resurrection القيامة

[أم مُعاذ]

 

The

Resurrection

The Islamic Propagation Office in Rabwah

Published by:

The Islamic Propagation Office in Rabwah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Preface

All praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Day of Judgment, and

may the Peace and may the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon the seal of all

prophets, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, and upon his companions

and followers till the Day of Judgment.

We all believe that our life has an end, and nothing is eternal ex-

(1).cept Allah I

}‏كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ * وَيَبْقَى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ {

“Whatsoever is on it (the Earth) will perish. * And the

Face of your Lord, full of Majesty and Honour, will

remain forever.”

[Surah Ar-Rahmaan (55):26-27]

It is better for all of us to ponder deeply about out future and

about our eternal life which is everlasting. We are expected to

devote some time in this to ponder what will occur in the life

to come.

The Day of Judgment is the day on which all creation will meet,

fully and fairly, the reward for how they conducted themselves in

this life. It is a day which is different from all other days. It will

come, sooner or later. But some questions must be raised: Are we

fully prepared and aware of this day? What are its signs and hor-

rors? When will it come? What will it look like?

Sheikh Muhammad bin 'Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy on

him, gave a sermon describing the signs and horrors of such a

day.

May AllahIsave us and make us steadfast on the right path till

the Day of Judgment.

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(1) Subhaanahu wa Ta'alaa: trans. ‘Most Glorified [May Allah be exalted above

all what the disbelievers attribute to Him] and Most High is He’.

Biography

Abu 'Abdullah, Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn Muhammad ibn

'Uthaymeen at-Tamimi an-Najdi was born in the city of 'Unayzah,

in the region of al-Qaseem on 27"th" day of Ramadan, in the year

1347 A.H./1926 C.E. into a religious family.

He received his religious education from many prominent school-

ars, from them Sheikh 'Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa'di, Sheikh Mu-

hammad Ameen ash-Shinqeeti and Sheikh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn

Baaz. He was from among those who served Islam without any

type of religious prejudice and kept himself away from the limita-

tions of blind following. He was distinguished for his great exer-

tion in religious matters and analogical deductions. In giving reli-

gious verdicts, like Sheikh ibn Baaz, his fataawaa (verdicts) were

based on evidence from the Qur'aan and Sunnah.(2) He taught reli-

gious fundamentals in the Faculty of Sharee'ah at Imaam Mu-

hammad ibn Sa'ud Islamic University in al-Qaseem. He was also a

member of the Council of Senior Scholars in Saudi Arabia.

During the final years of his life, he suffered greatly from cancer.

He undertook a trip to America for chemotherapy to alleviate his

sickness, but due to personal reasons and other circumstances, he

chose to forego the treatment and was admitted to King Faisal

SpecialistHospital in Jeddah on 3 Shawwal/30 December.

He passed away on Wednesday, the 15"th" of Shawwaal in the year

1421 A.H/10 January 2001 C.E. at the age of 74. May Allah I

have mercy upon his soul, Ameen.

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(2) The Sunnah of the Prophet r is that path which he followed. It could also

denote something established to have been practiced by the Prophet r, con-

trary to bid'ah, or innovation. At other times, it used to denote ahaadeeth.

Introduction

Judgment Day is just a blink away. We live and we die, and then

we will inevitably be resurrected. The step from death to resurrec-

tion is indeed small, but no matter how difficult death may be,

the Day of Resurrection is far worse. So what lies in between?

[أم مُعاذ]

the DEATH





by:


Ahmad ibn Roysten Boulter






Every man has a fixed period of life given to him when he is


born. This is called Qadar. We do not live longer or shorter than


this fixed period of life. When we have finished this period of life,


the Angel of Death takes the soul from our body. This is called


death.



Concerning the journey of the soul after death, the following is a


saheeh hadeeth(3) from the Messenger of Allah r.(4) He said,



When the believer is about to depart from this world and


proceed to the next, angels with faces as bright as the sun


descend from the heavens and sit around him in throngs


stretching as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of


Death comes and sist at his head and says, “Good soul,


come out to forgiveness and pleasure from Allah!”



His soul then emerges like a drop of water that flows from


a water-skin, and the angel takes hold of it. When he has


grasped it, the other angels do not leave it in his hand even


for the twinkling of an eye.



They take it and place it in a perfumed shroud, and it gives


off a fragrance like the sweetest scent of musk found on


the face of the Earth.



Then they ascend with it, and whenever they take it past a


company of angels, they ask, “Who is this good soul?” The


angels with the soul reply, “So-and-so, the son of so-and-


so,” using the best names by which people used to call him


in this world. They bring him to the lowest heaven and ask


for the gate to be opened for him.



It is opened for him, and angels who are near Allah from


each of the heavens accompany him to heaven.



Allah U says, “Register the book of my slave in 'Illiyun(5)


and take him back to Earth. I created them from it and I


return them to it, and I will bring them forth from it again.”



His soul is then returned to his body and two angels come


to him. They make him sit up and they ask him, “Who is


your Rubb.”(6)



He replies, “My Rubb is Allah.”



They ask him, “What is your religion?”



He replies, “My religion is Islam.”



They ask him, “Who is this man who was sent among


you?”



He replies, “The Messenger of Allah.”



They ask him, “How did you come to know these things?”



He replies, “I read the book of Allah, believed it, and de-


clared it to be true.”



Then a voice from on high declares, “My slave has spoken


the truth, so spread out carpets from the Garden for him


and open one of its gates!”



Then some of its fragrance and perfume reaches him, his


grave is expanded for him as far as the eye can see, and a


man in beautiful garments with a fragrant scent comes to


him and says, “Rejoice in what delights you, for this is the


day which you were promised.”



He asks, “Who are you? Yours is a face which presages


good.”



He replies, “I am your good actions.”



Then he says, “O Rubb, let the Last Hour come soon so


that I may rejoin my family and my property!”



When an unbeliever is about to depart from this world and


proceed to the next, angels with black faces descend from


the heavens carrying a rough haircloth and sit around him


in throngs stretching as far as the eye can see. Then the


Angel of Death comes and sits at his head and says, “Foul


soul, come out to the wrath and anger of Allah!”



Then his soul scatters within his body and it is dragged out


like a skewer is pulled out of a wet piece of wool. Then the


angel takes hold of it. When he has grasped it, the other


angels do not leave it in his hand even for the twinkling of


an eye. They take it and wrap it in a rough haircloth, and a


stench comes out of it like the worst stench of a corpse on


the face of the Earth.



Then they ascend with it, and whenever they take it past a


company of angels, they ask, “Who is this foul soul?” The


angels with the soul reply, “So- and-so, the son of so-and-


so,” using the worst names by which people used to call


him in this world. They bring him to the lowest heaven and


ask for the gate to be opened for him, but it is not opened.



The Messenger of Allah r then recited,



}‏لاَ تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاء وَلاَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِيَاطِ {



‘The gates of heaven will not be opened to them nor


will they enter the Garden until the camel passes


through the eye of the needle [i.e never].’


[Surah al-A'raaf (7):40]



Then Allah Uwill say, “Register his book in Sijjeen(7) in the


lowest earth.” And then his soul is flung down.



The Prophet rthen recited,



}‏وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاء فَتَخْطَفُهُ الطَّيْرُ أَوْ تَهْوِي بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ {



“Whoever associates anything with Allah, it is as


though he has fallen the sky, and the birds snatch


him away, or the wind sweeps him headlong into a


place far away.”


[Surah al-Hajj (22):31]



Thenhis soul is returned to his body and two angels come


and say to him, “Who is your Lord?”



He replies, “Alas, alas, I do not know!”



Then they say to him, “What is your religion?”



He replies, “Alas, alas, I do not know!”



Then they say to him, “Who is this man who was sent


among you?”



He replies, “Alas, alas, I do not know!”



Then a voice calls from on high, “My slave has lied, so


spread out carpets from the Fire and open one of its gates


for him!”



Then a hot blast from Hell-fire comes to him, his grave is


made so narrow for him that his ribs are pressed together,


and a man with a hideous face and clothing and a foul


odour comes to him and says, “Grieve on account of what


has brought you disgrace, for this is the day which you


were promised.”



He asks, “Who are you? Yours is a face which presages


evil.”



He replies, “I am your bad actions.”



Then he says, “O Lord, do not let the Last Hour come!”


[Abu Dawud and Ibn Maajah]


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(3) A narration of anything attributed to the prophet r, whether it be his ac-


tions, statements, affirmations, or attributes. Pl. ahaadeeth.



(4) Salla Allahu alaihi sallam: trans. ‘May Allah exalt him and grant him Peace’.



(5)The register in which the deeds of the righteous are inscribed.



(6) Rubb: usually translated as Lord, is one of the Names of Allah, the Provider


and Sustainer of all that exists.



(7)The register in which the deeds of evil people are inscribed.

[أم مُعاذ]

who is your god??

Allah Isays in His Mighty Book that He will always support His


obedient slaves:



}‏يُثَبِّتُ اللّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ وَيُضِلُّ اللّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ وَيَفْعَلُ اللّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ {



“Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word


that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on


worshipping Allah Alone and none else), and in the


Hereafter. And Allah will cause to go astray those who


are Dhaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers), and


Allah does what He wills.”


[Surah Ibraaheem (14):27]



The hadeeth below concerns the questioning in the grave which


occurs as the people depart from it after burial.



Ahmad and Abu Hatim reported that Prophet r said,



When a deceased person is laid in his grave, he hears the


sound of the footsteps of people as they depart. If he is a


believer, the salaah(8) will stand by his head, the sawm(9) will


be to his right, zakaah(10) to his left, and all other good deeds


of charity, kindness to relations, and good behaviour will be


by his feet.



The angels at his head will question the deceased. The sa-


laah will say," There is no entrance through me.”



Then he will be questioned at his right side where the sawm


will say, “There is no entrance through me.”



Then he will be questioned at his left side where the zakaah


will say, “There is no entrance through me.”



Then he will be questioned at his feet where good acts of


voluntary charity, kindness to relations, and good behav-


iour will say, “There is no entrance through me.”



Then they will say to him, “Get up,” and he will get up.


The sun will appear to him and it will begin to set.



Then they will ask, “This man who was among you, what


do you say about him? What is your testimony about him?”



The man will say, “Leave me alone until I pray!”(11)



The angels will say, “You will pray, [but first] answer our


question. What do you think about this man who was


among you? What do you say concerning him? What do


you testify concerning him?”



The deceased will say, “I bear witness that Muhammad was


the Messenger of Allah who brought the Truth from Al-


lah.”



The deceased will be told, “According to this you lived,


died, and according to this you will be resurrected, if Allah


wills.”



Then the door to Paradise will be opened for him. He will


be told, “This is your place in Paradise and what Allah has


prepared for you.”



At this, the desire and happiness of the deceased will in-


crease. His grave will be enlarged seventy arms-lengths and


his grave will light up. His body will change to its original


form and his spirit will be placed in a dangling lantern by


the trees of Paradise in a nice breeze.



The Prophet radded, “That is what is meant by the statement


of Allah,



}‏يُثَبِّتُ اللّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ وَيُضِلُّ اللّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ وَيَفْعَلُ اللّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ {



“Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word


that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on


worshipping Allah Alone and none else), and in the


Hereafter. And Allah will cause to go astray those who


are Dhaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers), and


Allah does what He wills.”


[Surah Ibraaheem (14):27]



He ralso mentioned the unbeliever and said,“His grave will


be compressed, so that his ribs will be crushed together.


About this the Qur'aan says,



}‏وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكاً وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَى {



‘But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e.


neither believes in this Qur'an nor acts on its teach-


ing), Verily, for him is a life of hardship and We will


resurrect him blind on the Day of Resurrection.’ ”


[Surah Taa Haa (20):124]



Another hadeeth depicts the consequences faced by the unbeliev-


ers. Qataadah reported on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik that


the Prophetr said,



When a human is laid in his grave and his companions re-


turn and he hears their footsteps, two angels will come to


him and make him sit up. They will ask him, “What did you


say about this man, Muhammad r?



He will say, “I testify that he is Allah’s servant and His


Messenger.”



Then it will be said to him, “Look at your place in Hellfire.


Allah has exchanged for you a place in Paradise instead of


it.”



The Prophet radded, “The dead person will see both of his


places.”



“As for a non-believer or a hypocrite, two angels will come


to him and make him sit up.



They will ask, “Who was the man who was sent on a mis-


sion among you?”



He will reply, “Alas, alas! I do not know, but I used to say


what the people used to say!”



It will be said to him, “Neither did you know, nor did you


seek guidance from those who had knowledge.”



Then a crier will call from Heaven, “He has lied, so spread


a bed for him from Hell, clothe him from it, and open one


of its doors for him.”



Then he will be hit with an iron hammer between his two


ears, and he will cry. That cry will be heard by all creation


except human beings and the Jinn. [Saheeh Bukhaari, Sa-


heeh Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood]



Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said,



“I asked Abu Abdullah about the punishment in the grave.


He replied, “These are sound ahaadeeth; we believe in them


and affirm them. We affirm everything that comes from the


Prophet r with a sound chain of narrators. If we were to


confirm a report as being from the Prophet r and then re-


ject or oppose it, we would be denying the Words of Allah,



}‏وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ {



“Whatever the Messenger of Allah gives you,


take…”


[Surah al-Hashr (59):7]



I asked him, ‘Is the punishment of the grave a reality?’



He said, ‘Yes, it is a reality. People are punished in their


graves.’



I heard Abu Abdullah saying, ‘We believe in the punish-


ment of the grave, in Munkar and Nakeer [the two ques-


tioning angels], and that the deceased will be questioned in


their graves.’”


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(8) Salaah: The prayer



(9) Sawm or Siyaam: The Fast.



(10) Zakaah: The obligatory charity due upon Muslims who meet the required


conditions.



(11) He will ask to pray because he will see that it is time for the Maghrib prayer.

[أم مُعاذ]

Barzakh(12)



Many sinful Muslim will also be punished in their graves due to


their sins and disobedience. There are several ahaadeeth, espe-


cially those concerning the ‘Night Journey’ (al-Israa'), which give


us a glimpse of the different types of punishments met out before


the Day of Judgment. The hadeeth below concerns a dream of


the Prophet r. Saamura ibn Jundub reported,



The Propher r after the prayers would turn towards us and


ask us, “Did any one of you have a dream?” If someone


had, he would relate it.



Upon hearing it, the Prophet r would say, “Whatever Al-


lah wills [comes to pass].”



One day he questioned us saying, “Did any one of you have


a dream?”



We answered, “No.”



Then the Prophet r said, “But tonight I saw two men.


They came to me.(13) They held my hand and took me to the


Holy Land. We came across a man lying down, and behold,


another man was standing over his head, holding a big


rock. Behold, he was throwing the rock at the man's head,


crushing it. The rock rolled away and the thrower followed


it and brought it back. By the time he reached the man, his


head was restored to its normal state. The thrower then did


the same as he had done before.



I asked my two companions, ‘Who are these two people?’



They said, ‘Proceed!’



So we proceeded and came to a man lying flat on his back


and another man standing over his head with an iron hook.


Behold, he would put the hook in one side of the man’s


mouth and tear off that side of his face to the back of his


neck and similarly tear his nose from front to back and his


eye from front to back. Then he turned to the other side of


the man’s face and did just as he had done with the previ-


ous sid. As soon as he tore one side, the other side re-


turned to its normal state. Then he returned to it to repeat


what he had done before.



I said to my two companions, ‘Who are these two people?’



They said to me, ‘Proceed!’



So we proceeded and saw a hole like an oven, narrow at the


top and wide at the bottom, and there was fire burning in


it. In that oven, there were naked men and women, and be-


hold! Flames of the fire were reaching them from under-


neath. When it reached them, they would be raised high un-


til they were close to the mouth of the oven. Then the fire


subsided and they went back inside it again.



I asked, ‘Who are these people?’



They said to me, ‘Proceed!’



And so we proceeded and came to a river of blood, and


behold! In the middle of the river there was a man stand-


ing, and on its bank there was another who had many


stones. The man who was in the river would try to leave,


but the other man would throw rocks into his mouth so


that he would return to where he was. Every time the for-


mer tried to leave, the latter would throw rocks into his


mouth. Then he would return to where he was.



I asked, ‘Who are these people?’



They replied, ‘Proceed! Proceed!’



We proceeded until we came to a man with a repulsive ap-


pearance- the most repulsive appearance you would ever


see in a man! Beside him there was a fire which he was kin-


dling and running around.



I asked my companions, ‘Who is this (man)?’



They said to me, ‘Proceed! Proceed!’



So we proceeded until we reached a garden of deep green


dense vegetation, bedecked with all sorts of spring ours.


In the middle of the garden there was a very tall man. I


could hardly see his head because of his great height. And


around him there were more children than I had ever seen


before.



I said to my companions, ‘Who is this?’



They replied, ‘Proceed! Proceed!’



So we proceeded until we came to a huge majestic garden,


greater and better than I have ever seen! My two compan-


ions said to me, ‘Ascend,’ and I ascended.”



The Prophet radded,



‘So we ascended until we reached a city buit of gold and


silver bricks. We went to its gate and asked the gatekeeper


to open the gate. It was opened and we entered the city.


There we found men with one side of their bodies as hand-


some as the most handsome person you have ever seen,


and the other as ugly as the ugliest person you have ever


seen.



My two companions ordered those men to throw them-


selves into the river. Behold, there was a river flowing


through the city, and its water was as white as milk. Those


men went and threw themselves in it and then returned to


us after the ugliness of their bodies had disappeared and


they turned into the best shape.”



They said to me, “This is the Jannah of 'Adn,(14) and this is


your home,” so I lifted my eyes until I saw a palace which


looked like a white cloud. They said to me, “This is your


home.”



I said, “May Allah bless you, Allow me enter my house!”



They said, “Not now, You have not completed the life of


the world.”



I said to them, “I have seen many wonders tonight. What is


the meaning of all that I have seen?”



They replied, “We will inform you. As for the first man you


came upon whose head was being crushed with the rock,


he is the example of the one who studies the Qur'aan but


then neither recites it nor acts upon it, and sleeps without


offering the obligatory prayers. As for the man you came


upon whose mouth, nostrils, and eyes were being torn off


from front to back, he is the example of the man who goes


out of his house in the morning and tells so many lies that


it spreads all over the world. As for those naked men and


women whom you saw in the oven, they are the adulterers


and the adulteresses, and the man whom you saw in the


river of blood is the usurer. As for the man by the base of


the tree, he was Abraham, and the children around him are


[Muslim] children [who died at a young age].”



The narrator added, “Some Muslims asked the Prophet r, ‘O


Messenger of Allah! What about the children of pagans?’ The


Prophet rreplied, ‘And also the children of pagans.’ ”



“And the man whom you saw near the fire, kindling it and


circling it, is Maalik, the gatekeeper of Hell.”



The Prophet radded,



My two companions explained, “The men you saw that


were half handsome and half ugly were those persons who


had mixed good deeds with evil ones, but Allah Iforgave


them.”(15) [Saheeh al-Bukhaari]


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(12) The name of the period of wait between a person’s death and the Day of


Judgment. The life of the grave.



(13) On might mistake the con**** that the Prophet’s rIsraa' [Night Journey]


and Mi'raaj [Ascension to the skies and heaven] was a dream, but in fact it was


not, as other authentic ahaadeeth state.



(14) Ibn Mas'ood, a companion of the Prophet rexplained it to be the center of


‘Jannah’, or Paradise. See Tafseer al-Qurtubi, Surah at-Tawbah (9):72.



(15) In a hadeeth related by Ahmed, the two companions revealed themselves to


be Jibreel and Meekaa'eel.

[أم مُعاذ]

Lessening the Punishment



However, there are several things which ameliorate such punish-


ment. In one hadeeth, the Prophet ris reported to have said,



“When a man dies no further reward is recorded for his actions,


with three exceptions: Sadaqah(16) and knowledge from which


benefit continues to be reaped, and the supplication of a right-


eous son for his deceased father.” [Muslim]



This punishment and torture that we will receive is inevitable, and


only those who are misled it.



When we die, we should always make sure we leave a written will


behind so that what Allah Ihas given us in this world is dis-


tributed to those in need and those to whom we are in debt, and


so we can leave this world with a clear conscience. If we cannot


find Muslims as executer of our will, then we should engage


non-Muslims.



Allah Isays in the Qur'aan



}يِا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ شَهَادَةُ بَيْنِكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ حِينَ الْوَصِيَّةِ اثْنَانِ ذَوَا عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ أَوْ آخَرَانِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الأَرْضِ فَأَصَابَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةُ الْمَوْتِ تَحْبِسُونَهُمَا مِن بَعْدِ الصَّلاَةِ فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِاللّهِ إِنِ ارْتَبْتُمْ لاَ نَشْتَرِي بِهِ ثَمَناً وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى وَلاَ نَكْتُمُ شَهَادَةَ اللّهِ إِنَّا إِذاً لَّمِنَ الآثِمِينَ{



“O believers! When death approaches any one of


you, let two just men from among yourselves act as


witnesses at the time of making your last will; or


from the non-Muslims if you are traveling through


the land and the calamity of death overtakes you. If


you doubt their honesty, detain them after prayer


and let them both swear by Allah, ‘We will not sell


our testimony for any price, even to a relative, and


we will not hide the testimony which we will be giv-


ing for the sake of Allah; for we shall be sinners if


we do so.’”


[Surah al-Maa'idah (5):106]



When a person is in his last moments, his last words before his


death should be ‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allah.’(17) If you are present at the


scene of a Muslim’s last moments, you should advise him to say


it. Do not strain him to say those words, and do not make him


repeat it unless he says something after it. It should be loud


enough that he himself can hear it. Also close his eyes in his last


moments and do not let them remain wide open.



This is an example of one Muslim whom Allah Ihelped to be


steadfast at the time of death. His name was Abu Zur'ah ar-Raazi,


one of the Imams of the scholars of ahaadeeth. Abu Ja'far


Muhammad ibn 'Ali Warraaq said:



We were with Abu Zur'ah in Shahraan, one of the villages of


Ar-Riyy, at the time of his death. Abu Haatim, Ibn Warraaq,


al-Mundhir ibn Shaadhaan and others were with him. They


remembered the hadeeth, “Tell those who are dying to say


‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allah’,” but they felt too shy to tell Abu Zur'ah


to say it. They said “Let us mention the hadeeth.” Ibn Warraaq


started by conveying the chain of narrators, “Abu 'Aasim nar-


rated on the authority of Abdul-Hameed ibn Ja'far, who told


us that Saalih…” and he started to say, “ibn Abi…” but he


could not go any further. Then Abu Haatim said, “Bandar nar-


rated on the authority of Abu 'Aasim, who told us that Abdul-


Hameed ibn Ja'far related from Saalih…” but he could not go


any further, and the rest remained silent. Then Abu Zur'ah,


whilst he was dying, opened his eyes and finished the hadeeth


by saying, “Bandar narrated on the authority of Abu 'Aasim,


who told us that Abdul-Hameed related from Saalih ibn Abi


Ghareeb, on the authority of Katheer ibn Murrah that


Mu'aadh ibn Jabal said, ‘The Messenger or Allah r said,


‘Whoever says as his last words La ilaaha ill-Allah, will enter


Paradise.’ ’ ” Then his soul departed, may Allah Ihave mercy


on him. [Siyar A'laam an-Nubalaa', 13/76-85]



This is what Allah Isays about such pious believers in the


Qur'aan,



}‏ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ {



“Verily, those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah (Alone),’


and then they stood straight (followed Islam truly),


on them the angels will descend ( at the time of their


death) (saying), ‘Fear not, nor grieve! But receive


the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been


promised!’ ”


[Surah Fussilat (41):30]



Du'aa:(18)



O Allah, make us among them. O Allah, we ask You to make us


adhere to Islam with determination and wisdom, and our final


supplication is Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.


ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ


(16) Sadaqah: Voluntary charity.



(17) Laa ilaaha ill-Allah: trans. ‘There is no true deity, beside Allah’.



(18) Du'aa: To invoke Allah. Supplication.

[أم مُعاذ]

The Trials


of


the DayofJudgment

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen

Translated by:


The Islamic Propagation office in Rabwah, Riyadh, K.S.A

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

O people! Have taqwa(19) and fear Allah I, and think about


your worldly life, the Hereafter, your life, your death, your pre-


sent and your future. Think about this worldly life, of those who


passed away from earlier generations, and also of those who will


come afterwards. Indeed, in their stories are lessons for those


who wish to benefit. They lived building this world; they had


more money, more children, were stronger and lived longer. And


after some time they were gone… as if they never existed. They


have become a part of history, and you are following in their


footsteps, and a similar fate awaits you.



You will be transferred from this worldly life to the grave, having


been in palaces. In it, you will be alone, after being happy and


gathered with family. You will be alone with your deeds… only. If


they are good, you will be in a state of well-being, and if they are


not, you will be in torment until the Day of Resurrection.



On the day when the Trumpet is blown, the dead will be raised


from their graves to the Rubb of all that exists; they will be bare-


foot without shoes, naked without clothes and uncircumcised.


The Prophet rdescribed the situation on that Day, and 'Aa'ishah


y(20) [one of the Prophet's r wives] said to him, “O Messenger of


Allah, men and women together, both looking at each other?” He


r replied, “The situation will be too severe for them to look at


each other.”(21)



The situation will be too severe for men and women to look at


each other. It will be so severe that a mother will not even think


of asking about her child, and a child will not even think of ask-


ing about his father.



}فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَلَا أَنسَابَ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَلَا يَتَسَاءلُونَ {



“Then, when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no


kinship among them that day, nor will they ask of


one another.”


[Surah al-Mu'minoon (23):101]




}‏يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَيْءٌ عَظِيمٌ * يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَى وَمَا هُم بِسُكَارَى وَلَكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ {



“O Manking, Fear you Lord! Verily, the earthquake


of the Hour (of Judgment) is a terrible thing. * The


Day you shall see it, every nursing mother will for-


get her nursling, and every pregnant one will drop


her load, and you shall see mankind as in a drunken


state, yet they will not be drunk, but severe will be


the Torment of Allah,”


[Surah al-Hajj (22):1-2]



[On that day], there will be scared hearts and eyes cast down in


shame. Records and ledgers of deeds will be unveiled. The believ-


ers will receive their book in their right hand, while the disbeliev-


ers will receive their book in their left, behind their back. Who-


ever takes his book with his right hand will say with happiness


and joy, “Come and read my book!”Whereas the one who


takes his book in his left hand will say with sadness and grief, “I


wish that I had not received my book,” and he will long for


his own destruction [before he meets punishment of Allah].



At that time, the scales will be placed and people's deeds will be


measured. Whoever had done an atom’s weight of good shall see


it, and whoever had done an atom’s weight of evil shall see it.



Allah I says in the Qur'aan,



}‏وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئاً وَإِن كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا وَكَفَى بِنَا حَاسِبِينَ{



“And We shall set up balances of Justice on the Day


of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with un-


justly in anything. And if there be the weight of a


mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are


We as Reckoners.”


[Surah al-Anbiyaa' (21) 47]



On that Day, crowds of people will appear in waves, one after the


other. They will feel tremendous fear and sadness which they will


not be able to bear. People will call out, asking for someone to


intercede for them with Allah I. They will go to the Prophets,


starting with Adam u, Nuh u (Noah), Ibraaheemu (Abra-


ham), and Musa u (Moses), and they will all apologize.(22)



After that, they will go to 'Eesaa u (Jesus) who will say, “I am


not the one that can do it. However, go to Muhammad r, a wor-


shipper whose past and future faults were forgiven.”



Then they will go to Muhammad r and he will say with pride


because of Allah's I grace, “I am the one that can.”



So he r will ask for Allah’s I permission, and he will then fall in


sujood(23) to Him. Allah I will reveal to him different ways to


praise and exalt Him, in ways no one knew before. Allah I will


allow him to remain in that position as long as He wills.



He I will then say to him, “O Muhammad, raise your head.


Speak and you will be heard, intercede and your intercession will


be accepted.”



On that Day Allah I will come to judge between His creations


and will take them to account for their deeds. He I will be alone


with His worshipper, the believer, addressing him of his sins until


he admits and confesses. Then Allah I will show His grace on


him and will tell him, “I kept your sins secret in the world and I


will forgive them for you today.”



On that day, Prophet Muhammad r will be granted the ‘Hawd


al-Mawrood’ – the pool at which some of his Ummah will gather


and drink. Its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey,


and its fragrance is better than the scent of musk. It’s measure is


one month in length and one month in width. Its s are as the


in the sky, numerous and sparkling. None but the believers


will be able to reach the Pool- the followers of the Sunnah. Who-


ever drinks from it will never feel thirst again, and the first to go


to the Pool will be the poor of the Muhaajiroon.(24)



On that Day, the sun will descend upon people until it is only a


mile away. People will be sweating according to their deeds. Some


will sweat up to their ankles, some up to their knees, some up to


their waists, and some will be submerged in sweat completely.


Allah I will shade with His Shade whomever He wills, a day on


which there will be no shade except His.



On that Day, Allah I will say, “O Adam,” who will reply, “At


your command and what pleases you, all good is in Your Hands.”


Then Allah I will say to Adam u, “Bring out the people of


Hellfire from your descendants.”



Adam u will ask, “Who are the people of Hellfire?”



Allah I will reply, “From every thousand take out nine-hundred


and ninety-nine.” At that time a child's hair will turn grey.



On that Day, the Siraat(25) will be set over the Infernal Fire. It will


be thinner than a strand of hair and sharper than a sword. Trust


and ties of kinship will be sent forth and will stand on both sides


of the Siraat, right and left. People will pass on it according to


their deeds, Some will pass like lighting, some will pass crawling


and some will be in between the fast and the slow.



Your Prophet r will be standing on the Siraat saying, “O Rubb!


Keep (them) safe.”



On the edges of the Siraat will be hanging hooks, commanded to


take those whom Allah I orders to take. Some will be safe, bear-


ing only scratches, but others will be piled in Hell.



On that Day, people will be divided into two groups, one in Para-


dise and the others in the Hell-Fire.



}‏وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَفَرَّقُونَ * فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَهُمْ فِي رَوْضَةٍ يُحْبَرُونَ * وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَلِقَاء الْآخِرَةِ فَأُوْلَئِكَ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُحْضَرُونَ{



“And on the Day when the Hour will be estab-


lished, -that Day shall (all men) be separated (i.e.


the believers will be separated from the disbeliev-


ers). * Then as for those who believed (in the


Oneness of Allah – Islamic monotheism) and did


righteous good deeds, such shall be honoured and


made to enjoy a luxurious life (forever) in the


Garden of Delight (Paradise). * And as for those


who disbelieved and belied our Ayaat (signs (proofs


from verses, revelations, evidence, lessons, Allah’s


Messenger, the Resurrection, etc.) and the Meeting


of the Hereafter, -such shall be brought forth to the


torment (in the Hell-Fire)”


[Surah Ar-Rum (30):14-16]



O worshipers of Allah I! Have taqwa and be prepared for that


day, for without a doubt it is your fate. Although this day is so


serious and frightening, it will be easy for the pious believers, for


Allah I says,



}وَكَانَ يَوْماً عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ عَسِيراً{



“.. and it will be a hard Day for the disbelievers


(those who disbelieve in the Oneness of Allah – Is-


lamic Monotheism)”


[Surah al-Furqaan (25):26]



So believein Allah I and know for sure that Allah I knows


what is in your minds, so be cautious of Him.



Du'aa:



O Allah, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, Knower of the


unseen and the seen, we ask You to make us witness that You are


Allah and that there is no true deity but You Alone, the Eternal.


The One who begets not, nor was begotten and that there is


none co-equal or comparable unto to You; You have the Majesty


and Bounty, You are the Ever-Living, the Eternal Guardian. Ease


for us the horrors of that Day and make us among the happy


ones and join us with the righteous, O Allah, the Sustainer of all


that exists.


ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ


(19) Taqwa: Having a shield between you and the wrath of Allah, by obeying


Him and fulfilling all that He ordered and avoiding all that He forbade.


(20) Radi Allahu 'anhu: trans. May Allah I be pleased with him/her.



(21) Collected by Bukhaari and Muslim.



(22) Each one will state the reason why they cannot intercede on their behalf.



(23) Sujood: Prostrating in the worship of Allah.



(24) Muhajiroon: those who migrated with the Prophetrfrom Makkah to


Madinah.



(25) Siraat: a bridge extended over Hell.

[أم مُعاذ]

Advice for Muslims



by Ahmad ibn Roysten Boulter




This booklet explains clearly what to expect on that Day on


which we will stand before our Lord in expectation and dread –


awaiting the verdict of His Judgment.



If the Day is fearsome and dreadful for the believer whose sins


are relatively few, imagine how dreadful it will be for the believer,


whose soul is weighed down by neglect of his Deen (religion).


For the unbeliever, it will be the day he loses all hope.



If you fear Allah I and hope for His reward, you may be the one


of the thousand who was not picked by Adam. And if you strive


with your mind and heart to develop ihsaan,(26) then you may one


of those who pass the Siraat like lightening.



The following are eight things we must do to receive Allah’s I


Forgiveness and Mercy:



1) Build up your good deeds; they will be a shield for


you.



2) Avoid evil deeds.



3) Do not expose your sins, nor the sins of others.



4) Follow the Qur'aan and the Sunnah closely.



5) Shun wealth, and give what wealth you have in the


way of Allah I (as Sadaqah to the poor, or in Jihad


and Da'wah).



6) Ponder on the Ayaat of Allah I, and seek to know


and do what Allah I ordains us to do.



7) Remember the past and remember the people who


disobeyed – do not tread in their footsteps.



8) Be careful about what you do – do not act thought-


lessly.



We should take advantage of the time we have on Earth as an


opportunity to prepare ourselves for death and all that comes af-


ter it. Allah I has told us throughout the Qur'an and Sunnah


how we can decrease the horrors that come after death. We can


say optional prayers, do optional fasts, give in charity, be kind to


our families, and remember Allah I with tasbeeh,(27) tahleel,(28) tak-


beer(29) and tahmeed.(30) We can also ask Allah I for forgiveness.(31)


and make du'aa frequently. Studying and reciting the Qur'aan are


also good deeds that can protect us from the punishment in the


grave and the horrors of the Day of Resurrection and Judgment.


All of these deeds along with the love and fear of Allah I will


help us all get closer to Allah I and help make us all successful in


the Hereafter.



May Allah I reward you for listening to the advice Shaykh Mu-


hammad ibn Saalih al- 'Uthaymeen has presented to you.



Ahmad ibn Roysten Boulter



(The Islamic Propagation Office in Rabwah)


12 Dhul Qa'dah 1423.


ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ


(26) Perfection of deeds, in that one knows that Allah is watching him, so he


performs them correctly.



(27) Saying ‘Subhaan Allah’ (May Allah be exalted above what the disbelievers


attribute to Him.



(28) Saying ‘La ilaaha ill-Allah’ (There is no true deity but Allah).



(29) Saying ‘Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is the Greatest).



(30) Saying ‘al-Hamdu lillaah’ (All praise and thanks be to Allah).



(31) By saying ‘Astaghfirullah’ (I seek forgiveness from Allah).