The Day of Resurrection and the Hereafter (1/4)

“And the Horn will be blown; and at once from the graves to their Lord they will hasten. They will say: O woe to us! Who has raised us up from our sleeping place? [The reply will be:] This is what the Most Merciful had promised, and the messengers told the truth.” (Qur’an, Surah Ya-Sin, 36: 51-52)

Belief in the Day of Resurrection and the hereafter

Belief in the Day of Resurrection and the hereafter is the fifth pillar of Iman. This entails belief in all related concepts, including the trial and questioning in the grave, the torment and bliss of the grave, the resurrection, the gathering, the records, the reckoning, the scale, the fount, the bridge, intercession, paradise and hellfire, and everything that Allah has prepared for those who dwell within them. A Muslim believes in all that is mentioned in the Qur’an and the Hadith regarding these topics, without addition or change.

The Last Day is mentioned in the Qur’an on numerous occasions and in various literary styles. Allah mentions,

“Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets...” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 177)

“... And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.” (Qur’an, Surah An-Nisa’, 4: 136)

“Indeed, the Hour is coming — I almost conceal it — so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives. So do not let one avert you from it who does not believe in it and follows his desire, for you [then] would perish.” (Qur’an, Surah Ta-Ha, 20: 15-16)

A great deal of detail is provided on this subject, which is unique in comparison to other issues of the unseen. The Last Day is referred to by many names, often describing the events that will occur on that day. Some of the names mentioned in the Qur’an, for example, include: Day of Resurrection, Day of Reckoning, Day of Rising, the Striking Hour, the Overwhelming, and so on.

Belief in the Last Day is without doubt. Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) says,

“Allah — there is no deity except Him. He will surely assemble you for [account on] the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful than Allah in statement?” (Qur’an, Surah An-Nisa’, 4: 87)

“Those who disbelieve have claimed that they will never be resurrected. Say: Yes, by my Lord, you will surely be resurrected; then you will surely be informed of what you did. And that, for Allah, is easy.” (Qur’an, Surah At-Taghabun, 64: 7)

To establish its importance even further, belief in the Last Day is often connected to belief in Allah. Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) says,

“…but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets...” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 177)

“… That is instructed to whoever of you believes in Allah and the Last Day...” (Qur’an Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 232)

Prophet Shu‘ayb (alaihis salam) said to his people,

 “… O my people, worship Allah and expect the Last Day and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-‘Ankabut, 29: 36)

There are many such examples in the Qur’an of this connection between belief in Allah and belief in the Last Day.

These reminders of the events of the Day of Resurrection and the life in the hereafter should have an influence on the thoughts and behaviour of the believer. A person who believes that he/she will be judged and brought to account will conduct himself or herself within the constraints of goodness, piety, truth, and justice. This is the reason that, in the Qur’an, righteous deeds are often associated with belief in the Last Day. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) mentions,

“… Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they are  maintaining theirprayers.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-an’am, 6: 92)

“There has certainly been for you in them an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day. And whoever turns away — then indeed, Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Mumtahanah, 60:6)

“Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day would not ask permission of you to be excused from striving [fighting] with their wealth and their lives. And Allah is Knowing of those who fear Him. Only those would ask permission of you who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts have doubted, and they, in their doubt, are hesitating.” (Qur’an, Surah At-Tawbah, 9: 44-45)

This sets the believer apart from the person, who denies that he/she will be resurrected and judged for his or her actions in this life; one who is preoccupied by worldly desires and ambitions and his or her own personal interests. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) mentions,

“But they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers say: This is an amazing thing. When we have died and have become dust, [will we return to life]? That is a distant [unlikely] return.” (Qur’an, Surah Qaf, 50: 2-3)

“And they say: There is not but our worldly life; we die and live, and nothing destroys us except time. And they have of that no knowledge; they are only assuming.” (Qur'an, Surah Al-Jathiyah, 45: 24)

Disbelief in the Day of Resurrection brings misery to the human and leads him or her to deviate from his or her intended path in this life. One who rejects the possibility of resurrection, in effect, disbelieves in all of Allah’s Messengers, since all of them had brought an account of these matters. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) responds to their disbelief in the resurrection and hereafter in the Qur’an:

“And they say: When we are bones and crumbled particles, will we [truly] be resurrected as a new creation? Say: Be you stones or iron, or [any] creation of that which is great within your breasts. And they will say: Who will restore us? Say: He who brought you forth the first time. Then they will nod their heads toward you and say: When is that? Say: Perhaps it will be soon.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Isra’, 17: 49-51)

(Continued)