The seizing of the earth and rolling up of the heavens

The horrors of the Day of Judgment (4)

The seizing of the earth and rolling up of the heavens

Then Allah Almighty will roll up the heavens.

{يَوْمَ نَطْوِي السَّمَاء كَطَيِّ السِّجِلِّ لِلْكُتُبِ كَمَا بَدَأْنَا أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُّعِيدُهُ وَعْداً عَلَيْنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ}

“The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is] a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it.” [Al Anbiya: 104]

Ibn Katheer (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “what is correct regarding Ibn Abbas is that the sijjil is the scroll. Ali ibn Abu Talha said it and Al Ufi about it. Writing about that was: Mujahid, Qatada and more than one. Ibn Jareer chose it because he is known by his language (skills). On this basis the meaning of the words: on the day when We will roll up heaven like the sijjil means: on the book, meaning: what is written.^[1]

   Allah Almighty will roll up the heavens in His right (hand) and seize the earth in His hand. Allah Almighty says:

{وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعاً قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَالسَّماوَاتُ مَطْوِيَّاتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ}

“They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be [within] His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.” [Al Zumar: 67]

In the two Sahih, there is the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah will hold the whole earth, and roll all the heavens up in His Right Hand, and then He will say, 'I am the King; where are the kings of the earth?’”^[2]

   In Sahih Muslim, there is the Hadith of Abdullah ibn Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah will fold the heavens an the day of Resurrection, then seizing them in His right hand he will say: I am the king. Where are the mighty men? Where are the proud men?”^[3]

It is said: this gripping of the earth and rolling up of the heavens happens after Allah Almighty ends his creation, because what is meant is to show His oneness Almighty as the King and His enduring. Al Qurtubi (may Allah be pleased with him) chose it^[4]