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Just lately, the news was filled with stories of the war
criminal Slobodan Milošević and how he
‘prematurely’ died without being served justice. Even if he were
convicted of his crimes by the Hague, what just punishment could possibly be
served? On the same notion, how many have been able to bribe a judge or an
entire justice system? It’s just too often that we hear of a judge or attorney
being arrested on corruption charges.
The Justice system of the Hereafter is flawless and
absolutely just. No judgment can be overturned by a jury nor can it be
influenced by any individual!
The Resurrection
The great Companion, Ibn Abbas, may God be pleased with
him, said that the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him,
said:
“You will be summoned on the Day of Resurrection
bare-footed, naked and uncircumcised.”
He then read the words of God:
“As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is]
a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it.” (Quran 21:104)
“The first person to be dressed on that day will be
Prophet Abraham.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
Aishah, the Mother of the Believers, exclaimed: “Men and
women both! Won’t they all look at each other?” The Prophet said:
“The situation they are in is so grim that they would
have no time for this!” (Saheeh Muslim)
As humankind awaits the decree of Almighty God, they
would be standing under the sun, which would be brought close to them. Al-Miqdad
b. al-Aswad, one of the Companions, said: ‘I heard the Messenger of God saying:
“The sun will be a distance of a mile from the creation
on the Day of Resurrection. People will sink in their perspiration according
to their deeds. Some would sink in their perspiration till their ankles, while
others would sink in it to their thighs and waists; yet others, would sink in
it till their mouths!”‘ (Saheeh Muslim)
If anyone of us, today, was to sweat on a sunny day,
they wouldn’t be able to wait to hit the showers… the Day of Resurrection will
be 50 000 years long. The Prophet said:
“That day will be 50 000 years long, after which a
person will be admitted into Paradise or cast into Hell.” (Abu Dawood)
Peoples’ hearts will be pounding, not knowing what would
become of them. God describes to us the horrors of that day. He says:
“On the Day you see it every nursing mother will be distracted
from that [child] she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will abort her
pregnancy, and you will see the people [appearing] intoxicated while they are
not intoxicated; but the punishment of Allah is severe.” (Quran 22:2)
Even the believers who believed in truth will be
severely worried. God says:
“And they who give what they give while their hearts are
fearful because they will be returning to their Lord.” (Quran 23:60)
Aishah, may God be pleased with her, said: “Are they
those who drink liquor, and steal?” The Prophet answered:
“No, Aishah, they are the ones who fast, pray and
give out in charity, but are fearful that their deeds would not be accepted
from them.” (Saheeh Muslim)
The Intercession
As humankind waits, some would exclaim, ‘Let us ask
somebody to intercede for us with our Lord!’ The people would then go to Adam
and say:
‘You are the father of all the people, and Allah
created you with His Own Hands, and ordered the Angels to prostrate to you, and
taught you the names of all things; so please intercede for us with your Lord,
so that He may relieve us from this place of ours.’
He would say: ‘I am not fit for this (i.e.
intercession for you).’
Adam would remember his sin and feel ashamed
thereof. He would then say, ‘Go to Noah, for he was the first Messenger, God
sent to the inhabitants of the Earth.’
He would say: ‘I am not fit for this undertaking!’
He will remember his appeal to his Lord to do what
he had no knowledge of, then he will feel ashamed thereof and would say,
‘Go to the Khalil ur-Rahman (i.e. Abraham,
the One whom God chose for His love).’
They will go to him and he will say, ‘I am not fit
for this undertaking. Go to Moses, the slave to whom God spoke (directly) and
gave him the Torah.’
So they will go to him and he will say, ‘I am not
fit for this undertaking,’ and he will mention (his) killing a person who was
not a killer, and so he will feel ashamed thereof before his Lord, and he will
say, ‘Go to Jesus, God’s Slave, His Messenger and God’s Word and a Spirit
coming from Him.’
Jesus will say, ‘I am not fit for this undertaking,
go to Muhammad the Slave of God whose past and future sins were forgiven by
God.’
Prophet Muhammad then said: ‘They will come to me
and I will proceed till I will ask my Lord’s Permission and I will be given
permission. When I see my Lord, I will fall down in Prostration and He will
let me remain in that state as long as He wishes and then I will be addressed.’
[Muhammad!] Raise your head. Ask, and your request will be granted; say, and
your saying will be listened to; intercede, and your intercession will be
accepted.’
I will raise my head and praise God with a saying (i.e.
invocation) He will teach me, and then I will intercede. He will fix a limit
for me [to intercede for] whom I will admit into the Paradise. Then I will
come back again to God, and when I see my Lord, the same thing will happen to
me. And then I will intercede and God will fix a limit for me to intercede
whom I will let into the Heavenly Abode, then I will come back for the third
time; and then I will come back for the fourth time, and will say, ‘None
remains in Hell but those whom the Quran has imprisoned [in Hell] and who have
been destined to an eternal stay in Hell.’” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
The Distribution of Records
After the agonizing wait and the Prophet’s intercession,
people’s records of deeds will be handed out. God says:
“Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he
will be judged with an easy account and return to his people in happiness. But
as for he who is given his record behind his back, he will cry out for
destruction and [enter to] burn in a Blaze.” (Quran 84:7-12)
This is further clarified by God in the following
verses:
“So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he
will say, ‘Here, read my record! Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting
my account.’ So he will be in a pleasant life – In an elevated Garden,
its [fruit] to be picked hanging near. [They will be told], ‘Eat and drink in
satisfaction for what you put forth in the days past.’ But as for he who is
given his record in his left hand, he will say, ‘Oh, I wish I had not been
given my record And had not known what is my account. I wish it [i.e., my
death] had been the decisive one. My wealth has not availed me. Gone from me
is my authority.’ [God will say], ‘Seize him and shackle him. Then into
Hellfire drive him. Then into a chain whose length is seventy cubits insert
him.’ Indeed, he did not used to believe in God, the Most Great, nor did he
encourage the feeding of the poor. So there is not for him here this Day any
devoted friend. Nor any food except from the discharge of wounds; none will
eat it except the sinners.” (Quran 69:19-37)
The Scales of Justice
Everyone’s deeds will be weighed in actual scale and if
the good outweighs the evil, they will be successful but if the opposite
happens they will be among the losers.
God says: “And We place
the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated
unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will
bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant.”
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