5. Belief in the Last Day

One must believe that the life of this world will come to an end. Allah (SWT) says:

Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish. [55:26]

When Allah wills this world to come to an end, Allah will order Angel Israafeel to blow the Trumpet. At that point, everything on Earth will perish. Then, He will order him to blow it again, and upon that, all people will rise from their graves in their bodies, all over the world, from the time of Adam (AS). Allah says:

And the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth will collapse and die, except him whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown a second time and behold, they will be standing, looking on (waiting). [39:68]

 Belief in the Last Day constitutes belief in everything that Allah and His Messenger, may Allah praise him, has informed us about.

[1] To believe in the life of the Barzakh: The Barzakh denotes the time after one’s death until the Last Day. In it, the believer will live a life of pleasure, while the disbelievers will be punished. Allah (SWT) says:

The Fire; they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon, and on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the Angels): ‘Make Pharaoh’s people enter the severest torment![40:46] [2] To believe in Resurrection: Allah will resurrect mankind, naked, barefooted, and uncircumcised. Allah (SWT) says:

The disbelievers claim that they will never be resurrected. Say: Yes! By my Lord, you will certainly be resurrected, then you will be informed of what you did, and that is easy for Allah.[64:7]

Due to the fact that many do not believe that Allah will resurrect all of creation, the Qur’an affirms this fact by striking many examples. Of these examples are the following:

• Contemplating how Allah brings dead earth to life and sprouts therein all types of plants. Allah (SWT) says:

And you see the earth barren, but when We send down water on it, it is stirred to life], it swells and puts forth every lovely kind [of growth]. That is because Allah, He is the Truth, and it is He Who gives life to the dead, and it is He Who is Able to do all things. And surely, the Hour is coming, there is no doubt about it, and certainly, Allah will resurrect those who are in the graves.[22:5-7]

• Pondering over the creation of the heavens and earth which is indeed greater than the creation of humans. Allah (SWT) says:

Do they not see that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and was not wearied by their creation, is Able to give life to the dead? Yes, He surely is Able to do all things. [46:33]

• Reflecting on how a person wakes up after sleep, which is similar to resurrection after death. This is why sleep is called `the lesser death’. Allah (SWT) says:

It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply [39:42]

• Pondering over his own creation. Allah (SWT) says:

And he (man) puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. He says: ‘Who will give life to these bones when they have rotted away and became dust?’ Say: ‘He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation!‘ [36:78-9]

 [3] To believe in the Gathering: Allah will gather all creation together and call them to account. Allah (SWT) says:

And [remember]) the Day We shall cause the mountains to pass away , and you will see the earth as a leveled plain, and we shall gather them all together so as to leave not one of them behind. [18:47] [4] To believe that people will be brought before Allah in ranks: Allah (SWT) says:

And they shall be brought before your Lord, standing in ranks: Now certainly you have come to Us as We created you at first. Nay, you thought that We had not appointed to you a time of the fulfilment of the promise. [18:48]

 [5] To believe that one’s limbs will bear witness. Allah (SWT) says:

Till, when they reach it (Hellfire), their hearing (ears) and their eyes, and their skins will testify against them as to what they used to do. And they will say to their skins, `Why do you testify against us?’ They will say: ‘Allah has caused us to speak, He causes all things to speak: and He created you the first time, and to Him you are made to return.’ And you have not been hiding yourselves (in the world), lest your ears, and your eyes, and your skins testify against you; but you thought that Allah knew not much of what you were doing.[41:20-2] [6] To believe in the Questioning. Allah (SWT) says:

But stop them; verily they are to be questioned. ‘What is the matter with you? Why do you not help one another (as you used to do in the world)?’ Nay, but that Day they shall surrender. [33:40]

 [7] To believe in the Siraat (Bridge) over Hell, which everyone must pass over. Allah (SWT) says:

 There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is with your Lord a Decree which must be accomplished. [19:71] [8] To believe in the weighing of deeds. Allah will call people to account and reward those who did well with what they deserve, due to their righteous deeds, their belief and adherence to their Messengers, and will punish those who did evil. Allah (SWT) says:

And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We to take account. [21:47] [9] To believe in the handing out of Scrolls and Books. Allah (SWT) says:

Then, as for him who will be given his Record in his Hen hand, He surely will receive an easy reckoning. And he will return to his family in joy! But whosoever is given his Record behind his back. He will invoke (his) destruction. And he shall enter a blazing Fire and made to taste its burning. [84:7-12]

10] To believe that people will be rewarded with Paradise or Hellfire in an everlasting and eternal life. Allah (SWT) says:

Verily those who disbelieve from among the people of the Book and the pagans will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures. Verily, those who believe and do righteous deeds, they are the best of creatures. Their reward with their Lord is the Paradise of Eden, underneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever. Allah will be pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord.[98:6-8] [11] To believe in the prophetic reservoir’, intercession, and all other things of which the Messenger of Allah (SWT) informed us .

The Benefits of Belief in the Last Day

Through belief in Last Day, we benefit in the following ways:

[1] It makes one prepare himself for that Day by performing good deeds, and competing therein, and abstaining from sinful acts and fearing His punishment,

[2] It comforts the believers; since they know if they forgo something in this world, Allah rewards them with something better in the Hereafter.

[3] To distinguish the believers who are truthful in their faith from those who are not.

To be continued…