Qiyamah

Yawm al-Qīyāmah ( literally: "Day of the Resurrection") 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 Majah, 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 Allah accordingly (Qur'an 74.38). Al-Qiyâmah is the 75th sura of the Qur'an.

Other names

Qiyâmah is called "Day of the Resurrection" at Qur'an 71.18. It is 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".

Overview

At a time unknown to man, but preordained (Qur'an 17.49-51, 34.28-30, 72.25-26, 79.42-44, Sahih al-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). This event is also found in Jewish eschatology, in the Jewish belief of "The Day of the Blowing of the Shofar", Yom Terua and in Ezekiel 33:6:

"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand."

All men and women fall unconscious. Muhammad is the first to awake and he sees 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 or converted to another religion are 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 believe in Allah, and are pious, 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, repent their sin and 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 is destroyed, folded. The dead rise from their graves and gather, waiting to be judged for their actions (Qur'an 11.102-7).

"And the moon is buried in darkness. And the sun and moon are joined together." (75.8-9)

This ayat is interpreted in many ways. Classical commentators Al-Jalalayn, Al-Tabari and Al-Qortobi interpret this verse as meaning that the sun and moon are joined in darkness (which Maulana Muhammad Ali interprets as a lunar eclipse), rather than physically merged together.

The Gathering

'Alameen (humankind, the Jinn, and all other living beings) are gathered upon a vast, white, featureless ground, under intense heat of the Sun overhead. They are 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 one's 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. On the other hand, 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 is so great that no one thinks to look at another's nudity. The creatures thus wait to be brought before God for their judgement. Humans are so fearful on this "day" that the prophets themselves repeatedly address God with the phrase sallim, sallim, or spare, spare — that is, "spare your followers, O God." Followers of Muhammad during his lifetime who strayed from Islam after his passing, Apostates of Islam, are engulfed in fire (Qur'an 5.117-118, Sahih Bukhari, book 55 "accounts of the prophets", number 568). Angels are fearful as some hadiths state that on this day Allah is angrier than ever before or after.

The Qu'ran mentions the duration of the day of judgement as 50,000 years (Qur'an 70.4). Maulana Muhammad Ali interprets this ayat as, "...A day of the spiritual advancement of man is spoken of as being equal to fifty thousand years to show immense vastness of that advancement. Or, the day of fifty thousand years may be the day of final triumph of Truth in the world, from the time when revelation was first granted to man."

Some believe that signs of Qiyamah have already occurred (Qur'an 42.17, 47.18, 70.6-7). People 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 intercedes on behalf of the world (Qur'an 74.48; Sahih Bukhari, book 55 "accounts of the prophets", number 555, 569). Abraham meets his father Azar whose face is 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. One sees mankind as drunken, yet the people are sober, but dreadful is 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 returns and denies he claimed he is God (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 Qiyâmah

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 artists depicting beings that have "souls", interpreted as meaning 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.

Nakir and Munkar's (two Islamic Angels) interrogation of the soul in its grave.

"Who is your (lord)?"

"What is your way of life?"

"Who is your leader?" ^{Sura 17.71}

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".

Shia use this event when presenting arguments about the Status of a Shia Imam.

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

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-Qiyâmah is taking place and will be warned that al-Qiyâmah 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, seeing it as a thick stone bridge, 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 Judgement), 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 (kufr). 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, Muhammad Ali Ibn Zubair Ali states 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

External links

Aqidah | Arabic words | Islamic eschatology | Giorno del Giudizio

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