Proofs of Resurrection and Its Commencement (3/4)

The Knowledge of the Onset of the Hour is a Matter of Ghayab (unseen) due to Great Wisdom

Our Prophet Muhammad did not know when the Hour will begin.

 “They ask you (O Muhammad) about the Hour — when will be its appointed time? You have no knowledge to say anything about it. To your Lord belongs (the knowledge of) the term thereof.  You (O Muhammad) are only a warner for those who fear it.” [Soorah An-Naz’iaat (79): 42-45]

Allah has not only concealed the time of the as-Saa'ah al-Kubraa (the major Hour; i.e., the Day of Resurrection), but He has also kept hidden the time of as-Saa'ah as-Sughra (the minor Hour i.e., the time of death for each person) because the Prophet was sent with glad tidings of Paradise in the afterlife for those who obey Allah, and with warnings of Hell for those who disobey Him. The purpose of this can only be achieved if the time of one’s death and the time of the Hour is concealed, so that the people fear that they might be caught unprepared.

Shaikh as-Sa’di writes, ‘(the exact time of the hour is concealed) because knowing the time of the Hour serves no spiritual or worldly purpose for the people. Rather their interest lies in its being concealed from them, the knowledge of that has been kept hidden from all of creation and Allah has kept it to Himself. “To your Lord belongs (knowledge of) the term thereof.” [end quote]

Allamah al-Aloosi   (rahimahullah)   writes,   “Allah   has concealed the knowledge of the Hour because Sharee’ah wisdom and reason dictate that it should be so, because this is more effective in  calling  people  to  obey  Him  and  discouraging  them  from disobeying Him. Similarly, he has also concealed the lifespan of each person. The (Qur’anic) verses indicate that (even) the Prophet did not know when the Hour would begin. Yes, he knew that it was close in general terms, and he   informed us of that.” [end quote]

It is due to Allah’s Mercy towards His creation that He has informed us about the signs which indicate that the onset of the Hour is approaching. Every time we see one of its signs, our fear of the Hour and its horrors will increase, as will our certainty  that  it  is  at  hand;  and  we might  prepare  for  it  by  doing  more righteous deeds.

Allah says, “Do they then  await  (anything)  other  than  the Hour  that  it  should  come  upon  them suddenly?   But   some   of   its   portents (indications  and  signs)  have  already  come.” [Soorah Muhammad (47): 18]

The Prophet said, “Hasten to perform good deeds before six matters come to pass: the rising of the sun from the west, the smoke, the Dajjal, the Beast, and that which will come to each one of you  alone  (i.e.,  death),  and  that  which  will  affect  everyone  (i.e., Resurrection).” This means: try to beat the six signs of the Hour and hasten to perform righteous deeds before they come to pass. Because good deeds that are performed after the six signs have appeared will neither be accepted nor rewarded.

The Prophet warned us, “This world is nearly finished... and there is nothing left of it but a little, like the little bit of water at the bottom of a vessel, which will soon be drunk...”  [Reported by Saheeh Muslim]

“What do you think of something which has a fixed time and you see it passing by day after day until it reaches its end and it reaches its last stage. The same is true for the world, everyday it approaches closer to its end until it will reach its final stage, and this is why Allah says, “And We delay it only for a term (already) fixed.” [Soorah Hud (11): 104]

[See, Tafseer al-Qur’an al-Adheem by Shaikh Salih al-Uthaimeen]

“The Day when the Sur will be blown,”

When a Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah and asked about the Sur, he replied, “It is a horn that will be blown into.” [See, Silsilah al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah]

It has also been related in a Hadeeth on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Sur (horn/trumpet) has a circumference as large as the heavens and the earth. [See, Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

Numerous Ahadeeth relate that Israfeel is responsible for blowing the Sur, and he is ever ready to blow it since the time Allah appointed him with the Sur. The Prophet said, “Since the time when the one who will blow the Sur was appointed, his eyes are ever ready, looking towards the Throne, fearing lest the Command be issued before he blinks, as if his eyes are two brilliant stars.” [See Silsilah al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah]

The Sur will be blown twice; the first will cause all creatures to fall unconscious and the second will bring about the resurrection; these blasts are called Rajifah and Radifah respectively in Soorah an-Nazi'aat (79): 6-7.

Allah describes these blasts in Soorah az-Zumar (39): 68,

“And the Sur will be blown (for the first time) and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth will swoon away, except him whom Allah wills.”

Allah’s Messenger described how quickly people will die upon the blowing of the Sur; he said, “The Hour will certainly come, whilst two men will be spreading out a garment between them, but they will not be able to sell it or fold it up.

The Hour will come when the man will milk his she-camel and will take the milk away, but he will not be able to drink it.

The Hour will come before a man who will repair his trough (a long, narrow container, open on top, for feeding or watering animals) and will not be able to bring his animals to drink it.

The Hour will come when a man will raise a morsel of food to his mouth but he will not be able to eat it.” [Reported by Saheeh al-Bukharee]

“The souls of all the creatures will be taken until the last one to die will be the Angel of death. None will remain except the Ever-Living, Eternal One, Who was there in the beginning and will be at the end, forever. He will say thrice, “Whose is the kingdom this day”, then He will answer Himself, “It is Allah’s, the One, the Irresistible!”  [Soorah Ghafir (40): 16]

Then the first one to be brought back to life will be Israfeel, and Allah will command him to blow the Sur again... Allah says further in, Soorah az-Zumar (39): 68, “Then it will be blown another time, and behold they will be standing, looking on.” meaning after they have been bones and dust, they will come alive, looking at the terrors of the Day of Resurrection.  [See, Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

Abu Hurayrah related that the Messenger of Allah said, “That which is between the two blowing are forty.” Someone asked, “Is it forty days, O Abu Hurayrah.” But he (Abu Hurayrah) refused to reply, saying, “no comment.”

They then asked, “Is it forty months?” But he (Abu Hurayrah) refused to reply, saying, “no comment.” They asked again, “Is it forty years.” But he refused to reply, saying, “no comment.”

Abu Hurayrah added, “The Prophet said, “Then Allah will send down rain from the sky and the dead body will sprout just as a green plant sprouts. Every part of the last person will deteriorate except for one bone, and it is the coccyx bone (tailbone). From it, the creation will be assembled on the Day of Judgment.” [Quoted from Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

Imam an-Nawawi (rahimahullah) writes, “What is meant is that he refused to specify whether it would be forty days, or years, or months. Rather what he was sure of was that it would be just forty. It is explained in another report narrated by someone other than Muslim, which says that it will be forty years.

The phrase, ‘the little bone at the end of the coccyx,’ refers to the small bone at the base of the spine, which is the end of the coccyx. This is the first part of a person that is created, and it is what will be left of him so that he will be created anew from it.” [See Sharh Muslim (18/92)]

(Continued)