Allah gives guidance to whom He pleases, and He best knows those who would accept guidance. (Holy Quran 28.56)

And when it is said to them, "Come, the Messenger of Allah will pray for your forgiveness," they shake their heads and you see them turning away with arrogance. O Prophet, whether you pray for their forgiveness, or not, it is the same for them. Allah shall never forgive them, for Allah does not guide the transgressors. (Holy Quran 63.6)

O Prophet, (it will all be the same) whether you beg forgiveness for such people or not; for Allah will not forgive them even if you beg forgiveness for them seventy times. This is because they have no belief in Allah and His Messenger: and Allah does not show guidance to the wrong-doers. (Holy Quran 9.80)

(O Prophet) do not plead for the dishonest people: implore Allah's forgiveness: for Allah is Forgiving and Compassionate. You should not plead for those who are dishonest to themselves: Allah does not like the one who is persistently dishonest and sinful. (Holy Quran 4.107)

Well, (O Prophet) you have argued on their behalf in this worldly life but who will argue their case with Allah on the Day of Resurrection? Or who will be their defender there? (Holy Quran 4.109)

It is not proper for the Prophet and those who have believed to pray for the forgiveness of the mushriks (who associate partners to Allah), even though they be near kinsmen, when it has become clear to them that they deserve Hell. As regards the prayer of Abraham for his father, it was only to fulfill a promise he had made to him, but when he realized that he was an enemy of Allah, he disowned him. The fact is that Abraham was a tender-hearted, God fearing and forbearing man.( Holy Quran 9.114)

Allah: the Everlasting, the Sustainer of the whole Universe; there is no god but He. He does neither slumber nor sleep. Whatsoever is in the heavens and in the earth is His. Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His own permission? He knows what is before the people and also what is hidden from them. And they cannot comprehend anything of His knowledge except whatever He Himself pleases to reveal. His Kingdom spreads over the heavens and the earth and the guarding of these does not weary Him. He alone is the Supreme and the Exalted.( Holy Quran 2.255)

3.0 TYPES OF INTERCESSION (SHAFAA’AH)

Intercession means mediating for someone else to gain some benefit or ward off some harm.

3.1 IT IS OF TWO TYPES:

1. The first type: intercession that will take place in the Hereafter, on the Day of Resurrection.

2. The second type: intercession concerning matters of this world.

With regard to the intercession that will take place in the Hereafter, it is of two types:

The first type: exclusive intercession, which will be granted only to the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and no one else in creation will have a share in that with him. 3.2 INTERCESSION (SHAFAA’AH) VARIOUS KINDS:

1 – THE GREATER INTERCESSION. This is the station of praise and glory (al-maqaam al-mahmood) which Allaah has promised to him, when He said (interpretation of the meaning): “And in some parts of the night (also) offer the Salaat (prayer) with it (i.e. recite the Qur’aan in the prayer) as an additional prayer (Tahajjud optional prayer Nawaafil) for you (O Muhammad). It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqaam Mahmood (a station of praise and glory, i.e., the honour of intercession on the Day of Resurrection)”[Holy Quran al-Isra’ 17:79]

What this intercession means is that he will intercede for all of mankind when Allaah delays the Reckoning and they have waited for so long in the place of gathering on the Day of Resurrection. Their distress and anxiety will reach a point where they can no longer bear it, and they will say, “Who will intercede for us with our Lord so that He will pass judgement amongst His slaves?” and they will wish to leave that place. So the people will come to the Prophets, each of whom will say, “I am not able for it,” until when they come to our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), he will say, “I am able for it, I am able for it.” So he will intercede for them, that judgement may be passed. This is the greater intercession, and it is one of the things that belong exclusively to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

There are many ahaadeeth which speak of this intercession, in al-Saheehayn and elsewhere, such as the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh (1748) from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him): “The people will fall on their knees on the Day of Resurrection, each nation following its Prophet, saying, ‘O So and so, intercede!’ until intercession is granted to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). On that Day Allaah will resurrect him to a station of praise and glory.”

2 – INTERCESSION FOR THE PEOPLE OF PARADISE TO ENTER PARADISE.

It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘I will come to the gate of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection and will ask for it to be opened. The gatekeeper will say, “Who are you?” I will say, “Muhammad.” He will say, “I was commanded not to open it for anyone before you.”’” (Narrated by Muslim, 333).

According to another report narrated by Muslim (332), “I will be the first one to intercede concerning Paradise.”

3 – THE INTERCESSION OF THE MESSENGER (PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF ALLAAH BE UPON HIM) FOR HIS UNCLE ABU TAALIB:

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that mention was made of his uncle Abu Taalib in the presence of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He said, “Perhaps my intercession will benefit him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will be placed in a shallow part of the Fire which will come up to his ankles and cause his brains to boil.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1408; Muslim, 360).

4 – HIS INTERCESSION SO THAT SOME PEOPLE OF HIS UMMAH WILL ENTER PARADISE WITHOUT BEING BROUGHT TO ACCOUNT.

This kind of intercession was mentioned by some of the scholars, who quoted as evidence the lengthy hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah concerning intercession, in which it says: “Then it will be said, ‘O Muhammad, raise your head; ask, it will be given to you; intercede, your intercession will be accepted.’ So I will raise my head and say, ‘My Ummah, O Lord; my Ummah, O Lord; my Ummah, O Lord.’ It will be said, ‘Admit those among your Ummah who are not to be brought to account through the right-hand gate of Paradise. They will share the other gates with the people of other nations.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4343; Muslim, 287).

4.0 THE SECOND TYPE: GENERAL INTERCESSION.

This will be granted to the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and others – angels, Prophets and righteous people – will share in it as Allaah wills. This is of various kinds:

4.1 INTERCESSION FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENTERED HELL, WHICH THEY MIGHT BE BROUGHT FORTH FROM IT. There is a great deal of evidence for this, for example:

The marfoo’ hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) in Saheeh Muslim (269): “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, none of you can be more insistent in asking Allaah to restore his rights against his opponent than the believers who will ask Allaah, on the Day of Resurrection, (to grant them the power of intercession) for their brothers who are in the Fire. They will say, ‘Our Lord, they used to fast with us and pray and perform Hajj.’ It will be said to them, ‘Bring out those whom you recognize, so the Fire will be forbidden to burn them.’ So they will bring out many people… And Allaah will say: ‘The angels have interceded, and the Prophets have interceded, and the believers have interceded. There is none left but the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.’ Then He will seize a handful of the Fire and bring forth from it people who never did anything good.”

4.2 INTERCESSION FOR PEOPLE WHO DESERVE HELL, THAT THEY MAY NOT ENTER IT. This may be indicated by the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “There is no Muslim who dies and forty men who associate nothing with Allaah pray the funeral prayer for him, but Allaah will accept their intercession for him.” (Narrated by Muslim, 1577). For this intercession happens before the deceased enters Hell, and Allaah will accept their intercession concerning that.

4.3 INTERCESSION FOR SOME OF THE BELIEVERS WHO DESERVE PARADISE, THAT THEY MAY BE RAISED IN STATUS IN PARADISE. For example, Muslim (may Allaah have mercy on him) narrated (1528) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prayed for Abu Salamah and said: “O Allaah, forgive Abu Salamah and raise his status among those who are guided, and take good care of his family that he has left behind. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the Worlds, make his grave spacious for him and illuminate it for him.”

CONDITIONS OF THIS INTERCESSION:

The evidence indicates that intercession in the Hereafter will only happen if the following conditions are met:

1) Allaah must approve of the one for whom intercession is made, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):“and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased”[ Holy Quran al-Anbiya’ 21:28]

This implies that the one for whom intercession is made must be a believer in Tawheed, because Allaah is not pleased with the Mushrikeen. In Saheeh al-Bukhaari (97) it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he said: “It was said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, who will be the most blessed of people by your intercession of the Day of Resurrection?’ The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I thought, O Abu Hurayrah, that no one would ask me about this hadeeth before you, because I have seen how keen you are to learn hadeeth. The people who will be most blessed by my intercession on the Day of Resurrection are those who say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah sincerely from the heart.’”

2) Allaah must give permission to the intercessor to intercede, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission?”[Holy Quran al-Baqarah 2:255]

3) Allaah must approve of the intercessor, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “…whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allaah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with”[ Holy Quran al-Najm 53:26]

And the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has stated that those who curse much will not be intercessors on the Day of Resurrection, as Muslim narrated in his Saheeh (4703) that Abu’l-Darda’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, ‘Those who curse much will not be witnesses or intercessors on the Day of Resurrection.’”

5.0 THE SECOND TYPE OF INTERCESSION IS THAT WHICH HAS TO DO WITH MATTERS OF THIS WORLD. THIS IS OF TWO TYPES:

1 – That which is within a person’s ability to do something. This is permissible, subject to two conditions:

1) That it should have to do with a permissible thing. It is not correct to intercede concerning something that will result in the loss of people’s rights or in wrong being done to them. It is also not correct to intercede concerning something that is haraam, such as those who intercede concerning those who deserve the hadd punishment, asking that it not be carried out on them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression”[ Holy Quran al-Maa’idah 5:2]

According to a hadeeth narrated by ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), Quraysh were concerned about a Makhzoomi woman who had stolen, and they said, “Who will speak to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) concerning her? Who better than Usaamah, the beloved of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)?” So Usaamah spoke to him, and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Are you interceding concerning one of the hadd punishments prescribed by Allaah?” Then he stood up and addressed the people, and said, “O people, those who came before you were only destroyed because if one of their nobles stole they would let him off but if one of the weak stole they would carry out the punishment on him. By Allaah, if Faatimah the daughter of Muhammad were to steal, I would cut off her hand.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3261; Muslim, 3196).

In Saheeh al-Bukhaari (5568) and Saheeh Muslim (4761) it is narrated that Abu Moosa (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that if someone came with a need to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), he would turn to those who were sitting with him and say, “Intercede, and you will be rewarded, and Allaah will decree what He wills through the lips of His Messenger.”

2) In his heart, the person must depend on Allaah alone to realize his aim and ward off what is disliked. He should know that this intercessor is no more than a means which Allaah has permitted to us, and that benefit and harm are in the hand of Allaah alone. This meaning is expressed clearly in the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). If either of these two conditions is not met, then the intercession is not allowed.

2 – That which is not within a person’s ability to do something, such as seeking intercession from the dead and occupants of graves, or from a living person who is absent, believing that he is able to hear and meet one’s need. This is the kind of intercession that constitutes shirk, which is clearly forbidden in many verses of the Qur’aan and ahaadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), because it ascribes to them attributes which belong only to the Creator, for He is the Ever-living Who never dies.

Their specious argument is that the awliya’ (“saints”) and Sayyids intercede for their relatives and for those who call on them and take them as friends and love them, and because of that they ask them for intercession. This is exactly what Allaah described the early mushrikeen as doing, when they said, “These are our intercessors with Allaah”[ Holy Quran Yoonus 10:18 – interpretation of the meaning] – referring to those whom they worshipped among the angels, righteous people and others, and meaning that they would intercede for them with Allaah. In the same way, the contemporary Mushrikoon say “the awliya’ (‘saints’) intercede for us; we cannot ask of Allaah (directly) so we ask them and they ask of Allaah.” And they say that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and all the Prophets and righteous people were given the power of intercession, and we call upon them and say, intercede for us as Allaah has given you the power of intercession. They give the example of kings in this world, and say that the kings of this world can only be approached through intercession; if you need something, you go to their friends and those who are close to them, their ministers, gatekeepers, servants, etc., to intercede for you so that the king can deal with your matter; so we reach Allaah by approaching and asking His awliyaa’ and the Sayyids who are close to Him. By doing this they fall into the same shirk as those who came before them, and they compare the Creator to His creation.

Allaah tells us of a righteous man in Soorat Ya-Seen, who said (interpretation of the meaning): “ ‘Shall I take besides Him aalihah (gods)? If the Most Gracious (Allaah) intends me any harm, their intercession will be of no use for me whatsoever”[ Holy Quran Ya-Seen 36:23]

And Allaah tells us that the kuffaar will confess it themselves: “They will say: ‘We were not of those who used to offer the Salaah (prayers), Nor we used to feed Al-Miskeen (the poor); And we used to talk falsehood (all that which Allaah hated) with vain talkers. And we used to belie the Day of Recompense, Until there came to us (the death) that is certain’ So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them” [Holy Quran al-Muddaththir 74:43-48 – interpretation of the meaning]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), even though he will be given the power of intercession on the Day of Resurrection, will not be able to use it until after Allaah has given him permission and has approved of the one for whom intercession is to be made.

Hence he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not let his Ummah ask him to intercede for them in this world, and that was not narrated from any one of his Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them). If that had been a good thing, he would have conveyed it to his ummah and called them to do it, and his Companions who were keen to do good would have hastened to do it. Thus we know that seeking intercession from him now (in this world) is a great wrong, because it involves calling upon someone other than Allaah and doing something which is an obstacle to intercession, for intercession is available only to those who sincerely believe in Allaah alone (Tawheed)

The people in the place of standing (on the Day of Resurrection) will only ask the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to intercede for them so that judgement will be passed, because he will be there with them and because he will be able to turn to his Lord and ask Him. This is like asking a person who is alive and present to do make du’aa’ for one, which is something that he is able to do.

Hence it is not narrated that any of the people in the place of standing will ask him (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to intercede for them that their sins might be forgiven.

Those who ask him for intercession now, based on the fact that it will be permissible to ask him for that in the Hereafter, if their claims were justified, would have to limit what they say to, “O Messenger of Allaah, intercede for us that judgement may be passed”! But they do something other than that. They do not limit it to a request for intercession, rather they ask the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) – and others – to relieve their distress and send down mercy; they turn to him at times of calamity; they pray to him on land and sea, at times of ease and times of difficulty, ignoring the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):

“Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls on Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations?”[ Holy Quran al-Naml 27:62]

We ask Allaah to keep us safe and sound, and we ask Him to cause our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to intercede for us … Ameen.

SOURCES

Al-Shafaa’ah ‘inda Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah by Shaykh Naasir al-Juday’; al-Qawl al-Mufeed by Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 1/423; A’laam al-Sunnah al-Manshoorah, 144.

Islam Q&A, 26259, Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid, https://islamqa.info/en/cat/458

REFLECTIONS, Website: www.ummah.com/reflections, Quarterly: Issue No 17, Muharram 1422

http://www.ummahreflections.co.za/reflections17.htm

 

STANDING FOR 50,000 YEARS (ALLAH’S YEARS) BEFORE JUDGMENT;

STANDING FOR 50,000 YEARS (ALLAH’S YEARS) BEFORE JUDGMENT;

IS THE DAY OF RECKONING ONE DAY?

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN & WOMEN SALAH

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

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TUESDAY 25^TH SAFAR 1439 AH- 14TH NOVEMBER 2017 CE

 

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu.

Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sallalhu alaihi Wasalam) is His slave and Messenger.

STAGES AFTER DEATH IN ISLAM

1. First stage is death

2. Second stage is Grave and questioning (Alam Barzaak) and Life in Grave for decreed period

3. Third stage is Resurrection from Grave

4. Fourth Stage is standing for 50,000 years (Allah’s Years) before judgment

5. Fifth Stage is Day of Judgment and scale of justices placed

6. Sixth Stage is Scale of deeds placed from all actions done on the earth for examination

7. Seventh Stage is Hell fire drugged and brought by 70,000 by 70,000 angels and placed waiting for Non-Muslims. The Prophet ‘Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam’ said, Hell-Fire will be brought forth on the Day of Judgment with 70,000 zimaam each pulled by 70,000 Angels,” (Muslim).

8. Eighth stage is receiving books by individuals either in the left hand, back or right after judgment

9. Ninth Stage is Non-Muslims or believers shown their places in Hell Fire

10. Tenth stage is Muslims released to Bridge of Sirat (most difficult part of test) before entry to paradise

11. Eleventh stage is Separation of all Muslims into believers, hypocrites, Nifaq etc. over the Bridge Sirat

12. Twelfth stage is falling down of Hypocrites and weak Muslims on the Bridge to decreed hell Fire placements; abode of Hypocrites in Hell Fire

13. Thirteenth is Araaf- Stage

14. Fourteenth stage is Clean and solid believers in Allah passed final stage of test over Sirat Bridge; abode of Believers in Allah in Paradise etc.

 

BEGINNING OF DAY OF JUDGMENT

Resurrection is Great - We hear news about Qiyamat but imagine that it is an ordinary matter, though we give much importance to this world, the same world which the Lord Creator of the Universe has termed a 'plaything': “The life of this world is only idle sport and play,“ (Holy Quran Chapter 47:36). But about Qiyamat, which is an ordinary thing in our (mistaken) view has been given much importance by God and He has called its news “The Great Event”: “Of what do they ask one another? About the great event, “(Holy Quran Chapter 78:1). Doubtlessly Qiyamat is very great. It will be the Day when all the first and last (earlier and latter) human beings will be made to assemble. Such a huge gathering will be such that in it, everyone will be worrying about his or her result (consequences of deeds before death). All will be weeping and wailing save a few about whom we shall talk later on.

How will they raise their heads FROM THE Graves? - One day Jibraeel came to the Holy Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa salaam) and asked, “Would you like to observe the condition of people on the Day of Gathering?” “Yes,” the Prophet replied. Jibraeel, the trustworthy angel, took the Holy Prophet to the graveyard of Baqi (Medina). He kicked a grave and said, “Get up at the order of your Lord.” The grave split at once and a man with radiant face raised his head from the grave saying, “(All) praise is due to Allah, Who has made good to us His promise, “(Holy Quran Chapter 39:74). Thereafter, he kicked another grave and said, “Rise up at the command of your Lord.” At once, another man with a very ugly and frightened face came out of this grave and said, O woe to us! Jibraeel said, “The faithful and the unbelievers will rise up from their graves in this condition.”

Hopes about Day of Judgment, Qiyamaa? - “Abasing (one party), exalting (the other), “(Holy Quran Chapter 56:3). On the Day of Resurrection, those who were low and weak materially but had the riches of God's fear will become masters and great. Contrary to this, those who were materially great and powerful in the world but had no piety will become dishonoured and degraded. 'Degrader' and 'Upgrader' are two Qur’anic names of the Resurrection Day.

All secrets will become known - Another thing, which will happen on the Day of Judgment is all those things, which were kept hidden in hearts, will become open and manifest. In this world there are veils on everyone's beliefs and deeds. But in Qiyamat both the inner and outer state will become same, fully apparent.

The dress of the Day of Judgment will be piety - “And clothing that guards (against evil), that is the best. “(Holy Quran Chapter 7:25).

The sinners will be recognized - “The guilty shall be recognized by their marks, so they shall be seized by the forelocks and the feet. “(Holy Quran Chapter 55:41). The first stage in the Gathering field will be astonishment which is mentioned a number of times in the Holy Qur’an: “Hastening forward, their heads upraised, their eyes not reverting to them and their hearts vacant. “(Holy Quran Chapter 14:43).

Day of fifty thousand years’ duration -“The measure of which is fifty thousand years. “(Holy Quran Chapter 70:5). “The measure of which is a thousand years of what you count. “(Holy Quran Chapter 32:5).

The station of fear in Qiyama - “And the voices shall be low before the Beneficent God so that you shall not hear aught but a soft sound. “(Holy Quran Chapter 20:108)”. And warn them of the day that draws near, when hearts shall rise up to the throats, “(Holy Quran Chapter 40:18).

One station is that of talks and conversation, of questions and answers between people: “And some of them shall advance towards others, questioning each other. “(Holy Quran Chapter 37:27). They will ask one another about their good and bad deeds.

Flying away from another like locusts- One of the stations will be that of fleeing and running away wherein all will run to avoid one another. Father will run away from son, wife and husband from one another, brother from brother. Everyone would try to avoid one another. All will try to hide their faces. The Holy Qur’an has likened it with scattered moths: “The day on which men shall be as scattered moths, “(Holy Quran Chapter 101:3). In Surah Qamar God says: “Their eyes cast down, going forth from their graves as if they were scattered locusts, “(Holy Quran Chapter 54:7).Fear will show out of the eyes of the unbelievers. When they will come out of their grave, they will scatter like locusts in the field of Mahshar. You must have observed that when an army of locusts arrives how everyone of them flies in different direction, some upward, some downward, some in the right, some in the left. They remain scattered in an unorganized manner. Husband and wife, father and son etc. will also, in the field of Mahshar, on the Day of Resurrection, remain scattered likewise for avoiding one another. But this fleeing of theirs will be useless.

Their fleeing will be of no use - These will be the Divine armies, which will encircle and the Grand Field of Gathering (Mahshar): “O assembly of the jinn and the men! If you are able to pass through the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass through; you cannot pass through but with authority. “(Holy Quran Chapter 55:33).

On that Day men will ask, “Where should I run away?” There is no place or room for escaping except towards the Lord. This also is only for one who had some connection with God. Otherwise, for others, there is no escape.

They will beg even for a single good on the Day of Judgment - One more station will be that of asking and begging. Everyone will request his acquaintance to offer one of his goods (reward fetching deeds) but no one will oblige because he himself is also in dire need of it.

A father will say to his son, “How many hardships I suffered for you sake in the world. How much trouble I took for training you? Now, you please give me one of your good deeds. ”The son will reply, “At this time, I myself am in dire need of the good and I am more needy than you.” Similarly a brother will tell his brother. But none would be able to help the other. All would be in terrible anxiety and will not care for others.

Record of deeds - Whether they use paper and ink or have any other way. Even the slightest step that you take is being noted down by the angels. They record even the intention of doing a good deed. Of course no evil (sin) is noted until it is committed. ‘’Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it. (Holy Quran Chapter 99:7-8).’’

The fragrance of good intentions alerts the angels - “Whoever brings a good deed, he shall have ten like it, and whoever brings an evil deed, he shall be recompensed only with the like of it, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly. “(Holy Quran Chapter 6:160). “And everything they have done is in the writings. And everything small and great is written down. “(Holy Quran Chapter 54:52-53).

Wisdom behind record of deeds - “Nay! Most surely the record of the righteous shall be in the Iliyin. “(83:18)”. Nay! most surely the record of the wicked is in the Sijjin. “(Holy Quran Chapter 83:7).

Come! Look at my mark sheet - “Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he will say: Lo! Read my book: “(Holy Quran Chapter 19:69). Look at this testimonial about the acceptance of my prayers, my fasting and my good deeds! I was always worrying about the accounting of this Day. “Surely I knew that I shall meet my account. So he shall be in a life of pleasure, “(Holy Quran Chapter 69:20-21).

I wish they had not given my record of deeds - And as for him who is given his book in his left hand he shall say: O would that my book had never been given me: “And I had not known what my account was: O would that it had made an end (of me): My wealth has availed me nothing: My authority is gone away from me. “(Holy Quran Chapter 69:25-29). He will say so only because he will observe that his record has nothing but shame. He will wish for death after which there would be no death again and everything would end permanently. Then he will wail, “Neither my money help me nor my land and my power all have left me lurking in pain and shame.”

How record will be given from behind - There also will be some people in the field of Mahshar on the Day of Judgment, who will be handed over their records of deeds from behind: “And as to him who is given his book behind his back, He shall call for perdition, And enter into burning fire. “(Holy Quran Chapter 84:10-12). This (giving of record from behind) can be in two ways: First, both of his hands may be tied to his back and his head will be turned so that he can read his record. Another way can be that his left hand will pierce in his chest forcing it to come out of his back and then his face will be turned and he will be ordered to read his record: “Read your book; your own self is sufficient as a reckoner against you this day. “(Holy Quran Chapter 17:14). He will himself read back-biting, false allegations, lies, shameless utterances and actions, assaults on others' honour and all other evils committed by him in his worldly life. Likewise, he will also read the offences done by his physical organs. He would start wailing, “This book is such that it has not left even any big or small deed of mine without writing it down.” Whatever he has done in the world will be now before his own eyes. “And the Book shall be placed, then you will see the guilty fearing from what is in it, and they will say: Ah! woe to us! what a book is this! it does not omit a small one nor a great one, but numbers them (all); and what they had done they shall find present (there); and your Lord does not deal unjustly with anyone. “(Holy Quran Chapter 18:49).

Severe pain after reading the record - Some people will be such that reading their records of deeds all the joints of their bodies will disintegrate. Blood and dirt will begin to flow from their eyes. It is mentioned in a tradition of the Holy Prophet that, at that time, a voice will come, “Is there in this record even a single deed which you had not done?” He will reply, “No, O My Lord! Everything recorded in this sheet is true.” Then he will bow his head in shame.

On the Day of Judgment, man will, in a split second, remember all of his lifelong deeds and also see them recorded in a scroll or sheet. It would be a very strange realm. Everyone's record will appear clear before everyone's eyes. Some people will be able to become free of accounting within seconds. They will be the righteous people.

But some would remain suspended in their accounting for a thousand years, not because their record will be very lengthy but what will be aimed at will be the pain and hardship due for them. Some people's accounting will take very little time, just as for milking a sheep. The time taken for some people's account will be, so to say, from noon to Asr afternoon. Some will remain suspended in accounting for forty years, a thousand years and even up to fifty thousand years in some cases.

IS THE DAY OF RECKONING ONE DAY?

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:  

The Day of Reckoning is one day, but it is a day whose length is equal to fifty thousand years, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert, From Allaah, the Lord of the ways of ascent.

The angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years” [Holy Quran Chapter al-Ma’aarij 70:1-4] 

i.e., this torment will befall the disbelievers on a day the length of which is equal to fifty thousand years. 

In Saheeh Muslim it is narrated from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no owner of gold or silver who does not pay what is due on it (i.e., zakaah) but when the Day of Resurrection comes, plates of fire will be prepared for him and with them will be branded his forehead, his flanks and his back, and every time they cool down they will be reheated, on a Day the length of which is equal to fifty thousand years, until judgement is passed among the people.” 

This long Day is the day that will be hard for the kaafirs as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“and it will be a hard Day for the disbelievers” [Holy Quran Chapter al-Furqaan 25:26] 

“Truly, that Day will be a Hard Day — Far from easy for the disbelievers”

[Holy Quran Chapter al-Muddaththir 74:9-10] 

What may be understood from these two verses is that it will be easy for the believer, and that is indeed the case. For this long Day with its horrors and serious matters will be made easy by Allaah for the believer, but it will be hard for the kaafir.  I ask Allaah to make me and my Muslim brothers/sisters among those for whom Allaah will make the Day of Resurrection easy. 

But thinking too deeply about such matters of the unseen comes under the heading of extremism concerning which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed.” 

Our duty with regard to the matters of the unseen is to submit and to accept them according to their apparent meaning, without discussing them in depth or trying to compare them to worldly things. For the matters of the Hereafter are not like the matters of this world; even if the meanings may have something in common, there is still a great difference between them. I will give the example of what Allaah has told us about there being palm-trees, pomegranates, fruits, the flesh of birds, honey, water, milk, wine etc in Paradise, but He also tells us (interpretation of the meaning): 

“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do”

[Holy Quran Chapter al-Sajdah 32:17] 

And Allaah says in a hadeeth qudsi: “I have prepared for My righteous slaves that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard nor has it entered the heart of man.” 

There are things in this world that bear the same names as these blessings of Paradise mentioned here but the fact that they have a name in common does not mean that the wine of Paradise is like the wine of this world, or that the fruits of Paradise are like the fruits of this world, and so on. 

Although they may share a name and a common meaning, all the things of the unseen that share a meaning with things that are seen in this world are not like them in reality, so we should pay attention to this principle and accept the matters of the unseen according to the apparent meanings, and not try to do any more than that.  

Hence when Imam Maalik (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): 

“The Most Gracious (Allaah) rose over (Istawa) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)”[ Holy Quran Chapter Ta-Ha 20:5] – 

How did He rise over it? He lowered his head and started to sweat, because of the seriousness of this question. Then he raised his head and spoke his famous words that became the standard comment regarding all the attributes that Allaah has ascribed to Himself: “(The concept of) rising is not unknown, but how it happened (in the case of Allaah) cannot be comprehended. Believing in it is obligatory and asking about it is bid’ah (an innovation).” 

Probing deeply into such matters is bid’ah because the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) who were more keen than us to seek knowledge and goodness did not ask the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) such questions, and they are sufficient as an example. What I have said now about the Last Day may also be applied to the attributes of Allaah which He has ascribed to Himself of knowledge, power, hearing, seeing, speaking etc. The way in which these words apply to Allaah is nothing like the way in which the same words apply to man. Each attribute suits the one to whom it is ascribed. Just as there is none like unto Allaah in His Essence, there is none like unto Him in His attributes. 

In conclusion: the Last Day is one Day, and it will be hard for the kaafirs and easy for the believers. What has been narrated about the various kinds of reward and punishment is a matter which cannot be fully understood in this world, even though the basic meanings may be known to us in this world. Islam Q&A, 34719, Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 2/40.

SAVINGS ACCOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS

The true savings account is with Allah - All of us say that God is Bountiful and Generous (Kareem). Quite true. But if we really consider Him bountiful then why do we not regard Him so in the worldly (material) matters. Why do we make so much strenuous efforts in the worldly affairs, especially in the matter of sustenance? This shows that what we say is not based on real conviction. We are not truly convinced that God is Bountiful. If you really and factually want to make arrangements for your future (after death) then you should open your 'Saving Accounts' with God. These prayers and charity are your savings, which are being credited to your account with God and the Generous God protects it in a better way and also gives better reward for it on the Day of Resurrection and in this world also.

“Whatever of good you send on beforehand for yourselves, you will find it with Allah; that is best and greatest in reward; “(Holy Quran Chapter 73:20). The Lord of the Universe has, in the Holy Qur’an, told His Prophet (SAW): Warn My servants about the events of future (Hereafter). Now all of us know very well that all of us have to face a Day, which will be full of hardships, dangers and anxieties.

ALLAH AND THE LIMITS OF HUMAN IMAGINATION

The Holy Quran, mentions the concept of time in many places, in different contexts, and from various perspectives. In chapter 70, verse 4: "(Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years." In chapter 32, verse 5: "He directeth the ordinance from the heaven unto the earth; then it ascendeth unto Him in a Day, whereof the measure is a thousand years of that ye reckon.", and in chapter 22, verse 47: "And they will bid thee hasten on the Doom, and Allah faileth not His promise, but lo! a Day with Allah is as a thousand years of what ye reckon." Not only that, but there are whole chapters that are named after times: chapter 62 "Friday", chapter 89 "The Dawn", chapter 92 "The Night", chapter 93 "The Morn", chapter 103 "The Declining Day", and chapter 113 "The Daybreak".

In this brief we shall mention concept of time in the Holy Quran with reference to two verses with Tafseer commentary. Holy Quran Chapter 32.5 and (Hoy Quran Chapter 70. 4).

سُوۡرَةُ السَّجدَة

يُدَبِّرُ ٱلۡأَمۡرَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ثُمَّ يَعۡرُجُ إِلَيۡهِ فِى يَوۡمٍ۬ كَانَ مِقۡدَارُهُ ۥۤ أَلۡفَ سَنَةٍ۬ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ (٥)

Surah As-Sajda

He directeth the ordinance from the heaven unto the earth; then it ascendeth unto Him in a Day, whereof the measure is a thousand years of that ye reckon. (Hoy Quran Chapter 32.5)

Tafseer - Hoy Quran Chapter 32.5

He directs the command from the heaven to the earth, for the duration of this world, then it ascends, then the command and the direction [thereof] returns, to Him in a day whose measure is a thousand years by your reckoning, in this world. In sūrat sa’ala, [An asker] asked [the measure is said to be]: ‘fifty thousand years’ [Hoy Quran Chapter 70:4] — and this [day] is the Day of Resurrection, [reckoned so] because of the severity of its terrors for the disbeliever. As for the believer, however, for him it will be easier than performing any one of [his] obligatory prayers in this world — as is stated in hadīth.

سُوۡرَةُ المعَارج

تَعۡرُجُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيۡهِ فِى يَوۡمٍ۬ كَانَ مِقۡدَارُهُ ۥ خَمۡسِينَ أَلۡفَ سَنَةٍ۬ (٤)

Surah Al-Maarij

(Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. (Hoy Quran Chapter 70. 4).

Tafseer [70:4]

To Him, to the place in the heaven to which His command descends, ascend (read [feminine person] ta‘ruju or [masculine person] ya‘ruju) the angels and the Spirit, Gabriel, in a day (fī yawmin is semantically connected to an omitted clause, that is to say, ‘[in a day] in which the chastisement befalls them’, on the Day of Resurrection) whose span is fifty thousand years, from the perspective of the disbeliever, on account of the calamities he will encounter in it — but as for the believer, it [the mentioned day] will be easier for him than an obligatory prayer which he performs in this world, as stated in hadīth.

THE SHADE OF THE ^ARSH FOR SEVEN PERSONS

Praise and thanks are due to Allah, and may Allah raise the rank of our master the prophet Muhammad and protect his nation from that which he fears for it.

Abu Hurayra narrated that the Prophet ‘sall-Allahu ta’ala ‘alaihi wa sallam’ said, “On the Day of Judgement Allah will give the shade of the ^Arsh (Throne), to seven, when there will be no shade but the shade of the ^Arsh. These seven persons are; a just ruler, a youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allah, a man whose heart is attached to the mosques, two persons who love each other only for Allah’s sake and they meet and depart in Allah’s cause only, a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for unlawful intercourse with her and says: I am fearful of Allah, a man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given, and a person who praises (remembers) Allah in seclusion (privacy) and his eyes are then flooded with tears.”

These seven persons and others are shaded by the shade of the ^Arsh when there will be no shade except the shade of the ^Arsh. So they are safe from the harm of the heat of the sun.

1. Among them is the just ruler, like Hadrat Abu Bakr, Hadrat ^Umar, Hadrat ^Uthman, Hadrat ^Aliyy and Hadrat ^Umar Ibn ^Abdil-^Aziz who was from the descendents of Hadrat ^Umar Ibnul-Khattab may Allah be pleased with them. ^Umar Ibn ^Abdil-^Aziz is the one who stopped Bani Umayya from swearing at Imam ^Aliyy and wrongly mentioning bad things about him while giving their speeches. When he became a ruler he wrote to his assistants the following: If your power motivated you to wrong people then remember the power of Allah over you.

2. The second is a youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allah i.e. worships Allah sincerely from childhood. He acquired the knowledge about religion, fulfilled the obligations and avoided the sins.

3. The third is a man whose heart is attached to the mosques i.e. to pray the compulsory prayers in the mosque in (Jama^a).

4. The fourth are two persons who love each other only for Allah’s sake and they meet and depart in Allah’s cause only. So loving each other for the sake of Allahis among the reasons that lead you to be shaded by the shade of the ^Arsh on the Day of Judgement. To have the pure love to each other means to order one another to do good deeds, and to forbid one another from committing evil.

5. The fifth is a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for unlawful intercourse with her, and says: I am fearful of Allah. It has been related that a righteous Muslim’s supplication was always fulfilled. When asked about the mystery of this endowment he replied: It was a year of drought when a very beautiful lady came into my house and asked me for something to eat. I said to her: I will give you the food you need, after you give me yourself (i.e. to allow him to have the unlawful intercourse with her). She said: It would be better to me to die from hunger than disobeying my Lord, and went away crying. Then she came after few days and she was starving to death, and asked me for food. I said to her: I won’t give you anything unless you give me yourself. She replied: It would be better to me to die from hunger than disobeying my Lord, and went away crying. I realized that she wasn’t bearing the starvation, so I followed her and heard her reciting some verses from the Qur’an and praising Allah. This strengthened the faith in my heart and the love to do good deeds, and I repented to Allah. Then I called for her saying: come and take what you want for the sake of Allah. She took the food then raised her hands to the sky the direction of supplication and said: O Allah as you guided and enlightened his heart, make his supplication always fulfilled.

6. The sixth is a man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity because he is not doing that in order to be praised by people but rather he is doing that only in sincerity to Allah subhanahu wa ta^ala.

7. The last mentioned in this hadith is a person who praises Allah in seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with tears. Such eyes are protected from being burnt in Hellfire on the Day of Judgement.

We ask Allah to make us among those who follow the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad ‘sall-Allahu ta’ala ‘alaihi wa sallam’ and make our end, on the state of piety. Ameen