Chapter 7: Belief In the Last Day Part 1

Chapter 7: Belief In the Last Day Part 1


The Last Day is the Day when mankind will be resurrected to be asked about
their deeds and receive reward or punishment for them. It is called “the Last
Day,” because it is the last day, no day after that. Afterwards, people of
Paradise will permanently reside and take their places in it, and people of Hell
will permanently reside and take their places in it.



Belief In The Last Day Has Three Parts



1. To believe in the Resurrection. - The Resurrection happens when the
Horn will be blown for the second time. Afterwards, mankind will be resurrected
to face the questioning by the Lord of the worlds. They will neither be wearing
shoes nor circumcised, and they will be naked and visible to others on this
state, (however, everyone will be absolutely preoccupied with what they are
going to face and the hardship of the Day of Resurrection). Allah said, what
translated means, “As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it, (it is) a
promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it." [21:104].



The Resurrection is a true event that the Qur’aan, the Sunnah and the consensus
of Muslims have confirmed. Allah said, what translated means, “After that,
surely you will die. Then (again), surely, you will be resurrected on the Day of
Resurrection.” [23:15-16]. The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, what
translated means, “On the Day of Resurrection, Mankind wilt be resurrected while
they are bear-footed and naked.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]



The Muslims are unanimous on confirming the Day of Resurrection. This is the
wisdom of Allah, for He decreed that creation will have a day of reckoning for
their deeds after He sent them Messengers to inform them of His Commandments. He
said, what translated means, “Did you think that We had created you in play
(without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?” [23:115]
and, “Verily, He Who has given you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam))
the Qur’aan will surely bring you back to the Ma’ad (place of return).” [28:85].




2. To believe in the Reckoning - In the Last Day, the slave will be
rewarded or punished for his deeds. This fact was also confirmed by the Qur’aan,
the Sunnah and the consensus of Muslims. Allah said, what translated means,
“Verily, to Us will be their return. Then verily, for Us will be their
Reckoning.” [88:25-26], “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 thereof and they will not be wronged.” [6:160] and, “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 be the weight of a mustard
seed, We will bring it And Sufficient are We as Reckoners.” [21:47].



The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, what translated means, “Allah
will bring the believer closer to Him, and will shield him form being exposed
(for his evil deeds in front of everyone). He will say: ‘Do you remember such
and such (evil) deed? Do you remember such and such (evil) deed?’ He will say:
‘Yes, O my Lord!’ When He gets his confessions for his evil deeds, and he (the
salve) thinks that he is close to destruction, he will say: ‘I have preserved
you (from being exposed in front of others for these evil deeds) during your
lifetime. Today, I forgive them for you.’ Then, he will be given his record of
deeds. As for the disbelievers and the hypocrites, they will be called in
public: ‘These are the ones who lied on their Lord (did not follow His Guidance
sent down with their Prophets). Therefore, Allah’s curse will befall the unjust
ones." [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]



And,“Whoever intends to perform a good deed, and performs it, Allah will record
it for him as ten deeds, to seven hundredfold, to many more folds. Whoever
intends to commit and evil deed, and commits it, Allah will record it as one
evil deed.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]



Muslims are unanimous that the Day of Reckoning will come. This is the Wisdom of
Allah. He revealed the Books, sent down the Messengers and commanded that they
be accepted, followed and obeyed. He commanded that whoever oppose them (the
Books and the Messengers) are to be fought. He permitted shedding their blood,
and the seizure of their children, women and possessions. If there will not be a
Day of Reckoning, then this Commandment will be time wasted. Allah is immune
form such joyful play. “Then surely, We shall question those (people) to who it
(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.’ [7:6.7].



3. To believe in Paradise and Hell. They are the final destination for
whoever deserves either one of them, and for eternity. Paradise is the
destination of the ultimate happiness and joy that Allah prepared for the
believers who feared Him, believed in what He required from them to believe and
obeyed Him and His Messenger. They are the ones who were sincere to Allah and
followers of His Messenger. Paradise contains, of Allah’s bounties, “What no eye
has ever violated, what no ear has ever heard of and what no mind has ever
imagined (of joys that Allah hid for the believers).” [4] Allah said, what
translated means, “Verily, those who believe (in Allah) and do righteous, good
deeds, they are the best of creatures. Their reward with their Lord is Gardens
of Eternity, underneath which rivers flow, they will abide therein forever,
Allah Well-Pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his
Lord.” [98:7-8] and, “No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a
reward for what they used to do.)’ [32:17].



As for Hell, it is the destination of torment and punishment that Allah prepared
for the unjust disbelievers. They are the ones who disbelieved in Him and
disobeyed His Messengers. Hell contains kinds of punishment and torment that no
one could ever imagine. Allah said, what translated means, “And fear the Fire,
which is prepared for the disbelievers.” [3: 131] “We have prepared for the
wrongdoers, a Fire whose walls will be surrounding them. And if they ask for
help (relief, water etc.) they will be granted water like boiling oil that will
scald their faces. Terrible the drink, and an evil dwelling.” [18: 29] and,
“Verily, Allah has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming
Fire (Hell). 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
form all sides in the Fire, they will say: “Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah
and obeyed the Messenger (Muhammad).” [33:64-66]



Belief in Life After Death: Believing in the Last Day requires Muslims to
also believe in life after death and in the following:



1. The questioning in the grave. The dead will be asked, in their graves,
about the lord, the religion and the Prophet they followed during their
lifetime. Allah will lead the believer to say what is necessary, saying, “Allah
is my Lord. My religion is Islam. My Prophet is Muhammad (sallallaahu alaihi
wa-sallam).” As for the unjust, Allah will lead him to misguidance saying, in
answer to the above questions “What! What! I do not know.” Also! the hypocrites
and the ones who always had doubts about Allah, the religion and the Prophet (sallallaahu
alaihi wa-sallam), will say, “I do not know. I heard people say something and I
followed them.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]



2. The torment or joy in the grave. The unjust, the disbelievers and the
hypocrites will be tormented in their graves. Allah said, what translated means,
“And if you but see when the wrongdoers are in the agonies of death, while the
angels are stretching forth their hands (saying): “Deliver your souls; this day
you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation because of what you
used to utter against Allah other than the truth. And you used to reject his
Ayat (proofs, signs, evidences, etc.) with disrespect” [6: 93] and about
Pharaoh’s people, “The Fire; they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon, and
on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels):
“Cause Pharaoh ‘s people to enter the severest Torment” [40:46].



Zaid ibn Thabit (radiyallaahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallaahu
alaihi wa-sallam) said to his companions what translated means, “I would have
asked Allah to let you hear what I am hearing from the punishment in the grave,
but for the fear that you would not bury each other after that” Then the Prophet
(sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) turned his face towards them, saying, “Seek
refuge in Allah from the torment of the Fire.” They said, “We seek refuge in
Allah from the torment of the Fire.” He said, “Seek refuge in Allah from the
torment of the grave.” They said, “We seek refuge in Allah from the torment of
the grave.” He said, “Seek refuge in Allah from all calamities, apparent or
hidden.” They said, “We seek refuge in Allah from all calamities, apparent or
hidden.” He said, “Seek refuge in Allah from the calamity of Al-A‘war Ad-Dajjal
(the False Messiah).” They said, “We seek refuge lit Allah from the calamity of
Al-A‘war Ad-Da.jjal.” [Saheeh Muslim]



As for joys of the grave, they are given to the believers. Allah said, what
translated means, “Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is Allah (alone),” and then
they stood fast on them (these words that they say), on them the angels will
descend (at the time of their death) (saying): “Fear you not, nor grieve! But
receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised?” [41:30] and,
“Then why do you not (intervene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches the
throat? And you at the moment are looking on? But We (our angels who take the
soul) are nearer to him than you, but you see not. Then why do you not, if you
are exempt from the reckoning and recompense (punishment). Bring back the soul
(to its body), if you are truthful? Then if he (the dying person) be of those
near ones (close to Allah), (there is for him) rest and provisions, and a Garden
of Delights (Paradise)." [56: 83-89].



Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Azib narrated that the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam)
said about the believer, that after he is asked by the angels (about the lord,
the religion and the Messenger he followed) and after he replies (saying that
his Lord is Allah, his religion is Islam and his Messenger is Muhammad (sallallaahu
alaihi wa-sallam), “A caller from heaven will say: ‘My slave has said the truth.
Therefore, furnish him (his grave) from Paradise, dress him from Paradise and
open a door for him to Paradise.” Then he said, “He will receive from its
tranquility and perfume. His grave will be enlarged for him the distance that
his sight reaches.” [Musnad Ahmad & Aboo Dawood]



Benefits of Believing in the Last Day

1. The desire to do righteous, good deeds, seeking the good results in the Last
Day.

2. The fear from committing and approving of evil deeds, fearing the torment of
the Day of Reckoning.

3. The believer feels that this belief makes him forget the hardships he faces
in this life. He is preoccupied with working righteousness trying to reach the
joys and good rewards of the Last Day.



Some disbelievers reject the idea of life after death saying that this is not
possible. This claim is false. Religion, the senses and the mind are used to
refute this claim.