Proofs of Resurrection and Its Commencement (4/4)

Some scholars said that the trumpet will be blown three times,

(i) The blast which will terrify all people [mentioned in the verse quoted below Soorah Naml (27): 87],

(ii) The blast which will cause all people to faint [mentioned in the verse, Soorah Zumar (39): 68)] and

(iii) The blast upon which all creatures will be resurrected.

They base this on the verse in which Allah says, “And (remember) the Day on which the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth, will be terrified except him whom Allah will (exempt). And all shall come to Him, humbled.” [Soorah Naml (27): 87]

Although swooning is mentioned in one verse and terror is mentioned in another, it does not imply that there will be a third blast. Rather, they will happen at the blowing of the Sur for the first time, so when the Trumpet is blown, the people will be terrified, and will swoon as a result and die as Ibn Hajr (rahimahullah) explained in Fath al-Baree (11/36), “The fact that these are two concepts does not mean that they cannot happen as a result of the first Trumpet blast.”

A lengthy hadeeth which mentions that the Sur will be blown thrice is also quoted as evidence. A l-Hafiz ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (rahimahullah) explained that this is a da'eef (weak) hadeeth in Fath al-Baree (11/369).

From what has preceded, it may be understood that when Allah decrees that all living beings should die, He will command the Angel to blow the Trumpet, which will terrify all creatures and as a result of which they will faint and die. Then they will stay like that for as long as Allah decrees and their bodies will decay within this period until there is nothing left except the bone from the base of the coccyx, which is a round bone at the base of the spine. Then Allah will send rain, and when the water reaches this bone, the body will grow from it like a plant grows and people will be recreated just as Allah created them the first time.

Ibn Taymiyah (rahimahullah) says about the initial creation and the re-creation on the Day of Judgment, “The two creations are two things of the same category; they are similar in one way and different in another.” [See Majmoo al-Fatawa]

What this means is that although Allah will restore the souls of His slaves, their bodies will possess additional abilities. For example, they will not die no matter what ordeal befalls it, they will be given the ability to see Angels and Jinn, etc.

However, it will not be a new creation as Shaikh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaimeen (rahimahullah) explains, “If it were a new creation, it would mean that the body which performed the sins in the world would be safe from any punishment. To be resurrected in a new body and bear punishment in the new body is against justice.” [See Ibn Uthaimeen, Majmoo (3/174)]

“So, after the Sur is blown for the second time, the souls will return to their bodies and people will come forth from their graves and hasten to the place of gathering. “They will say, “Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of sleep.” (It will be said to them), “This is what the Most Beneficent (Allah) had promised, and the Messengers spoke truth!” It will be but a single Saihah (shout, etc.), so behold! They will all be brought up before Us!” [Soorah Ya-Sin (36): 51-53]

All creation will be brought together in one place, “That is a Day whereon mankind will be gathered together, and that is a Day when all will be present.” [Soorah Hud (11): 103-4] The angels will be present, the Messengers will gather and all of creation will be gathered mankind, Jinn, birds, wild beasts and domestic riding animals.

It is recorded in the two Saheeh from Ibn Abbas, who reported the Messenger saying concerning mankind, “You will be gathered barefooted, naked and un-circumcised.” Aa’isha (radhi allahu anha) remarked upon hearing this, “O Messenger of Allah, men and women together, looking at one another!!?” He replied, “O Aa'isha, it will be too distressing for them to be looking at one another.” [Mishkat al-Masaabeh]

It will be such because every man, that Day, will have enough to make him careless of others. In fact, “That Day shall a man flee from his brother, and from his mother and his father, and from his wife and his children. Every man, that Day, will have enough to make him careless of others.” [Soorah Abasa (80): 34-37] Qatadah said, “The most beloved and then the next most beloved, and the closest of kin and then the next closest of kin - due to the terror of that Day.” [See, Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

“And no friend will ask a friend (about his condition), though they shall be made to see one another.” [Soorah Maarij (70): 10]