Belief in the Last Day and Resurrection

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Belief in the Last Day and Resurrection (1/4)

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen

The Last Day is that enormous event when everyone will be resurrected from death to the accounting and reckoning, to be asked about their deeds: to receive either reward for their good deeds, or punishment for their evil deeds. It is called “the Last Day” because it is the final day and the end of earthly time. This is the day when the people of Paradise will go to their appointed places in Paradise, and those of Hell to the Hellfire.

Belief in the Last Day and Resurrection comprises three aspects:
1- To believe in the resurrection after death. Resurrection will take place when the Trumpet will be blown [by Israafeel] for the second time [the first being for the death of all living creatures]. Humankind will awaken to face the Lord of the Worlds. They all will stand bare-footed, com-pletely naked and uncircumcised before their Lord, as Allah the Most Exalted said:

“As We began the first creation, so shall We repeat it, (it is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly We shall do it.” [Surah al-Anbiyaa’ (21):104].

The Resurrection is an affirmed truth, proven by the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the unanimous agreement and consensus (Ijmaa’) of all the Muslims. Allah, the Exalted, said:

“Then verily you will be dead after that. Then verily you will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment.” [Surah al-Mu’minoon (23):15-16]

And the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said in a hadeeth agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim:

“People will be gathered together on the Day of Judgement barefooted and uncircumcised.”

All the Muslims are in agreement affirmed the Resurrection. The Day of Resurrection and Accounting is necessitated by the wisdom of Allah to make a final time to judge everyone according to that which they are accountable. Allah the Most Exalted said:

“Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?” [Surah al-Mu’minoon (23):115]

And He, the Exalted, said to the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him):

“Verily, He Who has given you the Qur’an (O Muhammad) will surely bring you back to the place of return.” [Surah al-Qasas (28):85].

2- To believe in the reckoning of the deeds and reward or punishment accordingly. This is proven through the Book of Allah, the Qur’an, the Sunnah and consensus of the Muslims. The slaves of Allah will all be reckoned and recompensed for their deeds. Allah the Most Exalted said:

“Verily, to Us will be their return. Then verily, for Us will be their Reckoning.” [Surah al-Ghaashiyah (88):25-26]

And He the Most Exalted said:
“Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof to his credit, and whoever brings an evil deed shall have only the recompense of the like there-of, and they will not be wronged.” [Surah al-An’aam (6):160]

And He the Most Exalted said:
“And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there were the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it and Sufficient are We as Reckoners.” [Surah al-Anbiyaa’ (21):47]

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“Allah will bring the believer closer to Him, and will shield him from being exposed (for his evil deeds in front of everyone). He will say, “Do you remember such and such sin? Do you remember such and such sin?” He will say, “Yes, O my Lord!” When Allah gets this confession for his sins, and the believer thinks that his destruction is upon him, Allah will say, “I have preserved you from being exposed in front of others for these evil deeds during your lifetime and I am for-giving them for you today.” So, he will be given his record of good deeds. As for the disbelievers and the hypocrites, they will be called openly in public: “These are the ones who lied against their Lord! Verily Allah’s curse is upon the unjust ones!” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

And in an authentic hadeeth the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“…if somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write for him a full good deed. If he intends to do a good deed and he actually does it, then Allah will write with Him from ten to seven hundred times to many more times (reward). If somebody intends to do a bad deed and he does not do it, Allah will write a full good deed with Him. If somebody intends to do bad deed and actually did it, then Allah will write one bad deed (in his account).” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Muslims are unanimous in agreement that the Day of Reckoning and the Judgment will come, since both logic and wisdom point to it. According to the infinite Wisdom of Allah, all people must be judged a final decisive judgment. Allah revealed the Scriptures and sent the Messengers only that they should be accepted and followed. Moreover, Allah obligated the believers to fight against those who oppose the Scriptures and the Messengers, and He permitted that their blood be shed and their children, women and possessions be seized] according to the strict laws of war]. If there were not a final Day of Reckoning, then all these matters would have been in vain! Allah the All-Wise is far removed from such an imperfection and contradiction.

Allah has indicated this line of argument in His saying:
“Then surely We shall question those to whom the Book was sent, and verily, We shall question the Messengers. Then surely, We shall narrate unto them (their whole story) with knowledge, and indeed We were not absent.” [Surah al-A’raaf (7):6-7]

3- To believe in Paradise and Hellfire, and that they are the final and everlasting abode for the creatures (men and jinn).

Paradise is the final resting place of ultimate happiness and joy that Allah has prepared for the believers who feared Him, believed in Him, and sincerely obeyed Him and His Messenger who brought the message. Paradise is described as a place of unimaginable bounties and pleasures which “no eye has ever seen, nor an ear ever heard of, nor a mind has ever imagined.”

Allah the Most Exalted said:
“Verily, those who believe and do righteous deeds, they are the best of creatures. Their reward with their Lord is Gardens of Eternity, underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever; Allah is Well-Pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord.” [Surah al-Bayyinah (98):7-8]

And Allah the Most Exalted said:
“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” [Surah as-Sajdah (32):17]

Hellfire is the final destination of torment and punishment that Allah has prepared for the disbelievers, the unjust (criminals), those who disbelieved in Allah and disobeyed the Messengers.

Hellfire contains all kinds of unimaginable punishments and torments. Allah the Most Exalted said:

“And fear the Fire which is prepared for the disbelievers.” [Surah Aali ‘Imraan (3):131]

And He the Most Exalted said:

“We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire whose walls will be surrounding them. If they ask for help they will be granted water like boiling oil that will scald their faces. Terrible is the drink, and what an evil dwelling!” [Surah al-Kahf (18):29]

And He the Most Exalted said:

“Verily Allah has cursed the disbelievers and prepared for them a flaming Fire wherein they will abide forever; and they will find neither a protector nor a helper. On the Day when their faces will be turned and rolled from all sides in the Fire, they will say: “Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger (Mu-hammad).” [Surah al-Ahzaab (33):64-66]

____________
[1] The Day of Resurrection is real and not ephemeral.

(Continued)