A simple believing servant believes in every word of Allah Ta’ala and His Messenger (peace be upon him) without any hesitation. And the aware believer seeks out all that has been proved from Allah and His Messenger, then he follows every word of Allah and His Messenger and believes in it with all his heart. Of all the things they (Allah and His Messenger) have informed, the most important is belief in the Hereafter. Certainly, it is the most significant and essential aspect of Iman (faith). No one can be a believer without it. And there are several important matters under it.
So I will inform you of valuable information about belief in the Hereafter, which will express to you the basics of believing in the Hereafter. At the same time, I will also mention reliable references for each subject. So let’s first know what belief in the Hereafter is.
What is belief in the Hereafter?
Basically, the Hereafter is the life that begins after death. It has many synonyms. Such as The last day, the life after death, the afterlife, the Day of Recompense, the Day of judgment, etc.
And Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet. (i.e. abstain from all kinds of evil and dirty talk).” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 6018]
However, the belief in the Hereafter is to believe without any hesitation in what Allah Ta’ala and His Messenger (peace be upon him) have told about the life after death. Such as – The trial of the grave, Torment, and Mercy of the grave, Resurrection, The gathering, Record of deeds, Reckoning, The scales, Cistern (Kauthar), As-Sirat (a bridge), The Intercession, Paradise and Hell, and what Allah has prepared for the inhabitants of those, etc.
And Allah Ta’ala said about the Hereafter: “O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Book which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray (from the truth).” [Surah An-Nisa, verse 136]
Why is the belief in the Hereafter important?
Because belief in the Hereafter inspires people to do good deeds. Encourages refraining from evil deeds. The one whose Iman will be stronger about the Hereafter will be more advanced in good deeds and more backward in evil deeds. And whoever will disbelieve in the Hereafter, he will usually follow his own inclinations. As a result, he will deviate from the path of Allah and will follow the path of Satan.
On the other hand,
Those who believe in the Hereafter have the hope of gaining Allah’s mercy and the fear of Allah’s punishment. And the hope of gaining Allah’s mercy motivates people to do good deeds, and the fear of Allah’s punishment keeps people away from wrongdoing and gives them strong motivation to repent for their sins. When a man begins to forsake sinful deeds, he becomes dear to Allah. And whoever becomes dear to Allah, then surely Allah will grant him success.
Allah Ta’ala said: “Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your (full) compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has succeeded. And the life of this world is nothing except for the enjoyment of delusion.” [Surah Ali ‘Imran, verse 185]
Belief in the Hereafter causes people to focus on correcting their actions, creating distaste for the lust of the world. On the other hand, those who disbelieve in the Hereafter, stay busy to rejoice in the life of this world and disregard the command of Allah, await for them the terrible end. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said:
“Indeed, those who do not expect the meeting with Me and are satisfied with the life of this world and feel secure therein and those who are heedless of My signs. For those, their refuge will be the Fire because of what they used to earn.” [Surah Yunus, verses 7 – 8]
What are the notable things of belief in the Hereafter?
There are many things of belief in the Hereafter that Allah Ta’ala and His Messenger (peace be upon him) have informed Muslims. Among them, some of the notable things are:
- The trial of the grave
- Torment and Mercy of the grave
- Resurrection
- The gathering
- The Intercession
- Record of deeds
- Reckoning
- The scales
- Cistern (Kawthar)
- As-Sirat (a bridge)
- Paradise and Hell, and what Allah has prepared for the inhabitants of these
Inshallah, I will try to describe in short the above things step by step.
The trial of the grave
In the grave, Allah Ta’ala will examine everyone through two angels. Believers, unbelievers, hypocrites, or anyone else, the angels will ask three questions each. In this regard, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
“Just now at this place, I have seen what I have never seen before, including Paradise and Hell. No doubt it has been inspired to me that you will be put to trials in your graves and these trials will be like the trials of Masih-ad-Dajjal or nearly like it. You will be asked, (And one of the three questions is) What do you know about this man (the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)? Then the believer will reply, He is Muhammad Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) who had come to us with clear evidence and guidance and so we accepted his teachings and followed him. And he is Muhammad. And he will repeat it thrice. Then the angels will say to him, Sleep in peace as we have come to know that you were a faithful believer. On the other hand, a hypocrite or a doubtful person will reply, I do not know, but I heard the people saying something and so I said it (the same thing).” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 86]
Torment and Mercy of the grave
Believers will be able to answer all the questions correctly in the grave. Verily, Allah Ta’ala will keep them steadfast in giving the right answer. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said:
“Allah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word, in worldly life, and in the Hereafter. And Allah sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allah does what He wills.” [Surah Ibrahim, verse 27]
Verily, the hypocrites, the disbelievers, the polytheists will not be able to give the correct answer to all the questions in the grave. As a result, Allah Ta’ala will punish them terribly in the grave. Pointing to this, Allah Ta’ala said:
“And if you could only see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, (saying), Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of (extreme) humiliation for what you used to say against Allah other than the truth and (that) you were, toward His verses, being arrogant.” [Surah Al-An’am, verse 93]
Resurrection and It is most important things among the belief in the Hereafter
Allah Ta’ala will put an end to all lives. Everything will vanish without Him. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said: “Everyone upon it (i.e., the earth) will perish. And there will remain the Face (Existence) of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor. So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?” [Surah Ar-Rahman, verses 26 – 28]
Then Allah Ta’ala will revive everything again. Allah Ta’ala said: “Do they not see that Allah, who created the heavens and earth and did not fail in their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yes. Indeed, He is over all things competent.” [Surah Al-Ahqaf, verse 33]
Allah Ta’ala also said: “And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on.” [Surah Az-Zumar, verse 68]
The gathering
Allah Ta’ala will gather all the creatures in one place. From Adam (A) until the Day of Resurrection, all those who came to this world will be gathered there. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said: “And there is no creature on (or within) the earth or bird that flies with its wings except (that they are) communities like you. I have not neglected in the Book a thing (Rather, I have written everything in the Lawh Mahfuz Book). Then unto their Lord, they will be gathered.” [Surah Al-An’am, verse 38]
Allah Ta’ala also said: “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 is easy for Allah.” [Surah Al-An’am, verse 38]
And Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “The people will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection on reddish white land like a pure loaf of bread (made of pure fine flour).” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 6521]
The Intercession
On the Day of Resurrection, whoever will be allowed by Allah Ta’ala to make intercession, will have the opportunity to make intercession only for the matter that Allah Ta’ala will allow for intercession. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said: “That Day, no intercession will benefit except (that of) one to whom the Most Merciful has given permission and has accepted his word.” [Surah Ta-ha, verse 109]
Allah Ta’ala will allow the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), other Prophets and the Messengers, and righteous people to intercede. Allah Ta’ala said:
“He (Allah) knows what is (presently) before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive.” [Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 28]
Record of deeds
Everyone will be given a record book of everything he has done in his life, good or bad. And everything will be clearly mentioned in that book. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said:
“And the record (of deeds) will be placed (open), and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, “Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?” And they will find what they did present (before them). And your Lord does injustice to no one.” [Surah Al-Kahf, verse 49]
“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.” [Surah Al-Haqqah, verses 19 – 22]
“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 death was the end! My wealth has not availed me. Gone from me is my authority.’ (Allah will say the angels), “Seize him and shackle him. Then into Hellfire drive him. Then into a chain whose length is seventy cubits insert him.” [Surah Al-Haqqah, verses 25 – 32]
Reckoning
Allah Ta’ala will bring to account everyone for their deeds throughout their lives. And He will give each one a just recompense. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said:
“And fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged (i.e., they will not be treated unjustly).” [Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 281]
And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Rights will be given to their due, even the hornless sheep would get its claim from the horned sheep.” [Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2420]
The scales and It is a notable thing among the belief in the Hereafter
In the Hereafter, everyone’s deeds will be measured accurately. And in this, Allah Ta’ala will not oppress anyone even by an atom’s weight. Allah Ta’ala said:
“And I place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. If there is (even) the weight of a mustard seed, I will bring it forth. And sufficient am I as an accountant.” [Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 47]
“Then as for one whose scales will be heavy (with good deeds), He will be in a pleasant life. But as for one whose scales will be light (with good deeds), His refuge will be an abyss. And what can make you know what that is? It is a Fire, intensely hot.” [Surah Al-Qari’ah, verses 6 – 11]
Cistern (Kawthar)
On the Day of Resurrection, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) will make his ummah (who have not changed or distorted the religion of Allah) drink water from the Cistern Kawthar. In this regard, Abu Huraira (RA) reported, Verily Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
“My Cistern (Kawthar) has its dimensions wider than the distance between Aila (The northernmost city in Arabia) and Aden (Port city of Yemen), and its water is whiter than ice and sweeter than the honey diluted with milk, and its cups are more numerous than the numbers of the stars. Verily I shall prevent the (specific) people therefrom just as a man prevents the camels of the people from his fountain.” They (RA) said: Messenger of Allah, will you recognize us on that day? He said: “Yes, you will have distinctive marks which nobody among the peoples (except you) will have; you would come to me with a blazing forehead and bright hands and feet on account of the traces of ablution.” [Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 247]
Verily Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) shall prevent the specific people therefrom the Cistern (Kawthar). And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has informed his Ummah about that specific people and said:
“(Some) People will be driven away from my Cistern just as stray camels are driven away. And I will call them: ‘Come here!’ But it will be said: They changed (your Sunnah) after you were gone, and they kept turning on their heels (i.e., they turned back to hypocrisy). So I will say: “Go away! Go away!” [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 4306]
As-Sirat (a bridge)
As-Sirat (a bridge) will be built over Hell, which will be thinner than hair and sharper than a sword. Everyone has to transcend it. And everyone will transcend it according to their deeds. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said:
“And there is none of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed.” [Surah Maryam, verse 71]
And Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “So they (all people) will come to Muhammad ﷺ (for intercession). He would then be permitted. Trustworthiness and kinship would be despatched, and these would stand on the right and left of As-Sirat (a bridge). And the first of you would pass with the (swiftness of) lightning. Have you not seen lightning, how it passes and then comes back within the twinkling of an eye? Then (they would pass) like the passing of the wind, then like the passing of a bird, and the hastening of persons would be according to their deeds, and your Prophet (peace be upon him) would be standing on As-Sirat (a bridge) saying:
Save, O my Lord, save. (The people would go on passing) till the deeds of the servants would be failing in strength, till a man would come who would find it hard to go along (that As-Sirat) but crawlingly. And on the sides of the Path (As-Sirat) hooks would be suspended ready to catch anyone whom these would be required (to catch). There would be those who would somehow or other succeed in traversing that Path (As-Sirat) by injured and some would be piled up in Hell.” [Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 195]
Paradise and Hell, and what Allah has prepared for the inhabitants of those
Paradise is a place where there is lasting happiness and peace. There is no pain, no sorrow, no annoyance. Allah Ta’ala said:
“Circulated among them will be plates and vessels of gold. And therein is whatever the souls desire and (what) delights the eyes, and you will abide therein eternally.” [Surah Az-Zukhruf, verse 71]
And Hell is a place where there is suffering, sorrow, and punishment. There is no happiness, no peace, no opportunity to rest. Allah Ta’ala said:
“Proceed to a shadow (of smoke) having three branches. There are no cool shade and availing not against the flame. Indeed, it throws sparks (as huge) as a fortress, As if they were yellowish (black) camels. Woe, that Day, to the deniers.” [Surah Al-Mursalat, verses 30 – 34]
For those who die as believers, Allah has ordained Paradise as a permanent abode. Allah Ta’ala said:
“Allah has promised the believing men and believing women gardens (Paradise) beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence; and Satisfaction from Allah is greater. It is that which is a great success.” [Surah Tawbah, verse 72]
And for those who die in the state of polytheists, hypocrites, disbelievers, Allah Ta’ala has fixed Hell as a permanent abode. Allah Ta’ala said:
“Allah has promised the hypocrite men and hypocrite women and the disbelievers the fire of Hell, wherein they will abide eternally. It is sufficient for them. And Allah has cursed them, and for them is an enduring punishment.” [Surah Tawbah, verse 68]
May Allah grant us Tawfiq to believe properly in the Hereafter and always stay away from the disobedience of Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). Ameen.
0 comments:
Post a Comment