The land Of Promise

When Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, resurrects people many scenes shall pass, which Allah has narrated to us in the Noble Qur’an. Nonetheless, what is stated in the Noble Qur’an are only examples that clarify to us what shall happen. But all the events are within the Knowledge of Almighty Allah, Alone.

The first of these events on the Day of Resurrection is that it shall come suddenly upon us all. Even the dead people who knew their destination and have seen what we do not see, do not know when resurrection shall happen. They shall be surprised by it just as the living on the face of the earth shall be at the time of resurrection.

Thus, the Last Hour [of Resurrection] comes upon the living and the dead unexpectedly. Neither the dead people know the time of the Day of Resurrection nor the living, nor the Jinn. Even the angels who are close to Allah – Angel Jibrîl (Gabriel) peace be upon him – do not know the time of resurrection. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, has kept the knowledge of resurrection with Him Alone.

‘Umar bin Al-Khattâb (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “One day we were sitting in the company of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) when there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothes, his hair extremely black. There were no signs of travel on him. None amongst us recognized him. At last he sat with the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) rested his knees on his knees, placed his palms on his thighs and said: “O Muhammad, inform me about Islam?” He (the Prophet) said: “Islam is to testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and to offer prayers perfectly, pay Zakah (compulsory charity), observe fast during the month of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the House if you are able to find thereto a way.” He (the inquirer) said: “You have told the truth.” He (‘Umar bin Al-Khâttab) said: “It amazed us that he would put the question and then he would himself verify the truth.” He (the inquirer) said: “Inform me about faith?” He (the Prophet) said: “To believe in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Last Day, and to believe in the Divine Decree, the good of it and the evil.” He (the inquirer) said: “You have told the truth.” He (the inquirer) said: “Inform me about Ihsân (perfection and sincerity in worship)?” He (the Prophet) said: “To worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He, verily, sees you.” He (the enquirer) said: “Inform me about the Hour (of the Doom)?” He (the Prophet) said: “The one who is asked about it does not know more than the one who is asking.” He (the inquirer) said: “Inform me about its portents?” He (the Prophet) said: “That the slave-girl gives birth to her mistress and master, and that you find the barefooted, naked, destitute shepherds vying with one another in the construction of high buildings. He (the narrator, ‘Umar bin Al-Khâttab) said: “Then he (the inquirer) went on his way but I stayed with him (the Prophet) for a long while.” He then, said to me: “O ‘Umar, do you know who the inquirer was?” I replied: “Allah and His Messenger know best. He (the Prophet) said: “He was (angel) Gabriel. He came to teach you your religion.””

Gabriel who is the closest Angel to Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, who descended with the Qur’an, does not know when the Hour shall be established.

Therefore, Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, says in His Book what means:

[They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the Hour: when is its arrival? Say, “Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None will reveal its time except Him. It lays heavily upon the heavens and the earth. It will not come upon you except unexpectedly.” They ask you as if you are familiar with it. Say, “Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most of the people do not know.”] [Al-A’râf, 7: 178]

So, the Hour shall come suddenly upon all the creatures, the dead and the living. Neither the dead, nor the living, nor the angels know when will the Hour come but it shall overtake them all. The first thing that follows the surprise is watching; to watch that Great Event when all the creatures of Allah are resurrected.

At that moment people shall be different. The state of every person will agree with his deeds. Meaning, the state of every person will depend on the deeds he has done in worldly life. If he is from the righteous, his state will agree with the degree of his piety and loyalty to Allah. And if he is from the sinners, his state will agree with the degree of sinners.

All creatures shall be crowded together on the Land of Gathering, which is the land on which we shall live till we proceed to the Land of Promise. It is the land where Judgment shall be executed. The standing shall extend for long and the sun shall draw near the creatures’ heads.

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) relates to us what shall happen on that Day, saying:

“The believers will assemble on the Day of Resurrection and say, ‘If we could seek intercession with our Lord.’ So they will go to Adam and say, ‘You are the father of mankind, Allah created you with His Own Hands, and ordered the angels to prostrate to you, and taught you the names of all things; so please intercede for us with your Lord, so that He may relieve us from this place of ours.’ Adam will say, ‘I am not fit for this (i.e. intercession for you).’ Then Adam will remember his sin and feel ashamed thereof. He will say, ‘Go to Noah, for he was the first Messenger whom Allah sent to the inhabitants of the earth.’

They will go to him and Noah will say, ‘I am not fit for this.’ He will remember asking his Lord that of which he had no knowledge, then he will feel ashamed thereof and will say, ‘Go to Khalîlu Ar-Rahmân [the friend of the Most Merciful, i.e. Abraham].’ They will go to him and he will say, ‘I am not fit for this. Go to Moses, the servant to whom Allah spoke (directly) and gave him the Torah.’ So they will go to him and he will say, ‘I am not fit for this,’ and he will mention (his) killing a person not in retaliation of murder, and so he will feel ashamed thereof before his Lord, and he will say, ‘Go to Jesus, Allah’s servant, His Messenger and Allah’s Word [“Be!” – and he was] and a spirit (Rûh) created by Him.’ ‘Jesus will say, ‘I am not fit for this, go to Muhammad the servant whose past and future sins were forgiven by Allah.’ So they will come to me and I will proceed till I will ask my Lord’s Permission and I will be given Permission. When I see my Lord, I will fall down in Prostration and He will let me remain in that state as long as He wishes and then I will be addressed: ‘(Muhammad!) Raise your head. Ask, and your request will be granted; say, and your saying will be listened to; intercede, and your intercession will be accepted.’ I will raise my head and praise Allah with a saying (i.e. invocation) He will teach me, and then I will intercede. He will fix a limit for me (to intercede for) whom I will admit into Paradise. Then I will come back again to Allah, and when I see my Lord, the same (will happen). And then I will intercede and Allah will fix a limit for me (to intercede for) whom I will admit into Paradise, and then I will come back for the fourth time, and I will say, ‘None remains in Hell but those whom the Qur’an has imprisoned (in Hell) and for whom eternity (in Hell) has become inevitable.’”

This noble hadith raises many question:

The first question is: If Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) shall intercede on the Day of Resurrection, why is not his intercession limited to his Ummah (nation) only? And why does this intercession include the rest of nations?

The answer is that Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, has sent Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) as a mercy to all that exists. Among the signs of this mercy is that it embraces all creatures. Therefore, he is given universal intercession to all the creatures of Allah on the Day of Resurrection, and a special intercession to his Ummah.

The second question: is about seeing Allah, all praise and glory is to Him.

Allah says in His Noble Book what means:

[No vision can grasp Him, but His Grasp is over all vision. He is the Most Subtle and Courteous, Well­-Acquainted with all things.] [Al-An‘âm, 6: 103]

Which means that no vision can grasp Him in worldly life because He, all glory is to Him, has created us from clay that cannot bear the Light of Allah’s Kingdom, all praise and glory is to Him.

Moses (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), in his humanity, wanted to see Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, after Allah talked to him. So, when Moses, the Messenger of Allah, and the one whom Allah talked to, said: [“My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You.”] [Al-A‘râf, 7: 143]

The Answer that Allah, The Most Exalted, gave to him was:

[[Allah] said, “You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place, then you will see Me.” But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moses fell unconscious.] [Al-A‘râf, 7: 143]

This glorious Ayah shows us that Moses, in his humanity, could not bear the Light of Allah’s Kingdom therefore he fell down unconscious from the powerfulness of the Light, and similarly all mankind with their human form cannot see Allah, all praise and glory is to Him. They cannot bear the Light of Allah’s Kingdom.

Hence, in the life of this world we cannot see Allah, but in the Hereafter we shall be a new creation with regards to the nature of formation. In worldly life we live and die, but in the Hereafter we shall be developed into another creation, that never die but live forever.

In worldly life, our lives are measured by time. We reach youth then old age. But in the Hereafter there shall be no time. Every one of us will remain forever young. This means that the nature of our formation shall differ, whereby there will exist in us things that have not existed before in the nature of our worldly formation.

Faces looking at their Lord

Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, will change the nature of our formation in the Hereafter to be able to see Him, all praise and glory is to Him.

Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, says what means:

[[Some] faces, that Day, will be radiant, Looking at their Lord.] [Al-Qiyâmah, 22: 23]

Thus, we learn from the Noble Qur’an that our formation in the Hereafter will differ from that of worldly life, to be able to see from the Kingdom of Allah what we do not see in this world.

Some people said, “O Messenger of Allah! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?” He said, “Do you jostle with one another for (seeing) the sun when it is free from clouds?” They replied, “No, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Do you jostle with one another for (seeing) the moon on a full moon night when it is free from clouds?” They replied, “No, O Messenger of Allah!” He said, “So you will see Him (your Lord) on the Day of Resurrection.”

How shall all of us see everything on the Day of Resurrection?

There remains a last question concerning this noble Hadith, which is: “How will everyone of us fully see the whole spectacle of Resurrection Day; the first and the last generations all in one domain, seeing and hearing it all? Considering such a huge number of creatures, how will we be able to see and hear it?

The answer is that scientific progress has approximated this picture. Now and after using satellites every one of us can sit at his home and see everything taking place in the whole world without moving from his place.

Did not the whole world see the descent of the first man to the moon at the same instant, though everyone of us was sitting at his place without stirring thousands of miles away. Despite this we clearly saw what happened as if sitting on the moon’s surface.

Does not man now talk on radio or television and the whole world hears him at the same instant he speaks? If this is possible by the power of the creatures of Allah, how is it then by the Power of Allah, all praise and glory is to Him?

Yes Indeed! We shall see and hear everything on the Day of Resurrection. Everything shall be witnessed by all the creatures of Allah.

Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, says what means:

[That is a Day for which the people will be collected, and that is a Day [which will be] witnessed.] [Hûd, 11: 103]

Therefore, it is said that disgrace in worldly life is less painful than disgrace in the Hereafter. Because disgrace in worldly life is witnessed by a far less number of people. Whereas, disgrace in the Hereafter shall be witnessed by all the creatures of Allah.

Disclosure of secrets

In the Hereafter secretes shall be disclosed. There shall be no secrets, but whatever man secretly did and hid from people shall be disclosed before all the creatures of Allah. Therefore, Allah, all praise and glory is to Him,  says about that Day what means:

[The Day when all the secrets will be examined] [At-Târiq, 86: 9]

Every secret that people cared to hide and thought that none shall know it; every crime that was secretly perpetrated and none knew about it; every sin committed and the sinner was anxious to hide, all this shall be exposed on the Day of Resurrection before all the creatures of Allah.

There are incidents that took place and man forgot about it in the midst of life events. He will find them before him clear and obvious just as they happened with their heroes, characters and events.

Therefore, Allah, The Exalted and Ever-Majestic, says what means:

[Allah has kept account of it, while they have forgotten it] [Al-Mujâdilah, 58: 6]

While reading the book of deeds and watching the tape of life history with all its event, the criminals on the Day of Resurrection will say as the Noble Qur’an relates to us: [“Woe to us! What sort of Book is this that leaves neither a small thing nor a big thing, but has recorded it with numbers!” And they will find all that they did, placed before them, and your Lord treats no one with injustice.] [Al-Kahf, 18: 49]

Thus, we learn that whatever we did in our lives shall be present before us on the Day of Resurrection. The intercession of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) will rescue many believers from the torment. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is granted the right of intercession for his Ummah. Those who try to deny his right of intercession have deviated from the Law, because his right of intercession is established by the Noble Qur’an. Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, says what means:

[Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?] [Al-Baqarah, 2: 255]

And He, all glory is to Him, says:

[That Day, no intercession will benefit except [that of] one to whom the Most Merciful has given permission and has accepted his word.] [Tâhâ, 20: 109]

There are other Ayat in the Noble Qur’an which acknowledge that there will be intercession on the Day of Resurrection to the one whom Allah has given permission. Certainly, there is no one nobler or closer than the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Therefore, no one shall be better than Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) for interceding. Allah has given him the right and permission of intercession. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is sent a mercy to all that exists and mercy entails intercession.

The creatures of Allah shall all be gathered on the Day of Resurrection and the standing shall be long. The sun will draw near to the heads of the creatures and every person will be a pledge for what he has earned. Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, has created this world and sent down in it His Law of duties. He decreed by the power of free choice that man should either choose his faith or his disbelief, Allah forbid.

Whoever chooses faith then he is safe in the abodes of belief. He is ranked among the ones brought near [to Allah] and the companions of the right. And whoever chooses disbelief – Allah forbid – he has chosen the Fire and He is ranked among the punished.

And the procession proceeds from the land of Gathering to the Land of Promise, which is a land that Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, has prepared for the Hereafter, for the Day of Judgment. All the creatures of Allah, from the time of the Prophet Adam (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) till the Last Hour, shall be gathered on it. For every person is a known place on it. A place that Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, has specified for everyone of His creatures. Every man is accompanied by an angel who will lead him to his special place on the Land of Promise.

When we reach the Land of Promise all means completely end and are destroyed. There shall be no means but everything shall be directly received from The Originator, all praise and glory is to Him. The light that will illuminate this Land shall be the Light of Allah, be ever gloried His Majesty and Might. And all Power there belongs to Allah, Alone, without means. No human will possess any power to do a thing for himself and will not possess for others any harm or benefit. Everything that Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, has subjected to humans by His power will return to the Direct Divine Power.

And Everything spoke!!

Your tongue that used to obey you in lying, hypocrisy and disbelief, you would find it a glorifier of Allah, and a witness against you. And the hand you attacked with, stole with, killed with and did with it whatever incurred the Wrath of Allah and used to obey you in the life of choice, you would find it a witness against you. Also, the feet and skin, and every cell of your body would testify against you on that Day.

Concerning this, Allah, The Most Exalted, says what means:

[On a Day when their tongues, their hands and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.] [An-Nûr, 24: 24]

We have to pay attention that Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, has created a language for everything. The word ‘thing’ refers to all species; it comprehends everything that Allah has created. Even inanimate beings have a language by which they speak. We have already clarified this and how the Noble Qur’an has stated that inanimate beings have sentiments and that the land cries.

The land shall testify to the steps you have walked. And the stone shall testify against you on the Day of Resurrection. Those who worshipped stones and idols, these stones shall come to testify against them on the Day of Resurrection, saying: “They have worshipped us when we are certainly more worshippers to Allah than them.”

Stones rejoice in burning the sinners

Moreover, these stones – which are the fuel of Hell – shall rejoice while burning the disbelievers, the hypocrites and the sinners. They are pleased because they are fulfilling the duty that Allah has assigned to them. Certainly, from the perfection of worship is that the servant fulfills the duties that Allah has enjoined upon him while at the peak of happiness and harmony, because he is fulfilling his mission in the universe.

On the Land of Promise there shall be many scenes while people are standing, waiting Judgment. The means have ended and the world of means as well. There only remains the Light of Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, based on the Saying of The Most Exalted King:

[And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed] [Az-Zumar, 39: 69]

All these scenes shall be witnessed – as previously clarified – by all the creatures of Allah; perfectly seeing them.

Every human with the god he worshipped

The beginning of Judgment shall be Allah’s Command that everyone must be gathered with what he worshipped. Whereupon, mankind will be divided into various parties.

Those who worshipped stones will stand with the stones; those who worshipped the sun will be crowded together with the sun; those who worshipped humans – like the people of Pharaoh – shall stand with him and he shall be in the forefront. Also, those  who worshipped gold statues – like the Buddhists for example – shall stand with their statues.

Those who worshipped their fathers – as in some creeds in Japan – shall be gathered with their fathers; those who worshipped animals – as in India – shall be crowded together with the animals and those who worshipped Satan shall be crowded together with Satan.

Those who associated partners (false gods) with Allah shall be gathered with the partners they joined in worship with Allah. Whereas, those who worshipped Allah, all praise and glory is to him, shall be gathered together. Everyone shall be gathered with what he worshipped.

Then Allah shall ask, “Where is your gods?” And all those who worshipped false gods instead of Allah shall look around them, after truth has appeared manifest and has become a certainty; and after all falsity of this world vanished. They will look around but what will they find?

The Noble Qur’an depicts to us this picture through the Saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:

[And it will be said, “Invoke your ‘partners’ ” and they will invoke them; but they will not respond to them, and they will see the punishment. If only they had followed guidance!]  [Al-Qasas, 28: 64]

As such will be the status of those who worshipped things instead of Allah, but what shall be the status of those who were worshipped on this Great Day? They shall be divided into two parties: a party that is guiltless of this worship, as the stones, the sun, the animals and the like. All these beings are compelled to obey Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, therefore they do not tempt anyone into worshipping them. They are free from the guilt of being taken as gods instead of Allah.

On this Day – as previously clarified – everything shall speak, so what shall it say?

Those who were worshipped…yet free from guilt

Those shall go to Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, to declare that they are guiltless of being taken as gods and that they did not call people to worship them. They are believers in Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, and glorify Him.

Please read the Saying of Allah, The Most Exalted:

[And [mention] the Day He will gather them and that which they worship besides Allah and will say, “Did you mislead these, My servants, or did they [themselves] stray from the way?” They will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for us to take besides You any allies. But You provided comforts for them and their fathers until they forgot the message and became a people ruined.”] [Al-Furqân, 25: 17-18]

Thus, everything worshipped instead of Allah, without its choice, shall declare itself innocent of those who worshipped it. But what about those who called people and tempted them into worshipping them, and tortured whoever did not worship them?

Concerning them, Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, says what means:

[When those who were followed, disown (declare themselves innocent of) those who followed (them), and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off from them.] [Al-Baqarah, 2: 166]

Indeed, there are many events that shall take place on that Day, each holding a meaning and an indication.