Qiyamah

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Yaum al-Qiyâmah (يوم القيامة; literally: "Day of the Resurrection" (Qur'an 71.18), also known as "the Hour (Qur'an 31.34, 74.47)," "Day of the Account," (Qur'an 72.130 "Day of the Gathering," "Day of the Reckoning," "Day of Distress," (Qur'an 74.9) and the "Great Announcement") is the Arabic name for the Last Judgement. Belief in Qiyâmah is part of Aqidah and is a fundamental tenet of faith in Islam. The trials and tribulations of Qiyâmah are detailed in both the Qur'an and the Hadith, as well as in the commentaries of the Islamic expositors and scholarly authorities such as al-Ghazali, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Maja, Muhammad al-Bukhari, and Ibn Khuzaimah who explain them in detail. Every human, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, is held accountable for his or her deeds and are judged by God accordingly (Qur'an 74.38).

Contents

Overview

At a time unknown to man, but preordained (Qur'an 17.49-51, 34.28-30, 72.25-26, 79.42-44, Sahih Bukhari, book 2 "book of faith", number 47), when people least expect it, Allah will give permission for the Qiyâmah to begin. The archangel Israfil, referred to as the Caller, will sound a horn sending out a "Blast of Truth" (Qur'an 50.37-42, 69.13-18, 74.8, 78.18) (comparable to the Jewish belief in "The Day of the Blowing of the Shofar", Yom Terua). All men and women will fall unconcious. The first to awake will be Muhammad who will see Moses, who may or may not have awoken prior, holding up the Throne of Allah at the mountain of Tur (Sahih Bukhari, book 55 "accounts of the prophets", numbers 610, 620, 626.) Those who distorted or ignored the Qur'an will be engulfed in hellfire (Qur'an 2.174-6, 72.4, 72.15, 73.12, 74.26-27, 74.42-46, 79.36-39). On the other hand, those who truly believed in Allah, referred to as Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjalun (Sahih Bukhari, book 4 "Ablution", number 133; 138 in another edition) due to the trace of ritual ablution performed during their lives, will repent their sin and will return to "the Garden beneath which rivers flow," (Qur'an 58.21, 61.2, 64.9, 65.11, 66.8-11, 68.17-32, 69.21-24, 70.32-38, 71.12, 74.40, 76.12-14, 78.32, 79.40-41, 80.28-31, 85.11, 88.8-11). The world will be destroyed, or folded, the dead will rise from their graves and will gather, waiting to be judged for their actions (Qur'an 11.102-7). The ayat "And the moon is buried in darkness. And the sun and moon are joined together," (75.8-9) can be interpreted in many ways. The classical commentators Al-Jalalayn, Al-Tabari and Al-Qortobi explain this verse as meaning that the sun and moon are joined in being darkened (which may be a possible reference to a lunar eclipse), rather than truly merged together.

The Gathering

Alamin (humankind, the Jinn, and all other living beings), will be gathered upon a vast, white, featureless ground, under the intense heat of the Sun overhead. They will be naked, uncircumcised and crowded together to the point where some are submerged in their own sweat, as in the beginning of creation (Qur'an 21.104, Sahih Bukhari, book 55 "accounts of the prophets", number 656; Qur'an 5.117-118). The degree to which one is submerged in sweat depends on the extent of his or her piety and goodness. The faces of those who practiced good adab by following the Five Pillars of Islam in their daily lives are nadirah, shining and radiant, whereas the faces of disbelievers are basirah, dark, sad and frowning (Qur'an 75.22-24). Despite being unclothed the anxiety and fear of the situation will be so great that no one would think to look at another's nudity. The creatures thus wait to be brought before God for their judgement. Humans will be so fearful on this "day" that the prophets themselves will repeatedly address God with the phrase sallim, sallim, or spare, spare — that is, "spare your followers, O God," and followers of Muhammad during his lifetime who strayed from Islam after his passing will be engulfed in fire (Qur'an 5.117-118, Sahih Bukhari, book 55 "accounts of the prophets", number 568). Even the angels are fearful, as some hadiths state that on that day, Allah will be angrier than he has been or ever will be.

The Qu'ran mentions the duration of the day of judgement as 50,000 years (Qur'an 70.4) and that it may have already begun (Qur'an 42.17, 47.18, 70.6-7). People will beseech the prophets to intercede on their behalf, first Abraham, then Moses, then Adam, and finally Noah, all of whom decline to do so and instead point to the prophet Muhammad, who will intercede behalf of the world (Qur'an 74.48; Sahih Bukhari, book 55 "accounts of the prophets", number 555, 569). Abraham will meet his father Azar whose face will be basirah. When Abraham demands that his father not be disgraced he is informed that on this day no one is above reproach (Sahîh al-bokhârî, book 55 "accounts of the prophets", number 581). Abraham finds a blood-stained Dhabh beneath his feet and throws him into Jahannam.

Other notable relatives who are among those cast into Jahannam include the wives of Noah (Nuh) and Lut (Qur'an 66.10). When Lut and his family left Sodom and Gomorrah, his wife disobeyed the commands of the two angels not to look back at the burning city, thus she is not among Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjalun.

Adam is ordered by Allah to bring all of those who rejected Islam to Jahannam. He asks how many he should bring and Allah answers, "From every one thousand, take out nine-hundred-and ninety-nine." At that time children will become hoary headed (Qur'an 73.12), previously healed wounds will reappear (Sahih Bukhari, book 4 "Ablution", number 238), every pregnant female will have a miscarriage, and one will see mankind as drunken, yet they will be sober, but dreadful will be the Wrath of God (Qur'an 69.47, Sahih Bukhari, book 55 "accounts of the prophets", number 567.)

Rejection of false Gods

Idols will assert that only God is Lord, and that they were wrongfully worshipped. The Qur'an and Hadith state that the prophet Jesus will return and will deny he claimed he was Lord (Qur'an 43.61). In regard to idolatry, Muhammad said, "If any religious man dies amongst those people they would build a place of worship at his grave and make these pictures in it. They will be the worst creature in the sight of God on the Day of Resurrection," (Sahih Bukhari, book 8 "Prayers", number 409 (419 in the USC MSA database.)

Personification in Qiyamah

The personification of objects that are not normally considered anthropomorphic is a recurrent motif in Kalam (Islamic theology) regarding the wa'dul akhirati (afterlife). For instance, artists who depict living creatures are tormented by their creations. Allah infuses each with a soul due to the Islamic prohibition against aristists depicting beings that have "souls," interpreted as meaing all mammals including humans. In the grave one faces either a reassuring man (his or her good deeds), or a foul-looking creature (his or her sins) (Qur'an 82.4). Again, this recurs in the subject of the Qiyâmah. For instance, the Qu'ran appears as an anthropomorphic being that greets those who loved it in their lives and offers them some solace. In the same vein, accounts in primary Islamic literature mention that at some point (perhaps after creatures are confined to either paradise (al-firdaus) or hell) Death will be brought forth and slain, and a proclamation that there is no more death will be sounded.

Barzakh

Barzakh is a sequence that happens after death, in which the archangel Azrael with the help of other less significant angels will separate the soul from the body, either harshfully or painlessly depending on how righteous the person was during their lifetime (Qur'an 79.1-2). Three main events take place chronologically which constitute the Barzakh sequence:

  • The separation of the soul and the body.
"Who is your Lord?"
"What is your way of life?"
"Who is your Prophet?"
  • The "Waahsh" or the horror of the grave, the pressure of the grave depending on whether the person was righteous or not.

Muhammad referred to the interrogation as, "...the worst hours of a man's life".

Al-Kawthar

Believers will be led by the prophet Muhammad to a vast basin or lake-fount called al-kawthar الكوثر, where their thirst will be sated with a white-colored drink that tastes like sweetened milk. Whosoever drinks it, never thirsts thereafter. In one hadith al-kawthar is said to be a river of paradise (al-Bukhari, book 76, hadith 583.) Sahih Bukhari, in book 76 (the book of tenderness), the chapter on the basin contains at least 14 hadiths regarding it.

"Seeing" Allah

Islam also addresses the question of whether believers will be able to see Allah on that day. According to one or more Hadith classified as sahîh (trustworthy), God will reveal a "leg" or "shin" for the believers. According to Imam Muslim and Muhammad al-Bukhari believers will not see Allah until they have died. Again, classical commentators, with the notable exception of Ibn Taymiya, prefer the safe route of interpreting that Hadith as neither literal (haqiqi) nor figurative, but most if not all agree that it answers the question in the affirmative; believers will see God. Another Hadith states that believers will be able to see their Lord, just as we are able to see the sun or the moon in the sky. When God reveals Himself to the faithful, a Hadith states that those who during their life would not pray of their own free will will be made to fall on their backs.

Since most of those hadith are on the authority of Abu Huraira, most Shia dismiss them as a sad examples of what happens when all Sahaba are counted as trustworthy: A clear breach in Tawhid, the belief that God is above its creation.

Judgement

During judgement, a man's or a woman's own book of deeds will be opened, and they will be apprised of every action they did and every word they spoke (Qur'an 54.52-53). Actions taken during childhood are not judged. The account of deeds is so detailed that the man or woman will wonder at how comprehensive the account is, that even minor and trivial deeds are included. When the Hour is at hand, some will deny that al-Qiyamah is taking place and will be warned that al-Qiyamah precedes the Day of Pining (distress) (Qur'an 30.55-57, 19.39). If one denies a deed he or she committed, or refuses to acknowledge it, his or her body parts will testify against him or her.

Throughout judgement, however, the underlying principle is that of a complete and perfect justice administered by God. The accounts of judgement are also replete with the emphasis that God is merciful and forgiving, and that mercy and forgiveness will be granted on that day insofar as it is merited.

This is similar to some Protestant theologies that state that salvation is by the grace of God, and not by deeds. Islam, however, emphasizes that grace does not conflict with perfect justice.

Animals are also judged, but separately, and they are avenged from humans and other animals. They are then made to perish. The animals (or other creatures) in paradise are thus different than the animals of our world.

There is indication also that nations are collectively called to account for their deeds. And there are Hadiths that indicate that on judgement day people are made to join the races or communities with which they associated themselves, which points to a definition of society in ideological — not racial — terms.

Jahannam and Jannah

After judgement all men and women are made to cross over a deep abyss, whence the flames of Jahannam (Hell) leap up, on al-Sirât (الصراط), a thorny bridge so thin that it cannot be seen. The believers and those destined for Jannah are able to cross quickly and safely, whereas others fall off this hair-thin bridge into hell.

Concerning the matter of reward or Heaven (paradise) and Hell (punishment), there is the subject of the Intercession (الشفاعة). Hadiths classified as sahih state that the prophet Muhammad will be allowed to intercede on behalf of all of mankind, as opposed to the prophets who preceded him who were only able to appeal to nations (Sahîh al-bukhari, book 7 "Tayammum (rubbing hands and feet with dust)", number 331.) Furthermore, a believer will be allowed to plead for members of his family and for his loved ones. Throughout the discourse regarding the ultimate destiny, the consistent tenet is that being sent to paradise or to hell is a matter in God's hands alone (or, in Christian parlance, a matter determined by grace). God is thus the ultimate arbiter and qadi (judge) as to who remains in hell and who is rescued.

Redemption

In one Hadith, it is related that after the Intercession of the prophet Muhammad, God himself intercedes, repeatedly ordering his angels to fetch out of hell any who sincerely professed the Shahada (Sahih Bukhari, book 3 "book of learning or knowledge", number 97 (98 in another edition)) until the angels are ordered to return and find anyone with even an atom's measure of goodness in his or her heart. Those who have worshipped false gods, or have participated in idol worship are not rescued from hell and instead remain there eternally. After the Intercession, life resumes, either in paradise or in hell.

The Mahdi and ad-Dajjal

The coming of the Mahdi (also Mehdi or Mihdi and meaning "the guided one"), which precedes the Second Coming of Jesus, triggers the redemption of Islam and the defeat of its enemies. The exact nature of the Mahdi differs between Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims, but both agree that Jesus and the Mahdi work together to fight evil in the world and to cement justice on Earth.

"Even if the entire duration of the world's existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before Doomsday (Day of Judgment), Allah will expand that day to such a length of time, as to accommodate the kingdom of a person out of my Ahlul Bayt who will be called by my name. He will then fill out the earth with peace and justice as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny before then."

Sahih Tirmidhi, V2, P86, V9, P74-75.

The Mahdi comes from Mecca and rules from Damascus, Syria. Jesus will defeat ad-Dajjal (literally: liar; the false Messiah or antichrist,) and then shall live on Earth for many years. According to some traditions Jesus will get married and have a family, and then die. Throughout history many have claimed Mahdiship; most notably Syed Mohammad Jaunpuri, Siyyid Mírzá 'Alí-Muhammad, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Muhammad Ahmad, Mohammed bin Abdullah, and Juhayman ibn-Muhammad ibn-Sayf al-Utaibi.

The Dajjal is physically misshapen, and blind in one eye. He deceives the faithful, teaching them that Jannah is Jahannam and vice versa through his power to work miracles. Upon his head are the Arabic letters kaf, fa and ra (kafir). He will revive the dead, and claim to be a god. Some traditions of Islam relate that he will appear at Isfahan, and that he will rally Jews to his support. However, that is not necessarily a majority view.

Muhammad asked his followers to recite the first and last ten verses of Chapter 'The Cave' as protection from the Dajjal. These ayat deal with the beliefs and activities of the Christian nations. He also taught his followers to pray, "O Allah! I seek refuge in Thee from the trial of the Dajjal." He also said, There is no tribulation greater than that of the Dajjal from the creation of Adam to the day of resurrection.

Mark of the Beast

In the text, Signs of Qiyamah, it is redacted by Muhammad Ali Ibn Zubair Ali that after the arrival of the Enlightened One, Imam Mahdi, "the ground will cave in, fog or smoke will cover the skies for forty days (ayah). A night three nights long will follow the fog. After the night of three nights, the sun will rise in the west. The Beast of Earth shall emerge. The beast will talk to people and mark the faces of people. A breeze from the south shall cause sores in the armpits of Muslims which they will die from. The Qur'an will be lifted from the hearts of the people."

Afterwards, the Imam "... will create a world state ... He will teach you simple living and high thinking. With such a start he will establish an empire of Allah in this world. He will be the final demonstration and proof of Allah's merciful wish to acquaint man with the right ways of life."

Sources

  • The Qur'an
  • al-Bukhari, Sahih Bukhari (hadith collection)
  • fath al-bârî fî sharh sahîh al-bukhârî (hadith collection)
  • Al-Ghazâli, Ihya' `Olôm al-dîn (Revival of religious sciences)
  • Signs of Qiyamah

See also

External links

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