Major Sins & Sincere Repentance (12)

CHAPTER FOUR

THE DAY OF RESURRECTION

     After we have discussed some major sins and how best we can do in the way of repentance, I think it is appropriate to say a word or two on the Day of Resurrection, or Paradise and Hell. As a matter of fact, the essence of our discussion is to try to find out how best one can do to try to avoid ending up in the Hell-Fire and, hopefully, he may be accepted into Paradise. May Allah guide us to the right path and forgive us all our sins — AMIN.

     The Day of Resurrection is the day when everyone will be brought to justice - all those who had been on the face of the Earth, from the day Adam was created to the Last Day.

     Allah says in Su'rat Ya-Si'n (Chapter 36 Verse 32), "And surely, all — every one of them will be brought before Us (32) ".(Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

وَإِن كُلٌّ۬ لَّمَّا جَمِيعٌ۬ لَّدَيۡنَا مُحۡضَرُونَ (32)

     The Su'rat continues to say in Verses 51-53, "And the Trumpet will be blown (i.e. the second blowing) and behold from the graves they will come out quickly to their Lord (51).They will say: ‘Ah! Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of sleep?‘ — (It will be said to them), ‘This is what the Most Gracious (Allah) had promised, and the Messengers spoke the truth (52). It will be no more than a single blast (Saiha), so behold! They will all be brought up before Us! (53). This Day (Day of Resurrection) ,none will be wronged in anything, nor will you be requited anything except that which you used to do (54)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for—Word).

وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَإِذَا هُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَجۡدَاثِ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ يَنسِلُونَ (51) قَالُواْ يَـٰوَيۡلَنَا مَنۢ بَعَثَنَا مِن مَّرۡقَدِنَاۜ‌ۗ هَـٰذَا مَا وَعَدَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ وَصَدَقَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ (52) إِن ڪَانَتۡ إِلَّا صَيۡحَةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ فَإِذَا هُمۡ جَمِيعٌ۬ لَّدَيۡنَا مُحۡضَرُونَ (53) فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ لَا تُظۡلَمُ نَفۡسٌ۬ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَلَا تُجۡزَوۡنَ إِلَّا مَا ڪُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ (54)

     The Day of Resurrection is explained most vividly in Su'rat AI-Waqi'ah (Chapter 56 Verses 1-11), "When the Event (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) happens — (1), and there can be no denial of its happening — (2). Bringing low (some — those who will enter Hell), exalting (others — those who will enter Paradise) (3). When the Earth will be shaken with a terrible shake (4). And the mountains will be crushed to dust (5), so that they will become floating dust particles (6). And you (all) will be in three groups (7). So those on the Right Hand (i.e. those who will be given their Record in their right hands) - how (fortunate) will be those in the Right Hand! (As a respect for them, because they will enter Paradise) (8). And those on the Left Hand (i.e. those who will be given their Record in their Left Hands) — how (unfortunate) will be those on the Left Hand! (As a disgrace for them, because they will enter Hell) (9). And those foremost [(in Islamic Faith of Monotheism and in performing righteous deeds) in the life of this world on the very first call to embrace Islam] will be foremost (in Paradise) (10). These will be the nearest (to Allah) (11), in the Gardens of Bliss (12).“ (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلۡوَاقِعَةُ (1) لَيۡسَ لِوَقۡعَتِہَا كَاذِبَةٌ (2) خَافِضَةٌ۬ رَّافِعَةٌ (3) إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ رَجًّ۬ا (4) وَبُسَّتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ بَسًّ۬ا (5) فَكَانَتۡ هَبَآءً۬ مُّنۢبَثًّ۬ا (6) وَكُنتُمۡ أَزۡوَٲجً۬ا ثَلَـٰثَةً۬ (7) فَأَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ (8)وَأَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ (9) وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ (10) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَ (11) فِى جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ (12)

     Su'rat AI-Waqi'ah (Chapter 56) continues to say in Verses 80-96, "A Revelation (this Qur'an) from the Lord of the 'Alamin'') mankind, jinn and all that exists) (80). Is it such a talk (this Qur'an) that you disbelievers deny? (81). And instead (of thanking Allah) for the provision He gives you, you deny Him by disbelief)! (82). Then why do you not (intervene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches the throat? (83).And you at the moment are looking on (84), but We (i.e. Our angels who take the soul) are nearer to him than you, but you see not (85). Then why do you not — if you are exempt from the reckoning and recompense (punishment) — (86) bring back the soul (to its body), if you are truthful? (87). Then if he (the dying person) be of the Muqarrabu'n (those brought near to Allah) (88), (There is for him) rest and provision, and a Garden of Delights (Paradise) (89). And if he (the dying person) be of those on the Right Hand, (91) then there is safety and peace (from the punishment of Allah) for those on the Right Hand (91). But if he (the dying person) be of the denying [of the Resurrection) the erring (away from the Right Path of Islamic Monotheism) (92). Then for him is an entertainment with boiling water (93), and burning in Hell-Fire (94). Verily, this is an absolute truth with certainty (95). So, glorify with praises the name of your Lord, the Most Great (96)." (Study the Noble Qur'an- Word-for-Word).

تَنزِيلٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (80) أَفَبِہَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدۡهِنُونَ (81) وَتَجۡعَلُونَ رِزۡقَكُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ تُكَذِّبُونَ (82) فَلَوۡلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلۡحُلۡقُومَ (83) وَأَنتُمۡ حِينَٮِٕذٍ۬ تَنظُرُونَ (84) وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنكُمۡ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُبۡصِرُونَ (85) فَلَوۡلَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ غَيۡرَ مَدِينِينَ (86) تَرۡجِعُونَہَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ (87) فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبِينَ (88) فَرَوۡحٌ۬ وَرَيۡحَانٌ۬ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ۬ (89) وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ (90) فَسَلَـٰمٌ۬ لَّكَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ (91) وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ (92) فَنُزُلٌ۬ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٍ۬ (93) وَتَصۡلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ (94) إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلۡيَقِينِ (95)فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ (96)

     On this Day of Resurrection, Allah tells us in the Holy Qur'an, Su'rat AI-A'ara'f (Chapter 7 Verses 44-51), "And the dwellers of Paradise will call out to the dwellers of the Fire (saying): ‘We have indeed found true what our Lord had promised us; have you also found true what your Lord promised (warned)'? They shall say: ‘Yes’. Then a crier will proclaim between them: ‘The curse of Allah is on the Dhalimu'n' (44). Those who hindered (men) from the path of Allah, and would seek to make it crooked, and they were disbelievers in the Hereafter (45). And between them will be a (barrier) screen, and on the Al-A'ra'f (a wall with elevated places) will be men (whose good and evil deeds will be equal in Scale), who would recognize all (of the Paradise and Hell people), by their marks (the dwellers of Paradise by their white faces and the dwellers of Hell by their black faces). And they will call out to the dwellers of Paradise, 'Sala'mun AIaikum' (peace be on you), and at that time they (men on Al-A‘raf) will not yet have entered it) Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it) with certainty (46). And when their eyes will be turned towards the dwellers of the Fire, they will say: ‘Our Lord! Place us not with the people who are Dha'limu'n (the wrong-doers') (47). And the men on Al-A'raf (the wall) will call unto the men whom they would recognize by their marks, saying: ‘Of what benefit to you were your great numbers (and hoards of wealth), and your arrogance (against Faith)?’ (48). Are they those, of whom you swore that Allah would never show them Mercy. (Behold! It has been said to them): ‘Enter Paradise, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve" (49). And the dwellers of the Fire will call to the dwellers of Paradise: ‘Pour on us some water or anything that Allah has provided you with’. They will say: ‘Both (water and provision) Allah has forbidden to the disbelievers (50). ‘Who took their religion as an amusement and play, and the life of the world deceived them.‘ So this Day We shall Forget them as they forgot their Meeting of this Day, and as they used to reject Our Aya't (Signs) (51). (Study the Noble Qur'an— Word-for-Word).

وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ أَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ أَن قَدۡ وَجَدۡنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّ۬ا فَهَلۡ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمۡ حَقًّ۬ا‌ۖ قَالُواْ نَعَمۡ‌ۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنُۢ بَيۡنَہُمۡ أَن لَّعۡنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (44) ٱلَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبۡغُونَہَا عِوَجً۬ا وَهُم بِٱلۡأَخِرَةِ كَـٰفِرُونَ (45) وَبَيۡنَہُمَا حِجَابٌ۬‌ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡأَعۡرَافِ رِجَالٌ۬ يَعۡرِفُونَ كُلاَّۢ بِسِيمَٮٰهُمۡ‌ۚ وَنَادَوۡاْ أَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ أَن سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ‌ۚ لَمۡ يَدۡخُلُوهَا وَهُمۡ يَطۡمَعُونَ (46) ۞ وَإِذَا صُرِفَتۡ أَبۡصَـٰرُهُمۡ تِلۡقَآءَ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلنَّارِ قَالُواْ رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا مَعَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (47) وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡأَعۡرَافِ رِجَالاً۬ يَعۡرِفُونَہُم بِسِيمَٮٰهُمۡ قَالُواْ مَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنكُمۡ جَمۡعُكُمۡ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ (48) أَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَقۡسَمۡتُمۡ لَا يَنَالُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِرَحۡمَةٍ‌ۚ ٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ لَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ تَحۡزَنُونَ (49) وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ أَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ أَنۡ أَفِيضُواْ عَلَيۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَآءِ أَوۡ مِمَّا رَزَقَڪُمُ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (50) ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ دِينَهُمۡ لَهۡوً۬ا وَلَعِبً۬ا وَغَرَّتۡهُمُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۚ فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ نَنسَٮٰهُمۡ ڪَمَا نَسُواْ لِقَآءَ يَوۡمِهِمۡ هَـٰذَا وَمَا ڪَانُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجۡحَدُونَ (51)

     This is the Day of Judgement, which so many people, (the A'ad, the Thamud, the people of Noah and of Lot, as well as those of the present time), either deny or take little heed of. This is the Day when there will be no denial of the truth, and when all human beings will receive their judgement for what they have done during their short stay on Earth.

     How pitiful that this life, so insignificant compared to the eternal life in the Hereafter, produces so much evil to make us suffer forever and ever, without an end, in the Next Life! If only we could do what the Holy Qur'an tells us — if we could avoid the major sins, the minor sins would take care of themselves.The following Su'rat Az-Zumar (Chapter 39 verses 70-74), explains that the fate for all human beings, good and bad, is decided after the Final Judgement, on the Day of Resurrection.

     "And each person will be paid in full of what he did; and He is Best Aware of what they do (70). And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups till when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened (suddenly like a prison at the arrival of the prisoners). And its keepers will say: ‘Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Verses of your Lord and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours? They will say: ‘Yes,’ but the word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers! (71). It will be said (to them): ‘Enter you the gates of Hell, to abide therein. And (indeed) what an evil abode of the arrogant! (72). And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups till when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: 'SaIa'mun Alaykum' (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein forever‘ (73). And they will say: ‘All the praises and thanks be to Allah Who has fulfilled His promise to us and has made us inherit (this) land. We can dwell in Paradise where we will; how excellent a reward for the (pious, good) workers!‘ (74)." (Study the Noble Qur‘an — Word-for-Word).

وَوُفِّيَتۡ كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ۬ مَّا عَمِلَتۡ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا يَفۡعَلُونَ (70) وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا‌ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا فُتِحَتۡ أَبۡوَٲبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ رُسُلٌ۬ مِّنكُمۡ يَتۡلُونَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكُمۡ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمۡ لِقَآءَ يَوۡمِكُمۡ هَـٰذَا‌ۚ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنۡ حَقَّتۡ كَلِمَةُ ٱلۡعَذَابِ عَلَى ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (71) قِيلَ ٱدۡخُلُوٓاْ أَبۡوَٲبَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا‌ۖ فَبِئۡسَ مَثۡوَى ٱلۡمُتَڪَبِّرِينَ (72) وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوۡاْ رَبَّہُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا‌ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتۡ أَبۡوَٲبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَا سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ طِبۡتُمۡ فَٱدۡخُلُوهَا خَـٰلِدِينَ (73) وَقَالُواْ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى صَدَقَنَا وَعۡدَهُ ۥ وَأَوۡرَثَنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ نَتَبَوَّأُ مِنَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ حَيۡثُ نَشَآءُ‌ۖ فَنِعۡمَ أَجۡرُ ٱلۡعَـٰمِلِينَ (74)

Reference:

Major Sins & Sincere Repentance, by Abdullah Amor Al-Marhuby, pg: 174-182.