The Day of Judgement and the Hereafter

Category: SOUND

Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated that Allah's Messenger (saw) said:
"The Last Hour will not come till you wage war against a people who wear shoes made of hair and till you fight the Turks with small noses, red faces and small eyes, as though their faces are smitten shields. You will find good people strongly opposing this. People are of different kinds--good people of the jahiliyyah and good people of Islam."
(Bukhari 2927; 2928) (Muslim 4711:2912) (Abu Dawud 4303) (Tirmidhi 2215)

The Holy Prophet (saw) has said, "When you see the base becoming rulers, desires being followed and everyone taking pride in his opinion then it is incumbent on you to worry about yourself and leave the masses to themselves."
(Tafsir Tabari p-3/25. Mustadrak Haakim. Ittihaf.)

Abu Sa'eed Khudri (ra) reported that Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "Soon the best property of the Muslim will be a herd of sheep. He will take them and retire to the peak of the mountains where he will get rain water that he may preserve himself from trial in religion."
(Bukhari [Kitab al-Eeman]) (Abu Dawud [Kitab ul-Malahim]) (Nasa'i [Kitab ul-Eeman]) (Ibn Majah [Fatan])

Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "The poor Muslim will be admitted to Paradise half a day before the rich. That will be like five hundred years."
(Tirmidhi 2354) (Musnad Ahmad p-2/343)

Anas (ra) said, "The time that comes on people is followed by a time that is worse than it. This will go on forever, till you meet your Lord. I had heard this from your Prophet (saw)."
(Bukhari 7068)

Anas (ra) reported that someone asked, "O Messenger of Allah, when should we cease to enjoin righteousness and to forbid evil?" He said, "When you experience the condition of the Banu Isra'il and when your elders are indecent and immoral, knowledge is with the base people, and rule with the young."
(Ahmad p-3/187) (Fath al-Bari p-13/301)

Hazrat Ali (ra) said to Abdullah ibn Saba', "Woe to you! By Allah, I have never concealed from people anything that I knew. I did hear Allah's Messenger (saw) say that there will come before the Last Hour many liars. (And I say,) You are one of them!"
(Bukhari [Book of Fitan, ch. 25]) (Ahmad 2/118) (Kanzul Ummal 38381, 38762)

Jabir ibn Abdullah (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said that the Dajjal will emerge when religion will be taken lightly and learning would be avoided.
(Ahmad 14937) (This is reported from more than one source)

Ibn Umar (ra) reported that Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "The Dajjal's destination is this hillock. Most of those who go to him will be women so much so that a man will go to his wife, to his mother, his daughter and his aunt and chain them lest they go to him."
(Muslim 7667) (Tirmidhi 2236) (Musnad Ahmad 2/67, 4/217, 3/368)

Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrates that the Prophet (saw) said, "When three things appear, faith will not benefit one who has not believed previously, or earned any kind of good from his belief: the Dajjal, the beast of the earth and the rising of the sun from the west or from its place of setting."
(Muslim 396) (Tirmidhi 3072) (Musnad Ahmad 2/445)

Abu Sa'eed Khudri (ra) narrated: Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "As the Hour draws near, there will be much lightning. In fact, a man will come to his people and ask, 'Who was struck by lightning yesterday?' They will say, 'So and so and so and so were struck by lightning'."
(Musnad Ahmad 2/94) (Kanzul Ummal 31406) (ad-Durr al-Manthur 6/55)

As for the Prophet's (saw) words 'the slave gives birth to her master', it means that in the last era the female slave will enjoy a high position and will be held in esteem. Only the elite will have them and ordinary people will not have female slaves. This is why this phrase is complimented with, 'the bare-footed and the naked will become chiefs'. They will build large houses, have much wealth, possess high esteem and will lack courage except to compete in constructing houses.
(Ibn Kathir - Al Fitan wal Manahim)

"The Hour will not come till the 'reproacher son of the reproacher' is one who enjoys the world most of all people." (Worldly possessions with one who has no manners and no religion)
(Tirmidhi 2209) (Musnad Ahmad 5/389) (Kanzul Ummal 38476)

Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated: the Prophet (saw) said, "By Him Who has sent me with the truth, this world will not end till there occur with the people swallowing (into earth), throwing away (or scandalising) and metamorphosis." They asked, "When will that be, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "When you see women seeking sexual satisfaction, and (when there are) many female singers and false testimony (is given often), and men enjoy men and women enjoy women."
(Mustadrak Haakim 4/437) (ad-Durr al-Manthur 6/55, 2/324) (Majma' az-Zawa'id 8/10, 10/8)

"Men will be fewer and the number of women will increase so that for (every) fifty women there will be one man to look after them. They will indulge in sexual play in the streets as though they were animals."
(Bukhari 81) (Muslim 6727) (Tirmidhi 2205)

"The Hour will come tomorrow and touch you."
(Muslim 7334) (Ibn Majah 4040)

Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "How can I be at ease while the holder of the Trumpet has put it to his mouth and bent his forehead waiting for the command that he may blow."
(Tirmidhi 2431) (Musnad Ahmad 1/326, 4/374) (Kanzul Ummal 39743)

Ibn Umar (ra) narrated: Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "If anyone would like to look at the Day of Resurrection as though he saw it with his eyes then let him recite the surah [When the sun is folded up], [When the heaven is cleft] and [When the heaven is rent asunder]"
(Mu'jam Kabir 17/287) (Kanzul Ummal 2586, 2587)

Ibn Umar (ra) narrated that he heard the Prophet (saw) say, "My pond is as between Aden and Amman. It is more cold than ice, sweeter than honey and more fragrant than musk. Its cups are like the stars of the heaven. He who takes a drink from it will never be thirsty after that. The first of the people to come to it will be the poor of the muhajirs." Someone asked, "And who are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Their heads are dishevelled, their faces are pale and their clothes are dirty and closed doors are not opened for them, and graceful women will not marry them. They give all that is due from them but do not take that which is due to them."
(Musnad Ahmad 2/132)

Abdullah ibn Amr (ra) narrated that Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "Surely Allah does not love the indecent and indecency [or He hates the indecent and indeceny]. And the Hour will not come till indecency and vulgarity is observed openly, and severing of ties of relationship, wickedness with neighbours, trusting the betrayer and betrayal by the trusted. Know that your appointment is at my pond whose breadth and length are identical being as between Aylah and Makkah, a month's journey. In it are pitchers like the stars. Its drink is whiter than silver. He who drinks from it once will never feel thirst again after that."
(Musnad Ahmad 2/159, 2/195, 4/180, 6/135)

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (ra) narrated that the Prophet (saw) said, "I will precede you to the pond and some of you will surely be picked up and then removed away from me. I will say, 'O Lord, my sahabah!' But, it will be said, 'You do not know what they did after you'."
(Bukhari 7049)

"Surely Allah will call the slaves on the Day of Resurrection. He will say, 'I did keep quiet for you since I created you. I observed your deeds and heard your words. Now, you should keep quiet for Me. These are only your deeds and your scrolls (records of deeds). They will be read over to you. He who finds good, let him praise Allah but he who finds otherwise, he must blame only himself.'"
(Muslim 6517) (Al-Ba'th wa an-Nushur 669) (al-Matulat 36) (ad-Durr al-Manthur 5/339-342)

Tabarani reported that Tha'labah ibn Hakam (ra) narrated: Allah's Messenger (saw) said that Allah will say to the ulema (Islamic scholars, people with knowledge of Deen) when He sits on His Chair to pass judgement, "I did not give you My knowledge and My wisdom except that I intend to forgive you. And, I do not care."
(Ibn Hajar in al-Matalib al-Aaliyah 4629) (Kanzul Ummal 39094)

"There is nothing heavier in the scale than good manners."
(Musnad Ahmad)

"On the Day of Resurrection, (the surah) al-Baqarah and al-Imran will come as two canopies or clouds with two wings and defend those who had recited them."
(Musnad Ahmad 4/183, 5/249, 251, 255, 257, 348, 352, 361)

Ibn Mas'ud (ra) narrated: "My legs are thin. When the wind blew heavily, I came off balance. So the other people laughed. Allah's Messenger (saw) asked, 'At what do you laugh?' They said, 'O Prophet of Allah, at his lean, weak legs.' He said, 'By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! They will be heavier than the Uhud in the scale.'"
(Musnad Ahmad 1/114, 421, 5/131)

Anas (ra) narrated: The Prophet (saw) said, "By Him Who has the soul of Muhammad in His Hand! If you see what I see, you will weep much and laugh little." The sahabah (ra) asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what do you see?" He said, "I see the Paradise and the Hell."
(Musnad Ahmad 3/217)

Anas ibn Maalik (ra) narrated: The Prophet (saw) said to Jibril, "Why is it that I do not see Mika'il laugh, at all?" He said, "He has never laughed since the Hell was created."
(Musnad Ahmad 3/24)

Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated: Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "Indeed, the slave may utter a word carelessly not considering what its worth is. Thereby, he will slip down in Hell further than what separates the east and the west."
(Bukhari 6477) (Muslim 7407) (Tirmizi 2314)

"Surely a man speaks a careless word that earns Allah's wrath. Thereby, he is dropped into Hell to a depth seventy years."
(Musnad Ahmad 7214, 7945)

Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated: Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "Seek refuge in Allah from the well of grief (which is jubb ul-hizn)." They asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what is jubb ul-hizn?" He said, "It is a valley in Hell from which Hell seeks refuge everyday four hundred times. It is prepared for reciters (of the Qur'an) who are ostentatious with their deeds. And, indeed, the most detested of the reciters in Allah's sight are they who wish to be seen by the chiefs and tyrants."
(Tirmizi 2383) (Ibn Majah 256)

Tabarani reported that Abu Musa (ra) narrated: Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "When Adam landed down from Paradise, Allah taught him to make everything and provided him the fruits of Paradise. These fruits of yours are from the fruits of Paradise except that they have changed while those (of Paradise) have not changed."
(Kanzul-Ummal 6344, 35323) (Tazkiratul Mawdu'at lil fitnah 161)

Umm Salamah (ra) asked, "O Messenger of Allah, some of the women marry twice, thrice, four times before they die. Then they go to Paradise and their husbands also go there. Who then will be their husband there?" He said, "Such a woman will be given choice. She will choose the best of them in manners. She will say, 'O Lord, this one was the best mannered with me in the world, so marry me to him.'. O Umm Salamah, good manners get the best of the world and the Hereafter."
(Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, Tabarani 23/870)

Ahmad reported that Anas ibn Malik (ra) narrated: Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "Paradise is surrounded by hardships and Hell is surrounded by temptations."
(Musnad Ahmad) (Muslim 7061) (Tirmizi 2559)

Ahmad reported that Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated: Allah's Messenger (saw) said: When Allah created Paradise, He sent Jibril to it, saying, "Look at it and at what I have prepared for its inhabitants." So, he went, looked at it and at what Allah had prepared for its inhabitants and returned to Allah, the Exalted. He said, "By Your Honour, no one will hear of it without entering it!" Then, He commanded it and it was concealed in unpleasant things and difficulties. Then He said, "Go back to it and look at it." So, he went and looked at it. Behold! It was concealed in difficulties. He came back to Allah and said, "By Your Honour! I fear, indeed, that no one will get through the difficulties."
(Musnad Ahmad 2/332)

Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated that Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "Mostly two hollow things are responsible for man's entry into Hell -- the private organs and the mouth. And mostly fear of Allah and good manners take man to Paradise."
(Musnad Ahmad 2/392)

Know! The Hell is surrounded by desires (and temptations) but in its inside are all harmful (and painful) things and reptiles. Paradise is surrounded by hardships but inside is what eyes have not seen, ears have not heard and the human heart has not contemplated the pleasant and enjoyable things there. This is as the clear verses of the Qur'an and authentic Ahadith tell us. Its bliss is perpetual and its enjoyment is constant. It is what the ears have never heard.


Source: Al-Fitan wal Malahim by Ibn Kathir

Death Part 2: Judgement Day and the Afterlife

Category: SOUND
Resurrection

The jurist, Abu-al Laith (ra), says that when the people will be made to rise up from their graves on the Resurrection Day, they will continue to stay there in this very condition for seventy years, and no attention will be given to them and, in this very anxiety, they will weep so vehemently that no tears will be left in their eyes, instead of tears, blood will start flowing down from their eyes.

Pul Sirat

And a Muslim of the lowest degree, drenched in sins, will, in the like manner, pass over this bridge with faltering steps, within the duration of seven thousand years. Hazrat Fazil bin 'Ayyaaz (ra) says: The exact length of the Pul Sirat is of three thousand years; its ascent is of one thousand years while its peak is also of one thousand years, whose surface is a level plain. In a word, it would be such a terrible place that even the Messengers of Allah would utter helplessly: O Allah! Peace! Peace! (Jawahir-ul-Tafsir)

Judgement

On that day, father will tell his son that I was your father. He will also remind his son of the favours he had done for him. The son will affirm the favours of his father. After this, father will tell his son that he needs only one virtue-even a tiny part of it-because, due to it my scale of good works may perhaps become weighty. The son will tell him that he himself is undergoing the same misfortune. I am ignorant in what position I am and of that which is going to happen to me. I am not in a position to give you any virtue. Then, that person will also ask his wife to remember the favours he had done for her in the world as well as the kind of relationship he had with her and then will beg for one virtue. She too will refuse in the like manner. In a word, he will continue to wander so as to beg for a virtue. (Durr-e-Manthur, narrated by Ikramah (ra))

The Dunya

Ibn 'Abbas (ra) states: "On the Day of Doom, the Dunya (world), shall be produced before the people in the form of an old woman, ugly, deep-sunken eyes, teeth bending outwards. The people shall be asked, "Do you recognise her?" They shall reply, "God protect us! What a horrible ugly thing is this!" The people will be told: "This is the same world for the sake of which one murdered the other, people forgot kindness in mutual dealings; for her sake you envied each other, nursed grudges against one another and you were caught in her deceitful trap." Thereafter this the old woman will be thrown into Hell. She will cry, "Send with me those people also. Send along those who used to hanker after me." The Most Magnificent and Just Lord shall ordain: "Send along with her those people who used to hanker after her."

Punishment (for those who embellish their persons and perform evil deeds)

On one occaison the illustrious Prophet (saw) while giving an account of his ascension to heaven observed: "In the next world I saw a group of men whose bodies were being cut into slices. I enquired from Gabriel (as): 'Who are these people?' Gabriel (as) replied, 'These are the very same people who used to embellish their persons' (and came out to do evil deeds). Then I saw a well. This well emitted foul smell and painful cries were coming out of it. I asked Gabriel (as): 'Who are these people?' Gabriel (as) replied: 'These are the women who used to embellish their bodies and performed unlawful deeds.' Then I beheld some men and women who were dangling from their breasts downwards. I asked, 'Who are these?' To this Gabriel (as) replied: 'These are the people who reproached each other and indulged in backbiting.'" (Durr-e-Manthur)

Punishment (for the haughty)

Hazrat 'Umar bin Shu'ab (ra) has reported a tradition of the Holy Prophet (saw): "On Doomsday the haughty shall be like the ants. The people on the plain of Doom shall be trampling them underfoot. Fire shall engulf them from four sides. They shall be tortured in an exclusive dungeon of Hell, which is called 'Bolus'. They shall be caught in a fiercely burning fire and they shall be given for drink the dirty dark blood taken from the wounds of the denizens of Hell. (Tirmidhi)

Three people who will not enter Paradise

Hazrat Ibn 'Umar (ra) relates that the Holy Prophet (saw) observed: "Three persons shall never enter Paradise: one, who has no idea of self respect; second, a drunkard; third, a man who adopts the manner of women" (and vice-versa)(Tibrani)

Destruction of the Ummah

Hazrat Anas (ra) related that the Holy Prophet (saw) observed: "When the following five evils shall creep into my Ummah, it will then be destroyed: 1) Cursing one another; 2) Use of liquor on a large scale; 3) Wearing of silken dresses; 4) Increased number of dancing girls and their shows at large gatherings; 5) Homosexuality." (Baihaqi)

Miserable State of the Hypocrites

When the Muslims will have arrived on the bridge of Heaven, the hypocrites who will be enveloped in darkness will call out in piteous voices. "Brothers, stay a while so that guided by your light we may also step forward." The Muslims will say to them in reply: "Go back and get your light from where we got it." Hence when the hypocrites will turn back they shall find themselves in the depths of darkness and stillness. At last they shall come back much disturbed and feeling very uneaesy. They shall behold that a great wall has been erected on the edge of the Bridge of Heaven and the entrance has been barred. Hence they will cry out bitterly to the Muslims: "Were we not your companions in the moral world? So why do you leave us behind now?" They will reply, "You were with us, no doubt, but only superficially. In your hearts you harboured doubts about the faith and while wishing well to the infidels you wanted to do harm to us. Hence it is proper that you should go and join those whom you used to support and befriend." In the meanwhile the flames of fire will envelope them and drive them to the lowest depths of Hell. Those Muslims who will pass over the Bridge of Heaven with the speed of air or lightning will say after crossing over to Paradise: "We had heard that Hell lies on the way to Heaven, but we never beheld Hell."

The Holy Prophet (saw), after being admitted to Paradise with his followers, will not rest easy. He will in fact continue to worry about the many of his Ummah who are in Hell and will pray non-stop for seven days before the first batch are pardoned. That's seven days in Afterlife time I think. Can you believe how much he loves his Ummah? Including those of us he's never met or seen. Does anyone else in your life love you to that extent? Likely everyone else we know would not hesitate to start enjoying Paradise.

Hell

The Holy Prophet (saw) stated: "Hell has been inflamed continuously for one thousand years. Consequently, its fire became red. Again, it had been burnt for one thousand years and its red colour became white. Still again it had been kindled for one thousand years, and its white-coloured flames turned into black. So the existing colour of the fire of Hell is black-as black as dark night." Another authority states that the flames of Hell do not illuminate, it always remains dark. Another narration reveals that if the denizens of Hell lie on the worldly fire (that we have here), they will enjoy sound sleep because it is much cooler than the fire of Hell.

Every one of these extensive levels [of Hell] is replete with incalculable pains, tortures, and torments and multifarious houses. For instance, there is a house called "Gayy", the severity of its torments is such that the denizens of the other six levels pray four hundred times daily for salvation from its tortures. There is another house, known as "Zamharir", it is the region of extreme cold. There is still another house "Jubb-ul-Huzan" (well of griefs), where is a well called Tinatul Khabal-mire of pus and poison. There is a towering mountain, known as Sa'ud, it spsace equals to seventy years' walking. Idolators would be thrown into the Fire of Hell from its peak. There is a pond, Aab-i-Hamim, with so hot water that the moment a sinner drinks it, his upper lip swells to such an extent that it covers his nose and eyes; the lower, his chest. As this water passes down the throat, his tongue burns; mouth contracts and ultimately this boiling water tears apart the human lungs, stomach and intestines. There is another tank Ghassaq wherein gathers the idolators' puss, sweat, and blood. Another fountain, Ghisleen, serves the same purpose. Likewise, there are countless tormenting scenes in Hell.

The People in Hell

The size of the sinners' bodies would be stretched and broadened so as to magnify their sufferings and various types of tortures shall be inflicted on the exterior as well as the internal parts of each fibre and limb of their bodies. Burning, crushing, biting by poisonous snakes and scorpions, piercing with thorns, slashing of skin-these are the manifold modes of punishment in Hell. Due to the excess of heat and warmth in Hell, bodies of the sinners would melt; will be reborn and melt again. This process would be repeated for seven hundred times in the duration of a moment. But this point should not be ignored that the shape of the original limbs of their bodies would not undergo any change; flesh and skin would repeatedly be tortured. Skin of some infidels is said to be forty-two yards thick; their teeth would resemble towering mountains, and their sitting would cover an unlimited space. After a long time, the pangs of hunger would be increased to such extremity that it will surpass all other torments. At last, the sinners would become terribly restless and demand food to satisfy their appetite. THey would be given to eat Zaqqum, a thorny plant, which would get stuck in their throats. They would cry for water, as they used to do in the world when a morsel of food gets stuck in their throats. It shall be ordained that water be provided to them from Jahim, the very first level of Hell. it would cause their lips to swell, tongue to dwindle, throat to break into pieces, and their intestines will be torn apart and excreted through their anuses. So, being in dire distress, they will supplicate to the Lord of Hell for death, so that their punishment may come to an end. After a thousand years he will say: "You will always remain in Hell." After a thousand years they will pray to God: "Deprive us of our lives, but have mercy and relieve us of this intolerable torment." After one thousand years the Lord shall ordain: "Hold your tongue, and not beg My pardon; you have been condemned forever." At last perforce they will say to one another: "Let us endure, for endurance may bear good fruit." They will continuously pray to the Almighty for one thousand years with extreme lamentation and entreaty, but all in vain. Ultimately when all hope is lost they will say to one another, restlessness or patience are one and the same for us, For us there is no means of salvation. They would be turned upside down. The shape of their bodies would be distorted and they would assume the form of dogs, donkeys, monkeys, wolves, snakes, and other beasts and animals. Such is the description of the condition of the infidels on that Day.

The Holy Prophet (saw) observed: "Some of my followers would be in Hell so tall and big that a single man will occupy the entire space in a corner of Hell."(Targhib and Tarhib)

It is narrated on the authority of Hazrat Mujahid (ra) that Hazrat Ibn 'Abbas (ra) said: "Do you know the width of Hell?" I replied in the negative. He said: "Yes, by God! Verily there would be a distance of seventy years between the shoulder and the ear-lobe of a sinner, and therein would be running streams of puss and blood." (Targhib)

Hell will be angry

Re: Surah Mulk, Verse 29

Hell will yet be a hundred years away from the damned persons when Hell shall behold them and they shall behold Hell. Upon seeing them Hell will start convulsing with fury and yelling with intense rage. The hellish people will bear all this and when finally they shall be thrust into it, they will yearn for Death just as in the mortal world, they used to say in times of distress.

Siisilah (long chains)

Hazrat Ibn 'Abbas (ra) said: "The chains would be pierced into the body of the sinners through the anus, and will be taken out at the other end. Then the body of the sinner will be roasted on fire as 'kabab' is grilled on skillets or as the locust is roasted in oil." (Ibn Kathir)

Tears of Blood

It is narrated on the authority of Hazrat Anas (ra) that the Holy Prophet (saw) observed: "O, Men! You should weep; and if you do not weep, try to weep because the people in Hell would shed tears so much that their tears would mark drains on their faces. When their tears come to an end, blood would begin to flow from their eyes, causing deep injury to them. In short, there will be such an abundance of tears and blood that if boats were to be set on them, they would begin to sail." (Sharah Sunnah)

Reflection in this world

The Holy Prophet (saw) has observed: "Hell has been concealed in the pleasures of the world and Paradise lies hidden in the hardships of life." (Bukhari) (Muslim)

Friendships in the Afterlife (Paradise)

All worldly friendships will turn into animosity except that the worldly friendships among God-fearing people shall remain firm even in Heaven. The God-fearing shall stand by each other in Heaven even as they stood by each other in worldly life, and the faithful shall receive a voice from God which will tell them in effect:

1) O My people! You are free from this day from all sorts of anxieties and cares; nor shall you suffer any grief in the future.
2) O those who having believed in Our revelations remained faithful to Us! Enter Paradise with good cheer and take your wives along with you.
3) Your servants shall continue to wait upon you with golden plates and cups.
4) In brief all these things that your hearts desire or your eyes wish to look at for pleasure will be made available in paradise. As a matter of fact you shall forever remain in the same state in the realm of Paradise. No sickness shall visit you; neither any blessing will decrease or decline, nor any animosity or feuds shall arise (like among the worldly rich). Neither will there be old age, nor will anyone know death.

Paradise is the name of the place where there is no pain of any sort, no dispute and no war.

Women of Paradise (Houris)

Hazrat Mu'adh (ra) states that the Holy Prophet (saw) observed: "Whenever a worldly woman vexes her husband [the good ones fated for Paradise], his appointed wife, the Houri in Heaven, curses that worldly woman saying: 'Curse be on you! Do not trouble him, for he is only thy guest for a few days. He will soon leave you and come over to me'." (Tirmidhi)

[At this point there are a series of Hadiths about the women in Paradise. They can be summed up as follows: 1) Women from this world who make it into Paradise rank higher than the famed Houris. 2) Some weak traditions assert that a woman will be either with the last husband she had on Earth and others assert that she will be with the best of the husbands she had on Earth. Allah knows best, and in the case of what women want, only Allah knows best. It is between Him and them when they arrive.]

The late arrival of a Companion (ra) in Paradise

...The Holy Prophet (saw) then turned towards Hazrat 'Abdur Rahman ibn 'Auf (ra) and observed: "From amongst all my companions you came to me very late. I had been anxious about you and thought per chance you had died; and I saw that you were drenched in perspiration. I enquired from you, 'Where were you? Why are you so late in arriving?' You answered: 'Since my assets were large, I was taken up with the rendering of accounts: Where did I earn and where did I spend?'" Hearing this about himself, Hazrat 'Abdur Rahman b. Auf (ra) started weeping and submitted: 'O Prophet of God! Only this night one hundred camels laden with merchandise from Egypt have reached me. I have given them in charity to the destitutes and orphans of the sacred city of Medina. Per chance because of this deed Almighty Allah may lessen the burden of my accountability on that Day." (Targhib)

'Abdur Rahamn ibn 'Auf (ra) was one of the most eminent companions, one of the ten to whom the Prophet (saw) had guaranteed Paradise to during their lifetime. He was one of the six men upon whom Hazrat 'Umar (ra), at the time of his martyrdom, had laid the responsibility of choosing a Caliph. He said about them: "The Holy Prophet (saw) left the world well-content and satisfied about the conduct of these men." Later, the other five decided to leave the choice of the Caliph to his discretion alone and it was upon his suggestion that Hazrat 'Uthman (ra) was appointed as the third Caliph. He was one of the earliest converts to Islam, he migrated twice, he fought in the battle of Badr and all the other wars during the Prophet (saw)'s lifetime. Even during the time of the Prophet (saw) he was looked upon as a learned man and jurist. Hazrat 'Umar (ra) adopted certain measures relying upon his counsel alone. The Prophet (saw) had also once offered prayers behind him. (Asaba)

A time came once when the Holy Prophet (saw) called upon him to offer his goods in charity, and he gave away half of all his goods. Thereafter he once doled out 40,000 dinars. On another occaison he gave a donation of five hundred horses and five hundred camels for Jihad. He released 30,000 slaves from bondage, and according to one tradition secured emancipation for 30,000 families. Once he sold his lands for 40,000 gold coins and distributed the entire amount among the destitute, the emigrants, his own relatives, and the wives of the Holy Prophet (saw).(Mustadarak)

At the time of his death, he bequeated in his will 400 red dinars to each man who fought in the Battle of Badr. At that time, one hundred veterans were still alive. He also left behind a garden which was sold for 40,000 gold coins as a legacy to the wives of the Holy Prophet (saw). His own outlook was that he once sat down to dinner after having a bath. He was served a mixed meal of bread and meat in a cup. On seeing this, he wept. Someone asked the reason of his weeping. He observed: "The Holy Prophet (saw) died in such a state that he could not afford enough oat bread to eat to his fill. This opulence is not propitious for me." (Asaba)

In spite of his perfect virtues, the accountability to which Hazrat 'Abdur Rahman (ra) would be subjected on the Day of Judgement has been mentioned above.

Now look at ourselves.

Other Stuff

"When a lewd person commits adultery, he does not remain a Mu'min at that time. A thief ceases to be a Mu'min at the time of theft and a drunkard is not a Mu'min at the time of drinking." (Bukhari) (Muslim)

Abu 'Ubaida (ra) and Mu'adh bin Jabal (ra) observed: The Prophet of God (saw) has said: "This phenomenon (i.e, religion) has been revealed with prophethood and blessings (i.e, in the initial period of religion came revelations and blessings). This will be followed by the period of Khilafat and blessings. Thereafter shall follow the reigns of tyrannical kings and the next period will witness pride, wrath, suppression and world-wide wars. During this period people will regard it lawful to wear silk garmnets. They will consider drinking and debauchery as permissible. And in spite of all this God shall send them provisions to eat and they shall be succoured until they are called to the presence of God (i.e, they shall be presented before God on the Day of Judgement)." (Mishkat)

Death

Category: SOUND

Remembering death is the solution for many problems of this world. It can cure hard-heartedness and it can end sins and unmindfulness. The way to achieve a desire for, even a love of or looking forward to death is to remove all attachments to the world. Spend your wealth in the way of Allah and you'll want to meet Him. If you preserve it, you'll want to remain with it. This has been suggested by the Prophet (saw).

'Aisha (ra) says: "The Prophet (saw) used to fast frequently during the month of Shaban since the list of those who have to die during the year is prepared during this month. A man is engaged in getting himself married but his name is recorded amongst the dead. A person is going to perform Hajj but his name is included in the dead."

Origin of Death

Hazrat Hasan (ra) is reported to have said that when God created Adam (as) and his progeny, the angels humbly pointed out to God that the offspring of Adam (as) would not be accommodated on the Earth. God proclaimed that He would bring death into Being. The angels said that if He created death they would not be able to lead a pleasant life. God proclaimed that He shall inspire them with hope. (Ibn e Abi Shaiba)

Barzakh (time between death and Day of Resurrection)

Hazrat Sa'id b. Jubair (ra) is reported to have said: "When a man dies, the members of his family in Barzakh welcome him in the same way as the living persons receive a man in the world on his return from a foreign country." Hazrat Shabit Banani (ra) is reported to have said: "When a man dies his relatives in Barzakh, who are already dead, surround him and feel much greater pleasure in meeting him than that felt by a living person in the world at the time of receiving a man on his return from a foreign country." Hazrat Qais b. Qabisah (ra) is reported to have said: "The Holy Prophet (saw) disclosed on one occaison that a disbeliever could not speak to the dead. Somebody asked him whether the dead could converse with one another. He replied in the affirmative and added that they also pay a visit to one another."

Pangs of Death

Hazrat Yazid Raqqashi (ra) is reported to have said: "If the people should know about the pangs of death which the dead person has to undergo, they would begin to lament over the pangs of death to be sustained by them rather than their actual death."

Hazrat Auzair (ra) is reported to have said that the effect of the pangs of death is felt by the dead up to the Day of Resurrection. According to Hazrat Shaddad b. Aus (ra), death is the most severe of all the sufferings experienced during the span of life in this world or the next. It is more sharp than the teeth of a saw, more piercing than the edge of the blades of scissors and more torturing than being baked in a cauldron. If the dead rise form the grave and give a description of the pangs of death sustained by them, no person would be able to pass the time comfortably in this world or enjoy a sound sleep.

It is said that when Moses (as) died, Almighty God asked him how did he feel the agonies of death. He replied that it seemed to him as if an alive sparrow was being roasted in such a way that its soul lingered in the body and it found no way to escape. He is also reported to have said that his condition was just like an alive goat which was being flayed.

The Angel of Death

It is said the Angel of Death used to just come to people and they started to curse him and fear him. He complained to Allah who created illnesses and the like so they cursed those instead.

Hazrat Hasan Basri (ra) is reported to have said that when a person dies and the members of his family start weeping, the Angel of Death stands at the door of the house and says that he has not deprived the dead person of his livelihood. So long he had to benefit himself out of his subsistence, he did. He has not cut the span of his life short. He is bound to visit the house again and again till all the members of the household would taste the cup of death. Hazrat Hasan Basri (ra) is reported to have sworn to the effect that if the members of the bereaved family could have a look at the angel of death and hear him, they would have forgotten the dead body and turned to their own selves.

Hazrat Ibrahim (as) desired the Angel of Death to show him the shape he assumed at the time of extracting the soul of the transgressors. The Angel of Death told him that he would not stand this dreadful sight but Hazrat Ibrahim (as) insisted on that. Then the angel requested him to turn his face and so he did. After a moment, the angel of death allowed him to see. When Hazrat Ibrahim (as) looked up, he beheld a dark black man (like a ghost) with long and bristled up hair, clad in black apparel, emitting filthy smell, flames leaping out from his mouth and nostrils and lightning glittering in his eyes. No sooner did Hazrat Ibrahim (as) see the apparition than he fainted.

An episode of 'Umar bin 'Abdul 'Aziz (ra)

One day Hazrat 'Umar b. 'Abdul 'Aziz (ra) joined a funeral party. When he reached the graveyard, he went to a remote place and sat there and began to think about something. Somebody, addressing the Caliph, enquired the reason of his sitting alone at a place especially when he was the guardian of this dead body. He told him that he had come there at the call of the grave. The grave had spoken to him the following words: "O 'Umar b. 'Abdul 'Aziz, why don't you ask me the manner in which I welcome those who come to meet me." Hazrat 'Umar bin 'Abdul 'Aziz (ra) asked the grave to tell that. The grave said: "I snatch their coffins and tear their bodies into pieces, suck their blood and eat their flesh. Shall I tell you how I disembody the joints of a dead body? I seperate the shoulders from the arms, the arms from the wrists, the hips from the body, the hips from the thighs, the thighs from the bones, the knees from the shanks and the shanks from the feet." Afer saying that, Hazrat 'Umar b. 'Abdul 'Aziz (ra) began to weep and said: The stay in the world is short-lived but its allurements are many. Who is honoured in the world is dishonoured in the life Hereafter, who is wealthy here, is a beggar there. He who is young is bound to decay and he who is alive is bound to die. One should keep himself away from it lest it should deceive him because it turns away its face very soon. Foolish is he who is taken in by its baits. Where are those who were enamoured of it and who populated big cities, dug canals, planted big gardens and departed after staying for a short time? They always thought of their sound health but the improvement in health provoked the lusts of the flesh in them and they indulged in committing sins. Their abundant wealth was an envy of all men in the world. Even though they had to face difficulties, yet they amassed large sums of money. The people were jealous of them but they went on accumulating wealth. They bore troubles ungrudgingly for the sake of amassing wealth. The lust has deformed their bodies. The worms have eaten up their joints and bones. They used to take rest on comfortable beds, exalted thrones and cosy cushions and had a train of attendants to wait on them. Their friends, relatives and neighbours were always ready to flatter them. Can anybody tell about the hardships borne by them? The poor, the rich, all are lying on the same ground. Where is the wealth of the wealthy? Has his wealth helped him? Has the poverty of the beggar harmed him? What has become of their fluent tongues? What has become of their eyes which used to roll in their sockets in all directions? What has become of their soft skin, beautiful and good-looking faces and their tender bodies? What a ruin worms have wrought to their bodies; turning dark, their flesh being eaten up, their mouths covered with dust, limbs disembodied and joints broken. Where are their servants, who attended them and were at their beck and call? Where are their apartments where they used to take rest? Where are their treasures of wealth which they had amassed? Neither did their attendants make provision for for their food enabling them to eat in the grave, nor did they provide them with a bed and a pillow. They threw him on the ground without any tree or a plant of flower to cast shade upon him. Now they are lying forlorn in darkness. They remain unaffected whether it is day or night. They can neither meet friends nor call any one of them. What a change their tender figures have undergone! The bodies of all men and women are decomposed. Their limbs are disembodied, their eyes get out of their sockets, their necks are seperated, their mouths are filled with water and pus and the worms and insects crawl in all parts of their bodies. They are in a deplorable condition and their spouses have been bound to nuptial ties with another person and have been enjoying themselves. Their sons have taken possession of their properties and the inheritors have distributed the property. But there are also fortunate beings who are enjoying themselves in the grave, their countenances are fresh. These are the same people who remembered this home (grave) while lying in a home of deception (world) and preferred to meet the demands of the Hereafter to the demands of the mortal world, and made the provision and preparations for a journey towards the grave. When a aman is destined to die sooner or later, he should not entangle himself into the allurements of the world. Does he think that the world will stand by him? Does he think that he will live forever in this transient world?

When the Angel of Death approaches him, nobody will save him from his clutches. He is bound to leave behind him in the world his huge buildings, the ripe fruit of his gardens, his cosy cusions and his summer and winter suits. Sweat will stream down his body. He will feel thirsty and the agonies of death will make him toss in the bed.

The man, who today on the death of his brother, his son, his father, shuts their eyes, who on one occaison washes the dead body and shrouds it in the coffin, while on other occaison participates in the funeral gathering and lays the dead body in the grave, must bear in mind that he will pass through the same trial tomorrow. Then Hazrat 'Umar bin 'Abdul 'Aziz (ra) quoted two verses, the translation of which is given below:

"The man always runs after a thing which is bound to perish, and is engrossed in high hopes and great expectations. He does not know that day-dreams can never be realized. He spends his day in forgetfulness and passes his day in unmindfulness and passes his nights in slumber, while death is hovering over his head. He will repent of what he is doing today. He is leading his life like that of animals."

It is said that hardly a week had elapsed after this incident when Hazrat 'Umar bin 'Abdul 'Aziz (ra) passed away.

When a person dies, if they were pious persons, as they are carried to the grave they ask to be hurried along. And if they are wrongdoers, they curse their predicament and ask where they are being led to.


Patience

A woman who lost her family in a tragedy said: "A person who would ponder over patience and impatience would see much difference between them. The reward of patience is noble and for impatience there is no reward."

Then she recited these verses: "I endured because endurance is the best thing to rely upon. If any advantage could be obtained by impatience I must have adopted it. I endured many a misfortune that if these fell even on mountains, these must have broken into pieces. I exercised full control over my tears and thus barred them to come out. Now, those tears are falling within my heart."

The Death of Prophets

It is a tradition from Abu Huraira (ra) that the Holy Prophet (saw) said Hazrat Dawud (as) was an embodiment of modesty. Whenever he went out, he used to close the door of his house. One day he went out after bolting the door as usual, but on his return, he found a man standing inside the house. He asked: "Who are you?" He told: "I am that being who is not afraid of the kings even and whom none can refuse admittance." He said: "By God! You are the angel of death. You are welcome. You have brough the commandment of the Almighty God." After saying this, he lay down by covering himself with a sheet and the angel of death extracted his soul.

It is a tradition from Tibrani on the authority of Hussain (ra) that the Archangel Gabriel (Jibrail) visited Prophet Muhammad (saw) during the days of his last illness, and asked: "How are you?" The Holy Prophet (saw) told him that he was seriously ill. In the meanwhile, the angel of death knocked at the door and asked for permission to come in. Hazrat Gabriel said: "O Muhammad (saw), that is the Angel of Death (Izra'il). He seeks your permission to come in. Prior to this, he never asked for such permission and would never ask after this." Muhammad (saw) said: "Let him come in." Gabriel permitted him. The angel of death appeared and stood up before the Holy Prophet (saw) and said: "Almighty God hath sent me to you with His explicit instruction to do as you like me to do. So, if you allow me to seperate the soul from your body, I will do this, otherwise not." The Holy Prophet (saw) asked him: "Are you authorized to do so?" He replied in the affirmative with the remarks: "O, Messenger of Allah, Allah hath given me such a command." Then Gabriel told the Holy Prophet (saw): "God is very eager to meet you." Thereupon, the Holy Prophet (saw) said: "O angel of death! Comply with the order of Allah." Upon this, the angel of death seized the breath of Hazrat Muhammad (saw).

- From "The Spectacle of Death" by Khawaja Muhammad Islam