Qur’anic Eschatology

THE QUR’ANIC STUDY OF DEATH AND LIFE AFTER DEATH

SHEIKH JAFFER H. JAFFERMASUMEEN ISLAMIC CENTER

2014 /1435

Qur’anic Eschatology

Introduction

Eschatology comes from the Greek word: eschatos which means - last and/or farthest ology – which means - the branch of learning

Eschatology is defined as (Merriam-Webster Dictionary): a branch of theology concerned with the final events

in the history of the world or of humankind

This course will discuss ‘Death and Life after Death’ Based mainly on the verses of the Qur’an

Introduction

Why should we study this subject? First: We need to have Yaqeen about the Hereafter

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful. Ta, Sin. These are the signs of the Qur'an and a manifest Book, 1 a guidance and good news for the faithful 2 those who maintain the prayer and pay the zakat, and who are certain of the Hereafter. 3 As for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have made their deeds seem decorous to them, and so they are bewildered (blindly wandering on). 4 (An-Naml)

Second: The Dua’s we recite constantly refer to the hereafter

ال �ذا جمعت رحمناٱوإ لق�يامة� ف آلخ�ر�ين يوم �ين و ٱول ٱ ٱ Third: To instill a little bit of fear within us

انها ماء وسك �ه� ترعد الس ذ�ي م�ن خشيت �له� ال الحمد ل

Introduction

Subjects to be covered (in sha Allah) Death The Intermediate Realm (Barzakh) Resurrection and Blowing of the Trumpets The Book of Actions (Kitab) The Path (Sirat) The Balance (Mizan) Witnessing and the Final Judgment The Reckoning (Hisab) Intersession (Shifa’a)

Death

The Meaning of the term “Mawt” according to the Qur’an: The Arabic term for death is “mawt” and it is defined as “the loss of

ability or power from an entity” (Lisan al-Arab, 2/90)

“ هم األرض الميتة A sign for them is the dead earth…” (36:33)وآية ل

“ أموات غير أحياءThey are dead, not living…” (16:21)

“ و كنتم أمواتا فأحيكم �ه �الل How can you be unfaithfulكيف تكفرون ب

to Allah (seeing that) you were lifeless and He gave you life” (2:28)

: تون �ك لمي كم بعد ذل �ن Then indeed you die after that…” (23:15)ثم إ

Death

Is Death a Creation in Itself? عمال أحسن كم أي �يبلوكIم ل والحياة الموت خلق ذ�ي ال“He, who created death and life that He may test you (to

see) which of you is best in conduct”: al-Mulk 67:2

Is there a single appointed time for death? “There is a preordained time for every nation: when their

time comes, they shall not defer it by a single hour nor shall they advance it” Sura Al-Aa’raf – verse 34 However, each human being is appointed numerous times of

death Does this mean that Allah SWT is not fully aware?

• Concept of Badaa’ (Revision in Divine Destiny)

Death

Death Happens only by the Leave of God He is the Giver (Muhyi) and Taker (Mumit) of Life

“And a soul will not die but with the permission of Allah the term is fixed; and whoever desires the reward of this world, I shall give him of it, and whoever desires the reward of the hereafter I shall give him of it, and I will reward the grateful.” (3/145)

Sending of the Angels to remove the Soul “And He is the Supreme, above His servants, and He sends

keepers over you; until when death comes to one of you, Our messengers cause him to die, and they are not remiss.” (6/61) There are two kinds of angels – protectors (keepers) and takers – when

the protectors are ordered to leave, death comes “Say: The angel of death who is given charge of you shall cause you

to die, then to your Lord you shall be brought back.” (32/11)• Angel of death who is yours – is always with us - no permission yet

Death

Sending of the Angels to remove the Soul (Cont…) There are many angels working with different roles

“I swear by the angels who violently pull out the souls of the wicked : And by those who gently draw out the souls of the blessed : And by those who float in space : Then those who are foremost going ahead : Then those who regulate the affair” (Naziat 79, 1-5)

When the permission is given to the taker – our soul will be removed “Why is it not then that when it (soul) comes up to the throat,

And you at that time look on, And We are nearer to it than you, but you do not see.” (56/83-85) Here “We are nearer” refers to the angel, who is close.

Death

Belief at the Time of Death is of no Benefit �ين�ن هذا لهو حق اليق� إ“Most surely this is a certain truth.” (al-Waqi’a, 56/95)

Death brings “haq al-yaqin”, a certainty and knowledge due to the witnessing of some signs of the Lord ‘And the stupor of death will bring the truth; that is what you

were trying to shun (or escape).” (Qaf, 50/19) However, this certainty and knowledge brings with it an

end to the opportunity to repent and reform: “And repentance is not for those who go on doing evil deeds,

until when death comes to one of them, he says: Surely now I repent; nor (for) those who die while they are unbelievers. These are they for whom We have prepared a painful chastisement.” (al-Nisa, 4/18)

Death

Belief at the Time of Death is of no Benefit (Cont…) “Are they waiting to see the angels come to them, or that your Lord

should come, or that some of the signs of your Lord should come. On the day when some of the signs of your Lord shall come, its faith shall not profit a soul which did not believe before, or earn good through its faith. Say: Wait; we too are waiting.” (6/158) The verse above mentions three scenarios; the coming of the angels, the

coming of the Lord and the coming of the signs of the Lord. At this time, faith does not help

Examples from the Qur’an: “And We made the children of Israel to pass through the sea, then Fir’awn and his

hosts followed them for oppression and tyranny; until when drowning overtook him, he said: I believe that there is no god but He in Whom the children of Israel believe and I am of those who submit. What! now! and indeed you disobeyed before and you were of the mischief-makers. But We will this day deliver you with your body that you may be a sign to those after you, and most surely the majority of the people are heedless to Our communications.” (Yunus, 10/90-92)

Death

Belief at the Time of Death is of no Benefit (Cont…) Other Examples:

Mushrikeen (Quraysh and other Idolators) “And could you see when they shall become terrified, but (then) there shall be

no escape and they shall be seized upon from a near place, And they shall say: We believe in it (the Qur’an). And how shall the attaining (of faith) be plausible to them from a distant place (akhira)? And they disbelieved in it before, and they utter conjectures (not what the Prophet (S) taught) with regard to the unseen (that which has yet to be experienced) from a distant place. And a barrier shall be placed between them and that which they desire, as was done with the likes of them before: surely they are in a disquieting doubt.” (Saba, 34/51-54)

People of Jahannam “And those who are in the fire shall say to the keepers of hell: Call upon your

Lord that He may lighten to us one day of the punishment. They shall say: Did not your messengers come to you with clear arguments? They shall say: Yes. They shall say: Then call. And the supplication of the unbelievers is only futile.” (al-Ghafir, 40/49,50)

Death

The Contrast between the Death of a Believer and that of an Unbeliever “O soul that art at rest! Return to your Lord, well-pleased

(with him), well-pleasing (Him), So enter among My servants, And enter into My garden.” (al-Fajr, 89/27-30)

“Nay! When it comes up to the throat, And it is said: Who will take him up (which angel)? And he knows that it is the (hour of) parting, And each shank clasps the other shank (affliction is combined with affliction); To your Lord on that day shall be the driving.” (al-Qiyama, 30/26-30)

“Say: (As for) the death from which you flee, that will surely overtake you, then you shall be sent back to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will inform you of that which you did.” (al-Jumu’a, 62/8)

Death

Entering the World of Angels Angel of Death is like a mirror

If the soul is beautiful, the meeting is pleasant, if the soul is ugly, the meeting can be extremely unpleasant “And those who do not hope for Our meeting [i.e they deny the Qiyama],

say: Why have not angels been sent down upon us, or (why) do we not see our Lord? Now certainly they are too proud of themselves and have revolted in great revolt. On the day when they shall see the angels, there shall be no joy on that day for the guilty, and they shall say: It is a forbidden thing totally prohibited” (to hurt us – Mizan). (al-Furqan, 25/21-22)

“Who is then more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah or rejects His communications? (As for) those, their portion of the Book shall reach them, until when Our messengers come to them causing them to die, they shall say: Where is that which you used to call upon besides Allah? They would say: They are gone away from us; and they shall bear witness against themselves that they were unbelievers.” (Al-A’raf, 7/37)

Death

The Death of the Believers Accompanied by Good Tidings of Paradise The angel reassures the frightened Mu’min and gently

takes the soul: “(As for) those who say: Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the

right way, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the garden which you were promised. We are your guardians in this world's life and in the hereafter, and you shall have therein what your souls desire and you shall have therein what you ask for: A provision from the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Fussilat, 41,30-32)

“Those whom the angels cause to die in a good state, saying: Peace be on you: enter the garden for what you did.” (al-Nahl, 16/32)

Death

The Death of the Unbelievers Accompanied by Bad Tidings of Hell “And if you had seen when the unjust shall be in the agonies of death and

the angels shall spread forth their hands: Give up your souls; today shall you be recompensed with an ignominious chastisement because you spoke against Allah other than the truth and (because) you showed pride against His communications.” (al-An’am, 6/93)

“Those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to themselves. Then would they offer submission: We used not to do any evil. Aye! surely Allah knows what you did. Therefore enter the gates of hell, to abide therein; so certainly evil is the dwelling place of the proud.” (al-Nahl, 16/28-29)

“And had you seen when the angels will cause to die those who disbelieve, smiting their faces and their backs, and (saying): Taste the punishment of burning.” (al-Anfal, 8/50)

“But how will it be when the angels cause them to die smiting their faces and their backs.” (Muhammad, 47/27)

Barzakh (The Intermediate Realm)

Once the soul is removed from the body, we are now entering a new realm

ره ثم أماته �يل يس ب طفة خلقه فقدره ثم الس م�ن نه فأقبر

“He has created him from a drop of (seminal) fluid, and then proportioned him. Then He made the way easy for him; then He made him die and buried him;” (80:21)

What is intended by the Qabr – Grave? Whenever Qabr is mentioned, it is referring to the realm

of Barzakh

Barzakh

What is Barzakh? Barzakh means something which separates two things:

�يان�بينهما برزخ ال يبغ �يان�يلتق �مرج البحرين “He merged the two seas, meeting each other. There is a barrier

between them which they do not overstep” (55:19-20)

It is referring to a realm that separates Dunya from Akhira Once it is crossed over, there is no coming back

“Until when death overtakes one of them, he says: Send me back, my Lord, send me back; so that I may do good in that which I have left. By no means! it is a (mere) word that he speaks; and before them is a barrier until the day they are raised.” (23/99-100)

Barzakh

Qur’anic proofs regarding Barzakh: “They will say," Our Lord! Twice did You make us die, and

twice did You give us life. We admit our sins. Is there any way out from this plight” Ghaafir 11 These two deaths and two lives are described as:

Death of dunya and death after the blowing of the trumpet Life of barzakh and life after we are resurrected

“While a terrible punishment besieged Pharaoh's clan; the Fire, to which they are exposed morning and evening. And on the day when the Hour sets in Pharaoh's clan will enter the severest punishment” Ghafir 45-46

Barzakh

The life of Barzakh The life of Barzakh is considered to be part of Dunya still and

not of Akhira “(As for) those who say: Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the right way,

the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the garden which you were promised. We are your guardians in this world's life and in the hereafter, and you shall have therein what your souls desire and you shall have therein what you ask for: A provision from the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Fussilat, 41/30-32)

It is the world of Image (dream world) The spirit is no longer harassed by passion and instinct, and thanks

to the absence of time and space, the horizons of man's vision are vastly enlarged Great distances can be covered in a short span of time Our senses will be magnified; food will taste better, drink will be

more satisfying…etc.

Barzakh

The life of Barzakh (Cont…) Once our soul leaves this body, we will be given another body which

will appear just our body (without any mass)

What will happen in Barzakh? Questioning in the grave

“Who is then more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah or rejects His communications? (As for) those, their portion of the Book shall reach them, until when Our messengers come to them causing them to die, they shall say: Where is that which you used to call upon besides Allah? They would say: They are gone away from us; and they shall bear witness against themselves that they were unbelievers.” (97/37)

“Surely (as for) those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to their souls, they shall say: In what state were you? They shall say: We were weak in the earth. They shall say: Was not Allah's earth spacious, so that you should have migrated therein? So these it is whose abode is hell, and it is an evil resort.” (al-Nisa, 4/97)

Barzakh

Who will be questioned? Not everyone will be questioned

Only those who are purely good and purely evil will be questioned And for these few, their reward or punishment will begin

right away!

Paradise of Barzakh: “Those whom the angels cause to die in a good state, saying:

Peace be on you: enter the garden for what you did.” (al-Nahl, 16/32)

“And (as for) those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will by no means allow their deeds to perish. He will guide them and improve their condition. And cause them to enter the garden which He has made known to them.” (47/4-6)

Barzakh

Hell of Barzakh “Those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to

themselves. Then would they offer submission: We used not to do any evil. Aye! surely Allah knows what you did. Therefore enter the gates of hell, to abide therein; so certainly evil is the dwelling place of the proud.”(al-Nahl, 16/28,29)

“And if you had seen when the unjust shall be in the agonies of death and the angels shall spread forth their hands: Give up your souls; today shall you be recompensed with an ignominious chastisement because you spoke against Allah other than the truth and (because) you showed pride against His communications.” (al-An’am, 6/93)

“The fire; they shall be brought before it (every) morning and evening and on the day when the hour shall come to pass: Make Fir’awn's people enter the severest chastisement.” (al-Ghafir, 40/46)

Barzakh

What about the rest of the souls? These people will be continuing life (with the higher level of

senses), carrying with them the burden of what they did in this life. Indeed those who consume the property of orphans wrongfully,

only ingest fire into their bellies, and soon they will enter the Blaze 4:10

“And whatever of good you send on beforehand for yourselves, you will find it with Allah; that is best and greatest in reward; and ask forgiveness of Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful” (Muzzammil, 73/20)

However, their final destination will be made aware to them The good (who still have sins to offset) will pray for Allah SWT

to hasten that Day of Judgment in hopes for that reward While the bad (who will have to be punished for their sins) will

pray for that day never to come

The Signs

The signs of the DOJ can be divided into two: First: Events that will happen before Al-Qiyama Second: Events that will coincide with Al-Qiyama

First: Events that will happen before Al-Qiyama First:

“Do they await anything except that the Hour should overtake them suddenly? Certainly its signs have come. Of what avail to them will their admonition be when it overtakes them?” (47:18) What signs is this verse referring to?

• Coming of Prophet Muhammad SAW• The splitting of the moon

“The Hour has drawn near and the moon is split” (54:1)

The Signs

First: Events that will happen before Al-Qiyama (Cont…) Second:

“When Gog and Magog are let loose, and they race down from every slope, and the true promise draws near] to its fulfillment [, behold, the faithless will look on with a fixed gaze:" Woe to us! We have certainly been oblivious of this! Rather we have been wrongdoers”! (21:96-97)

Third: “Indeed he (Isa AS) is a sign of the Hour; so do not doubt it and

follow Me. This is the straight path” (43:61)

The Signs

First: Events that will happen before Al-Qiyama (Cont…) Fourth:

“So watch out for the day when the sky brings on a manifest smoke, enveloping the people. (They will cry out): "This is a painful punishment. Our Lord! Remove from us this punishment. Indeed we have believed!" What will the admonition avail them, when a manifest apostle had already come to them, but they turned away from him, and said," A tutored madman?" Indeed We will withdraw the punishment a little; but you will indeed revert (to your earlier ways .) The day We shall strike with the most terrible striking, We will indeed take vengeance (on them.)” (44:10-16)

Second: Events that will coincide with Al-Qiyama Everything which is in existence, has a specified term to it.

“We did not create the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them except with reason and for a specified term. Yet the faithless are disregardful of what they are warned” (46:3) It all begins with the Blowing of the Trumpet!

The Blowing of the Trumpet

The Day of Resurrection (Qiyamat) begins with the blowing of the Trumpet The blowing of the trumpet is one of those points that we

still don’t have complete understanding of What is required from us is faith in it; even though we can’t

fully comprehend it.

The blowing of the trumpet will catch everyone by surprise, even those in the heavens “They ask you about the hour, when will be its taking place?

Say: The knowledge of it is only with my Lord; none but He shall manifest it at its time; it will be momentous in the heavens and the earth; it will not come on you but of a sudden.” (al-A’raf, 7/187)


On that day, it will become evident to all that His is the kingdom and authority “And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth

with truth, and on the day He says: Be, it is. His word is the truth, and His is the kingdom on the day when the trumpet shall be blown; the Knower of the unseen and the seen; and He is the Wise, the Aware.” (al-An’am, 6/73)

There will be two blowing of the trumpets: “And the trumpet shall be blown, so all those that are in the

heavens and all those that are in the earth shall swoon, except such as Allah please; then it shall be blown again, then lo! They shall stand up awaiting.” (39/68)


The blowing of the first trumpet: “And the trumpet shall be blown, so all those that are in the

heavens and all those that are in the earth shall swoon, except such as Allah please;” (39/68) The first trumpet is blown by Israfil which ends all creation

The blowing of the second trumpet “And the trumpet shall be blown, when lo ! from their graves

they shall hasten on to their Lord. They shall say: O woe to us! Who has raised us up from our sleeping-place? This is what the Beneficent Allah promised and the messengers told the truth. There would be naught but a single cry, when lo ! they shall all be brought before Us; So this day no soul shall be dealt with unjustly in the least; and you shall not be rewarded aught but that which you did.” (Ya Sin, 36/51-54) The second blowing of the trumpet resurrects all of creation


Different names to the Blowing of the Trumpet: First: الصيحة – A loud cry

“And they say," When will this promise be fulfilled, should you be truthful?" They do not await but a single Cry that would seize them as they wrangle. Then they will not be able to make any bequest, nor will they return to their families” (36:48-50) This cry is referring to the first blowing of the trumpet while

the people are still alive

Such a cry is also mentioned for the second blowing: “And be on the alert for the day when the caller calls

from a close quarter, the day when they hear the Cry in all truth. That is the day of rising (from the dead)” (50:41-42).


Different names to the Blowing of the Trumpet (Cont…): Second: الصاخة – Deafening Cry

“So when the deafening Cry comes, the day when a man will evade his brother, his mother and his father, his spouse and his sons, that day each of them will have a task to keep him preoccupied.” (80:33-37)

Third: الزجرة – Shout “Yet it will be only a single shout, and behold, they will be awake”.

(79:13-14) Fourth: النقر – Another name for a Trumpet

“When the Trumpet will be sounded, that day will be a day of hardship, not at all easy for the faithless” (74:8-10)

Fifth: الرادفة و Quaking/Rumbling – الراجفة “The day on which the quaking one shall quake, What must happen

afterwards shall follow it, Hearts on that day shall palpitate, Their eyes cast down” (79-6-9)


How much time will pass between the two blowing of the trumpet? We don’t know – this knowledge belongs to Allah SWT only

“They question you concerning the Hour, when will it set in? Say," Its knowledge is only with my Lord: none except Him shall manifest it at its time” (7:187)

What happens between the two blowing of the trumpet? The pause is very crucial to the evolution of the human being

There will be a change to the world, environment; critical and profound changes that no soul can endure We come back to a changed earth – a higher level of life to

everything – everything speaks to us • “When the earth is rocked with a terrible quake, and the earth discharges

her burdens, and man says," What is the matter with her?" On that day she will relate her chronicles, for her Lord will have inspired her.” (99:1-5)


What happens between the two blowing of the trumpet (Cont…)? “On the day when the earth shall be changed into a

different earth, and the heavens (as well), and they shall come forth before Allah, the One, the Supreme. And you will see the guilty on that day linked together in chains. Their shirts made of tar and the fire covering their faces that Allah may reward each soul (according to) what it has earned; surely Allah is swift in reckoning.” (Ibrahim, 14/48-51)

“And they ask you about the mountains. Say: My Lord will carry them away from the roots. Then leave it a plain, smooth level you shall not see therein any crookedness or unevenness.” (Ta-Ha, 20/105-107)


What will happen after the 2nd blowing of the trumpet? People will be removed from their graves (no life in them yet)

“When the heaven is split open, and obeys its Lord as it should. And when the earth is stretched, and casts forth what is in it and becomes empty, and obeys its Lord as it should.” (al-Inshiqaq, 84/1-5)

New beginning – life added back into human beings “When the sun is covered, and when the stars darken, and when the

mountains are made to pass away, and when the camels are left untended, and when the wild animals are made to go forth, and when the seas are set on fire, and when souls are united”, (Takwir, 81/1-7)

Some people will be raised blind “And whoever turns away from My reminder, his shall be a straitened

life, and We will raise him on the day of resurrection, blind. He shall say: My Lord! Why have You raised me blind and I was a seeing one indeed? He will say: He will say:" So it is. Our signs came to you, but you forgot them, and thus you will be forgotten today.” (20:124-126)

“And whoever is blind in this (world), he shall (also) be blind in the hereafter; and even more astray from the way.” (al-Isra’, 17/72)


What will happen after the 2nd blowing of the trumpet (Cont…)? No one would help one another – family ties on this day does not matter anymore

“So when the trumpet is blown, there shall be no ties of relationship between them on that day, nor shall they ask of each other.” (al-Mu’minun, 23/101)

“But when the deafening cry comes, the day on which a man shall fly from his brother, and his mother and his father, and his spouse and his son--every man of them shall on that day have an affair which will occupy him. (Abasa, 80/33-37)

“On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper and the mountains shall be as tufts of wool and friend shall not ask of friend (though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children, and his wife and his brother and the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, and all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him.” (Ma’arij, 70/8-14)

The good and the evil will clearly be made visible from their faces “(Some) faces on that day shall be bright, looking to their Lord. And (other) faces on that day shall

be gloomy, knowing that there will be made to befall them some great calamity.” (Qiyamat, 75/22-25)

“Many) faces on that day shall be bright, laughing, joyous. And (many) faces on that day, on them shall be dust, darkness shall cover them. These are they who are unbelievers, the wicked.” (80:38-42)


What will happen after the 2nd blowing of the trumpet (Cont…)? There will be a separation between the good and the evil

“On that day you will see the faithful men and the faithful women-- their light running before them and on their right hand-- good news for you today: gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide therein, that is the grand achievement. (57:12)”

“On the day when the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women will say to those who believe: Wait for us, that we may have light from your light; it shall be said: Turn back and seek a light. Then separation would be brought about between them, with a wall having a door in it; (as for) the inside of it, there shall be mercy in it, and (as for) the outside of it, before it there shall be punishment.” (57:13)

“They will cry out to them: Were we not with you? They shall say: Yea! but you caused yourselves to fall into temptation, and you waited and doubted, and vain desires deceived you till the threatened punishment of Allah came, while the Deceiver deceived you about Allah. (57:14)”

“So today ransom shall not be accepted from you nor from those who disbelieved; your abode is the fire; it is your friend and evil is the resort.” (57:15)

“Has not the time yet come for those who believe that their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And that they should not be like those who were given the Book before, but the time became prolonged to them, so their hearts hardened, and most of them are transgressors.” (57:16)


The exceptions: “And the Trumpet will be blown, and whoever is in the

heavens will swoon and whoever is on the earth, except whomever Allah wishes. Then it will be blown a second time, behold, they will rise up, looking on!” (39:68) The Holy Qur’an explains:

“Whoever brings virtue shall receive (a reward) better than it; and they shall be secure from terror on that day. And whoever brings vice they shall be cast on their faces into the Fire (and told) "Shall you be requited except with what you used to do?” (27:89-90)• What type of Virtue?

Length of the Day of Judgment

Certain verses mention the length being 50,000 years while other verses mention it as 1,000 years 50,000 years:

“The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose span is fifty thousand years” (70:4) How do we know this ‘day’ is referring to the DOJ?

• “Indeed they see it to be far off, and We see it to be near. The day when the sky will be like molten copper, and the mountains like (tufts of) dyed wool, and no friend will inquire about (the welfare of his) friend”, (70:6-10)

1,000 years “He directs the command from the heaven to the earth; then it ascends toward

Him in a day whose span is a thousand years by what you count” (32:5) “And they ask you to hasten on the punishment, and Allah will by no means fail

in His promise And surely a day with our Lord is as a thousand years of what you number” (22:47)

How do we reconcile? Human beings will have 50 stations they will have to pass through on

the DOJ, each station will last 1000 years!

Al-Kitab – The Book of Records

One of the most important beliefs regarding the hereafter is that of the Kitab. “We have tied everyman's fate around his neck; and We shall

produce a book for him on Resurrection Day that he will find spread open " Read your book! Today your soul suffices as your own reckoner” (Israa 13-14)

Kitab – as it is used in the Holy Qur’an has many different understandings and realities. “And there is nothing concealed in the heaven and the earth but it

is in a clear book.” (Naml, 27/75) Clear Book (Kitab al-Mubin) = Lauhal Mahfoodh– the highest level

This is in reference to the amazing book of creation, in which everything is recorded before it has happened


Clear Book (Kitab al-Mubin) = Lauhal Mahfoodh– the highest level (Cont…) All matters have been meticulously recorded

“And those who disbelieve say: The hour shall not come upon us. Say: Yea! by my Lord, the Knower of the unseen, it shall certainly come upon you; not the weight of an atom becomes absent from Him, in the heavens or in the earth, and neither less than that nor greater, but (all) is in a clear book” (Saba 34/3)

“And there is no animal in the earth but on Allah is the sustenance of it, and He knows its resting place and its depository - all (things) are in a manifest book.” (Hud, 11/6)

Kitab is also referred to as the Holy Qur’an:• “Ha Mim I swear by the Book that makes things clear, Surely We have

made it an Arabic Quran that you may understand, And surely it is in the original of the Book with Us, truly elevated, full of wisdom” (43:1-4)


Kitab is also referred to the Book of Actions of Human beings There are two types of Kitab of Actions:

One that is a collective book of our nation “And you shall see every nation kneeling down Every nation shall be called to

its book: Today you shall be rewarded for what you did; This is Our book that speaks against you with justice Surely We wrote what you did” (45:28-29)

Another which is an individual book of our actions In this book, nothing is missed – and when it is presented to us, it will be

fresh!• “And the Book (of Deeds) 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” (18:49)

This is not a word written book– it is an action captured – then recorded • It is a complex system of recording – which is changed every day due to effects

Surely We give life to the dead, and We write down what they have sent before and their footprints (what they have left behind), and We have recorded everything in a clear writing. (36:12)


Clearly, the angels must be knowledgeable about the system of human interactions “Nay! but you give the lie to the judgment day, and most surely

there are keepers over you honourable recorders, they know what you do.” (82/9-12)

“Or do they think that We do not hear what they conceal and their secret discourses? Aye! and Our messengers with them write down.” (43/80)

“On the day when Allah will raise them up all together, then inform them of what they did: Allah has recorded it while they have forgotten it; and Allah is a witness of all things.” )58/6)

“And most surely there are keepers over you honourable recorders, they know what you do.” (82/10-12) And since good and evil actions cannot mix – so one angel cannot take

both together


Some will be given their book on their right hand and others on their left “O man! surely you must strive (to attain) to your Lord, a hard striving until you meet Him.

Then as to him who is given his book in his right hand, he shall be reckoned with by an easy reckoning, and he shall go back to his people joyful. And as to him who is given his book behind his back, he shall call for perdition, and enter into burning fire.” (84/6-12)

“(Remember) the day when We will call every people with their Imam; then whoever is given his book in his right hand, these shall read their book; and they shall not be dealt with a whit unjustly. And whoever is blind in this, he shall (also) be blind in the hereafter; and more.” (17/1-72)

“And We do not lay on any soul a burden except to the extent of its ability, and with Us is a book which speaks the truth, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.” (23/62)

“On that day you shall be exposed to view-- no secret of yours shall remain hidden. Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he will say: Lo! Read my book: Surely I knew that I shall meet my account. So he shall be in a life of pleasure, in a lofty garden, the fruits of which are near at hand: Eat and drink pleasantly for what you did beforehand in the days gone by. 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. Lay hold on him, then put a chain on him.” (69/18-30)

Incarnation of Actions

Our actions will have a ‘real’ existence in the next realm and Akhira In Barzakh they are present as well, but in a lower form In Akhira, the real manifestation will be seen

“On the day that every soul shall find present what it has done of good and what it has done of evil, it shall wish that between it and that (evil) there were a long duration of time; and Allah makes you to be cautious of (retribution from) Himself; and Allah is Compassionate to the servants.” (Aal Imran, 3/30)

“And whatever of good you send on beforehand for yourselves, you will find it with Allah; that is best and greatest in reward; and ask forgiveness of Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful” (Muzzammil, 73/20)

“Surely We have warned you of a chastisement near at hand: the day when man shall see what his two hands have sent before, and the unbeliever shall say: O! would that I were dust!” (al-Naba, 78/40)

“On that day men shall come forth in sundry bodies that they may be shown their works. So he who has done an atom's weight of good shall see it and he who has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it.” (al-Zilzal, 99/6-8)


However, some will be saved from this embarassement through Expiation (Penitence) – Takfir God has promised that if we avoid major sins – He SWT will

absolve us of the minor sins: “And keep up prayer in the two parts of the day and in the first hours of

the night; surely good deeds take away evil deeds this is a reminder to the mindful.” (Hud, 11/114)

“And (as for) those who believe and do good, We will most certainly do away with their evil deeds and We will most certainly reward them the best of what they did.” (Naml, 29/7)

“So that Allah will do away with the worst of what they did and give them their reward for the best of what they do.” (Zumar, 39/35)

“On the day that He will gather you for the day of gathering, that is the day of loss and gain; and whoever believes in Allah and does good, He will remove from him his evil and cause him to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide therein forever; that is the great achievement.” (Taghabun,64/9)


However, the opposite can also occur; Good acts are annihilated/wiped out – Ihbat Good deeds turned into scattered dust – the pleasure in dunya is

the only reward “And whoever of you turns back from his religion, then he dies while an

unbeliever-- these it is whose works shall go for nothing in this world and the hereafter, and they are the inmates of the fire; therein they shall abide.” (2/217)

“Whoever desires this world's life and its finery, We will pay them in full their deeds therein, and they shall not be made to. suffer loss in respect of them. These are they for whom there is nothing but fire in the hereafter, and what they wrought in it shall go for nothing, and vain is what they do.” (Hud 11/15-16)

“The parable of those who disbelieve in their Lord: their actions are like ashes on which the wind blows hard on a stormy day; they shall not have power over anything out of what they have earned; this is the great error.” (Ibrahim,14/18)

“O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and do not make your deeds of no effect.” (47/33)

Al-Mizan (The Balance)

The Holy Qur’an is very clear that there will be a ‘balance – Mizan’ on the DOJ which will weigh the actions of man The verses describing the Mizan are of two types:

First: The Mizan itself (i.e. it is a reality which cannot be denied) “And We will set up a just balance on the day of resurrection, so no soul shall be

dealt with unjustly in the least; and though there be the weight of a grain of mustard seed, (yet) will We bring it, and sufficient are We to take account.” (al-Anbiya’, 21/47)

“These are they who disbelieve in the communications of their Lord and His meeting, so their deeds become null, and therefore We will not set up a balance for them on the day of resurrection.” (Kahf, 18/105)

Second: Outcome of the Mizan “And the measuring out on that day will be just; then as for him whose measure

(of good deeds) is heavy, those are they who shall be successful; and as for him whose measure (of good deeds) is light those are they who have made their souls suffer loss because they disbelieved in Our communications.” (al-A’raf, 7/8-9)

“Then as for him whose measure of good deeds is heavy, he shall live a pleasant life. And as for him whose measure of good deeds is light, his abode shall be the abyss.” (al-Qariya, 101/6-9)

Al-Mizan (The Balance)

What will the Mizan be like? First: As we can imagine; With two balances and then

on these balances will be put our actions (book) of goodness and an on the other our actions of evil

Second: A scale which will capture the actual ‘true weight’ of the act In other words, The Haqq (truth) of each action will be

weighed “And the measuring out on that day will be (Haqq) just;

then as for him whose measure (of good deeds) is heavy, those are they who shall be successful; and as for him whose measure (of good deeds) is light those are they who have made their souls suffer loss because they disbelieved in Our communications.” (al-A’raf, 7/8-9)

As-Sirat (The Path)

Sirat means a path and has been used in this meaning in the Holy Qur’an: and Allah guides whomever He wishes to a straight path (2:213)

The Holy Qur’an has also used the term ‘Sirat’ to describe a path leading to the hell-fire: Gather together those who were unjust and their associates, and what they used to

worship Besides Allah, then lead them to the way to Hell (37:22-23) When it comes to the DOJ, Sirat has been described in the Qur’an and

Ahadith as a pathway or a bridge over hell which every soul will have to cross So by your Lord! We will most certainly gather them together and the Shaitans,

then shall We certainly cause them to be present round hell on their knees. Then We will most certainly draw forth from every sect of them him who is most exorbitantly rebellious against the Beneficent Allah. Again We do certainly know best those who deserve most to be burned therein. And there is not one of you but shall come to it (hell); this is an unavoidable decree of your Lord. And We will deliver those who guarded (against evil), and We will leave the unjust therein on their knees. (Maryam, 19/68-72)

As-Sirat (The Path)

Another understanding of the Sirat: The Sirat of the DOJ is simply a metaphor for the

path that we decide to take in this world. The path a believer takes in this world will deliver him to

heaven in the hereafter While the path an unbeliever takes in this world will

deliver him to hell Imam Ali AS says in NB sermon 16:

• Beware that sins are like unruly horses on whom their riders have been placed and their reins have been let loose so that they would jump with them in Hell. Beware that piety is like trained horses on whom the riders have been placed with the reins in their hands, so that they would take the riders to Heaven.

Al-Ishaad – Witnessing

In the court of Allah SWT there will be witnesses called forward: Most surely We help Our messengers, and those who believe, in this

world's life and on the day when the witnesses shall stand. (40/51) And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah?

These shall be brought before their Lord, and the witnesses shall say: These are they who lied against their Lord. Now surely the curse of Allah is on the unjust. (11/18)

Who are these witnesses? First: Allah SWT

Say: O followers of the Book! why do you disbelieve in the Communications of Allah? And Allah is a witness of what you do (3:98)

Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabeans and the Christians and the Magians and those who associate) others with Allah (surely Allah will decide between them on the Day of Resurrection Surely Allah is a witness over all things (22:17)


Who are these witnesses? (cont…) Second: The Prophets of Allah SWT

How will it be, then, when We bring from every people a witness and bring you as a witness against these? On that day will those who disbelieve and disobey the Messenger desire that the earth were levelled with them, and they shall not hide any word from Allah. (4/41-42) Specific Example of P. Issa AS

• And when Allah will say," O Jesus son of Mary! Was it you who said to the people," Take me and my mother for gods besides Allah"?" He will say," Immaculate are You! It does not behoove me to say what I have no right to] say [. Had I said it, You would certainly have known it: You know whatever is in myself, and I do not know what is in Your Self. Indeed You are knower of all that is Unseen. I did not say to them] anything [except what You had commanded me] to say [:" Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." And I was a witness to them so long as I was among them. But when You had taken me away, You Yourself were watchful over them, and You are witness to all things. If You punish them, they are indeed Your creatures; but if You forgive them, You are indeed the All-mighty, the All-wise." (5:116-118)


Who are these witnesses? (cont…) Third: Prophet Muhammad SAW

O Prophet! Indeed We have sent you as a witness, as a bearer of good news and as a warner (33:45)

Fourth: The Select Few from the Islamic Nation Thus We have made you a middle nation that you may be witnesses to

the people, and that the Apostle may be a witness to you (2:143) Fifth: The Angels

And every soul shall come, with it a driver and a witness. Certainly you were heedless of it, but now We have removed from you your veil, so your sight today is sharp. And his companions shall say: This is what is ready with me. (50: 21-23)

Sixth: The Earth On that day she will relate her chronicles (news), for her Lord will have

inspired her. On that day, mankind will issue forth in various groups to be shown their deeds. So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it. (99:4-8)


Who are these witnesses? (cont…) Seven: Time Eight: The Holy Qur’an Nine: The Book of Deeds

We have attached every person's omen to his neck, and We shall bring it out for him on the Day of Resurrection as a wide open book that he will encounter. " Read your book! Today your soul suffices as your own reckoner." (17:13-14)

Ten: Our bodies On the day when witness shall be given against them by their tongues, their hands,

and their feet concerning what they used to do (24:24) Today We shall seal their mouths, and their hands shall speak to Us, and their feet

shall bear witness concerning what they used to earn (36:65) The day when the enemies of Allah are marched out toward the Fire, and they shall be

held in check. When they come to it, their hearing will bear witness against them and their sight and their skins concerning what they used to do. They will say to their skins," Why did you bear witness against us?" They will say," We were given speech by Allah, who gave speech to all things. He created you the first time, and to Him you are being brought back. You did not use to conceal yourselves lest your hearing should bear witness against you, or] for that matter [your sight, or your skin, but you thought that Allah did not know most of what you did. That misjudgment that you entertained about your Lord ruined you. So you became losers." (41:19-23)

The Final Judgment

The Final Judgment belongs to Allah SWT Then to Me shall be your return, so l will decide between you concerning that in

which you differed. (3/55) And warn them of the day that draws near, when hearts shall rise up to the throats,

grieving inwardly; the unjust shall not have any compassionate friend nor any intercessor who should be obeyed. He knows the stealthy looks and that which the breasts conceal. And Allah judges with the truth; and those whom they call upon besides Him cannot judge aught; surely Allah is the Hearing, the Seeing. (40/18-20)

And the earth shall beam with the light of its Lord, and the Book shall be laid down, and the prophets and the witnesses shall be brought up, and judgment shall be given between them with justice, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly. And every soul shall be paid back fully what it has done, and He knows best what they do. (39/69-70)

Nay! when the earth is made to crumble to pieces, and your Lord comes and (also) the angels in ranks, and hell is made to appear on that day. On that day shall man be mindful, and what shall being mindful (then) avail him? He shall say: O! would that I had sent before for (this) my life! But on that day shall no one shall punish like His punishment, and no one shall bind with (anything like) His binding. O soul that art at rest! Return to your Lord, well-pleased (with him), well-pleasing (Him), so enter among My servants, and enter into My garden. (89/21-30)

Meeting with God – Liqa Allah

This final judgment will happen when we finally meet Allah SWT Many exegetes take this to mean meeting the reward or punishment of God

However, what is clear, no matter what explanation we take, is that there is only hardship and difficulty until we meet our Lord O man! surely you must strive (to attain) to your Lord, a hard striving until you meet

Him. Then as to him who is given his book in his right hand, he shall be reckoned with by an easy reckoning, and he shall go back to his people joyful. And as to him who is given his book behind his back, (al-Inshiqaq, 84/6-10)

And be careful (of your duty) to Allah, and know that you will meet Him... (al-Baqara, 2/223)

They are losers indeed who reject the meeting of Allah; until when the hour comes upon them all of a sudden they shall say: O our grief for our neglecting it! and they shall bear their burdens on their backs; now surely evil is that which they bear. (al-An’am, 6/31)

These are they who disbelieve in the communications of their Lord and His meeting, so their deeds become null, and therefore We will not set up a balance for them on the day of resurrection. (Kahf, 18/105)

And (as to) those who disbelieve in the communications of Allah and His meeting, they have despaired of My mercy, and these it is that shall have a painful punishment. (Ankabut, 29/23)

Their salutation on the day that they meet Him shall be, Peace, and He has prepared for them an honourable reward. (al-Ahzab, 33/44)

And that to your Lord is the goal. (al-Najm, 53/42)

The Reckoning – Al-Hisab

The DOJ has many names and one such name is the ‘Yaum ul-Hisab’

ال � كم من كل متكبر �ربى� و رب �نى� عذت ب و قال موسى إ� الح�ساب� �يوم يؤم�ن ب

Moses said," Indeed I seek the protection of my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning (40:27)

Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and all the faithful, on the day when the reckoning is held (14:41)

Those who go astray from the path of Allah, they shall surely have a severe punishment because they forgot the day of reckoning. (Sad, 38/26)


First: What is the purpose of Hisab? To show His SWT complete justice (adalah) and wisdom (hikmah) and

power (qudrah) to everyone And guard yourselves against a day in which you shall be returned to

Allah; then every soul shall be paid back in full what it has earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly. (al-Baqara, 2/281)

For us to realize in full effect the consequences of our actions To complete his Hujja (decisive proof over His creation)

Say," To Allah belongs the conclusive argument (6:149)Second: Who will be doing the accounting?:

And We will either let you see part of what We threaten them with or cause you to die, for only the delivery of the message is (incumbent) on you, while calling (them) to account is Our (business). (Ra’d, 13/40)

Indeed to Us will be the return. Then, indeed, their reckoning will lie with Us (88:25-26)

And Allah suffices as Reckoner (4:6)


Third: What will be questioned about: All of our actions:

Had Allah wished, He would have made you one community, but He leads astray whomever He wishes and guides whomever He wishes, and you will surely be questioned concerning what you used to do (16:39)

The bounties we were provided: Then, that day, you will surely be questioned concerning the

blessing (102:8) The lies we told:

By Allah, you will surely be questioned concerning what you used to fabricate (16:56)

Truth: So that He may question the truthful concerning their

truthfulness. And He has prepared for the faithless a painful punishment (33:8)


Fourth: Will all of creation be questioned? The Holy Qur’an has different verses (answers) to this question:

First: Everyone will be questioned We will surely question those to whom the apostles were sent, and We will surely question

the apostles (7:6) Second: Not everyone will be questioned

On that day neither humans will be questioned about their sins nor jinn (55:39) The guilty will not be questioned about their sins (28:78)

Third: The Guilty will be questioned " Muster the wrongdoers and their mates and what they used to worship, besides Allah,

and show them the way to hell! ] But first [stop them! For they must be questioned. (37:22-24)

Fourth: Those who were patient will be not be questioned Say,"] Allah declares: [IO My servants who have faith! Be wary of your Lord. For those who

do good in this world there will be a good] reward [, and Allah's earth is vast. Indeed the patient will be paid in full their reward without any reckoning (39:10)

How do we reconcile? On that day neither humans will be questioned about their sins nor jinn. So which of your

Lord's bounties will you both deny? The guilty will be recognized by their mark; so they will be seized by the forelocks and the feet (55:39-41)

Today We shall seal their mouths, and their hands shall speak to Us, and their feet shall bear witness concerning what they used to earn (36:65)


Fifth: What does it mean when Allah SWT says He is quick in reckoning ( الحساب ?(سريع Today every soul shall be requited for what it has earned. There will be no injustice

today. Indeed Allah is swift (quick) at reckoning (40:17) First explanation: Allah SWT will be swift and quick in His reckoning and will not delay or

prolong His judgment Then are they sent back to Allah, their Master, the True One Now surely His is the judgment

and He is swiftest in taking account (6:62) Second explanation: The quickness of His reckoning is not only referring to the hereafter, but it

is also referring to this world Surely the) true (religion with Allah is Islam And those to whom the Book had been given did

not show opposition but after knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves And whoever disbelieves in the Communications of Allah then surely Allah is quick in reckoning

Those are they whose works shall become null in this world as well as the hereafter, and they shall have no helpers (3:19&22)

Sixth: What is meant by evil reckoning ( الحساب ?(سوء And those who join that which Allah has bidden to be joined and have awe of their Lord

and fear the evil reckoning (13:21) For those who answer] the summons of [their Lord there shall be the best] of rewards [. But those

who do not answer Him, even if they possessed all that is on the earth and as much of it besides, they would surely offer it to redeem themselves with it. For such there shall be an evil reckoning, and their refuge shall be hell, and it is an evil resting place (13:18)


Seventh: When we are standing in front of God, there will be arguments presented and defense And on the day when We will raise up a witness out of every nation, then shall no permission be given to those who

disbelieve, nor shall they be made to solicit favor. And when those who are unjust shall see the chastisement, it shall not be lightened for them, nor shall they be respited. And when those who associate (others with Allah) shall see their associate-gods, they shall say: Our Lord, these are our associate-gods on whom we called besides Thee. But they will give them back the reply: Most surely you are liars. And they shall tender submission to Allah on that day; and what they used to forge shall depart from them. (16/84-87)

And they shall all come forth before Allah, then the weak shall say to those who were proud: Surely we were your followers, can you therefore avert from us any part of the chastisement of Allah? They would say: If Allah had guided us, we too would have guided you; it is the same to us whether we are impatient (now) or patient, there is no place for us to escape to. And the Shaitan shall say after the affair is decided: Surely Allah promised you the promise of truth, and I gave you promises, then failed to keep them to you. (14/21-22)

Then on the resurrection day some of you shall deny others, and some of you shall curse others, and your abode is the fire, and you shall not have any helpers. (29/25)

And those who disbelieve say: By no means will we believe in this Quran, nor in that which is before it; and could you see when the unjust shall be made to stand before their Lord, bandying words one with another! Those who were reckoned weak shall say to those who were proud: Had it not been for you we would certainly have been believers. Those who were proud shall say to those who were deemed weak: Did we turn you away from the guidance after it had come to you? Nay, you (yourselves) were guilty and those who were deemed weak shall say to those who were proud. Nay, (it was) planning by night and day when you told us to disbelieve in Allah and to set up likes with Him. And they shall conceal regret when they shall see the punishment; and We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved; they shall not be requited but what they did. (34/31-33)

Eighth: No man can take any burden from others And a burdened soul cannot bear the burden of another and if one weighed down by burden should cry for (another to

carry) its burden, not aught of it shall be carried, even though he be near of kin. (al-Fatir, 35/18) Neither are you answerable for any reckoning of theirs, nor are they answerable for any reckoning of yours. (al-An’am,

6/52) That they may bear their burdens entirely on the day of resurrection and also of the burdens of those whom they lead

astray without knowledge; now surely evil is what they bear. (al-Nahl, 16/25)

Intercession – As-Shif’a

The Qur’an discusses intercession in two groups of verses. The first sets straight the incorrect notions about intercession in the minds of the

idolaters and the People of the Book : Beware of the day when no soul shall compensate for another, neither any intercession

shall be accepted from it, nor any ransom shall be received from it, nor will they be helped (2:48)

And leave those who have taken their religion for a play and an idle sport, and whom this world's life has deceived, and remind (them) thereby lest a soul should be given up to destruction for what it has earned; it shall not have besides Allah any guardian nor an intercessor, and if it should seek to give every compensation, it shall not be accepted from it; these are they who shall be given up to destruction for what they earned; they shall have a drink of boiling water and a painful chastisement because they disbelieved. (6/70)

Intercession is by God’s leave only And certainly you have come to Us alone as We created you at first, and you have left

behind your backs the things which We gave you, and We do not see with you your intercessors about whom you asserted that they were (Allah's) associates in respect to you; certainly the ties between you are now cut off and what you asserted is gone from you. (6/94)

But what is the matter with those who disbelieve that they hasten on around you, on the right hand and on the left, in sundry parties? Does every man of them desire that he should be made to enter the garden of bliss? By no means! Surely We have created them of what they know. (70/36-39)

Intercession – As-Shif’a

The second set of verses discusses how intercession would be accepted only by and for those qualified Intercession is only for those who have made the covenant (pledge)

with Allah SWT And those whom they call upon besides Him have no authority for

intercession, but he who bears witness of the truth and they know (him). (43/86)

They shall not control intercession, save he who has made a covenant with the Beneficent Allah. (19/87)

Those who were attracted to the Prophet (S) in this world will be attracted to him on the day of Judgment. On that day shall no intercession avail except of him whom the

Beneficent Allah allows and whose word He is pleased with. (20/109)

And intercession will not avail aught with Him save of him whom He permits. (34/23)

The Creation of Heaven and Hell

First: Heaven and Hell is not created yet Heaven and Hell is described as an eternal abode which one will

remain in forever and it is continuous Say," Is that better, or the everlasting paradise promised to the God wary,

which will be their reward and destination? (25:15) A description of the paradise promised to the God wary: streams run in

it, its fruits and shade are everlasting. Such is the requital of those who are God wary; and the requital of the faithless is the Fire (13:35) However, Allah SWT has described in the Holy Qur’an:

• And do not invoke another god besides Allah; there is no god except Him. Everything is to perish except His Face. All judgement belongs to Him, and to Him you will be brought back Therefore, it cannot be created yet because everything will perish

Answer: This perishing is describing the plain of Dunya and not Akhira, as is evident by the following verse: That which is with you will be spent but what is with Allah shall last

(16:96)


Second: Heaven and Hell is already created - Examples Why did you not say, when you entered your garden," This is as Allah

has wished! There is no power except by Allah!" If you see that I have lesser wealth than you and children (18:39) Clearly, from the verse above it does not apply to the Jannat of the

Hereafter We said," O Adam, dwell with your mate in paradise, and eat thereof

freely wherever you wish; but do not approach this tree, lest you should be among the wrongdoers (2:35). However, most have said this does not refer to that Ukhrawee Janaat as

that Jannat has been described as Everlasting: And give good news to those who have faith and do righteous deeds,

that for them shall be gardens with streams running in them: whenever they are provided with their fruit for nourishment, they will say," This is what we were provided before," and they were given something resembling it. In it there will be chaste mates for them, and they will remain in it] forever (2:25)


Second: Heaven and Hell is already created – Examples (Cont…) the Fire, to which they are exposed morning and evening. And on the

day when the Hour sets in Pharaoh's clan will enter the severest punishment (40:46) Clearly, this is referring to the Naar of Barzakh (as previously discussed)

The following verses actually hint at the creation of Heaven and Hell already: And hasten towards your Lord's forgiveness and a paradise as vast as the heavens

and the earth, prepared for the God wary (3:133) And beware of the Fire which has been prepared for the faithless (3:131) But if you do) it (not and never shall you do) it (, then be on your guard against the

Fire of which men and stones are the fuel It is prepared for the unbelievers (2:24) " Hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and to a garden the extensiveness of which

is as the extensiveness of the heaven and the earth; it is prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers" That is the Grace of Allah: He gives it to whom He pleases And Allah is the Lord of Mighty Grace (57:21)

Al-A’raaf – The Elevated Position

which means an elevated العرف is the plural of the word االعرافplace or position. The verses describing this Elevated Position:

And there will be a veil between them. And on the Elevations will be certain men who recognize each of them by their mark. They will call out to the inhabitants of paradise," Peace be to you!") They will not have entered it, though they would be eager to do so (7:46)

And when their look is turned toward the inmates of the Fire, they will say," Our Lord, do not put us among the wrongdoing lot! (7:47)

And the Dwellers of the Most Elevated Places shall call out to men whom they will recognize by their marks saying: Of no avail were to you your amassing and your behaving haughtily (7:48)

Are these the ones concerning whom you swore that Allah will not extend them any mercy?"" Enter paradise! You shall have no fear, nor shall you grieve (7:49)

Al-A’raaf – The Elevated Position

People taken towards paradise with respect and towards the hell with disgrace The day on which We will gather those who guard (against evil) to the Beneficent

Allah to receive honors and We will drive the guilty to hell thirsty. (19/85-86) And those who disbelieve shall be driven to hell in companies; until, when they

come to it, its doors shall be opened, and the keepers of it shall say to them: Did not there come to you messengers from among you reciting to you the communications of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this day of yours? They shall say: Yea! But the sentence of punishment was due against the unbelievers. It shall be said: Enter the gates of hell to abide therein; so evil is the abode of the proud. And those who are careful of (their duty to) their Lord shall be conveyed to the garden in companies; until when they come to it, and its doors shall be opened, and the keepers of it shall say to them: Peace be on you, you shall be happy; therefore enter it to abide. And they shall say: (All) praise is due to Allah, Who has made good to us His promise, and He has made us inherit the land; we may abide in the garden where we please; so goodly is the reward of the workers. And you shall see the angels going round about the throne glorifying the praise of their Lord; and judgment shall be given between them with justice, and it shall be said: All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. (39/71-75)

Qur’anic Eschatology

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Transcript of Qur’anic Eschatology