Journey Towards The Eternal Destination (2/3)

I glanced to my left. It was an entirely different scene there. The people of Hell were engulfed in a never-ending darkness of various negative emotions, including shame, disgrace, regret, apprehension, humiliation, sorrow, disappointment, agony, hardships and self-blame. If the sky had the ability to lament, it would have recited an elegy on the misfortune of those who had failed on this Day of Judgement. If the Earth had the ability to express itself, it too would have recited a tragic poem on the condition of the people of Hell. If words had a voice, even they would have decried their failure in portraying the utter misfortune of the people of Hell.

I felt the urge to somehow turn the wheel of time backwards, return to the old world, and show this scene to the people of the world. If that were possible, I would shout myself hoarse saying to them, “O’ All of you hard working people, competing with each other for the sake of worldly wealth and possessions; leave the rat race! If you have to compete, compete for success on this day. If you have to race against others, race to attain the Paradise. If you have to make schemes, scheme to save yourself from the Hell. You compete to leave others behind in material possessions like plots of land, shops, houses, status, carriers, cars, jewellery, and expensive dresses etc.  You rejoice at attaining worldly success and cry on losing it. If you want to rejoice, rejoice at the hope of attaining the Paradise, and if you have to cry, cry at the prospect of being sent to the Hell. Live for this day and die for this day… the day when life will begin, never to end again.

The flow of tears rolling down my face increased further. However, this time they were not tears of joy. They stemmed from the realisation that maybe if I had put in a little more effort, I could have got my message across to more people, and perhaps, many more could have been spared from Hell. I felt the pain of this remorse in my heart. Alas, if I could get one more chance. Alas! If only the time bygone would somehow come back so that I could warn every person about this day even more compellingly! An excruciating sigh escaped from my lips, rising from the depths of my heart.

I looked up towards the Throne with utter helplessness. As always, the exalted presence of the Almighty was cloaked in a veil of royalty. This elegant   and   graceful   veil   was   like   the   unconcerned   grace   of a beauty, oblivious to its surroundings. The gaze of this insignificant servant got transfixed at the imagined feet of the Almighty behind an attire of his attributes. I had never returned unfulfilled from there. For this worthless beggar, his only asset was those feet. Whether the exalted emperor considered it of any significance or not, did not matter. This is all I had to offer; this is all I could hope for!

When the heart calmed down a bit, my eyes drifted towards the people of Hell again.  I knew a few of them.  Their number was quite large.

Crouched and crowded, they sat slavishly with their shoulders rubbing together. They avoided my gaze and many of them had turned their backs towards me. As such, I could not see many of my acquaintances there. However, their sight made me appreciate and realise the blessings of the God Almighty, which had saved me from meeting such a miserable fate. I felt that of all the infinite bounties of Paradise, perhaps the two greatest blessings were that one would be saved from the rigours of Hell and then would be sent to Paradise with such sterling honour

It was not long before all people present in Aaraf were processed. There were no more decisions to be announced. However, it looked like something else was still to happen. Everybody was standing at his place. A very stout and strong animal was brought in. There was a rope in its neck. Angels were dragging it towards the Throne.

Saleh whispered in my ear, “This is Death. It has been brought here so that it can be put to death.”

There was an announcement from the Throne, “The Death is being put to death today. As of now, neither the dwellers of Paradise nor the inmates of Hell will die”.

With this announcement, the angels laid the animal on the floor and slaughtered it. The residents of Paradise welcomed this through thunderous clapping while the inmates of Hell moaned and groaned. If they had any hope of escaping Hell, it had died with the demise of the death.

A command was issued from the Throne to take the inmates of Hell to their destiny in groups. The angels started moving swiftly. Panic erupted on the left side of the Throne. Amongst sighs and screams, angels would get hold of the criminals and the disobedient, and gathering them in a group, drive them towards the Hell. When each group reached the gates of the Hell, the guardian angels of Hell welcomed them. They then passed them into Hell through one of its seven gates, dependent upon the type of their sins.

Amidst all this, we would regularly hear the voice of the Almighty from the Throne, asking the Hell periodically, “Are you full yet?”

The Hell would reply in a raging voice, “My Lord! Are there any more people left? Please do send them”.

On hearing this, wailing and pleading would get louder in the Plane of Judgement.  Angels would swiftly move and grab the remaining criminals, dragging them towards their final abode. Hence, in a short time, all those condemned to Hell were sent to the final abode that they had been promised.

Thereafter, a command emanated from the Throne, “Take the people of Paradise to their destination”.

When this announcement was made, there were still some people left on the left side of the Throne. I asked Saleh, “Who are these people? Why have they not been sent to Hell”?

Saleh answered, “They are the Hypocrites. They will be incarcerated in the lowest and the worst part of the Hell. They used to deceive God in their worldly lives. They will therefore be given the worst punishment. In fact, their punishment will begin with a deception”.

“Deception? Please elaborate.” I asked.

Saleh replied, “Well, they will get the impression that with the announcement of transferring the people of Paradise to Paradise, perhaps they have also been spared on account of their apparent faith. However, this is merely a misconception and it shall be rectified soon”.

At that moment, a beautiful and captivating chorus reached my ears, singing the melody of praise for the Almighty, “All praise is for God, the Lord of the Worlds”. This was the melodious voice of the bearers of the Throne and other angels singing the song of utter thankfulness for their Lord.

Saleh said, “This indicates that the Judgement Day has reached its conclusion”.

Simultaneously, darkness started to set in the Plane. Apart from the light emanating from the Throne, there was no other source of light. I was not able to see anything at all. I asked Saleh worryingly:

“What is happening?”

“It is getting dark…” He replied briefly.

“I can see that, my friend! But what’s the reason for it?” I asked.

“The reason for this is that only those who have the light of true faith in their hearts and righteous deeds to go with it will be able to cross this darkness and enter the Paradise.”