Class 5 – Resurrection & the Destruction of this Earth

The Moment When The Hour Will Arrive

After the occurrence of all the Signs, the first matter to overcome the people of this world is the blowing of terror, and that occurs when Allah orders Israafeel to blow the trumpet — this blowing is the blowing of terror. It will be looked at, and none shall remain from the people of the earth except that he raises his neck and then lowers it, hearing the great matter, which will have terrified the people and caused them great anxiety. Referring to the occurrence of this tremendous matter,

• “And (remember) the Day on which the Trumpet will be blown and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth, will be terrified except him whom Allah will (exempt). And all shall come to Him humbled. And you will see the mountains and think them solid, but they shall pass away as the passing away of the clouds. The Work of Allah, Who perfected all things, verily! He is Well-Acquainted with what you do.” (27:87-88)
• “And these only wait for a single Saihah (shout (i.e. the blowing of the Trumpet by the angel Israfil – Sarafil)) there will be no pause or ending thereto (till everything will perish except Allah (the only God full of Majesty, Bounty, and Honor))“ (38:15)

Then after a while, Allah will make His command and the trumpet will be blown, and all in the heavens and the earth, except for those whom Allah wills, will swoon away. Then Allah will order Israafeel a second time, and the people will stand for the Lord of all that exists.

“And they say: “When will this promise (i.e. Resurrection) be fulfilled, if you are truthful?” They await only but a single Saihah (shout, etc.), which will seize them while they are disputing! Then they will not be able to make bequest, nor they will return to their family. And the Trumpet will be blown (i.e. the second blowing) and behold! From the graves they will come out quickly to their Lord. They will say: “Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of sleep.” (It will be said to them): “This is what the Most Beneficent (Allah) had promised, and Messengers spoke truth!” It will be but a single Saihah (shout, etc.), so behold! They will all be brought up before Us! This Day (Day of Resurrection), none will be wronged in anything, nor will you be requited anything except that which you used to do.” (Quran 6:48-54)

Ibn ‘Abbaas R.A. reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “How can I be comfortable when the one of the angel has taken the horn (by his mouth) and has inclined his forehead, waiting – for the time he will be ordered, and then he will blow.“

The Companions said, “0 Messenger of Allah, what should we say?” He ﷺ, said,’ “Say “Hasbunallah Wa Niám al Wakeel. Tawakkalna Allahi Rabbina (Sufficient is Allah for us and the most Blessed Wakeel (Protector), and we place our complete trust in Allah).” (Ahmad).

Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “Indeed the holder of the horn has not blinked since it has been assigned to him, and it is as if his two eyes are glistening stars. He is looking in the direction of the ‘Arsh (Throne), fearing that he will be ordered to blow into it before he opens (his eye) again after having blinked.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Indeed, when Allah finished creating the heavens and the earth, He it created the horn (Trumpet) and gave it to Israafeel. He holds it on his mouth, looking at the ‘Arsh (Throne) with his sight, waiting for when he will be ordered.” Abu Hurairah R.A. asked, “0 Messenger of Allah, and what is As-Soor?” He ﷺ said, “A horn.” “And what is it like?” He said, “Huge. And by the One Who has sent me by the truth, the greatness of the circle of his mouth is like the width of the heavens and the earth. He will blow into it three times: the first is the blowing of terror; the second is the blowing of swooning away; and the third is the blowing of resurrection to the Lord of all that exists. Allah will order Israafeel to make the first blowing, saying, ‘Blow the blowing of terror’ The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth will be terrified except for whomsoever Allah pleases. Allah will order him, and then he will extend it and prolong it without getting tired.”

The horn (or Trumpet) will be blown three times: the blowing of the terror, the blowing of the swooning away, and the blowing of the resurrection.

From The Terrors Of The Day Of Resurrection

This strange and wonderful universe in which we live, teeming with life and living things both visible and invisible, filled with constant motion that never stops or ceases, will remain like this until the Day comes on which Allah (SWT) will destroy all living things except what He wills.

The earth will shake with its inhabitants; every nursing mother will forget her nursling and every pregnant one will drop her load. Children will turn gray-haired, and people will fly, fleeing from the terror. The angels will meet them, striking them on their faces, and they will return. Then they turn around, running away. They will have no protector from Allah. Some of them will call the others, and while they are upon that state, the earth will split into two cracks, from one region to another. Then they will see a tremendous matter, never having seen before something similar to it. And for that they will fall into such a state of terror and grief that only Allah has full knowledge thereof. They will look at the sky, and it will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). Then the sky will be cleft asunder and the stars will be scattered. The sun and its moon will be eclipsed.

Allah SWT described that Day as being great. His description of it as such is sufficient for us to know that it is more serious than we can ever imagine.

• ”Verily, these [disbelievers] love the present life of this world, and put behind them a heavy Day [that will be hard].” (Qur ‘an 76: 27)
• “Truly, that Day will be a Hard Day – Far from easy for the disbelievers” (Qur ‘an 74: 9-10)

The fear and terror which will befall mankind on that Day will be so great that the mother who would readily sacrifice herself for her infant will, on that Day, be heedless of him. Pregnant women will miscarry, and people will be like drunkards who have lost their senses.

“O’ mankind! Fear your Lord and be dutiful to Him! Verily, the earthquake of the Hour [of Judgement] is a terrible thing. The Day you shall see it, every nursing mother will forget her nursling, and every pregnant one will drop her load, and you shall see mankind as in a drunken state, yet they will not be drunken, but severe will be the Torment of Allah” (Qur ‘an 22: 1-2)

Because of the intensity of the terror, on that Day eyes will be not blinking and not looking to the right or the left. Because of their great fear, their hearts will be empty, not comprehending anything at all.

“Consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the Zaalimoon [polytheists, wrongdoers] do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror. [They will be] hastening forward with necks outstretched, their heads raised up [towards the sky], their gaze returning not towards them and their hearts empty [from thinking because of extreme fear].” (Qur ‘an 14: 42-43)

Because of their extreme terror, the hearts of the evildoers will rise to their throats, but they will not come out, neither will they settle back in their places

“And warn them [O’ Muhammad] of the Day that is drawing near [i.e. the Day of Resurrection], when the hearts will be choking the throats, and they can neither return them [hearts] to their chests nor can they throw them out..” (Qur ‘an 40: 18)

The hair of the child who has never committed sin will tum grey because of the intense horror of what he is seeing:

“Then how can you avoid the punishment, if you disbelieve, on a Day [i.e. the Day of Resurrection] that will make the children grey-headed? Whereon the heaven will be cleft asunder? His Promise is certainly to be accomplished)” (Qur ‘an 73: 1 7-18)

Blood ties (bonds of kinship) will be severed on the Day of Resurrection, “Then, when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no kinship among them that Day, nor will they ask of one another)” (Qur ‘an 23: 101)

On that Day, each person will care only about himself, and will not think of anyone else. Indeed, a man will run from those who are dearest to him, from his brother, his mother, his father, his wife and his sons:

On that Day, each person will care only about himself, and will not think of anyone else.

Indeed, a man will run away from those who are dearest to him, from his brother, his mother, his father, his wife and his sons. Ponder Allah’s Words (which mean):

• {But when there comes the Deafening Blast. On the Day a man will flee from his brother. And his mother and his father. And his wife and his children. For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him.} [Quran 80: 33-37]
• {O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, or will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth…} [Quran 31: 33]

Also Allah SWT describes what will happen to people’s hearts and eyes on that Day:

• “ They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned [out of the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection]. (Qur ‘an 24: 37)
• “[Some] hearts that Day will shake with fear and anxiety. Their eyes will be downcast” (Qur ‘an 79: 8-9)

One of the greatest of these horrors will be the total destruction of this earth with its mountains, and the heaven with its stars, sun and moon.

Our Lord tells us that this earth will be shaken and turned to powder, that the mountains will be made to pass away and will be blown away, the seas will become as blazing fire or will overflow, the sky will be rent asunder and will shake with a dreadful shaking, the sun will be wound round and will disappear, the moon will be eclipsed, the stars will fall and their light will be extinguished, and the entire system (of the universe) will collapse.

“The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). And the mountains will be like flakesof wool, and no friend will ask of a friend, though they shall be made to see one another ((i.e. on the Day of Resurrection), there will be none but see his father, children and relatives, but he will neither speak to them nor will ask them for any help)), – the Mujrim, (criminal, sinner, disbeliever, etc.) would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children. And his wife and his brother, and his kindred who sheltered him, and all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell! Taking away (burning completely) the head skin! Calling: “(0 Kafir (0 disbeliever in Allah, His angels, His Book, His Messengers, Day of Resurrection and in Al-Qadar – Divine Preordainments), 0 Mushrik (0 polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah)) (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) (picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind (on the Day of Resurrection) just as a bird picks up food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up). And collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the Cause of Allah).” (Qur’an 70:8-18)

Because of their extreme terror, the hearts of the evildoers will rise to their throats, but they will not come out, neither will they settle back into their places, this is made clear in the following verse in which Allah Says (what means):

• {And warn them, [O Muhammad ﷺ], of the Approaching Day, when hearts are at the throats, filled [with distress]. For the wrongdoers there will be no devoted friend and no intercessor [who is] obeyed.} [Quran 40: 18]
• {… They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about.} [Quran 24: 37]
• {Hearts, that Day, will tremble. Their eyes humbled.} [Quran79: 8-9]
• {Then how can you fear, if you disbelieve, a Day that will make the children white-haired? The heaven will break apart therefrom; ever is His promise fulfilled.} [Quran73: 17-18]

Anas ibn Maalik R.A reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “As people will be raised on the Day of Resurrection, the sky will Tatush upon them.” The Prophet’s saying, ‘Tatush upon them,’ has two possible meanings: rain will fall down upon them from the sky or the heat will be sweltering. And Allah knows best.

When people will rise from their graves, they will find the earth to be upon a different state than the one they had previously known: the mountains will be crushed and their peaks will be no longer. Its rivers will have ceased, its trees will be destroyed, and its seas will be aflame. All will be leveled, with its cities and towns being no longer. It will have shaken its tremors, and it will have expelled its burdens. And man will say, “What is the matter with it?’ The same can be said for the sky, which will be cleft asunder. And the Angels will be surrounding its sides. The sun and moon will be eclipsed; nay, they will have lost their light, both gathered in one place. Then they will be Kuwwirat (wound round, both losing their light).

AL-BA’TH WAN-NUSHOOR (THE RESURRECTION)
The meaning of al-ba’th is the restoration of the body and bringing it back to life on the Day of Resurrection. An-Nushoor is a synonym of al-ba’th; it is said in Arabic, nashara al-mayyit nushooran, to refer to when the dead comes to life again after dying and Allah brings him back to life and resurrects him. When Allah (ﷻ) wills to bring His slaves back to life, He will command lsraafeel to blow the Trumpet and the souls will return to the bodies, and the people will rise to meet the Lord of the Worlds.

Mankind will be gathered barefoot, naked and uncircumcised.
When ‘Aa’ishah heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: “Mankind will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection, barefoot, naked and uncircumcised,” she said, “O’ Messenger of Allah, men and women together, looking at one another?” He said, “O’ ‘Aa’ishah, it will be too distressing for them to be looking at one another.”

The clothing of Mankind on the day of Resurrection

We have mentioned above that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will gather His slaves barefoot, naked and uncircumcised, as stated in Saheeh; ahaadeeth. Then He will clothe His slaves. The righteous will be clothed in noble garments, and the evildoers will be clothed in trousers of tar and a shield of scabs, and other awful garments.

The first one among the slaves of Allah to be clothed will be the Prophet of Allah lbraaheem (A.S.), the Close Friend of the Most Merciful (Khaleel ar-Rahmaan ).

On The Day of Resurrection, The First For Whom The Earth Will Split Open is The Messenger Of Allah ﷺ

The Messenger of Allah A said, “I am the chief of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection and the first for whom the earth will split open. I am the first to intercede. (Muslim)

The bodies of the Prophets will not decay or disappear as happens to the bodies of others.

The Prophet ﷺ Gave Great Glad Tidings For The Believers

It is related that Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “There will be no gloom or loneliness for the people of Laailaha Illallah in their graves, nor (will there be loneliness or gloom for them) on the Day they are raised. It is as if I am witnessing the people of Laailaha Illallah shaking the dirt from their heads as they are saying, ‘All praise is for Allah, Who has removed all grief from us.”

This narration is attested to by the Qur’an:

“Verily those for whom the good has preceded from Us, they will be removed far therefrom (Hell) (e.g. lesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary); ‘Uzair (Ezra), etc.). They shall not hear the slightest sound of it (Hell), while they abide in that which their ownselves desire. The greatest terror (on the Day of Resurrection) will not grieve them, and the angels will meet them, (with the greeting): “This is your Day which you were promised.” And (remember) the Day when We shall roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books, as We began the first creation, We shall repeat it, (it is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it.”(21:101-104)

May Allah make us amongst the believers!