The Gathering for the Enduring Home

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

The Gathering for the Enduring Home (1)

‘Abdullah ibn Hamoud al-Furaih

The Gathering for the Enduring Home (1)

After people finish with the scales, it is time (to deal with) those who earned paradise (to enter) into the comforts of The Merciful; those of the community of the fire, the wrongdoers and losers

What a beautiful moment it is when the scales are finished with in preparation to enter the gardens. What a loss it is for whoever is from the community of the fire. It is for you to picture with me that moment when you have finished with the scales and the moment has come for the gathering for paradise or the fire.

What wonder it is where you will be taken? Oh our Lord use us for your obedience so that we can be from the community of your paradise where the gathering is for the Enduring Home and eternal comfort. I will prepare for you dear reader a picture of the gathering of the slaves so ponder upon it. May Allah make you among the community of paradise:
the gathering of the disbelievers
At the end of this tense day, the results come after passing over these horrors, the important moments, the standing in front of the Giant, His Highness and Majesty and being accounted for before Him. After your book has been transferred and you present yourself in front of the scales with yourself, your deeds and scrolls, the results of these reckoning are displayed. It is requested from every community to follow the diety that they used to worship so whoever used to whorship the sun will follow the sun, whoever used to worship the moon will follow it, whoever used to worship idols; will have statues resembling their gods moving in front of them so they will follow them and likewise, whoever used to worship Pharoah will follow him so they will fall into the fire with their gods.

Allah Almighty said about Pharoah:

{يَقْدُمُ قَوْمَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَأَوْرَدَهُمُ النَّارَ وَبِئْسَ الْوِرْدُ الْمَوْرُودُ }

“He will precede his people on the Day of Resurrection and lead them into the Fire; and wretched is the place to which they are led” [Hud: 98]

After that, there will not remain except the believers, the hypocrites and the remaining of the People of the Book (Jews and Christians). After that, the purification for the People of the Book starts as their disbelief is visible, with the exception of the hypocrites as they are with those who know that Allah is more aware of their needs but Allah Almighty wants to place judgement on them and then throw them in Hell. This is from His complete justice, His Highness and Majesty. The purification starts for the People of the Book from the Jews and Christians. Judgement is placed on them, then they are thrown into the Hellfire.

In the two Sahih, there is the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him); the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "God will gather people on the Day of Resurrection and say: Let every people follow what they worshipped. Those who worshipped the sun would follow the sun, and those who worshipped the moon would follow the moon, and those who worshipped the devils would follow the devils. This Ummah (of Islam) alone would be left behind and there would be hypocrites too amongst it. Allah would then come to them in a form other than His own Form, recognisable to them, and would say: I am your Lord."[1]

In the two Sahih also, there is the Hadith of Abu Sa`id Al Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him); the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When the Day of Resurrection comes a Mu'adhdhin (a proclaimer) would proclaim: Let every people follow what they used to worship. Then all who worshipped idols and stones besides Allah would fall into the Fire, till only the righteous and the vicious and some of the people of the Book who worshipped Allah are left. Then the Jews would be summoned, and it would be said to them: What did you worship? They will say: We worshipped 'Uzair, son of Allah. It would be said to them: You tell a lie; Allah had never had a spouse or a son. What do you want now? They would say: We feel thirsty, O our Lord! Quench our thirst. They would be directed (to a certain direction) and asked: Why don't you go there to drink water? Then they would be pushed towards the Fire (and they would find to their great dismay that) it was but a mirage (and the raging flames of fire) would be consuming one another, and they would fall into the Fire. Then the Christians would be summoned and it would be said to them: What did you worship? They would say: We worshipped Jesus, son of Allah. It would be said to them: You tell a lie; Allah did not take for Himself either a spouse or a son. Then it would be said to them: What do you want? They would say: Thirsty we are, O our Lord! Quench our thirst. They would be directed (to a certain direction) and asked: Why don't you go there to get water? But they would be pushed and gathered together towards the Hell, which was like a mirage to them, and the flames would consume one another. They would fall Into the Fire…"[2]. The Hadith has in it: "Then the bridge would be set up over the Hell".

In this, there is proof that the bridge that is the Sirat does not dissolve, except after the disbelievers enter the fire. Building upon this the disbeliever will not pass over the Sirat but will fall into the fire before it is placed so the passing over of the Sirat is special for the believers and hypocrites as will follow.

[1] Narrated by Al Bukhari number (6573). Narrated by Muslim number (182)

[2] Narrated by Al Bukhari number (4581). Narrated by Muslim number (183)

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

The Gathering for the Enduring Home (2)

‘Abdullah ibn Hamoud al-Furaih

The Gathering for the Enduring Home (2)

the way of gathering the disbelievers in the fire
It was narrated in the texts the way of the gathering of the disbelievers for the fire with different descriptions. They are as follows :

1- They will be gathered together in groups

Allah Almighty said:
﴿ وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إلى جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا ﴾
“And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups” [Al Zumar:71]

And He said :
﴿ وَيَوْمَ يُحْشَرُ أَعْدَاء اللَّهِ إِلَى النَّارِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ﴾
“And [mention, O Muhammad], the Day when the enemies of Allah will be gathered to the Fire while they are [driven] assembled in rows ”

The meaning of weighed: gathered. The angels gather them .

2- They will gather for the fire on their faces
They will not be gathered walking on their feet as in the world but on their faces. Allah Almighty said :

﴿ الَّذِينَ يُحْشَرُونَ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ أُوْلَئِكَ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلاً﴾
“The ones who are gathered on their faces to Hell - those are the worst in position and farthest astray in [their] way ”

Maybe you will be surprised and say: “How will they walk on their faces?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) answers you as was narrated in Al Bukhari and Muslim about Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him): “A man said, "O Allah's Prophet! Will a Kafir (disbeliever) be gathered (driven prone) on his face?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Is not He Who made him walk with his legs in this world, able to make him walk on his face on the Day of Resurrection?" (Qatada, a sub-narrator said: Yes, (He can), by the Power of Our Lord "” ! )[1]

3- From that, they will be gathered blind, not seeing; dumb not speaking and deaf not hearing:
Allah Almighty said :
﴿ وَنَحْشُرُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ عُمْيًا وَبُكْمًا وَصُمًّا مَّأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ كُلَّمَا خَبَتْ زِدْنَاهُمْ سَعِيرًا﴾
“And We will gather them on the Day of Resurrection [fallen] on their faces - blind, dumb and deaf. Their refuge is Hell; every time it subsides We increase them in blazing fire” [Al Isra: 97]

How disgraced and weak they are on that day. They have been defeated. Allah Almighty said :

﴿ قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ سَتُغْلَبُونَ وَتُحْشَرُونَ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ ﴾
“Say to those who disbelieve, "You will be overcome and gathered together to Hell, and wretched is the resting place .”

4- They will also be gathered with their false gods, friends and followers:

﴿ احْشُرُوا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَأَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ * مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَاهْدُوهُمْ إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْجَحِيمِ ﴾
“[The angels will be ordered], "Gather those who committed wrong, their kinds, and what they used to worship. Other than Allah , and guide them to the path of Hellfire.” [Al Saafat: 22-23]

5- Before they will reach the fire their hearing will be filled with voices that will fill their hearts with horror and panic:

﴿إِذَا رَأَتْهُم مِّن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ سَمِعُوا لَهَا تَغَيُّظًا وَزَفِيرًا﴾
“When the Hellfire sees them from a distant place, they will hear its fury and roaring.” [Al Furqan:12]

6- When they reach the fire, they will notice the horrors and (have) regret and wish to return to the world so that they can believe:

﴿وَلَوْ تَرَىَ إِذْ وُقِفُواْ عَلَى النَّارِ فَقَالُواْ يَا لَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلاَ نُكَذِّبَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّنَا وَنَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾
“If you could but see when they are made to stand before the Fire and will say, "Oh, would that we could be returned [to life on earth] and not deny the signs of our Lord and be among the believers.” [Al Anaam:27]

They do not find any escape from the fire

﴿وَرَأَى الْمُجْرِمُونَ النَّارَ فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُم مُّوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمْ يَجِدُوا عَنْهَا مَصْرِفًا﴾
“And the criminals will see the Fire and will be certain that they are to fall therein. And they will not find from it a way elsewhere.” [Al Kahf: 53]

7- They will be gathered with the devils in despicable forms, dragged on their knees in disgrace and fear
Allah Almighty said :

﴿ فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَحْشُرَنَّهُمْ وَالشَّيَاطِينَ ثُمَّ لَنُحْضِرَنَّهُمْ حَوْلَ جَهَنَّمَ جِثِيًّا ﴾
“So by your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils; then We will bring them to be present around Hell upon their knees.” [Maryam: 68] [2]

• Secondly: the gathering of the believers with the hypocrites
After the disbelievers meet in their different varieties and categories in their judged home of fire (what a terrible abode), there remains in the field of the Day of Resurrection the believers, among them the sinners and disobedient ones. Among them are the people of hypocracy; waiting for their fate and enduring home. The bridge melts (the Sirat) above Hell and after that darkness comes over it. This darkness is before the Sirat .

In the Hadith of Thoban (may Allah be pleased with him), with Muslim: a Jew asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): “Where would the human beings be on the Daywhen the earth would change into another earth and the heavens too (would change into other heavens)? The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: They would be in darkness beside the Bridge ” [3]

So then: there is darkness before the Sirat. This darkness comes upon the believers and hypocrites after the disbelievers fall into the Hellfire with their dieties. The believers wait and among them are the hypocrites. Allah, High Highness and Majesty, comes in a form that they do not recognize and then comes in the form that they recognize. He asks: what sign will you recognize their Lord with? So they say the previous. Allah Almighty exposes Himself; his calf, so every believer prostrates to Him but the hypocrites who used to pray with hypocracy and for reputation with remain; they do not prostrate. Whenever one of them wants to prostrate, their back returns (stiff) as one .

﴿ يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ﴾
“The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able” [Al Qalam:42]


From here, the end of the hypocrites starts. Allah Almighty gives every believer and hypocrite light. They are covered by darkness and the passing over of the Sirat begins but there the light of the hypocrite is put out. He asks for light from the believer because with the believer there is light that does not go out. The believers supplicate when they see the light of the hypocrites going out. O our Lord keep our light steady. The believer was given light with this religion in the world and worked in the obedience of Allah Almighty

With the exception of that, the hypocrite who, if he shows religion in the world, it is a decoration of what is hidden and not shown. He was granted according to his deeds so was given unclear light as he was carrying unclear religion. If he held on with real faith but for display (to others), then the hypocrites will ask the believers to wait for them and give them light. They will say to the believers: we were together in the world and we were on your path. They will reply: you were on lure, glamour, hypocracy, darkness and complacency in the world so if the hypocrites present anything as a salvation for that moment, it will not be accepted from them .

Then it is said to them: return back and take light. If they return, they will be deceived…as they used to deceive the believers in the world. They will get the fate according to their deeds. If they return, a door is slammed between them and the believers. This door has mercy inside it; this is the side with the believers when the mercy and paradise reaches them. Its outside has punishment and that is the side of the hypocrites. Their side has punishment and fire. We ask Allah for peace and tranquility .

I will leave you with the previous evidence. Ponder upon the narrations. They are light of the knowledge :

The Almighty said :
﴿ يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا انْظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِنْ نُورِكُمْ قِيلَ ارْجِعُوا وَرَاءَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُوا نُورًا فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِسُورٍ لَهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَاهِرُهُ مِنْ قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ * يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُنْ مَعَكُمْ قَالُوا بَلَى وَلَكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنْتُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَارْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ الْأَمَانِيُّ حَتَّى جَاءَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ * فَالْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَلَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ هِيَ مَوْلَاكُمْ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ﴾
“On the [same] Day the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to those who believed, "Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you and seek light." And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.” [Al Hadid: 12-14]

This is the situation of the hypocrites on the Sirat .
As for the believers, they will call Allah Almighty to perfect their light for them. Allah Almighty said :

﴿ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴾
“[on] the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, "Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent.” [Al Tahrim:8]

They are given glad tidings of gardens so what a great happiness it is and a moment that makes the souls fly in anticipation towards it :

﴿ يَوْمَ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَسْعَى نُورُهُمْ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴾
“On the Day you see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right, [it will be said], "Your good tidings today are [of] gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally." That is what is the great attainment.” [Al Hadid:12]

In Sahih Muslim, there is the Hadith of Muslim of Abu Sa`id (may Allah be pleased with him), which was mentioned earlier. In it, there is the regret of the Jews and Christians. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “…Then the Christians would be summoned and it would be said to them: What did you worship? They would say: We worshipped Jesus, son of Allah. It would be said to them: You tell a lie; Allah did not take for Himself either a spouse or a son. Then it would be said to them: What do you want? They would say: Thirsty we are, O our Lord! Quench our thirst. They would be directed (to a certain direction) and asked: Why don't you go there to get water? But they would be pushed and gathered together towards the Hell, which was like a mirage to them, and the flames would consume one another. They would fall Into the Fire, till no one is left except he who worshipped Allah, be he pious or sinful. The Lord of the Universe, Glorified and Exalted, would come to them in a form recognisable to them and say; What are you looking for? Every people follow that which they worshipped. They would say: Our Lord, we kept ourselves separate from the people in the world, though we felt great need of them; we, however, did not associate ourselves with them. He would say: I am your Lord. They would say: We take refuge with Allah from thee and do not associate anything with Allah. They would repeat it twice or thrice, till some of them would be about to return. It would be said: Is there any sign between you and Him by which you will recognise Him? They would say: Yes. and the things would be laid bare. Those who used to prostrate themselves before God of their own accord would be permitted by God to prostrate themselves. But there would remain none who used to prostrate out of fear (of people) and ostentation but Allah would make his back as one piece, and whenever he would attempt to prostrate he would fall on his back. Then they would raise their heads and He would assume the Form in which they had seen Him the first time and would say: I am your Lord. They would say: Thou art our Lord. Then the bridge would be set up over the Hell and intercession would be allowed and they will say: O God, keep safe, keep safe. It was asked: Messenger of Allah, what is this bridge? He said: The void in which one Is likely to slip. There would be hooks, tongs…” It will follo[4]w .

With Ahmed there is the Hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him); I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: We would come on the Day of Resurrection like "elevated people". Then the people would be summoned along with their idols whom they worshipped, one after another. Then our Lord would come to us and say: Whom are you waiting for? They would say: We are waiting for our Lord. He would say: I am your Lord. They would say: (We are not sure) till we gaze at Thee, and He would manifest Himself to them smilingly, and would go along with them and they would follow Him; and every person, whether a hypocrite or a believer, would be endowed with a light, and there would be spikes and hooks on the bridge of the Hell, which would catch hold of those whom Allah willed. Then the light of the hypocrites would be extinguished, and the believers would secure salvation[5]...”

-You know from what was mentioned how the end will be for the disbeliever and how the end will be for the hypocrites. They are in Hell (what a terrible fate) even if their path to enter the fire is different except that in each of the two situations, they show their low level of humiliation until they enter their enduring home. They were enjoying (themselves) in the world. Allah Almighty warns us from complaicancy with them. Their enjoyment and comfort is little and their abode in Hell (what a terrible fate.

Maybe you have understood this meaning well when you have noticed the few enjoyments and what they enjoy in the life of this world. This enjoyment is met by eternity in the fire so there is no death. May Allah protect us

﴿ لَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي الْبِلَادِ * مَتَاعٌ قَلِيلٌ ثُمَّ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ * لَكِنِ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا نُزُلًا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِلْأَبْرَارِ﴾
“Be not deceived by the [uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land. [It is but] a small enjoyment; then their [final] refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place. But those who feared their Lord will have gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein, as accommodation from Allah . And that which is with Allah is best for the righteous.” [Al Imran: 196-198 ]

We will continue with explaining the situation of the believers until they enter their Enduring Homes as the people of faith have reached the Sirat. For you there is some simple research in the section: "The Sirat". May Allah grant me and you the quickest entry (into paradise).

[1] Narrated by Al Bukhari number (6523). Narrated by Muslim number (2806).

[2] Look at: Al Qiyama Al Kubra by Al Ashqar (page 258).

[3] Narrated by Muslim number (315).

[4] Narrated by Muslim number (183).

[5] Narrated by Ahmad number (14721).