Article appeared Friday, June 21st, 2019 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (575) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Often with differing details, Holy Scriptures mention a day called the Day of Judgment.
What is the Day of Judgment and should it be a matter of concern? Should we research
to find out what exactly the Scriptures do say about this day and also work out whether
such a day can or should logically exist?

First lets find out about the Day of Judgment itself. What is it? When is it to happen?
What is its purpose? In the Holy Scripture, the Qur’an alone, we find about 1,200 Verses
{1} that deal with death, the Day of Resurrection and the Day of Judgment. This is out of
a total of 6,236 Verses or Ayahs {2} in the Qur’an, i.e., approximately 19%. On this Day,
resurrection will take place so that judgment can take place. Lets study some Verses to
add meaning to the various terms used. What is Resurrection?
“And verily the Hour will come: there can be no doubt about it or about (the fact)
that God will raise up all who are in the graves.” [22.7]

The Hour or time will be when all those who have died will be raised or resurrected, i.e.,
re-created or re-constituted from their state in the grave. A previous Verse addresses
any doubts that we may have regarding being resurrected.
“O mankind! If you have a doubt about the Resurrection (consider) that We
created you out of dust then out of sperm then out of a leech-like clot then out a
morsel of flesh partly formed and partly unformed in order that We may manifest
(Our Power) to you; and We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an
appointed term then do We bring you out as babies then (foster you) that you
may reach your age of full strength; and some of you are called to die and some
are sent back to the feeblest old age so that they know nothing after having
known (much). And (further, if you observe, as a similar situation) you see the
earth barren and lifeless but when We pour down rain on it, it is stirred (to life), it
swells and it puts forth every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs).” [22.5]

To allay doubts, God describes the stages of how He creates each baby unseen in the
mother’s womb. Further, He asks us to observe something that we can easily see, e.g.,
dry, patched and barren earth where there is no growth or life. When He sends down
rain, He also gives life to all kinds of growth (male and female plants and vegetation). In
Chapter 18 of the Qur’an, God also describes how he resurrected [18.19] the Seven
Sleepers {3} after 300+ years. He did this to show that He will have no trouble raising all
[18.21] those who are in their graves. So, why does He create, make us die and then
why will He resurrect us?
“This is so because God is the Reality: it is He Who gives life to the dead and it
is He Who has power over all things.” [22.6]

If we do not accept God as reality while on earth and make Him the focus of our life, we
will surely have to do so after resurrection – it is then we will realize who has power over
all things. We will then be able to witness that He has resurrected or re-created each
individual. What will happen after we are resurrected? The article The Day of Judgment
and Resurrection {1} in Al-Islam.org summarizes:
“The day of resurrection will be the time when all of humankind will be brought
back to their original physical form. There will be a time on earth when everything
that God created (as we know it) will cease. Every human being, from the past to
the present, will be resurrected and examined by their deeds. This day is called
the “Day of Judgment.”” {1}
What deeds will be examined? Since God has created everything to manifest His Own
Truth, would it be logical to assume that the primary test would be whether we have
fulfilled His Purpose? How can a human being, given the fact that he/she is the only
creation that can process knowledge, establish or witness the truth of God? Given our
intellectual capacity, we can ask questions about what we observe and read. For
example, how many questions can we come up with when we study Verse 22.5 given
above? Once we do this, and realize that God is above all the things/objects we give
priority to on earth, what kind of attitude should we develop towards Him? As a first step,
we should logically work out His Reality and adore Him with our hearts. Then we can
help others discover Him. After judgment on fulfilling His Purpose, the next logical
judgment would be on whether we have done injustice to His equally created rest of
creation. So, what are the events that will take place on that Day?

25.25 “And (mention) the Day when the heaven will split open with clouds
and the angels will be sent down descending (in ranks).”
It is difficult to imagine the heavens being split open; however, there will be huge clouds
amidst which the angels will descend to carry out God’s commands.

25.26 “That Day the dominion as of right and truth shall be (wholly) for
(God, the) Most Merciful: it will be a day of great difficulty for the
disbelievers.”
The laws that we see functioning in nature will stop, God’s angels will be carrying out His
Commands. The resurrected will be able to observe this. Those who established God’s
truth in their minds and hearts will recognize the beginning of the Day of Judgment, while
realization will dawn on those who did not turn to discover Him while on earth.

25.27 “The Day that the wrongdoer will bite at his hands (in regret), he will
say, "Oh! Would that I had taken a (straight) path with the Apostle
(Messenger)!”

25.28 “"Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken such a one for a
friend!”
Disbelievers would then think about those who misguided them and feel sorry for
themselves and when complete realization dawns they will panic and be terrified. They
will also blame Satan.

25.29 “"He did lead me away from the remembrance (of God and His
Message in Scriptures) after it had come to me! Satan is but a traitor to
man!”
Those through whom the message of God was delivered will then comment:

25.30 “Then the Messenger will say, "O my Lord, indeed, my people took
this Qur'an for just foolish nonsense."”
Should we check whether we have turned to God [11.3] while we still have time on
earth?
-------
{Notes}:
{1} https://www.al-islam.org/discovering-islam-moustafa-al-qazwini/day-judgment-and-resurrection-qiyama
{2} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80yah
{3} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sleepers