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THE EVENTS OF THAT DAY
As the Qur'an reveals,
the Day of Judgment is "the Day mankind
will stand before the Lord of all the worlds" (Surat al-Mutaffifin,
6). It is a fierce day of events never seen before,
a day during which the universe and all of its contents will be destroyed.
On that Day, everyone will witness and understand Allah's power. The unbelievers
will suffer great fear, terror, and suffering, and all of their hidden
remorse, fear, and debasement will be experienced.
The Qur'an presents several allegories of this event. This chapter provides
a general description of this Day's events and explores their meanings.
Allah knows best, and only His knowledge is infinite. We, on the other
hand, can understand and relate only what He has revealed and taught.
Everything related in this chapter comes from the Qur'an, and therefore
is beyond doubt. Given that only Allah knows how all of these events will
occur, things might happen differently than we expect. We only know the
following facts for certain: His promised events will take place,
people on the Day of Judgment will come face to face with a spectacular
scene unlike anything seen before, and that the universe and all of its
contents will be completely destroyed. People will not have the opportunity
to learn the reason for this, to escape and save themselves, or to strive
for a solution. Everyone will realize that Allah and the Hereafter exist.
THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET
The Day Begins When the Trumpet Is Blown
The Trumpet will be blown. That is the Day of
the Threat. (Surah Qaf, 20)
The sounding of the trumpet proclaims that the Day of Judgment, promised
by Allah, has finally come, that this world has ended, and that the Hereafter
has begun. Everyone has been informed of this great Day and what it holds,
and has been warned that they would be brought to account. Now, they are
face to face with this promised reality. This unexpected sound, which
is unlike anything ever heard before, will cause people to realize that
their time is up, for it indicates the beginning of infinite fear, terror,
and hopelessness for the unbelievers—a very hard Day for them indeed.
Allah says:
For when the Trumpet is blown, that Day will be a difficult day, not
easy for the unbelievers. (Surat al-Muddaththir, 8-10)
Those who are fooled by the world order's temporary attractions and
attach themselves tightly to such things are blind to the reality of Allah's
existence and unity. They are supposedly happy and content with this illusion,
and live without any consideration for the Creator of all or for His creation
and its progress toward its end. In reality, since Allah created this
order, He will cause this spectacular system to cease to be, by giving
a single command, in a mind-blowing fashion. Those who do not think that
they will meet such a day will awake from their slumber immediately when
the trumpet sounds. However, their new state will be of no benefit to
them, for by this time it will be far too late to do anything for Allah
and the Hereafter.
But why is it too late? Allah informs us that the reason behind this is
that such people wasted their lives and ignored the trial and also the
reality of the Hereafter. Such an attitude engenders a severe punishment,
for its source is the individual's satisfaction with this limited world
and ignoring the possibility of a past and future. People holding this
attitude crave this life's temporary pleasures and disregard creation's
purpose, and so spend their lives without wondering why they live, why
they were created, what the Creator expects of them, and why they will
die. They know about death, but are also aware that its reality raises
questions that beg for answers. Therefore, they turn away and try to distance
themselves from these thoughts as much as possible. In reality, however,
the sole purpose for each person's creation and short life on Earth is
to serve Allah. People who are aware of death's proximity, the shortness
of this life, and that whatever happens to them is part of their trial,
are also aware that they will meet with what the Qur'an reveals to them.
Therefore, they understand that their sole purpose for being alive is
to live for Allah. Realizing this while alive is a great benefit, for
it causes people to distance themselves from the deceptive world and turn
to their real home: the Hereafter.
The greatest desire of those who chase after pleasure and lust is that
this order will go on forever. But even that sometimes does not make them
content, for life always contains problems and difficulties. Moreover,
Satan has countless tactics to keep them from believing in the infinite
sufferings of the Hereafter and has them prefer this life of hardship
and sadness over faith. But when such people hear the trumpet sound, maybe
while driving to work or while getting ready for bed, they will realize
that all of their postponed ambitions and expectations are for naught,
and thus will fall into a state of utmost despair. The order that they
had hoped would go on forever has ended, as have their own lives. Everything
that they refused to believe in, despite knowing about them, now has caught
up with them. Those people who lived in the shadow of false powers that
were "protecting them" now have nowhere to seek refuge, because
all people except the believers are in the same hopeless situation. They
have surrendered to the inevitable, and all people whoever lived are now
assembled together in Allah's presence:
The Trumpet will be blown, and at once they will be sliding from their
graves toward their Lord. (Surah Ya Sin, 51)
For the unbelievers, this event means "meeting the very thing from
which he or she ran away," as well as "the end of the last opportunity
to correct one's errors." The fear of that moment is indescribable,
for such panic and terror has never been heard of or seen before. It might
have been possible to make good mistakes or they might have been forgotten
over time, but the trumpet's sound proclaims that no more time is left.
On that Day, this sound will bring great fear to the unbelievers, and
everybody will surrender to this reality. Allah reveals that:
On the Day the Trumpet is blown and everyone in
the heavens and everyone on Earth is terrified—except those Allah
wills, everyone will come to Him abject. (Surat an-Naml, 87)
All people are aware of this Day, for Allah has warned people with His
messengers and verses about a "day of no return." In addition,
He has reminded them to turn to Him and has told them that those who refuse
to do so will not be helped after death. The Qur'an reveals the regret
experienced by those who met with punishment at a moment they did not
expect, and the reality that they will not be helped, in the following
way: Turn to your Lord and submit to Him before punishment comes upon
you, for then you cannot be helped. Follow the best that has been sent
down to you from your Lord before the punishment comes upon you suddenly,
when you are not expecting it, lest anyone should say:
"Woe to me, for neglecting what Allah was due and for being one
of the scoffers!" or lest they should say: "If only Allah had
guided me, I would have been more heedful," or lest he should say,
when he sees the punishment: "If only I could have another chance
so that I could be a good-doer!" "No, the fact is that My Signs
came to you, but you denied them and were arrogant and were one of the
unbelievers." On the Day of Resurrection you will see those who lied
about Allah with their faces blackened. Do not the arrogant have a dwelling
place in Hell? (Surat az-Zumar, 54-60)
This life of temporary pleasure comes to an end when the trumpet sounds.
All people have come face to face with what was promised. The fear and
terror that they experience when confronted with such events is beyond
words. All people are following the same call and realize that they have
met with a reality from which they cannot escape.
EARTH
Earth Will Be Shaken by Quakes
When Earth is convulsed with its quaking, and Earth then disgorges its
charges, and man asks: "What is wrong with it?" on that Day
it will impart all of its news, because your Lord has inspired it. (Surat
az-Zilzal, 1-5)
On the Day of Judgment, an ear-shattering sound will follow the sounding
of the trumpet, and an unequalled tremor will rock Earth. Massive mountains,
trees, skyscrapers, buildings—in fact every place on Earth—will
begin to rock at the same time. People will panic and be gripped by great
fear. The most fear-inspiring aspect is that no one can escape it or find
any sort of refuge, for this tremor is not like the ones with which we
are familiar; rather, this tremor will continue until Earth has been flattened.
(Allah knows best.) Allah describes these tremors, as follows:
On the Day the first blast shudders, and the second blast follows it,
hearts that Day will be pounding and eyes will be cast down. (Surat an-Nazi‘at,
6-9)
Try to imagine how much the tremors known to us affect those who experience
them. These tremors lasted only for seconds, but the results were nevertheless
devastating. Hundred of thousands died in or under collapsed buildings,
and survivors were left destitute. Homes, property, earnings, and savings
were destroyed in no time. These calamities were seen by everyone and,
in those seconds, no person or force could resist them. The tremors of
the Day of Judgment will have no equals in terms of severity, consequence,
and the size of area affected. When they are over, there will be no ruins
or life left on this planet.
No matter how severe the tremor, people who are prepared for such an event
often find a way to survive. However, upon hearing the trumpet sound,
even they will realize that this is no ordinary tremor and that there
is no possibility of escape.
The Qur'an warns of this event and of the tremors, as follows:
Mankind, heed your Lord! The quaking of the Hour
is a terrible thing. (Surat al-Hajj, 1)
At that moment, nothing on Earth will have any meaning. Everything that
led people astray (e.g., luxurious houses, gigantic skyscrapers, 5-star
hotels, ambitiously accumulated life savings, houses, decorations, palaces,
bridges, all of the most famous buildings, the Pyramids that have survived
all natural disasters so far, historic castles, and whole cities) all
will crumble like sand castles on the beach. Everything that makes people
proud to possess it, as well as their fame, honor, prestige, and power,
will be destroyed instantly and become meaningless instantaneously, for:
No indeed! When Earth is crushed and ground to dust, and your Lord arrives
with the angels rank upon rank, and that Day Hell is produced, that Day
man will remember. But how will the remembrance help him? (Surat al-Fajr,
21-23)
When the entire planet gives way, those who found all kinds of excuses
to deny Allah and who did not engage in any acts of worship, despite knowing
what was required, finally will realize that there is refuge only in Allah.
However, it now is too late for them to make amends, and their remorse
is of no use either.
After fear, the next most-felt emotion on that Day will be incapacity.
Humanity, who took precautions against every possible calamity and deadly
disaster (e.g., severe earthquakes, fierce hurricanes, and even nuclear
war), will be unable to hide from or survive this event. Nothing and nobody,
regardless of how they were perceived while alive, will be able to guide
them to safety.
Earth Disgorges Its Charges
And Earth then disgorges its charges, and man asks: "What is wrong
with it?" on that Day it will impart all of its news, because your
Lord has inspired it. (Surat az-Zilzal, 2-5)
Earth's core, beginning at a depth of 5,000-6,000 kms
(3,000-3,700 miles) from the surface, consists of highly pressurized magma
that has an estimated temperature of 5,000oC (9,000oF).1
The lava flows from volcanic eruptions come from areas close
to the core. Throughout history, volcanic eruptions have caused terror,
brought death to many people, and, in some cases, buried whole cities.
Lava emerges from cracks in Earth's crust and, the higher the pressure,
the higher it spurts into the sky. The main factor in this process is
the presence of various gases that separate from the liquid substance
on the way to the surface, for they form a layer above the magma and increase
the pressure. The higher the proportion of gases, the greater the force
of the resulting explosions. The boiling lava turns the area's surface
into a quasi Hell. Such localized eruptions affect only a limited area.
Researchers can anticipate such calamities and ensure that the necessary
precautions are taken.
The Qur'an says that "Earth will disgorge its charges," indicating
that, in addition to the many other things underground, the magma will
spill over. The rocking tremors that are cracking the planet's crust on
a global level, will prepare the ground for such a disaster. On the Day
of Judgment, devastating earthquakes will turn Earth upside down, and
people trying to escape the debris falling on them will get caught in
the lava spilling out of Earth's cracked surface. Once again, they will
realize that there is no escape from death. Disaster will follow disaster,
and people will get caught in one or the other. (Allah knows best.)
Earth bows to Allah's will, for:
When Earth is flattened out and disgorges what is inside it and empties
out, hearkening to its Lord, as it is bound to do! (Surat al-Inshiqaq,
3-5)
The Final Day has arrived, humanity's time is up, and everything has
ended. No living thing can escape this day, for when it finally ends,
there will be nothing left: no seed, plant, microorganism—not even
Earth itself.
Magma is not the only load that will be emptied out on that Day. Magma
conducts heat and chemical reactions to the outer layer (the mantle) and
between the mantle and the crust. Therefore, it probably will carry intense
heat and many other subterranean substances to the surface, thereby increasing
the surface temperature to previously unknown levels. Such events will
cause Earth to spew forth all of its contents: minerals, coal, crude oil,
fossils, corpses, ruins, and so on. Earth will be turned upside down,
for:
When the graves are emptied out, each self will know what it has sent
ahead and left behind. (Surat al-Infitar, 4-5)
Ground water will emerge from the cracks and, due to its highly pressurized
nature, will cause damage in the vicinity and flood the entire planet.
Volcanic eruptions will send pollutants into the higher atmosphere. History
shows us that following such eruptions, dust and ash rain down on the
affected area and sometimes even bury it. Allah says that "the mountains
become scattered dust in the air" (Surat al-Waqi‘a, 6). Based
on this, it is highly probable that such explosions and eruptions will
happen everywhere on Earth on the Day of Judgment.
People will be met by a devastating punishment. The dust and smoke clouds
blanketing every place, as well as the gases spreading out all at once,
will suffocate people and cause great suffering. All of these events will
make the unbelievers realize the scale of the eternal suffering awaiting
them in Hell. Allah ends the lives of people with such a shocking spectacle,
and for the unbelievers He has prepared an unspeakable spiritual and physical
suffering. In the face of such overpowering events, a devastating fear
of death will cover the planet, and nothing but fear and remorse will
be left.
THE MOUNTAINS
Mountains Will Be Uprooted and Scattered as Dust
When the mountains are pulverized. (Surat al-Mursalat,
10)
As we know, mountains act as quasi shock absorbers. The Qur'an says:
He cast firmly embedded mountains on Earth so
it would not move under you, and rivers and pathways so that hopefully
you would be guided. (Surat an-Nahl, 15)
Have We not made the Earth a resting place and the mountains as stakes?
(Surat al-Naba', 6-7)
The most severe earthquake ever recorded measured 9.5
on the Richter Scale.2 Such an earthquake
devastates the surrounding area in a matter of seconds. The tremors of
the Day of Judgment, unless Allah decrees otherwise, will be of a force
never seen before. Even the mountains, which usually reduce the effects,
will be unable to withstand it. The most solid buildings and rock-solid
mountains will be shaken up and begin to slide, as follows:
And the mountains shift about. (Surat at-Tur,
10)
And the mountains are shifted and become a mirage. (Surat an-Naba', 20)
On the Day We make the mountains move and you see the Earth laid bare,
and We gather them together, not leaving out a single one of them. (Surat
al-Kahf, 47)
A great part of our planet is covered by mountains. Without a doubt,
seeing all of them shaken from their places, pushed across Earth's face,
and smashed up against one another, thereby flattening the whole planet,
will be one of the most shocking scenes ever seen. We can hardly imagine
such a scene.
Imagine that the Himalayas, the Alps, and the Taurus mountains, which
people consider unshakable and climbers struggle to ascend, all of a sudden
were rocked and began to collapse and flatten themselves, as well as the
surrounding towns.
Building roadways through mountainous areas requires great technological
means, machines, and tools. But even then, they are often used to no avail.
Using dynamite to make a path is of little use, because it has only a
local effect, or sometimes no effect at all. For this reason, many mountainous
areas cannot be reached. On the Day of Judgment, all mountains will be
pulverized. This is a very effective example of the destruction that will
be wrought on that Day. Simultaneously, all mountains will be reduced
to dust and spectacular buildings will collapse—a truly awe-inspiring
situation. These events help us understand Allah's infinite power. The
Qur'an says that:
On the Day the Earth and mountains shake and the mountains become like
shifting dunes. (Surat al-Muzzammil, 14)
The Qur'an also states that Earth will be devoid of hills and craters,
for the destruction of the mountains will cause the planet's surface to
become level, as follows:
They will ask you about the mountains. Say: "My Lord will scatter
them as dust. He will leave them as a barren, level plain on which you
will see no dip or gradient." (Surah Ta Ha, 105-107)
The uneven ground we see today will be flat on that Day, for all people
will be assembled on an endless plain:
On the Day We make the mountains move, you see
the earth laid bare, and We gather them together, not leaving out a single
one of them. (Surat al-Kahf, 47)
Mountains Will Be Scattered like Colored Fluffs
of Wool
On that Day, the mountains, together with all of the plants, flowers,
vegetation, minerals, and differently colored soils will be scattered
around together. The mountains, having become dust and smoke, will be
dispersed. This color scheme is described in the verses:
[On the Day] the mountains [will be] like tufts of colored wool. (Surat
al-Qari‘a, 5; Surat al-Ma‘arij, 9)
On that Day, the Subduer's command will have everything under its control,
living or nonliving. A great fear will dominate every scene. People who
panic at the slightest tremor, and who, fearing for their lives, cannot
return to their homes for hours afterwards, will be in an unbearable situation
when they see the mountains shaken from their places, the ground spitting
out everything that it had concealed, graves being turned inside out,
disaster chasing disaster, and all people being gathered together. There
will be no one left to trust, and no safe refuge. The event's terror will
pass far beyond their limits of endurance. There will be nothing that
they can do, no starting over, and no place left to go. The new beginning
is in the Hereafter, which is endless and full of suffering and remorse
for those who did not seek Allah's good pleasure while they were alive.
All of their worldly pleasures, ambitions, and life are finished. The
terror they encounter will reflect Allah's infinite power.
In truth, Allah's Messengers and the believers have informed them of these
facts. But this devastating Day seemed far off, and so they relied on
temporary possessions and themselves. Allah reveals that the unbelievers
have been warned, as follows:
Warn mankind of the Day when the punishment will
reach them. Those who did wrong will say: "Our Lord, reprieve us
for a short time. We will respond to Your call and follow the Messengers."
[But it will be said] "But did you not swear to Me before that you
would never meet your downfall, even though you inhabited the houses of
those who had wronged themselves, and it was made clear to you how We
had dealt with them, and We gave you many examples?" (Surah Ibrahim,
44-45)
Now they are all alone amidst the danger. Everybody fears for their
own lives, and no one cares for anyone else. No one can escape, for Allah's
promised day has arrived. Fleeing one's house will be of no use, for everything
is being destroyed, and the ground and mountains are shifting all at once.
There is no refuge, no protector, and no preventive action. The Qur'an
describes the mountains' destruction on the Day of Judgment, as follows:
And the Earth and the mountains are lifted and crushed with a single
blow, on that Day, the Occurrence will occur. (Surat al-Haqqa, 14-15)
THE OCEANS
We should remind ourselves of an important point when describing all of
these scenes, which are based upon Qur'anic verses: All of these events
will take place according to Allah's will, for He has promised that they
will occur. No doubt, Allah can destroy and then level everything in a
spectacular manner, for:
That is Allah's promise. Allah does not break His promise. But most
people do not know it. (Surat ar-Rum, 6)
People who were proud of themselves will be worth nothing. Humanity,
who considered itself great and powerful before Allah, who denied Him
out of self-conceit, will be forlorn and weak amid these events. Everything
that people considered greater than themselves will surrender on this
Day, as decreed by Allah. Mountains, oceans, the whole universe—all
will lose their rock-solid appearance and bow to Allah's will. Everything
will be finished by Allah's command "Be!," for they have obeyed
Allah's order and fulfilled their roles as His submissive servants. When
the mountains are destroyed and scattered like colored wool, and when
the ground gives up its contents, Allah's infinite greatness will be reflected.
The Qur'an reveals that the oceans will be ablaze and boil over on that
Day.
The Inferno of the Oceans
It is almost impossible to imagine the oceans, which cover three-fourths
of Earth's surface, coming to a furious boil all at once. Even when forcing
the limits of their minds, people can have only a vague idea of just how
terrifying that event will be. So far, our personal experience probably
consists of images of erupting volcanoes or burning crude oil tankers
seen on television or in photographs. However, the descriptions given
in the verses are beyond comparison. Only our knowledge of Allah's infinite
greatness, power, and might can give an idea about the scale of these
expected calamities, for He can alter or overturn the universe's order
as part of the greater scheme of things.
Along with everything else being spewed out of the ground, hot lava, having
an estimated temperature of 5,000oC (9,000oF) will spill over wherever
it can, including into the oceans. Those who have seen lava emerging from
the bottom of the ocean in documentaries have witnessed something really
amazing. The scenes on the Day of Judgment, however, will be very different,
for they will be all-encompassing and far more terrifying. The oceans
will burn, and an inescapable wall of fire will engulf people. On that
Day, all oceans will be set alight.
As Allah says in the Qur'an:
When the seas are filled with flame. (Surat at-Takwir, 6)
As a result of this, all aquatic life, as well as all terrestrial life,
on Earth will cease. The oceans, usually soothing and cooling, suddenly
will spread an incredible heat. Instead of huge waves, there will be waves
of fire, and oxygen will be replaced by smoke. The scene of oceans burning
ferociously, boiling over and spewing forth their contents, will dominate
a great part of the world and bring vast devastation.
The Oceans Will Spill Their Contents
In addition to all of the above, the oceans will also rise, as mentioned
in the following verse:
When the oceans flood and overflow. (Surat al-Infitar, 3)
By Allah's will, calamities also will come from the oceans. As Allah
is the All-Mighty and the Creator of Earth and all of its contents, all
He has to do is utter the command "Be!," and whatever He wills
occurs. The probable circumstances (only Allah knows the exact ones) leading
up to these events serve to remind us of, and to be awed by, Allah as
we draw closer to Him.
Some of the probable events have to do with the rising of the oceans.
As we know, earthquakes on the ocean floor cause tidal waves on the surface.
The resulting tremors can send waves racing toward the shore at speeds
of up to 750 kms (466 miles) per hour. Waves that start out as less than
a meter (3 feet) high in the open sea can be 60 meters (200 feet) high
by the time they reach the shore. A 25-35 meters (80 to 100 feet) high
tidal wave created by a strong earthquake in Japan in 1896 swept over
the town of Honshu, killing 25,000 people.
Volcanic eruptions are another cause of tidal waves. The tidal wave created
by the eruption of the volcano on Krakatoa in 1883 caused Krakatoa Island,
located between Java and Sumatra, to submerge suddenly and unleash a tidal
wave that hit one of the most densely populated stretches of Java's coastline.
The wave, which destroyed 165 villages and killed 36,000 people, was more
than 35 meters (110 feet) high when it reached the shore. Such events
demonstrate that underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions can have
a localized effect and cause flooding and widespread death further afield.
On the Day of Judgment, every place on Earth, whether underground or underwater,
will be shaken. The violent tremors on the ocean floor will arouse the
oceans and cause tidal waves and flooding on a global scale, something
that we can hardly imagine.
The oceans will rise for other reasons as well. Their calm nature depends
on the laws of nature. On that Day, however, these laws will be overturned,
just like all the other laws upon which the delicate balances of the heavens,
Earth, and people rest. The pillars of this perfect equilibrium, all of
which were created by Allah's will, will be destroyed at once again by
His will. Also, it is quite probable that the underground heat will increase
the atmospheric temperature, thus melting the ice at both poles and raising
the water levels.
We also know that landslides can cause unusually high waves on a lake
or bay. On the Day of Judgment, not one mountain will be left standing,
and Earth's surface will be leveled. Rocks rolling down the mountains
will fill the ocean beds and cause floods.
Once Allah's appointed time has come, such fear-inspiring events will
unfold one after another: a deafening blast; the pulverizing of mountains;
lava erupting from under people's feet; dust, gas, and smoke clouds suffocating
Earth's surface; and scolding hot water overflowing onto people…
a sudden remorse befalling those who did not contemplate Allah's existence
or His might while alive… an overwhelming torment that subdues everyone
indiscriminately, that exposes people's helplessness, the worthlessness
of all that they valued while alive… The people's fear and the terror
will be indescribable. They will be running from place to place, hunting
for cover and salvation, knowing that there is no escape.
THE SKIES
The Day of Judgment's terror and destruction is not limited just to the
events taking place on Earth. On that Day, all beings as well as all that
we consider to be habitual and familiar and take for granted will be destroyed.
It is also the universe's final day, the scale of which has defied human
comprehension throughout history, along with the incredibly huge stars
that we only began to understand in the last century. The sky, the Moon
and the Sun, stars and planets, will all be destroyed, in accordance with
what Allah has revealed:
What you are promised will certainly happen. When the stars are extinguished,
when Heaven is split open. (Surat al-Mursalat, 7-9)
For those who can sense just how extraordinary everything is and wish
to perceive the absolute Creator's existence, many signs, in the form
of objects and events that He has created since time began, lead them
to faith in Him. Allah created the stars, planets, and all other objects
in the infinite universe by a single command and sustains all of them
in perfect equilibrium. This origination and balance preserves its mystery
and continues to occupy people's minds. In reality, people who are looking
for answers find only one truth: The existence of Allah. The events of
the Final Day will reflect the Creator's greatness, for Allah has prepared
a unique and spectacular end for the heavens, just as he has for everything
in existence.
The sky has always been like a ceiling to people, certain to exist and
persist; a glorious ceiling raised and sustained without pillars by Allah:
a fabulous screen between the vast universe and them.
This ceiling has protected our world and its inhabitants from countless
dangers (e.g., ultraviolet radiation, meteorites, and the freezing temperatures
of space) without fail for ages, and remains an absolute necessity for
the continuation of life. The light coming through the darkness of space
is distributed on Earth as it is because of the atmosphere's qualities,
and warms and lights the planet. And, the delicate balance of the atmosphere's
oxygen content enables humanity to breathe and live. However, on that
Day the sky will no longer fulfill its functions, for it will have reached
its end. The Qur'an reveals these events, as follows:
On the Day when Heaven sways to and fro. (Surat
at-Tur, 9)
The Heaven will be split apart therefrom; His promise will be fulfilled.
(Surat al- Muzzammil, 18)
And Heaven will be split apart, for that Day it will be very frail. (Surat
al-Haqqa, 16)
Air, so essential for life, also will lose its function, for the laws
that apply on that Day will be different from the usual laws. The atmosphere,
so delicately sustained in a stable equilibrium by the laws of physics,
will just melt and flow away. The end of the heavens is described, as
follows:
On the Day the sky is like molten brass. (Surat al-Ma‘arij, 8)
The atmosphere will melt and be ignited, and people will see the usual
blue sky as flame-red, split apart, molten, and just like oil:
When Heaven is split apart and goes red, like dregs of oil. (Surat ar-Rahman,
37)
The Day of Judgment is a day of great remorse for those who did not
acknowledge Allah's greatness and power and turned away from Him knowingly.
This regret will be eternal, for there will be no more time for reflection,
learning, or redemption. Every person will have to realize that Allah,
Who has infinite power and might, is the only friend, helper, and protector.
No person will be able to deny or persist in denying Allah and the Day
of Judgment at such a time, as the Qur'an reveals:
They do not measure Allah with His true measure. The whole Earth will
be a mere handful for Him on the Day of Resurrection, the heavens folded
up in His right hand. Glory be to Him! He is exalted above the partners
they ascribe! (Surat az-Zumar, 67)
On that Day, all of the familiar rules will disappear. The heavens and
Earth, which responded to Allah's command of "come willingly or unwillingly"
with "we come willingly" upon their creation, will again submit
to their true owner and creator: Allah. The Qur'an reveals Allah's call
to the heavens and Earth:
Say: "Do you reject Him Who created Earth in two days, and make
others equal to Him? That is the Lord of all the worlds." He placed
firmly embedded mountains on it, towering over it, blessed it and measured
out its nourishment in it, laid out for those who seek it—all in
four days. Then He turned to Heaven when it was smoke, and said to it
and to Earth: "Come willingly or unwillingly." They both said:
"We come willingly." (Surah Fussilat, 9-11)
One of the materialists' most prominent claims is that matter formed
by itself. In addition, all of the beauty they behold in their environment
is ascribed to nature. The remaining details or how this intelligent design
could issue from a lifeless nature, when nature itself did not even exist,
are ignored. According this irrational claim, nature created everything.
In other words, the awesome wonder of harmony and balance is inherent
in the soil, stones, air, and water. But on the Day of Judgment, people
will see what happens to the mountains, rocks, and soil, and finally will
realize that nature in itself has no power, for although thought to be
the source from which everything living or nonliving issued, it will be
unable to save itself. Allah will demonstrate that everything exists only
by His will and power and depends upon His protection and sustenance.
Many will remember at that very moment, and thus feel great regret, the
truths that they ignored even though their own consciences acknowledged
them. Allah reveals the events of the Day of Judgment, as follows:
When the sky bursts open, hearkening to its Lord
as it is bound to do! When Earth is flattened out and disgorges what is
inside it and empties out, hearkening to its Lord as it is bound to do!
O Man! You are toiling laboriously toward your Lord, but meet Him you
will! (Surat al-Inshiqaq, 1-6)
THE STARS, THE SUN, AND THE MOON
Contrary to space's cold darkness, Earth has an atmosphere that accommodates
the Sun's light and an average temperature that supports life. In other
words, the atmosphere, our planet's protective ceiling, has light and
heat diffusing properties that allow the rays of sunlight to reach, heat,
and light our world. Like everything else that exists, on the Day of Judgment
the heavens will split apart and lose their functions, melt, and flow.
The phrase "When the Sun is compacted in blackness"
(Surat at-Takwir, 1) refers to this Day. From this expression, we understand
that the Sun's light will no longer benefit the world.
On the Day of Judgment, the Sun and the Moon, Earth's two sources of light,
will be darkened one after the other. The disappearance of the atmosphere
is not the only reason why there will be no light on Earth on that Day;
rather, the Qur'an reveals that not only will the heavens, Earth and everything
in between be destroyed, but that it is the final day for the entire universe.
As the first few verses of Surat at-Taghabun say, Allah is the One Who
creates everything complete and perfect, and He has the power to bring
about anything He wills when He wills. He created the universe, which
contains billions of stars in each of the billions of galaxies, and He
will destroy it again just by uttering the command "Be!" when
He wills.
It is quite impossible for the human mind to truly grasp the vastness
of the mysterious universe. However, we can try to estimate its scale.
The Sun is one of the predicted 200-250 billion stars in our Milky Way
galaxy. Considered one of the smaller stars, even though it is 333,000
times as massive as our own Earth, it is located 28,000 light years away
from the center of the Milky Way, which itself is 100,000 light years
across (one light year is equal to 9,460,800,000,000 kms or 5,879,000,000,000
miles.) Earth rotates around its axis at a speed of 1,670 kms (1,040 miles)
per hour, and weighs 6,000 quintillions of metric tons (6 x 1021). The
Sun moves around the center of the galaxy at a speed of 792,000 kms (492,000
miles) per hour, and the Milky Way spins through space at around 2.1 million
kms (1.3 million miles) per hour. But on the Day of Judgment, this awesome
universe will be destroyed, and stars of indescribable proportions will
be extinguished.
Every spot in the universe is another sign of Allah's existence, greatness,
and power. They have existed until now only by His will and permission,
and for the duration that He wills for them. Certainly Allah, Who creates
and sustains this balance, can destroy it whenever He wills. The universe's
death will occur only when and where He wills. Everything that awed people
with its greatness will be destroyed, for all planets and stars, the Sun
and the Moon, will leave their orbits. Stars will fall, and all that exists
will die out one by one as in "When the stars
are strewn about." (Surat al-Infitar, 2)
The Sun is a star that diffuses energy incessantly. Many other stars are
far larger and hold much more energy. But on the Day of Judgment, all
of them will lose their power, fade, and fall, as the Qur'an relates:
When the stars fall in rapid succession. (Surat
at-Takwir, 2)
When the stars are extinguished. (Surat al-Mursalat, 8)
The Sun, which has been this planet's source of life and energy forever,
will darken, as will the stars that have decorated the heavens. And people
will once again realize that Allah, their true owner, maintained their
orbits and made them shine until that Day, for they existed only by His
will.
Moreover, He will not help the unbelievers, and no other power will be
able to do so. Even if technological advances enables travel to the far
corners of the universe, people will not be able to avoid Allah's punishment,
because the Day of Judgment will envelope the whole universe and everything,
bowing to His will, will be destroyed. The Qur'an describes humanity's
helplessness on that Day, as follows:
And the Moon is eclipsed, and the Sun and the
Moon are fused together. On that Day man will say: "To where can
I run?" No indeed! There will be no safe place. That Day, the only
resting place will be your Lord. That Day man will be told what he did
and failed to do. (Surat al-Qiyama, 8-13)
PEOPLE ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
All of the events related so far begin with hearing a previously unrecognized
sound at an unexpected time. All people who had thought until that moment
that everything would remain unchanged and undamaged will be proven wrong.
Everything that takes place just before the trumpet sounds is no different
from the day before. Earth is revolving at the same pace, the Sun is illuminating
our planet, life goes on, and many people continue to live according to
their habitual routines without wondering why and by whom they were created
and what end they will meet. People will be thinking about the meal to
be served that night, focusing on an upcoming business meeting, shopping,
or sleeping, and many will be denying Allah's existence when they hear
this sound. Everything will begin and end in one instant.
Their bodies, which people think of as strong and brag about, will be
unexpectedly gripped by death from all sides. Their only concern will
be for survival. Out of sheer terror, people will cease to care about
the things that they so valued, craved, and took risks for while alive.
All of this fear, terror, and shock results from their living in ignorance.
The Day's unbearable hardship will never cease to pursue the unbelievers.
Each unfolding event will increase their panic and terror, and each passing
moment will bring fresh suffering and peril. The awesome events they encounter
will demonstrate Allah's majesty, Whom they had denied until then. Humanity,
who will be utterly weak and helpless in the face of this power, will
be able to do nothing but feel remorse, helplessness, and fear. As the
seconds pass, their realization of the frightening punishment that Allah
has prepared for them in the Hereafter will only increase. During these
frightening minutes, they will encounter only a fraction of the suffering
awaiting them. The Qur'an recounts this fear in some detail.
People's Fear
Allah tells people that although they passionately cling to the worldly
life, their passion will not benefit them in the Hereafter. All of the
things that they value, hold dear, and take risks for will bring nothing
but loss if they were not done to win Allah's good pleasure. Every worldly
attraction has been created as a test for humanity. The true life is in
the Hereafter as the Qur'an reveals:
To mankind the love of worldly appetites is painted in glowing colors:
women and children, heaped-up mounds of gold and silver, horses with fine
markings, and livestock and fertile farmland. All of that is merely the
enjoyment of the life of this world. The best homecoming is in the presence
of Allah. (Surah Al ‘Imran, 14)
People desperately desire the worldly attractions mentioned in the verses,
and can spend their entire lives pursuing them. The Qur'an says the following
about the worldly life:
Know that the life of this world is merely a game and a diversion, and
ostentation and a cause of boasting among yourselves, and trying to outdo
one another in wealth and children: like the plant-growth after rain,
which delights the cultivators, but then it withers and you see it turning
yellow, and then it becomes broken stubble. In the Hereafter, there is
terrible punishment but also forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure.
The life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion. (Surat
al-Hadid, 20)
For some, one of life's biggest ambitions is to show off one's wealth,
sons and daughters, and other valuables. One of the most highly prized
possessions is children. This is true for all societies and is pointed
out specifically in the Qur'an. The desire to have children is learned
at a young age. Children are simultaneously a cause for unnecessary competition
between people as well as a source of reassurance for their future.
Another ambition is the craving for property and wealth. As we know, people's
aims, plans and efforts center around these ambitions. The craving for
money and wealth clouds people's vision, moral values lose their importance,
and materialism becomes the defining factor for their character. The Qur'an's
morality, together with its commands and prohibitions, lose their precedence;
amassing wealth becomes a goal itself, and personal gain becomes preeminent
in relationships.
On the Day of Judgment, however, everything will be reversed. People
will forget all about what they used to value, for now they will realize
that the objects of their desires have no more meaning. Their values will
alter in moments, for wealth and children will have no value and parental
emotions will lose their meaning. In the face of this Day's terror, they
will forget their most loved people: their children. No one will remember
his or her children, much less inquiring about their well-being. In every
way, this will be a very hard Day for the unbelievers.
On the Day, the sky is like molten brass and the
mountains like tufts of colored wool. No good friend will ask about his
friend, even though they can see each other. An evildoer will wish that
he could ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by means of his
sons, his wife, his brother, or his family who sheltered him or everyone
else on Earth, if that only meant that he could save himself. (Surat al-Ma‘arij,
8-14)
The Day when Heaven is split apart in clouds, and the angels are sent
down rank upon rank. The Kingdom that Day will belong in truth to the
All-Merciful. It will be a hard Day for the unbelievers. (Surat al-Furqan,
25-26)
Families will desert infants, and people will be confused as to what
to do. The fear will strike so suddenly and forcefully that pregnant women
will miscarry and mothers will forget about their breast-feeding children:
On the day they see it, every nursing woman will be oblivious of the
baby at her breast, and every pregnant woman will abort the contents of
her womb... (Surat al-Hajj, 2)
All people who rejected the appeals to believe and so became oblivious
to their only true friend and creator, Allah, will want to avoid one another.
They will be so preoccupied with themselves, that friendship, lineage,
and family bonds will cease to exist:
The Day a man will flee from his brother and his
mother and his father, and his wife and his children. On that Day every
man among them will have concerns enough of his own. (Surah ‘Abasa,
34-37)
People Will Act as if Drunk
People will lose all their calmness, self-control, and, self-confidence.
When death is met, everything loses its value, and facial expressions,
behavior, and speech all change.
We witness people's fear and terror in the face of death in films. Their
responses are enough to explain their state of mind. In most scenarios,
people have a hope, no matter how slim, of escaping. Even those who realize
that death has come do not know what is awaiting them, or they simply
believe that they will become nothingness. However, this Day's events
will leave no doubt in people's mind that escape is impossible, even before
death comes to them. The unbelievers will find themselves confronted with
a Day that they did not expect to meet, despite being warned of it, a
Day on which the existence of a Creator and a Sustainer of the universe
will become clear for everyone to see, but also on which everything will
be destroyed in submission to His will.
They never reflected on what comes after death, because they did not believe
in Allah's or the Hereafter's existence, but they will come to realize
clearly Allah's existence and power. They also will realize that there
is no hope for salvation and that their new life is eternal. Their eternal
suffering and sorrow will be incomparably worse than that Day's events,
and the Qur'an says that the unbelievers will prefer death over such a
life:
We have warned you of an imminent punishment on the Day when a man will
see what he has done, and the unbeliever will say: "Oh, if only I
were dust!" (Surat an-Naba', 40)
People's panic, terror and astonishment will make them appear drunk,
for:
. . . And you will think people drunk when they are not drunk; it is
just that the punishment of Allah is so severe. (Surat al-Hajj, 2)
The physical and behavioral changes in people experiencing extreme fear
are very similar to those of drunken people. In such instances, dizziness,
hysteria, and impeded sight are common.
As we see from what has been revealed so far, people will experience great
panic on that hard day. Allah compares this chilling fear and the resulting
behavior to drunkenness, for people will display uncontrolled behavior
and run from place to place as if drunk. Allah makes a comparison in the
Qur'an:
It is the Day when mankind will be like scattered
moths. (Surat al-Qari‘a, 4)
The Terror in Their Eyes
And [when] the True Promise is very close, the eyes of those who did
not believe will be transfixed: "Alas for us! We were unmindful of
this! No, rather we were definitely wrongdoers." (Surat al-Anbiya',
97)
The eyes are the first organs to reveal people's fear. The eyes of people
who witness the fearful events of that Day will spring from their sockets
in terror. The phrase "the eyes of those who did not believe will
be transfixed" describes the scale of their fear. Instantly, the
pupils widen, the whites of the eyes are exposed, and they freeze. All
people will taste this fear, and nothing can prevent what is coming in
the face of hair-raising events. The only thing they feel will be terror.
Children
How will you safeguard yourselves, if you disbelieve,
against a Day that will turn children gray. (Surat al-Muzzammil, 17)
This fear will even grip small children. Children who do not understand
this Day's true nature and that this is the first day of eternal damnation
for unbelievers will have a different kind of fear. People will be full
of remorse for their wrongdoings during their temporary worldly lives;
but children, who lack the capacity to comprehend what is happening, will
have their hair turned gray. Such a physical change is an important illustration
of that Day's severity. People have seen many calamities, and they have
instilled a deep fear into their hearts and affected them severely. But
none of these, when compared to this Day's events, will be shocking enough
to turn the children's hair gray.
Animals
Try to imagine wild animals, leopards, lions, wolves, jackals, bears…
These animals will cease to fight with one another and come together due
to these events. It is clearly an awe-inspiring sight to see thousands
of wild animals like this. Allah reveals in many verses that major changes
will affect Earth and humanity on the Day of Judgment. Likewise, wild
animals will be completely affected, as the Qur'an relates:
When the camels in foal are neglected, when the
wild beasts are all herded together. (Surat at-Takwir, 4-5) |
