Upon being given the glad-tidings of Paradise in his grave, the animated believer will continue to ask: ‘When will the Hour (of Resurrection) come? When will the Hour come?’ until he is urged to regain his composure. The Last Day will not be a pleasant sight to behold for the believer and disbeliever alike.
In Surah ‘Abasa, it is mentioned that man will have to abandon all his loved ones, including parents, his wife, and children. This is because people will be too occupied with their own fate to be concerned about others.
The believer will, nonetheless, be at peace with himself despite the catastrophic nature of the events surrounding him. As confirmed by Allah in a well-known Hadith Qudsi in Sahih al-Bukhari, a believer who fears Allah in the world will be made to feel secure on the Day of Reckoning. This is an attempt to unearth facts about what will happen to believers on the Day of Judgement.
Seven types of fortunate people shaded under Allah’s Throne
On a day of Allah’s choosing, when all creation ever created is gathered naked and uncircumcised on a vast plain. Sweating profusely according to the extent of their sins. With the fierce heat of a scorching sun towering over them as they look on. Seven kinds of righteous men and women will find themselves shaded beneath Allah’s Throne on that fateful day when there will be no shade besides His.
This elite band is divided into the following seven categories:
- A just ruler who ruled his people equitably by divinely revealed laws.
- A young worshipper who controlled his desires to maintain his chastity.
- Men whose hearts remained attached to mosques.
- Those who loved each other for the sake of Allah alone.
- Pious souls, whom beautiful women attempted to seduce but failed hopelessly, owing to the former’s fear of Allah.
- The sincere ones who gave charity discretely and purely for Allah’s sake.
- The one who wept out of fear of Allah when all by himself.
Acts of worship and human qualities that will serve as saviors
Certain specified acts of worship and sterling human qualities will also qualify a believer for Divine protection on the Day of Reckoning.
- Those who helped someone in distress
- Those who overlooked people’s mistakes
- The ones who showed leniency to a debtor
- Those who were fair and just in matters entrusted to them
- Those who controlled their anger
- The ones who called people to pray
- Those who grew old practicing Islam
- Those who performed wudu (ablution) properly
- The ones who assisted Jesus (PBUH) in fighting the Dajjal (Antichrist)
- Those who died as martyrs
The veiling of a believer’s sins and unconditional forgiveness
Soon after that, a beautiful scene will unfold involving Allah and the sinning believer, whom Allah will wrap in His mercy and shelter. The Lord will begin questioning him about his sins. All the while, a barrier placed between the sinning believer and the rest of mankind will save him from public humiliation. Once the believer has acknowledged every sin that he ever committed, he will fall into despair. He will receive reassuring words, revealing that his sins have been veiled in both worlds and that he has also secured Allah’s unconditional forgiveness.
The believer will receive his record in his right hand
As stated in Surah Al-Inshiqaq, the one who receives his record in his right hand will be judged with leniency and have a joyful outcome.
After being reminded of his discrepancies and forgiven them, the believer will be handed his record in his right hand. His heart will leap with joy at a sign that bears the good news of an easy reckoning to come.
The believer’s deeds shall be weighed in the Scale of Justice
The believer’s record of good and bad deeds will then be weighed in the Scale of Justice (Meezan) to determine which one of them outweighs the other. Allah specifies in Surah Al-Anbya that no one will be wronged. Even the tiniest of deeds will be accounted for, without any injustice whatsoever.
The quenching of thirst for every believer at the Prophet’s Pond
All believers will then proceed to the Prophet’s reservoir (Al-Kawthar), which is a river in Heaven, to quench their thirst in a way that they will never experience it again. In a Hadeeth from Sahih Muslim, it’s mentioned that Al-Kawthar has two pipes of gold and silver which are from Paradise.
The believer’s swift crossing of the Sirat Bridge
The sinners and the pious amongst the believers will stand on a vast plain, while the disbelievers are driven to Hell. They will be separated from Paradise by a long and winding bridge that is pitch dark and above Hell-fire. Allah will swiftly guide the believers across the bridge. Guided by a Light that will race before them, they shall enter their final abode in Paradise (Jannah).
The believer’s entry into Everlasting Paradise
After crossing the Sirat (Pul-Sirat), all scores between believers will be settled, and they will be purified of sin. They will thus be prepared for entry into Paradise, their eternal home of endless bliss. In Surah Az-Zumar, it is mentioned that they will be taken to Jannah in groups, with its gates opened for them, and its keepers warmly welcoming them to their final abode.
Conclusion
Attaining Paradise is the ultimate aim of every Muslim. However, like everything else, there is a procedure we must go through to get to that point. The Last Day will consist of events that will shock people to the core as the world comes to an end. Then, Allah will resurrect all beings in the Hereafter on the Day of Judgment. This day will be a trial in itself, for Allah will hold us to account for our deeds. However, Allah is the Most Merciful, and we can be hopeful of attaining Paradise if Allah has mercy on us and forgives our misdeeds.
