Alhamdulillah, surely all praises are for Allah Ta’ala who has indeed blessed us with so many favours and who continues to be very kind and merciful to us at every moment of our lives. In many places of the Holy Quraan, Allah Ta’ala has warned us about a dreadful day which is fast approaching us. A day which is so long that Allah mentions in the Holy Quraan “Its duration is one thousand years of that which you count (in this world)” (32:5).

This day is known as the Day of Judgement and it is given this name because on that Day everyone will be in the Court of Allah and they will have to answer to Allah regarding what they did during their short stay in this world.

In a tradition, the Prophet (S.A) said, “On the Day of Judgement, the feet of the son of Adam will be powerless to move away (from the place of Reckoning) until he is questioned about five matters (and gives a reasonable account): (1) on what he spent his life, (2) in what pursuits he passed his youth, (3) from where did he obtain his wealth, (4) on what did he spend it, and (5) what he did regarding the knowledge he possessed”. (Tirmizi)

My dear readers let us ask ourselves, can we give a satisfactory answer right now to these questions? If we cannot answer these questions while we are alive now then it will surely not become any easier on the Day of Judgement. Normally when people are advised about the Day of Judgement, they see it as being something very far from them. They think it is very far but yet it is very close to them. Allah Ta’ala himself says, “Certainly they see it as being far away but We see it as being very close” (70: 6-7).

Allah Ta’ala and His Messenger (S.A) has informed us about what will happen at the ending times of this world and also what will happen on the Day of Judgement. The trumpet will be blown for the first time to bring an end to this world and it will be sounded again to begin the Day of Judgement. Allah Ta’ala says “The trumpet shall be resounded and behold everyone will come out from their graves running towards their Lord. They will be saying ‘Woe unto us, who has awaken us from our resting place.’ (It will be said to them) “This is what Ar-Rahman (Allah) had promised you and the Messengers had spoken the truth about it” (36: 51-52).

When the trumpet is sounded for the resurrection on the Day of Judgement, everyone will come out of their graves. They will be in total darkness but the believers will have a light which will be in front of them. The disbelievers and the hypocrites will be in deep darkness. The entire earth at that time will be leveled out into one flat plain. On that Day, eight angels would be carrying the throne of Allah, and when it arrives in the plain of the gathering, darkness will be removed and the entire earth will shine because of the Noor (light) of Allah as the Holy Quraan mentions “And the earth will shine with the Noor of its Lord” (39: 69). When this happens, then the books (of deeds) will be brought forward. Everyone will be given their book of deeds to read. Those who had believed in Allah and obeyed His Laws will be given their book in their right hand to their extreme joy and happiness. As for those who had disbelieved in Allah and disobeyed His Laws, they will be given their book in their left hand, behind their back to their extreme regret and sorrow.

Allah Ta’ala Himself informs us about this in the Holy Quraan: “As for the one who will be given his book (of deeds) in his right hand, he will be saying ‘Ah! Come read my book, I always knew that my account would reach me today. He will be in happiness, in a high Jannah (garden) wherein the fruits (will be hanging) low and near. (It will be said to him) “Eat and drink to your full satisfaction because of the (good) you have sent before you in the past days (of the world).”

And as for the one who will be given his book (of deeds) in his left hand, he will say “Ah! I wish I had never received this book (today) and that I never knew how my account (stood). Ah! I wish death had made the end of me. My wealth is of no benefit to me; my power has perished from me”. (Allah will command the angels) “Seize him, tie him with seventy cubits of chain, then pelt him in the Blazing fire. He did not believe in Allah the Most High”. (69:19-33)

The Prophet (S.A) in many traditions has informed us about the severity of the Day of Judgement. According to a tradition recorded by Imams Bukhari, Muslim and Tirmizi, Abdullah bin Abbas (R.A.) narrates that once the Prophet (S.A.) delivered a khutba (sermon) in which he said, “O people! On the Day of Judgement you shall be risen up walking towards your lord naked and bare footed and the first to be given a garment to wear shall be Ibraheem (A.S.)” Upon hearing this, Aisha (R.A.) asked, “O Messenger of Allah, shall all men and women be naked looking at each other?” The Prophet (S.A.) said, “On that day everyone shall be engrossed and overcome with such worry and anxiety that they shall find no time to look at each other, their glances shall be cast upwards.”

The Day of Judgement is indeed a very frightful and harsh day. People will be worried about what will happen to their own souls and they will be running away from the ones whom they had loved so much in this world. In fact, the wrong doers and disbelievers would want to set their own friends and relatives as ransom so that they can be saved from the punishments of that Day but Allah Ta’ala will never be unjust to anyone. Let us start preparing ourselves for this Dreadful Day so that, Insha Allah, we will be saved from its punishments and we will be able to give a satisfactory answer to the five questions which we will be asked. May Allah Ta’ala through His Infinite Mercy make us from amongst those who will receive their book of deeds in their right hand and from amongst those who will enter His Jannah. Ameen