Lives of the Prophets: Prophet Hizqeel* (Ezekiel)
Allah Resurrects the Dead Through Hizqeel*
According to Ibn Abbas,
this place was called "Damardan." Its people were inflicted with
plague, so they fled, while a group of them who remained in the village
perished. The Angel of Death called to the survivors: "Die you all"
and they perished.
After a long time a
prophet called Hizqeel* passed by them and stood wondering over them, twisting
his jaws and fingers. Allah revealed to him: "Do you want Me to show you
how I bring them back to life?
He said:
"Yes." His idea was to marvel at the power of Allah over them.
A voice said to him:
"Call: 'O you bones, Allah commands you to gather up.'" The bones
began to fly one to the other until they became skeletons.
Then Allah revealed to
him to say; "Call: 'O you bones, Allah commands you to put on flesh and
blood and the clothes in which they had died.'"
And a voice said:
"Allah commands you to call the bodies to rise." And they rose.
When they returned to
life they said: "Blessed are You, O Lord, and all praises is Yours."
Ibn 'Abbas reported that
the dead who were resurrected were four thousand, while Ibn Salih said they
were nine thousand.
Hadith About the Plagues
Regarding plague, Abu
Ubaidah Ibn Al-Jarrah related that Umer Ibn Al-Khattab was on his way to Syria
and had reached Sarg when the leader of the Muslim army, Abu Ubaidah Ibn
Al-Jarrah, and his companions met him and told him of a pestilence that had
broken out in Syria. Umer remember the Prophet*'s saying: "If it (plague)
be in a country where you are staying, do not go out fleeing it, and if you
hear it is in a country, do not enter it." Umer praised Allah and then
went off.
Prophet Uzair* (Ezra): Uzair* Sleeps For 100 Years
Ishaaq Ibn Bishr
reported, on the authority of Ibn' Abbas and others, that Uzair* was a wise
man. He went out one day to his own farm, as was his custom. About noon he came
to a deserted, ruined place and felt the heat. He entered the ruined town and
dismounted his donkey, taking figs and grapes in his basket.
He went under the shade
of the khaiba tree and ate his food. Then he got up to look at what remained of
the ruins. The people had long been lost, and he saw bones. "Oh! How will
Allah ever bring it to life after its death?" (TMQ 2:259) He said this not
out of doubt but out of curiosity. Allah sent the Angel of Death to take his
life.
He remained dead for one hundred years.
After one hundred years
had passed and there had been changes in Bani Israel, Allah sent an angel upon
Uzair* to revive his heart and his eyes in order for him to feel and see how
Allah revives the dead. The angel said: "For how long did you sleep?"
He said: "A day or part of a day." He said this because he knew he had
slept early in the afternoon and woke up late in the afternoon. The angel said:
"You remained asleep for one hundred years." He ate and drank the
food which he had prepared before he was overtaken by that long sleep. Then the
angel revived his donkey.
Almighty Allah said:
"And look at your donkey! Thus We have made of you a sign for the people.
Look at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh."
When this was clearly shown to him he said: "I know now that Allah is able
to do all things." (TMQ 2:259)
Uzair* Returns Home
He rode on his donkey
and entered his home town, but the people did not recognize him, nor did his
household, except the maid, now an old woman. He asked her: "Is this the
house of Uzair*?" She said: "Yes, but the people have long forgotten
Uzair*." He said: "I am Uzair*, Allah had taken my life for a one
hundred years and has now returned it to me."
She said: "Uzair*
used to be answered when he prayed to Allah. Pray to cure me of blindness if
you are Uzair*." He prayed for her and massaged her eyes and took her by
the hand. "Get up by the power of Allah," he said. The crippled woman
stood up and walked; she opened her eyes and saw; her blindness was gone. She
said: "I bear witness that you are Uzair*."
Uzair* Finds and Copies the Torah
She rushed to the
people. Uzair*'s son was one hundred eighteen years old, and his children's
children now were lords of the assembly. She called out to them saying:
"This is Uzair* come to you." They accused her of lying. She said: "I
am your old maid. He has just prayed to Allah for me, and here I am whole
again, walking and seeing." The people stood up and looked at him.
His son said: "My
father had a mark between his shoulders, a black mole," and they
discovered it. They said: "None among us memorized the Torah since
Nabuchadnezzar burned it, except Uzair*.
Uzair* sat under the
shade of a tree surrounded by the children of Israel and copied out the Torah
for them. Henceforth, the Jews said that Uzair* is the son of Allah. Ibn Abbas
commanded: "So it is as Allah said: "We have made of you a sign for
the people." (TMQ 2:259)
Main Topic: Those that deny the Resurrection
Many people, in the past
and the present, deny the Resurrection. Some of those who do believe in it have
concepts which differ from those which were taught by the Messengers. The
Qur'an mentions what the disbelievers said, and it condemns them as kaafir (non-believers)
and issues a strong warning to them. Allah says: “And if you [O' Muhammad]
wonder [at these polytheists], then wondrous is their saying: 'When we are
dust, shall we indeed then be [raised] in a new creation?' They are those who
disbelieved in their Lord! They are those who will have iron chains tying their
hands to their necks. They will be dwellers of the Fire to abide therein.” (TMQ
13: 5)
“And they said: 'There
is no [other life] but our [present] life of this world, and never shall we be
resurrected.' If you could but see when they will be held [brought and made to
stand] in front of their Lord! He will say: 'Is not this [Resurrection and the
taking of the accounts] the truth?' They will say: 'Yes, by our Lord!' He will
then say: 'So taste you the torment because you used not to believe.” (TMQ 6:
29-30)
“And they say: 'When we
are bones and fragments [destroyed], should we really be resurrected [to be] a
new creation?' Say [O' Muhammad]: 'Be you stones or iron, or some created thing
that is yet greater [or harder] in your breasts.' Then, they will say: 'Who
shall bring us back [to life]?' Say: 'He Who created you first! '” (TMQ 17:
49-51)
We may divide those who deny the Resurrection into three
categories:
1)
Atheists who deny the existence of the Creator.
These include many of
the naturalist philosophers and, in our time, communists. These people deny
that the universe was brought into being by a Creator. Thus they deny both the
first and second creation, and they deny that the Creator exists at all. It is
not worth engaging in debate with these people about the issue of the
Resurrection. We should discuss with them the existence and oneness of the
Creator first, then bring them proof of the resurrection, because belief in the
resurrection is a branch of belief in Allah.
2)
Those who acknowledge the existence of the Creator, but do not believe in the
resurrection.
These include the Arabs
of whom Allah said: “And those who disbelieve say: 'When we have become dust -
we and our fathers - shall we really be brought forth [again]? Indeed we were
promised this - we and our forefathers before [us], verily, these are nothing
but tales of ancients.'“ (TMQ 27: 67-68)
These people claim to
believe in Allah, but they say that Allah's power is not able to bring them
back to life after they die.
3)
Those who believe in the resurrection, but not in the way it is described in
the Divinely-revealed scriptures.
Evidence Of The Resurrection
The Qur'an and Sunnah
indicate that we should believe in the resurrection. The entire Qur'an, from
beginning to end, is filled with references to the Last Day and details of what
will happen then, proving it with sound reports and analogies given to
reinforce the lesson and guidance. The Qur'an also mentions proof of the
resurrection, to refute those who deny it and to show that they are lying.
Below, we will mention
proof of the resurrection derived from the Qur'an:
1) The All-Knowing, All-Aware, tells us that the
resurrection will take place
The greatest proof that
the resurrection will happen is that Allah, the All-High, has told us of that.
Whoever believes in Allah and believes in His Messenger whom He sent and His
Book which He revealed, has no choice but to believe in what He has told us
about the resurrection, the reckoning, reward and punishment, and Paradise and
Hell.
Allah tells us about it
in various ways, so that the idea may be implanted more firmly in our hearts.
i)
In some places, He tells us that that Day will most certainly come, by using
the Arabic particle in or inna, or laam (all of which may be translated as
"verily").
“Verily, the Hour is
coming and I am almost hiding it..) (TMQ 20: 15)
“Surely, that which you
are promised, will verily, come to pass ... , (TMQ 6: 134)
ii)
Elsewhere, Allah swears an oath that it will come to pass.
“Allah! Laa ilaaha ilia
Huwa [none has the right to be worshipped but He]. Surely, He will gather you
together on the Day of Resurrection about which there is no doubt..) (TMQ 4:
87)
“By [the winds] that
scatter dust; And [the clouds] that bear heavy weight of water; And [the ships]
that float with ease and gentleness; And those [angels] who distribute
[provisions, rain, and other blessings] by [Allah's] Command, Verily, that
which you are promised [i.e. Resurrection in the Hereafter and receiving the
reward or punishment of good or bad deeds] is surely true. And verily, the
Recompense is sure to happen. (TMQ 51: 1-6)
“By the Toor [Mount],
and by the Book Inscribed in parchment unrolled. And by Al-Bayt al-Ma 'moor
[the house over the heavens parallel to the Ka'bah at Makkah, continuously
visited by the angels]. And by the roof raised high [i.e. the heaven]. And by
the sea kept filled [or it will be fire kindled on the Day of Resurrection].
Verily, the Torment of your Lord will surely come to pass. There is none that
can avert it.) (TMQ 52: 1-8)
iii)
In some places, Allah commands His Messenger to swear that the resurrection
will indeed happen:
“Those who disbelieve
say: 'The Hour will not come to us.' Say: 'Yes, by my Lord, the All-Knower of
the Unseen, it will come to you ... ' ) (TMQ 34: 3)
“And they ask you [O'
Muhammad] to inform them [saying] : 'Is it true [i.e. the torment and the establishment
of the Hour]?' Say: 'Yes! By my Lord! It is the very truth! ... ' ) (TMQ 1O:
53)
“The disbelievers
pretend that they will never be resurrected [for the Account]. Say [O'
Muhammad]: 'Yes! By my Lord, you will certainly be resurrected, then you will
be informed of [and recompensed for] what you did . .. ' (TMQ 64: 7)
iv)
Elsewhere, Allah condemns those who deny the resurrection
“Verily, those who
dispute concerning the Hour are certainly in error far away” (TMQ 42: 18)
“Nay, they have no
knowledge of the Hereafter. Nay, they are in doubt about it. Nay, they are in
complete blindness about it) (TMQ 2 7: 66)
v)
Sometimes, He praises those who believe in the Resurrection
Alif-Laam-Meem. This is
the Book [the Qur'an], whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are
Al-Muttaqoon [the pious believers]. Who believe in the Ghaib and perform
As-Salaah, and spend out of what we have provided for them. And who believe in
[the Qur'an and the Sunnah] which has been sent down [revealed] to you
[Muhammad] and in that which were sent down before you [(Torah) and the
(Gospel)] and they believe with certainty in the Hereafter. They are on [true]
guidance from their Lord, and they are the successful) (TMQ 2: 1-5)
“It is not Al-Birr
[piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allah] that you
turn your faces towards east and [or] west [in prayers]; but Al-Birr is [the
quality of] the one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book,
the Prophets .. .) (TMQ 2: 2 77)
vi)
Sometimes, He tells us that this is a true promise, something which will surely
come to pass, an appointed time concerning which there is no doubt:
“ ... That is a Day
whereon mankind will be gathered together, and that is a Day when all will be
present. And We delay it only for a term [already] fixed) (TMQ 11 : 1 03-104)
“O' mankind! Be afraid
of your Lord [by keeping your duty to Him and avoiding all evil], and fear a
Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his
father. Verily, the Promise of Allah is true” (TMQ 31: 33)
vii)
And Allah tells us that it is coming and is near
“Verily, they see it
[the torment] afar off. But We see it [quite] near” (TMQ 70: 6- 7)
“The Hour has drawn near,
and the moon has been cleft asunder” (TMQ 54: 1)
viii)
Elsewhere, Allah praises Himself for bringing His creation back to life after
they die, and He condemns the false gods whom the mushrikeen worship for their
lack of power to create and recreate.
“Yet they have taken besides Him other aalihah
[gods] who created nothing but are themselves created, and possess neither harm
nor benefit for themselves, and possess no power [of causing] death, nor [of
giving] life, nor of raising the dead” (TMQ 25: 3)
ix)
Allah explains that this act of creation and resurrection, which His slaves are
unable to do and is impossible for them, is easy for Him:
“The creation of you all
and the resurrection of you all are only as [the creation and resurrection of]
a single person .. ) (TMQ 31 : 28)
“Does man [a
disbeliever] think that We shall not assemble his bones? Yes, We are able to
put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers” (TMQ 75: 3-4)
2) Using the first creation as evidence for the second
creation
The Qur'an uses the
first creation as evidence for the second creation. Every day we see new life
coming into being: children are born, birds hatch out from their eggs, animals
give birth to their young, fish fill the seas and rivers. Man sees all of that
with his own eyes, then he denies that something like that could happen again
after Allah has caused this life to perish.
Those who seek proof of
the resurrection after death ignore the fact that their own creation is the
greatest proof. The One Who is Able to create them is Able to recreate them.
How often the Qur'an offers proof of the final resurrection by referring to the
first creation, and it reminds of this fact to those who think that it is
unlikely to happen: “And man [the disbeliever] says: 'When I am dead, shall I
then be raised up alive?' Does not man remember that We created him before,
while he was nothing?” (TMQ 19: 66-67)
The Qur'an reminds us
elsewhere of the initial creation of man: Allah created our father Adam from
dust, and the One Who is Able to make dust into a living human being is not
incapable of recreating him as a living human being after he has died.
“O mankind! If you are
in doubt about the Resurrection, then verily, We have created you [i.e. Adam]
from dust, then from a Nutfah [mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge,
i.e. the offspring of Adam], then from a clot [a piece of thick coagulated
blood] then from a little lump of flesh - some formed and some unformed [as in
the case of miscarriage] - that We may make [it] clear to you [i.e. to show you
Our Power and Ability to do what We will]. And We cause whom We will to remain
in the wombs for an appointed term, then We bring you out as infants, then
[give you growth] that you may reach your age of full strength. And among you
there is he who dies [young], and among you there is he who is brought back to
the miserable old age, so that he knows nothing after having known. And you see
the earth barren, but when We send down water [rain] on it, it is stirred [to
life], and it swells and puts forth every lovely kind [of growth]. That is
because Allah: He is the Truth, and it is He Who gives life to the dead, and it
is He Who is Able to do all things. And surely, the Hour is coming, there is no
doubt about it; and certainly, Allah will resurrect those who are in the
graves) (TMQ 22: 5-7)
3) The One Who is able to create a greater thing is able
to create lesser things
It is a fault in human
thinking to accuse someone who is able to carry a heavy load of being unable to
carry a lighter one. How can it be said to the One Who created the heavens and
the earth that He is not able to create lesser things?
“ ... And [they] said:
'When we are bones and fragments, shall we really be raised up as a new
creation?' See they not that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, is
Able to create the like of them. And He has decreed for them an appointed term,
whereof there is no doubt. But the Zaalimoon [polytheists and wrongdoers]
refuse [the truth] but disbelief.” (TMQ 17: 98-99)
“Do they not see that
Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and was not wearied by their
creation, is Able to give life to the dead? Yes, He surely is Able to do all
things.” (TMQ 46: 33)
“The creation of the
heavens and the earth is indeed greater than the creation of mankind (TMQ 40:
57)
4) His (Allah's) Ability to change His creation from one
thing into another
Those who deny the
Resurrection see how people die then tum into dust, and they think that it is
impossible for them to be restored after that.
“And they say: 'When we
are [dead and become] lost in the earth, shall we indeed be created anew?” (TMQ
32: 10)
In more than one place
in the Qur'an, Allah explains that one aspect of His perfect uloohiyah (Divine
Nature) and ruboobiyah (Divine Lordship) is His power to change His creation
from one thing into another. Thus, He gives life and causes death, He creates
and destroys, He brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the
living .
“Verily, it is Allah Who
causes the seed grain and the fruit stone [like date stone] to split and
sprout. He brings forth the living from the dead, and it is He Who brings forth
the dead from the living. Such is Allah, then how are you deluded away from the
truth? [He is the] Cleaver of the daybreak. He has appointed the night for
resting, and the sun and the moon for reckoning. Such is the measuring of the
All-Mighty, the All-Knowing) (TMQ 6: 95-96)
“How can you disbelieve
in Allah? Seeing that you were dead and He gave you life. Then He will give you
death, then again will bring you to life [on the Day of Resurrection] and then
unto Him you will return) (TMQ 2: 28)
“And he puts forth for
Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. He says: 'Who will give life to
these bones after they are rotten and have become dust?' Say [O' Muhammad]: 'He
will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the
All-Knower of every creation! ' He Who produces for you fire out of the green
tree, when behold! you kindle therewith. Is not He Who created the heavens and
the earth, Able to create the like of them? Yes, indeed! He is the All-Knowing
Supreme Creator. Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He
says to it, 'Be! ' and it is! So glorified be He and exalted above all that
they associate with Him, and in Whose Hands is the dominion of all things, and
to Him you shall be returned) (TMQ 36: 78-83)
The one who had put
forth this likeness was one of the disbelievers among the Arabs. The Sunnah
mentions that this non-believer brought a dry bone which he then crumbled and
blew away, then he said to the Messenger*, "O Muhammad, are you claiming
that Allah will resurrect this?" Then Allah revealed these verses,
criticizing the non-believer for his ignorance and misguidance.
a) The initial creation
is used as evidence that re-creation is possible. Every rational person will
understand that the One Who is able to do the former is able to do the latter.
If He were unable to do the latter, He would be even more unable to do the former.
Because creation implies that the Creator has power over His creation, and that
He knows them in detail.
b) Then Allah reinforced
the idea with definitive and conclusive proof, which includes the answer to the
question posed by the disbeliever: when the body disintegrates after death,
bones become cold and dry, but the essence of life is such that it must be warm
and moist, which proves the issue of resurrection and offers the proof and the
answer all in one. Allah says: “He Who produces for you fire out of the green
tree, when behold! you kindle therewith)
Allah tells us that He
brings forth this element, which is found in heat and dryness, from the green
tree, which is filled with moisture and coldness. The One Who brings forth a
thing from its opposite, and to Whom the essence and elements of His creation
are subjugated, will not find any difficulty in that. He is the One Who will do
what the disbelievers deny, which is reviving bodies that have turned to dust.
c) Then Allah confirms
the matter by referring to something greater in order to prove something
lesser. Allah tells us that the One Who initiated the creation of the heavens
and the earth, with all their vastness and splendour, is more able to revive
bones that have turned to dust and restore them to the way they were.
d) Then Allah affirms
this idea by explaining it in another way, which is that the way in which He
does things is different from the way others do them. Others use tools and have
to make an effort, but when Allah wants to create something, all He has to do
is will it, and say to it, "Be! " then it exists just as He wills it.
Then Allah concludes this argument by telling us that the sovereignty of all
things is in His hand, and He controls everything by His action and His words.
5) The resurrection of some dead things in this life.
Some human beings, at
various times in history, have witnessed the revival of dead bodies and dry
bones; they have even witnessed life coming into inanimate objects. Allah has
told us of some of these dazzling miracles. For example:
- The people of Musa*
were struck with a thunderbolt (TMQ 2: 55-56);
- The Children of Israel
killed a man then Allah brought him back to life with a piece the cow (TMQ 2:
73).
- Allah has told us
about the people who fled from their homes by the thousands; He caused them to
die then He brought them back to life (TMQ 2: 243).
- And He tells us of a
man who passed by a town which was dilapidated, and he wondered how Allah could
bring it back to life after it had died (TMQ 2: 259).
- Ibrahim* (Abraham)
prayed to his Lord to show him how He revived the dead when he took four birds
(TMQ 2: 260).
- Isa* (Jesus) moulded
clay into the shapes of birds, then he breathed into them by Allah's Leave (TMQ
3: 49).
- Allah caused the
people of the Cave to sleep for three hundred and nine years (TMQ 18: 12).
6) The parable of the revival of the earth with
vegetation
Allah coins a parable of
the resurrection of dead bodies and dry bones, by likening it to His reviving
the earth with vegetation after it has been dead.
“(Look then at the
effects [results] of Allah's Mercy, how He revives the earth after its death.
Verily, that [Allah] [Who revived the earth after its death] shall indeed raise
the dead [on the Day of Resurrection], and He is Able to do all things.” (TMQ
30: 50)
“(And Who sends down
water [rain] from the sky in due measure, then We revive a dead land therewith,
and even so you will be brought forth [from the graves]) (TMQ 43: 11)
7) The wisdom of Allah dictates that His slaves will be
resurrected to be brought to account and requited.
“Shall We then treat the
Muslims like the Mujrimoon [criminals, polytheists and disbelievers]? What is
the matter with you? How judge you? Or have you a Book wherein you learn, That
you shall therein have all that you choose?” (TMQ 68: 35-38)
“And We created not the
heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the
consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve [in
Islamic Monotheism] from the Fire! Shall We treat those who believe and do
righteous good deeds as Mushriqun [polytheists] on earth? Or shall We treat the
Muttaqoon [the pious] as the Fujjaar [criminals, disbelievers, the wicked]?”
(TMQ 38: 2 7-28)
Importance of that Day compared to this life
If you want to know the
importance of akhirah compared to dunya, use a simple mathematical equation.
We’re going to live in dunya for 60, 70, 100 years? The akhirah is infinity. If
you divide a hundred by infinity, what do you get? ZERO! So it is zero
importance compared to akhirah! And the Qur’an mentions akhirah with elaborate
details in many places.
There was a Bedouin who
made a du’a in front of the Prophet* and he* was very impressed with this long du’a
and the last part of it was, “….I ask you to make the best of my deeds the last
ones and the best of my life, the end of it. Oh Allah, make the best of my
days, the day I meet you.”
The situation of people on the Day of Judgment
The next few study weeks
we will structure the Study Circle on the Day of Judgment into 3 parts - the
situation of people based upon: the disbelievers, the Muslims who are sinners
and the muttaqeen.
The Disbelievers on the Day of Judgment
Disgrace & Degradation (Adh-dhul wa hawaan)
Adh-dhul wa hawaaan
means the disgrace and the degradation that the ones who rejected truth go
through on the Day Of Judgment.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“The Day when they will come out of the graves quickly as racing to a goal.” (TMQ
70:43)
In reality, they are not
running to a particular place. They are running because of the events happening
on that day and the fear in the heart. Allah describes it in another ayah they
are running around as if drunk:
“You shall see mankind
as in a drunken state, yet they will not be drunken, but severe will be the
Torment of Allah.” (TMQ 22:2)
The dhalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.)
Many of us, when we see
oppression and dhulm, we wonder, “How could this happen and how could Allah
allow it to happen?” (The oft-quoted ‘Problem of Evil’). Allah says:
“Consider not that Allah is unaware of that
which the dhalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.) 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).” (TMQ
14:42-43)
The people are staring
and their eyes cannot blink because you cannot afford a moment of inattention
that day. In the dunya, all of its life, the eye was asleep. That is the day
when everything will be revealed. Allah also says that the hearts will be like
air that day – anything that happens that day will throw a fear shock in their
bodies. Allah describes their hearts as kadhimeen.
“Warn them (O Muhammad)
of the Day of the approaching (doom), when the hearts will be choking the
throats….” (TMQ 40:18)
Standing awaiting Judgment
When we talk about the Day
of Judgment, we talk about it as if it’s in the future – something
unattainable. However, Allah talks about it and calls it al-azifa - something
that is right here, something very close!
“The Command of Allah
has come up; so do not seek to hasten it…” (TMQ 16:1)
Look back at your life –
all your memories. If you combine them and narrate them, it will take a few
hours. Pretty soon, we will be lying on our beds, ready to pass away. Then we
will be standing awaiting Judgment:
Yawm al-Qiyaamah is one
of the names of the Day of Judgment (Qiyaamah = standing). According to the
deeds of people, they will sweat on that day. The righteous ones will be under
the shade of the Throne (‘arsh) of Allah.
Miqdad b. Aswad
reported: I heard Allah’s Messenger* saying: “On the Day of Resurrection, the
sun would draw so close to the people that there would be left only a distance
of one mile.” Sulaim b. Amir said: By Allah, I do not know whether he meant by
“mile” the mile of the (material) earth or an instrument used for applying
collyrium [alkohl] to the eye.
“The people would be
submerged in perspiration [sweat] according to their deeds, some up to their
knees; some up to the waist and some would have the bridle of perspiration”
And, while saying this, Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) pointed his
hand towards his mouth. [Muslim]
Biting your hand
A lot of ayaat in the Qur’an
demand imagination in the Qur’an. Allah gives images in the Qur’an. Especially
with alakhirah, Allah uses images to convey the information.
“And the Day the
wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, ‘Oh, I wish I had
taken with the Messenger a way!’” (TMQ 25:27)
“And on the Day when the
Hour will be established, the Mujrimun (disbelievers, sinners, etc.) will be
plunged into destruction with deep regrets, sorrows, and despair.” (TMQ 30:12)
“Upon that Day, (the
ones) who have disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger do like that the earth
were leveled with them….” (TMQ 4:42)
In a state of extreme
regret, you could bite on your finger. Allah did not say they are biting on
their fingers or hands. Allah says they will bite their hands - biting and
crushing their bones, but not feeling that pain because the pain of regret is
more. Even though regret is psychological pain, the physical pain of biting the
hands would be less. This is a person who was attached to dunya. They loved and
valued life so much. On the Day of Judgment, they will ask Allah to level them
with the earth.
“When the disbeliever
would say, ‘I wish that I were dirt!’”
Jannah Tips #2: Building a House in Paradise
The Prophet* has told us
of the way in which the believer may acquire more than one house in Paradise:
Ibn 'Abbaas that the
Prophet* said, " Whoever
builds a mosque for Allah – though it be the size of the ground nest of a
sandgrouse – Allah will build for him a house in Paradise". [Ahmed]
The Prophet* said
"Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build something similar for
him in Paradise". [Ahmad, al-Bukhaari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah]
Umm Habeebah that the
Prophet* said, "Whoever prays twelve extra [Sunnah / supererogatory]
rak'ahs every day, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise." [Muslim,
Abu Dawud, Ahmad, an-Nasaie, and Ibn Maajah]
What are the sunnah
prayers? For example:
- Two before fajr;
- four before dhuhr
& two after dhuhr;
- two after maghrib and
- two after isha.
Every day, you could be
building yourself a new house in Jannah. While it could take you years to build
a house for yourself in this dunya, but in akhirah you can get it for these
prayers every day. Let us take advantage of this reward.
Ameen
