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The Day of Resurrection 3 – Reckoning begins

ByShaykh Haytham Tamim

Reckoning begins

Finally, the great judgment begins. Every person will be shown their deeds, nothing will be forgotten or hidden. Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدۡحٗا فَمُلَٰقِيهِ
فَأَمَّا مَنۡ أُوتِيَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ
فَسَوۡفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابٗا يَسِيرٗا
وَيَنقَلِبُ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ مَسۡرُورٗا
وَأَمَّا مَنۡ أُوتِيَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ وَرَآءَ ظَهۡرِهِۦ
فَسَوۡفَ يَدۡعُواْ ثُبُورٗا
وَيَصۡلَىٰ سَعِيرًا
إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فِيٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ مَسۡرُورًا
إِنَّهُۥ ظَنَّ أَن لَّن يَحُورَ
بَلَىٰٓۚ إِنَّ رَبَّهُۥ كَانَ بِهِۦ بَصِيرٗا
فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِٱلشَّفَقِ

O man! You are returning towards your Lord with your deeds, a sure returning, so you will meet the result of what you did. Then, as for him who will be given his record in his right hand, he will receive an easy reckoning, and will return to his family in joy. But whoever is given his record behind his back will cry out for destruction and enter a blazing fire. Indeed, he had [once] been among his people in happiness; Indeed, he had thought he would never return [to Allah]. But yes! Indeed, his Lord was ever of him, Seeing.

(Al Inshiqaq 84:6–12)

Each of us will be handed a record, a book that contains everything we ever did, said, or intended. Some will receive it in their right hand, a sign of success and Allah’s mercy. Others will receive it in their left hand or from behind their back, showing shame and loss.

Allah divides humanity into three groups on that Day:

وَكُنتُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا ثَلَٰثَةٗ
فَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ
وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ
أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَ
فِي جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

And you will be in three kinds, those on the right hand, who will be the people of Paradise; those on the left hand, who will be the people of Hell; and those foremost (in faith and righteous deeds), who will be the nearest to Allah. In the Gardens of Pleasure,

(Al Waqiah 56:7–12)

Those on the right will smile, their faces glowing with relief and happiness. They will be welcomed into eternal gardens. The foremost, the prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs, will be even closer to Allah, honoured in His presence.

But those on the left will hang their heads in regret. They will wish they could disappear rather than face what they have done.

يَقُولُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ يَوۡمَئِذٍ أَيۡنَ ٱلۡمَفَرُّ
كَلَّا لَا وَزَرَ
إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوۡمَئِذٍ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقَرُّ
يُنَبَّؤُاْ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ يَوۡمَئِذِۭ بِمَا قَدَّمَ وَأَخَّرَ
بَلِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِهِۦ بَصِيرَةٞ
وَلَوۡ أَلۡقَىٰ مَعَاذِيرَهُۥ

On that Day man will say: ‘Where can I run?’ No! There is no refuge. To your Lord alone will be the place of rest that Day. On that Day, man will be told what he sent forward and what he left behind. Nay! Man will be a witness against himself, even though he puts forth his excuses.

(Al Qiyama 75:10–15)

This means that a person’s own body, their hands, skin, eyes, and tongue, will speak about what they did. Even if someone tries to deny their sins, their body will testify with truth that cannot be hidden.

The truth was repeatedly mentioned to them, but they were filled with arrogance, blindly following traditions, followed the crowd, and allowed Shaytan to play them. This will now haunt them. When they are resurrected from their graves and faced by the reality which they ignored all their lives, they will realise Allah and the Messenger had stated the truth.

وَٱلَّذِينَ عَمِلُواْ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ثُمَّ تَابُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهَا وَءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهَا لَغَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ

On the Day that warning is fulfilled, those that have neglected it before will say: ‘The Messengers of Our Lord did indeed bring forth the truth. Are there any intercessors who will now plead on our behalf? Or, can we be restored to life that we might perform differently from that which we did? ‘ They surely ended in utter loss, and the lies they had fabricated failed them.

(Al Araf 7:53)

Allah creates an audio-visual scene of the akhirah and what the sinners will say. It is a clip from the Hereafter. They will search for intercessors to save them, as they are under the mistaken impression their idols will come to their aid, but no one will intercede for them.

Then they will plead with Allah to give them another chance and send them back to the dunya. They will be experience bitter regret, and realise they cannot rewind their lives and change their choices, they will.

Faces on that Day

The Qur’an describes the people’s faces, how they will reflect their fate.

وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ نَّاضِرَةٌ
إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٞ
وَوُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذِۭ بَاسِرَةٞ
تَظُنُّ أَن يُفۡعَلَ بِهَا فَاقِرَةٞ

Some faces that Day shall be shining and radiant, looking at their Lord. And some faces that Day will be dark, gloomy, and sad, thinking that some calamity is about to strike them.

(Al Qiyama 75:22–25)

The believers will look joyful and full of light, as they behold the mercy of Allah and the reward they were promised. The disbelievers and wrongdoers will have dark and frowning faces, filled with fear and shame.

Allah describes them saying:

يَوۡمَ يُنفَخُ فِي ٱلصُّورِۚ وَنَحۡشُرُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ يَوۡمَئِذٖ زُرۡقٗا

The Day the Horn will be blown. And We will gather the criminals, that Day, blue-eyed. (Ta Ha 20:102)

These verses show how clearly the difference between truth and falsehood will appear, it will be visible on people’s faces themselves.

True friends and the enemies

When the Hour arrives, many people will realise too late that their worldly friendships were based on sin, pride, or disbelief. Allah says:

ٱلۡأَخِلَّآءُ يَوۡمَئِذِۭ بَعۡضُهُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ
هَلۡ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ أَن تَأۡتِيَهُم بَغۡتَةٗ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

Do they only wait for the Hour to come upon them suddenly, while they are unaware? Friends on that Day will become enemies to one another, except for those who were righteous (al-Muttaqun).
(Az Zukhruf 43:66–67)

This means that even the closest friends will turn against each other, blaming one another for misguidance, except for those whose friendship was built on faith and goodness.

To the believers, Allah will say:

يَٰعِبَادِ لَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ تَحۡزَنُونَ
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَكَانُواْ مُسۡلِمِينَ
ٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ أَنتُمۡ وَأَزۡوَٰجُكُمۡ تُحۡبَرُونَ

“My servants! Today you will have no fear, nor will you grieve, you who believed in My signs and submitted to Me. Enter Paradise, you and your spouses, in happiness.”
(Az Zukhruf 43:68–70)

Sometimes we rely on our friends too much and trust them too much, but some friends deceive us. They benefit from us and when there is no benefit to them, they desert us. Your parents may keep telling us these are not the right people to spend time with. Then one day we realise we were deluded and we liked them because they kept praising us though deep down we know they were fake we wished they were not. When the desert us we realise we deceived ourselves.

Sorting into groups

When the final judgment begins, people will be sorted into groups. Their groups will be according to the company they kept and the deeds they did. The Prophet ﷺ said we will be gathered with those we love.

أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ السَّاعَةِ، فَقَالَ مَتَى السَّاعَةُ قَالَ ‏”‏ وَمَاذَا أَعْدَدْتَ لَهَا ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ شَىْءَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَمَا فَرِحْنَا بِشَىْءٍ فَرَحَنَا بِقَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .

A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment) saying, “When will the Hour be?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “What have you prepared for it?” The man said, “Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Apostle.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “You will be with those whom you love.” We had never been so glad as we were on hearing that saying of the Prophet (i.e., “You will be with those whom you love.”)

(Bukhari)

This means a person will be with those whose path they followed in this life. The righteous will be gathered with the righteous, the truthful with the truthful, and the wicked with the wicked. Allah also says,

يَوۡمَ يُنفَخُ فِي ٱلصُّورِ فَتَأۡتُونَ أَفۡوَاجٗا

The Day when the Trumpet will be blown, And you will be [assembled] in groups

(An Naba 78:18)

and

فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِي ٱلصُّورِ فَلَآ أَنسَابَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَئِذٖ وَلَا يَتَسَآءَلُونَ

So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another (Al Muminoon 23:101)

In this great sorting, the ties of lineage and worldly friendship will no longer matter, only the bonds of faith and character will remain. As the Prophet ﷺ said:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ‏ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى دِينِ خَلِيلِهِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَحَدُكُمْ مَنْ يُخَالِلُ

A person is upon the religion of his close friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.

(Tirmidhi)

This shows us the importance of the environment – if your environment is good then it will rub off on you and vice versa. In the wrong company you will acquire their thinking even if you are not a bad person.

Thus, every soul will be placed among those it resembled in belief, intention, and action.

Receiving the Record of Deeds

Every person will be handed a book of their deeds, a complete record of everything they did, said, and even intended in their life. Nothing will be missing from it. Those whose good deeds outweigh their bad will receive their record in their right hand, as a sign of honour and safety. They will be overjoyed and proud to show it to others. Allah says:

فَأَمَّا مَنۡ أُوتِيَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَيَقُولُ هَآؤُمُ ٱقۡرَءُواْ كِتَٰبِيَهۡ
إِنِّي ظَنَنتُ أَنِّي مُلَٰقٍ حِسَابِيَهۡ
فَهُوَ فِي عِيشَةٖ رَّاضِيَةٖ
فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٖ

Then as for him who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, ‘Here, read my record! I was sure that I would meet my account.’ So he will be in a life of pleasure, in a high garden.
(Al Haqqah 69:19–22)

But the one whose bad deeds outweigh his good will receive his book in his left hand — a mark of shame and loss. Out of terror, he will wish that he had never been given it.

وَأَمَّا مَنۡ أُوتِيَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ بِشِمَالِهِۦ فَيَقُولُ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي لَمۡ أُوتَ كِتَٰبِيَهۡ
وَلَمۡ أَدۡرِ مَا حِسَابِيَهۡ
يَٰلَيۡتَهَا كَانَتِ ٱلۡقَاضِيَةَ
مَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنِّي مَالِيَهۡۜ
هَلَكَ عَنِّي سُلۡطَٰنِيَهۡ
خُذُوهُ فَغُلُّوهُ

But as for him who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, ‘I wish I had not been given my record, and had not known what my account was! My wealth has not helped me, my power has vanished from me.’ [Allah will say], “Seize him and shackle him.
(Al Haqqah 69:25–30)

The record will contain every single deed — large or small, public or secret. Even things we forgot will appear before us. Allah says:

وَوُضِعَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ مُشۡفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَٰوَيۡلَتَنَا مَالِ هَٰذَا ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةٗ وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحۡصَىٰهَاۚ وَوَجَدُواْ مَا عَمِلُواْ حَاضِرٗاۗ وَلَا يَظۡلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدٗا

And the Book will be placed, and you will see the criminals fearful of what is in it, and they will say, ‘Woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has recorded it?’ And they will find what they did present before them. And your Lord does not wrong anyone.
(Al Kahf 18:49)

For the believers, this moment will be full of, whereas for those who lived in arrogance or heedlessness, this will be the day when their excuses disappear and their own hands and feet bear witness against them.

Called by our fathers’ names

When each person is called to receive their record and face Allah’s judgment, they will be identified by their own name and the name of their father.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

إِنَّكُمْ تُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِأَسْمَائِكُمْ وَأَسْمَاءِ آبَائِكُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا أَسْمَاءَكُمْ ‏

You will be called on the Day of Resurrection by your names and the names of your fathers, so choose good names for yourselves.
(Abu Dawud, Ahmad)

This hadith reminds us that our names will live with us not only in this world but also in the next. They are part of our identity before Allah.

A believer’s name will be mentioned with honour and mercy, while others may hear their names called with fear and disgrace.

The scholars explained that Allah will call each soul personally — no one will be lost or forgotten among the billions gathered. Every person will recognise their own name when it is spoken, and they will know that their turn has come to stand before their Creator.

At that moment, the people of faith will walk forward humbly, with light on their faces, hoping for Allah’s mercy. Others will hang their heads in regret, trembling as their records are opened and read aloud before all creation.

Alone with Allah – The Interview

In Surah Baqarah, Allah Almighty says:

وَٱتَّقُواْ يَوۡمٗا تُرۡجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفۡسٖ مَّا كَسَبَتۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ

Be fearful of a day when you shall return to Allah and you will receive your reward fully for what you have done, and you won’t be wronged

(Al Baqarah 2:281)

Even though we often live in a crowd, some people are living in isolation. But here, Allah Almighty is drawing our attention to the fact that though we live among so many people in dunya, our reality on the most important day of our lives, is that we will be alone – farda with just our deeds. And there will be no translator between us and Allah Almighty:

In Surah Luqman, in the penultimate ayah Allah Almighty says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ وَٱخۡشَوۡاْ يَوۡمٗا لَّا يَجۡزِي وَالِدٌ عَن وَلَدِهِۦ وَلَا مَوۡلُودٌ هُوَ جَازٍ عَن وَالِدِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔاۚ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقّٞۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡغَرُورُ

O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver (Shaytan).

(Luqman 31:33)

Generally, we feel cushioned by our family and friends, or positions of authority and leadership in our lives, but they will be nothing in the akhirah. Children, parents, wealth, nothing will protect us on that day. Why did Allah Almighty mention our parents before our children? It is a parent’s natural instinct to sacrifice even their life to protect their child.

In Surat Maryam, Allah says:

وَكُلُّهُمۡ ءَاتِيهِ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فَرۡدًا

And every one of them will come to Him on the day of resurrection alone.

(Maryam 19:95)

Allah is saying that every single person will come to Allah alone (fardan). This is very scary. At that time, you will have nothing with you. None of the props that make you feel safe or important in this world. You will be standing without the status which made you feel proud in dunya, the health, the wealth, the followers, and the authority you once enjoyed.

You will stand before Allah alone with just the Book of your Deeds. We will all meet Allah alone. As the Prophet ﷺ said:

مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا سَيُكَلِّمُهُ اللهُ، لَيْسَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُ تُرْجُمَانٌ

There is none of you but Allah Almighty will speak to him. There is no translator between him and Allah Almighty.[i]

(Bukhari and Muslim)

In the memorable verse in Surat al Kahf, Allah Almighty says:

وَوُضِعَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ مُشۡفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَٰوَيۡلَتَنَا مَالِ هَٰذَا ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةٗ وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحۡصَىٰهَاۚ وَوَجَدُواْ مَا عَمِلُواْ حَاضِرٗاۗ وَلَا يَظۡلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدٗا

And the record ˹of deeds˺ will be laid ˹open˺, and you will see the wicked in fear of what is ˹written˺ in it. They will cry, “Woe to us! What kind of record is this that does not leave any sin, small or large, unlisted?” They will find whatever they did present ˹before them˺. And your Lord will never wrong anyone.

(Al Kahf 18:49)

Everything you have done will be before your eyes. All your life’s deeds captured in a single HD clip. Allah will ask if you have anything to comment on, if anything is inaccurate, but you will be unable to deny that it is true. Imagine this scenario – being alone with Allah. Have you prepared for that moment?

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللهِ أَحَبَّ اللهُ لِقَاءَهُ وَمَنْ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللهِ كَرِهَ اللهُ لِقَاءَهُ
صحيح البخاري كتاب الرقاق باب من أحب لقاء الله أحب الله لقاءه

Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him. Whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.

(Bukhari)

Bearing the weight of our deeds

On that Day, everyone will bear the weight of their own deeds. No one can carry another person’s burden unless they led them astray. Those who misled others and encouraged then to sin, will carry their sins in addition to their won, and those who followed them will be sinful for what they did. Allah warns those who encourage others to sin:

لِيَحۡمِلُوٓاْ أَوۡزَارَهُمۡ كَامِلَةٗ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَمِنۡ أَوۡزَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ

They will bear their own burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection, and also of the burdens of those whom they misled without knowledge. Evil indeed is that which they shall bear.

(An Nahl 16:25)

This means that those who encouraged others to sin or spread false beliefs will not only face their own punishment, but will also share in the sin of those they misled. Teachers, leaders, or influencers who used their position wrongly will carry double responsibility.

Then Allah says:

ثُمَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ يُخۡزِيهِمۡ وَيَقُولُ أَيۡنَ شُرَكَآءِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمۡ تُشَـٰٓقُّونَ فِيهِمۡۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ إِنَّ ٱلۡخِزۡيَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ وَٱلسُّوٓءَ عَلَى ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ

On the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them and will say: ‘Where are My so-called partners, the ones you used to claim?’ Those who were given knowledge will say: ‘Indeed, disgrace and misery this Day are upon the disbelievers.’

(An Nahl 16:27)

On that day, the idols and false gods that people worshipped will be helpless, and the truth of Allah’s oneness will be made clear to all.

 

[i] عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا سَيُكَلِّمُهُ اللهُ، لَيْسَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُ تُرْجُمَانٌ، فَيَنْظُرُ أَيْمَنَ مِنْهُ فَلَا يَرَى إِلَّا مَا قَدَّمَ، وَيَنْظُرُ أَشْأَمَ مِنْهُ فَلَا يَرَى إِلَّا مَا قَدَّمَ، وَيَنْظُرُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَلَا يَرَى إِلَّا النَّارَ تِلْقَاءَ وَجْهِهِ، فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ».
[صحيح] – [متفق عليه] – [صحيح مسلم: 1016]

‘Adyy ibn Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“There is none among you except that Allah will speak to him, with no interpreter between Him and him. He will look to his right and see nothing except what he has sent forth, and he will look to his left and see nothing except what he has sent forth. And he will look ahead of him and see nothing except Hellfire in front of him. So, protect yourselves from Hellfire even with half a date.”  
[Authentic hadith] – [Bukhari & Muslim]

 

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