When Will Judgment Day Come?
There have been numerous claims lately that Judgment Day may come either on May 21st of this year, or on 21 November 2012. Throughout history, there have been people who tried and failed to predict the end of the world. For Muslims, such talk is nonsense. While Muslims do believe in a Day of Judgment and a life after death, the Quran clearly states that the exact time is known only to God:
Men ask you of the Hour. Say: The knowledge of it is with God only. What can convey to you that maybe the Hour is near? (Quran 33:63)
The threatened hour is near. None beside God can disclose it. Are you surprised then at this statement? (Quran 53:57-59)
Life after Death
Death is a natural event that none of us can escape. Throughout time, religions have tried to explain what happens to us after death.
Muslims believe that a person's soul leaves the body and awaits a final Day of Judgment before God. At the time of that Judgment, God will show mercy and justice and decide who will be rewarded and who will be punished. He will reward those who have “believed and worked deeds of righteousness” with eternal paradise, called Jannah (the Garden). As for those who have rejected faith and done evil, Allah will either forgive them in His mercy, or punish them in eternal Hellfire, called Jahannam (a word related to other Arabic words that mean “displeasure,” “ignorance,” and “frown”).
This Life and the Hereafter
Muslims live their lives — work, marry, and raise children — with the Hereafter in mind. They strive to use every opportunity to deepen their faith in God, follow His guidance, and do good deeds. It is very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life without a thought to what comes next. In Islamic terms, the life we are living now is called the dunya — something earthly, temporal, and low.
The Islamic term taqwa is used to describe how human beings should relate to God. While it is often translated as “fear God,” a more accurate meaning would be “to approach God with piety and reverence.” Muslims are not afraid of God but revere Him and strive to do His will.
The Hereafter is what Muslims believe is most important; in Islamic terminology, it is called the akhirah, “the end” or “the last.” The akhirah is what is to come at the end of our lives here, and the final aim of all believers is to be in a good place for the rest of eternity. To this end, Muslims try not to get distracted from their true purpose: to worship God and to strive in righteousness. The Qur'an reminds: “Oh you who believe! Revere God, and let every soul look to what he has sent forth for tomorrow [the Hereafter]. Yes, revere God, for God is Well-Acquainted with all that you do. And do not be like those who forgot God, and He made them forget themselves. Such are the rebellious transgressors” (Qur'an 59:18–19).
Salvation in God
Muslims believe that God is merciful and compassionate and does not require of us more than we can handle. In Islam, salvation requires piety and good action but is only possible through the Mercy of God. To keep this knowledge at the forefront of believers' minds, nearly all of the chapters of the Qur'an begin with the phrase, “In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.”
In the Qur'an, God promises the reward of Paradise for those who show piety and reverence to Him, who conduct themselves in accordance with their faith, who obey His will and law, who make sacrifices for His sake, and who repent of their misconduct. The important thing is to make a sincere effort to live as God has requested, for God knows our hearts and our intentions.
Despite our best efforts, we will always fall short. We are human and we all make mistakes. Muslims believe that God, the One Who created us, knows this and shows us mercy. We do not “earn” our way into Heaven; only by the Mercy and Grace of God does He reward our efforts.
Above all, Allah is quick to forgive and show mercy to those who struggle, make errors, and then repent. “If anyone errs or wrongs his own soul, but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Qur'an 4:110).
The Soul's Temporary Dwelling Place
What actually happens to our souls when we die? Islam teaches that at the moment of death, the Angel of Death comes to remove the soul from the body. The souls of good people are lifted out gently, while the souls of wicked people are yanked out with terrifying force.
After the soul is lifted from the body, the angels carry it up to the gates of Heaven. There the person will become aware of whether he or she is destined for Heaven or Hell. Then God orders the soul to be returned to earth.
When the soul is returned to the earth, it rests in the grave until the Day of Resurrection. Muhammad taught that the soul rests in the company of angels, who question the person about his or her beliefs. They ask three questions: Who is your Lord? Who was your prophet? What was your way of life?
Muslims reject the belief that the souls of the departed may dwell among human beings, interact with them, harm or benefit them, or communicate with them. Islam teaches that the dead stay in the grave until the Day of Resurrection.
If the soul responds adequately to these questions, then the angels give it pleasant company, and the grave begins to seem spacious and comfortable. If the person shows rejection of God in the answers, then the space of the grave begins to seem tight and suffocating. The angels will torment such souls until the Day of Judgment. This is known as the punishment of the grave.
The Day of Resurrection
Muslims believe that the entire world will come to an end on one appointed day, when everything will be annihilated. The Qur'an describes the Day of Resurrection (Youm al-Qiyama) as follows: “When the sky bursts apart, when planets are dispersed, when the seas spill forth, when graves are overturned, then each soul will know what it sent forward and what it left behind” (Qur'an 82:1–5).
At the moment of the final Hour, a trumpet will call the people to assembly. This trumpet will be blown by the angel Israfeel (Raphael), and will notify people that the time of Judgment has arrived. All living creatures, all people past and present, will be gathered together before God. There will be a mass panic as everyone starts worrying about the coming Judgment. “Then when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no more relationships between them that day, nor will one ask after another” (Qur'an 23:101).
Signs of the Hour
When will this Day come? When people asked Muhammad, he would always answer that this knowledge was with God alone. However, according to several traditions, he did indicate that some major and minor signs would appear before the day arrived.
Minor Signs
The Prophet Muhammad specified several “minor” signs that would appear as the end times approach. Among them:
Shepherds will begin competing in the construction of tall buildings.
Drinking and fornication will increase; killing will increase.
Earthquakes will increase in number.
Knowledge of Islam will be taken away, while ignorance will increase.
Time will be shortened so that a year will be like a month, a month like a day, a day like an hour.
There are dozens more of these minor signs, and Muslims notice that many of them have already begun to appear. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the Day of Judgment could come at any moment. There will also be “major” signs that signify that the Hour is imminent.
Major Signs
The Prophet Muhammad described several major events that will indicate that the Day of Resurrection is near. These include:
Dajjal (the anti-Christ) will appear, claiming to be God and trying to deceive people away from true faith. Only unbelievers will follow him.
Jesus Christ will return to earth.
Two tribes of people (Gog and Magog) will ravage the earth.
The sun will rise from the west.
The Day of Judgment
The Qur'an describes the Day of Judgment as a day of happiness for the believers and a day of panic and fear for those who rejected God. God will sort the people into groups, review their records, and either bless them with His Mercy or punish them. God is a perfect Judge, and He will be balanced and fair, taking into account every aspect of a person's life. “On that Day will men proceed in groups sorted out, to be shown the deeds that they had done. Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it” (Qur'an 99:6–8).
Islam contends that it is not consistent with God's perfect Justice that all people be treated the same, whether they were good or bad, whether they believed or disbelieved. Rather, God's Justice requires that there should be reward for faith and good works and punishment for disbelief and evil works. God's Mercy overshadows all.
The Book of Deeds
Every person on earth will have a book that contains a record of everything he or she said or did during his or her lifetime. The Qur'an explains the reaction people will have when reading their own book: “And the Book will be placed before you. And you will see the sinful in great terror, because of what is recorded therein. They will say, ‘Oh, woe to us! What book is this? It leaves out nothing, great or small, but takes account of it.’ They will find all that they did, placed before them. And not one will your Lord treat with injustice” (Qur'an 18:49).
Personal Responsibility
On the Day of Judgment, each person will be responsible only for his or her own faith and actions. In Islam, there is no concept of original sin or any sort of “fall from grace” of mankind. Islam rejects the notion of atonement, that someone (even God Himself) could sacrifice himself to save others. According to the Qur'an, “Who receives guidance, receives it for his own benefit; who goes astray does so to his own loss. No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another, nor would We punish until We had sent a messenger to give warning” (Qur'an 17:15).
The Scales of Justice
The Qur'an describes how God will use perfect scales of justice to weigh a person's good and evil deeds. “We shall set up scales of justice for the Day of Judgment, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least. And if there be no more than the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it into account” (Qur'an 21:47).
Based on the results, a person will find reward in Paradise, or punishment in Hell. “Then those whose balance of good deeds is heavy, they will be successful. But those whose balance is light will be those who have lost their souls. In Hell will they abide” (Qur'an 23:102–103). Throughout this process, God will show compassion and mercy to those who strove to believe and do the right thing.
The Bridge over Hell
Islam teaches that after the Judgment, people will cross a bridge called As-Siraat (the Path). This bridge is described as being sharper than a sword and thinner than a strand of hair. Those crossing the bridge will look down and see the horrors of Hell. The blessed will go on to the open gates of Paradise, where angels will greet them in peace and welcome them. Those who are destined for punishment in Hell will fall off the bridge into the pit below.
Rewards of Heaven
The Qur'an describes a beautiful and wonderful place that awaits those who believe in God and do righteous good deeds. It is a place of peace, with rivers and fruits, sweet smells, goblets of gold, and the shade of God Himself. The Qur'an warns that the reality of paradise exceeds the limits of our knowledge and comprehension. “No person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden in reserve for them, as a reward for their good deeds” (32:17). Muhammad also reported that God said, “I have prepared for My righteous slaves that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard and has never crossed the mind of any human being.”
The Qur'an is clear that both men and women will dwell in the Garden. “God has promised to believers, men and women, Gardens underneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in Gardens everlasting. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of God; that is the supreme felicity” (Qur'an 9:72).
Peace in Paradise
The people of the Garden will be happy and peaceful. “The righteous will be amid gardens and fountains. Their greeting will be, ‘Enter here, in peace and security.’ And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury. They will be like brothers, joyfully facing each other on thrones [of dignity]. There, no sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they ever be asked to leave” (Qur'an 15:45–48).
The Qur'an also describes that they will experience pure joy and no sense of wickedness. “No frivolity will they hear therein, nor any mischief. Only the saying, ‘Peace! Peace!’” (Qur'an 56:25–26). “Verily the companions of the Garden shall that day have joy in all that they do. They and their associates will be in pleasant shade, reclining on couches of dignity. Every fruit will be there for them; they shall have whatever they call for. ‘Peace!’ — a word of salutation from a Lord Most Merciful” (Qur'an 36:55–58).
God's Company
The greatest reward for those in the Garden will be the company and pleasure of God. Beyond the comfortable surroundings, people will feel peaceful joy in the presence of their Lord. Muhammad said, “Then the screen will be removed and they will look towards Him. By God, He will not give them a thing more beloved to them and more comforting to their eyes, than the gaze of Himself.” Heaven in Islam is not merely a physical reward; spiritual redemption is the highest goal.
The Levels of Paradise
The Qur'an indicates that some people will be higher (more respected and closer to God) than others. There will be different levels, and people will be assigned to these levels based on the strength of their faith and the purity of their hearts. “And those foremost (in faith) will be foremost (in the Hereafter). These will be those nearest to God, in Gardens of Bliss” (56:10–12).
The idea that there are seventy-two virgins awaiting each righteous man in Paradise is a misinterpretation of Islamic teaching. The Qur'an mentions “companions” for all believers, men and women. The Arabic word for “companions” (plural of houri) does not have a sexual connotation. Indeed, the Qur'an uses the same word to refer to the disciples of Jesus.
Muhammad once told his followers that the highest level of Paradise is reserved for those who sacrifice their lives for the sake of God, martyred for a righteous cause. A person who helps widows and the poor will be at the same level. “They will have the pleasure of occupying the highest dwellings in Paradise. Your Lord will smile at them, and whenever your Lord smiles upon any of His servants, that person will not be brought to account,” he said.
Punishments of Hell
Just as those who believe and do good deeds are rewarded for their efforts, those who reject God and rebel against His laws will face punishment in the Hereafter. Hell is described as a fierce fire that will consume and punish those within it. But beyond the pain and torment of the fire, the ultimate punishment is the shame and disgrace before God. “Our Lord! Any whom You admit to the Fire, truly You cover them with shame. And never will wrongdoers find any helpers” (Qur'an 3:192).
Just as Paradise contains levels within it, the Fire of Hell contain levels with varying degrees of heat and intensity. People will be placed therein depending on the extent of their disbelief and sins. The Qur'an indicates that “the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire” (Qu'ran 4:145).
Descriptions of the Fire
The Fire of Hell is described throughout the Qur'an to serve as a warning to people about the consequences of the choices they make in life. It is said to be a place of intense heat and suffering, with boiling water, hot wind, and black smoke. People are burned, dragged along in chains, and constantly tormented. They are given putrid liquid to drink and thorny, bitter plants to eat. There is no relief for those who are consumed by the punishment: “So taste the results of your evil; no increase shall We give you, except in torment” (78:30). Indeed, people themselves will supply the fuel for the Fire; the Qur'an repeatedly says that Hellfire is “fueled by men and stones.”
Who Will Be Punished?
The only people who will be punished in Hell eternally with no chance of escape are those who disbelieve in God and associate others with Him in their worship. The Qur'an says, “But those who reject God, for them will be the Fire of Hell. No term shall be appointed for them, so they should die, nor shall its punishment be lightened for them. Thus do We reward every ungrateful one!” (35:36).
The Qur'an says, “Those who reject faith, and die rejecting, on them is God's curse, and the curse of the angels, and of all mankind. They will abide therein [Hell]. Their penalty will not be lightened, nor will respite be their lot” (Qur'an 2:161–162).
Hypocrites are equated with disbelievers, and they face the same punishment. “The hypocrites, men and women, are alike. They enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and tighten their purse strings. They have forgotten God, so He has forgotten them. Verily the hypocrites are rebellious and perverse. God has promised the hypocrites, men and women, and the rejecters of faith, the Fire of Hell. Therein shall they dwell; sufficient is it for them. For them is the curse of God, and an enduring punishment” (Qur'an 9:68–69).
Those who believe in God may spend a short time in Hell, in punishment for sins they committed during their lives. Sins such as arrogance, pride, murder, envy, lying, oppression, promiscuity, slander, miserliness, or cowardice may be punished if they are not repented before death. Similarly, one may be punished for transgressing God's limits or for being neglectful of one's duties to God.
Despite the vivid and horrific images of the punishment of Hell, the overwhelming message in the Qur'an is one of God's Mercy and Compassion. Nearly every chapter of the Qur'an begins with the phrase, “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.” That message is repeated throughout the Qur'an to offer hope to those who turn to Him in repentance and humility.