compiled by by Iman bint Johari

"And We shall set up Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We to take account." ~ al-Anbiya' 21:47

Allah has called the Day of Judgement by many names. One of the most well-known names is Yawm ul-Qiyaamah - the Day of Resurrection - which is mentioned in about seventy ayaat in the Qur'an.

For example, Allah says in Surah an-Nisaa: "Allah - there is no deity except Him. He will surely assemble you for [account on] the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful than Allah in statement." (An-Nisaa 4:87)

Also: "And whoever Allah guides - he is the [rightly] guided; and whoever He sends astray - you will never find for them protectors besides Him, and We will gather them on the Day of Resurrection [fallen] on their faces - blind, dumb and deaf. Their refuge is Hell; every time it subsides We increase them in blazing fire." (Surah al-Israa 17: 97)

On this day, the Trumpet will be blown by Israfeel and the souls will return to their bodies. They will then rise to meet with Allah for their reckoning.

"They made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. And on the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be grasped by His Hand and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified is He, and High is He above all that they associate as partners with Him! And the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth will swoon away, except him whom Allah will. Then it will blown a second time and behold, they will be standing, looking on (waiting)." (Surah az-Zumar 39: 67-68)

On this Day of Gathering, all of mankind will be gathered together, as mentioned in Surah Hud: "Indeed in that is a sign for those who fear the punishment of the Hereafter. That is a Day for which the people will be collected, and that is a Day [which will be] witnessed." (Surah Hud 11:103)

In what state will the people be on Yawm al-Jama`? They will differ, no doubt in terms of appearance, state of mind and rank. Imam al-Bayhaqi quoted this hadeeth of Al-A'mash narrated from Abu Sufyan from Jabir, who said that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "Each person will be resurrected in the state in which he died." (An-Nihaayah by Ibn Kathir)

The people will be raised according in the state in which they died - either in iman or kufr. `Abdullah ibn `Umar said, "I hear the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam say, 'When Allah wants to punish a people, the punishment befalls whoever is among them, then they will be resurrected according to their deeds.'" (Muslim) For example, the man who betrays (that is, makes a promise and then does not fulfil it) for example, will have a banner at his backside, exposing his sin. "For every betrayer, a banner will be raised at his backside on the Day of Resurrection." (Muslim) The one who died upon righteousness will, similarly, be raised upon goodness. For example, there was a man who was in ihram when he was thrown off his camel to his death. The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "Wash him with water and lotus flowers and shroud him in his two garments; do not anoint him with perfume or cover his head for on the Day of Resurrection, he will be raised reciting the Talbiyah." (Bukhari, Muslim & Ahmad)

We shall now move on in greater detail to the three types of people and how they will be raised on the Day of Judgement. I have chosen to focus on the disbelievers, the believers who have sinned and the righteous.

The Disbelievers
The disbelievers will be in a state of utter humiliation. Where once they scorned at Allah, His commands and His Prophets, they will be in absolute degradation on the Day of Judgement.

"So (O Muhammad) withdraw from them. The Day that the caller will call (them) to a terrible thing. They will come forth with humbled eyes from (their) graves as if they were locusts spread broad, hastening towards the caller. The disbelievers will say, 'This is a hard Day.'" (Surah al-Qamar 54:6-8)

Allah further describes their lowly state: "The Day when they will come out of their graves quickly as racing to a goal, with their eyes lowered in fear and humility, ignominy covering them (all over)! That is the Day which they were promised." (Suran al-Ma'aarij 70:43-44)

They will be practically paralysed with fear and panic for it is evident that they will meet with their doom. "Consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the Dhaalimoon 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)." (Surah Ibrahim 14:42-43)

The fact that they have no one to turn to for help and that there is no escape or respite will only increase their terror. "And warn them (O Muhammad) of the Day that is drawing near, when the hearts will be choking the throats and they can neither return them (hearts) to their chests nor can they throw them out. There will be no friend, nor an intercessor for the Dhaalimoon who could be given heed to." (Surah Ghaafir 40:18)

It is not only their fright and terror that make them obvious. Their appearance is also evident. They will be bound in fetters and wearing garments of qitraan (pitch, a substance painted on camels when they suffer from mange) and their faces will be covered with fire.

"On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will the heavens and they (all creatures) will appear before Allah, the One, the Irresistible. And you will see the Mujrimoon that day bound together in fetters. Their garments will be of pitch and their faces covered with fire." (Surah Ibrahim 14:48-50)

The disbelievers will be filled with despair and regret for they will realise how they had squandered away their opportunity and life on earth. "On the Day when the Hour will be established, the Mujrimoon will be plunged into destruction with despair." (Surah ar-Rum 30:12)

The disbelievers will feel a sense of betrayal at those who led them astray but ultimately, they know that they were responsible for their fate. "And remember the Day when the Dhaalim will bite at his hands, he will say, 'O! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger. Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as a Khaleel! He indeed led me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me. And Shaytan is to man ever a deserter in the hour of need.'" (Surah al-Furqan 25:27-29)

Their despair is magnified when they realise that even their good deeds will not avail them for they were not done for the sake of Allah. "And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust." (Surah al-Furqan 25:23)

"Say (O Muhammad) Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds. They are those who deny the Aayaat of their Lord and the Meeting with Him. So their works are in vain, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall assign no weight for them. That shall be their recompense, Hell; because they disbelieved and took my Aayaat and My Messengers by way of jest and mockery." (Surah al-Kahf 103-106)

So intense is their regret that they would do anything to be destroyed if only to escape the retribution. "On that day, those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger will wish that they were buried in the earth…" (Surah an-Nisaa 4:42)

"And the disbeliever will say, 'Woe to me! Would that I were dust!'" (Surah An-Naba 78:40)

The disbelievers will also be in chaos, disputing among themselves and even with their very own limbs! Such is their desperation to evade the ultimate destruction but they are grasping at straws - they will be further disgraced when their ears, eyes and even skins testify against them!

"And (remember) the Day that the enemies of Allah will be gathered to the Fire, then they will be driven (to the Fire), former ones being withheld until their later ones will join them. Till, then they reach it (Hell Fire), their hearing (ears) and their eyes and skins will testify against them as to what they used to do. And they will say to their skins, 'Why do you testify against us?' They will say, 'Allah has caused us to speak.' He causes all things to speak and He created you the first time and to him you are made to return." (Surah al-Fussilat 41:19-21)

The Believers who Sinned
The believers will be distinguished in terms of their appearance as well. Where the disbelievers were dressed in pitch and covered with fire, the believers will have faces and limbs that shine. Abu Hurayrah radhiallahu 'anhu said that Rasulullah sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "On the Day of Resurrection, my ummah will be called Al-Ghurr al-Muhajjaloon because of the traces of wudoo." (Bukhari)

In another hadeeth also from Abu Hurayrah, he, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam went to a graveyard and said, "As salaamu 'alaykum O dwelling of a believing people. In shaa Allah we will soon join you. Would that we had seen our brothers." They said, "Are we not your brothers, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "You are my Companions. Our brothers are those who have not yet come." They said, "How will you recognize those of your ummah who have not yet come, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Do you not see if a man has a horse with a white blaze and white feet among other horses which do not have these markings, he will recognize his own horse?" They said, "Of course, O Messenger of Allah." He said, "They will come with their faces and limbs shining from wudoo and I will be there before them at the Hawd." (Muslim)

However, the believers who are sinners will not be spared from the trials on the Day of Judgment. Those who steal from others will be disgraced. For example, the one who seizes land unlawfully will be swallowed up by it. As 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, 'Whoever seizes any portion of land unlawfully will be swallowed up by it on the Day of Resurrection and will sink to the seventh earth.'" (Bukhari)

The one who commit ghalool will also be severely dealt with. Ghalool refers to stealing from war booty before the rightful distribution and also to the stealing from sadaqah by those who are in charge of it.

"And whosoever deceives his companions as regards the booty, he shall bring forth on the Day of Resurrection that which he took illegally. Then every person shall be paid in full what he has earned and they shall not be dealt with unjustly." (Surah al-i-Imran 3:161)

Their crime will be made evident of the Day of Judgement and they will be made to bear the weight of the unlawful property. Abu Hurayrah radhiallahu `anhu narrated:

The Messenger of Allah stood among us one day and mentioned ghalool and how serious this matter is. Then he said, "I do not want to see any of you coming on the Day of Resurrection with a bellowing camel on his shoulders saying, 'O Messenger of Allah, help me' and I will say to him, 'I cannot do anything for you. I conveyed the message to you.'

"I do not want to see any of you coming on the Day of Resurrection with a neighing horse on his shoulders saying, 'O Messenger of Allah, help me' and I will say to him, 'I cannot do anything for you. I conveyed the message to you.'

"I do not want to see any of you coming on the Day of Resurrection with a bleating sheep on his shoulders saying, 'O Messenger of Allah, help me' and I will say to him, 'I cannot do anything for you. I conveyed the message to you.'

"I do not want to see any of you coming on the Day of Resurrection with a screaming soul on his shoulders saying, 'O Messenger of Allah, help me' and I will say to him, 'I cannot do anything for you. I conveyed the message to you.'

"I do not want to see any of you coming on the Day of Resurrection with a flapping banner on his head saying, 'O Messenger of Allah, help me' and I will say to him, 'I cannot do anything for you. I conveyed the message to you.'

"I do not want to see any of you coming on the Day of Resurrection with gold and silver on his shoulders saying, 'O Messenger of Allah, help me' and I will say to him, 'I cannot do anything for you. I conveyed the message to you.'" (Muslim)

There are also those whose sins will cause Allah to be so angry that He will refuse to speak to them or praise them. These include:

(1) Those who conceal knowledge:
Abu Hurayrah radhiallahu `anhu narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, "Whoever is asked about knowledge that he has but conceals will be bridled with reins of fire on the Day of Resurrection." (Abu Dawud & at-Tirmidhi)

(2) Those who break the convenant with Allah and trade their faith for an insignificant price:
"Verily those who purchase a small gain at a cost of Allah's convenant and their oaths, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter. Neither will Allah speak to them or look at them on the Day of Resurrection nor will he purify them and they will have a painful torment." (Surah al-i-Imran 3:77)

(3) Those who let their garments hang down below the ankles, who sell goods with false guarantees and who remind others of their favours:
It was narrated from Abu Dharr radhiallahu `anhu that the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said: "There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection and He will not look at them or praise them, and they will have a painful torment." The Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam repeated this three times. Abu Dharr said: "May they be doomed and lost, who are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "The one who lets his garment hang below his ankles, the one who reminds others of his favors, and the one who disposes of his goods by swearing a false oath." (Muslim)

(4) Those who deny their surplus to the wanderer, who swear a false oath for sale and who swear allegiance to a king for something in return:
Abu Hurayrah radhiallahu `anhu said that the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection and He will not look at them: a man who swears an oath about his goods for sale, saying that he has been offered more for them than he has been offered, and he is lying; a man who swears a false oath after `Asr in order to take a Muslim's wealth wrongfully and a man who withholds his surplus water. Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: today I will deprive you of my bounty just as you deprived others of the bounty of things that you did not make."

(5) Those who commit zina (in particular the old man), who are poor and arrogant and rulers who lie:
"There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection and He will not praise them or look at them and theirs is a severe torment: an old man who commits zina, a king who tells lies and a poor man who is arrogant. (Muslim & an-Nisa`i)

(6) Those who disobey their parents, women who imitate men, men who have no gheerah and men who commit anal intercourse with their wives:
`Abdullah ibn `Amr reported that Rasulullah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "There are three at whom Allah will not look at on the Day of Resurrection: the one who disobeys his parents, the woman who imitates men and the duyooth." (Ahmad, an-Nisa`i & Al-Hakim)

Abu Hurayrah said that Rasulullah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "The one who has intercourse with his wife in her back passage, Allah will not look at him (on the Day of Resurrection)." (an-Nisa`i)

The Righteous Believers
The third category of people are the pious who will be distinguished on the Day of Judgement. Where others are filled with dread and terror, they will have no fear. They will be reassured by the angels and given glad tidings.

"Verily those for whom the good has proceeded from Us, they will be removed far therefrom (Hell). They shall not hear the slightest sound of it (Hell), while they abide in that which their ownselves desire. The greatest terror (on the Day of Resurrection) will not grieve them and the angels will meet them (with the greeting), 'This is your Day which you were promised.'" (Surah al-Anbiyaa' 21:101-103)

"It will be said to the true believers: My worshippers! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve, (you) who believed in Our Aayat and were Muslims." (Surah az-Zukhruf 43:68-69)

There are also certain groups of people who will be raised in honour - they will be given the shade of Allah when the sun is but the distance of one meel from the creatures. The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said: "There are seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade: a just ruler; a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic; a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two men who love each other for Allah's sake, meeting for that and parting upon that; a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for illegal intercourse], but be says: 'I fear Allah', a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity; and a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears." (Bukhari & Muslim)

Then there are those who fight in the way of Allah. The shuhadaa and muraabitoon will also be given marks of honour. Al-Miqdam ibn Ma`di Karb said that Rasulullah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "Before Allah, the shaheed has six virtues: he is forgiven from the first blood shed; he will be shown his place in Paradise; he will be protected from the torment of the grave; he will be safe from the greater terror (of the Day of Resurrection); a crown of dignity will be placed on his head, of which one ruby is better than this world and all that is in it; he will be married to seventy-two of the Al-Hoor Al-`Iyn; and he will intercede for seventy of his relatives." (at-Tirmidhi & ibn Maajah)

The shuhadaa will rise on the Day of Resurrection flowing with blood but the blood will be the colour of saffron and fragrant like musk. Mu`adh ibn Jabal testified to this saying that Rasulullah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said that, "Whoever fights for the sake of Allah even for the interval between two milkigns of a camel will be entitled to Paradise, and whoever is wounded or injured for the sake of Allah, the injury will appear on the Day of Resurrection bleeding copiously, the colour of saffron and with the fragrance of musk."

Abu'd-Dardaa radhiallahu `anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "Guarding the borders of Islam for a day is better than fasting for a lifetime. Whoever dies guarding the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah will be kept safe from the greater terror, his provision and breeze will be brought from Paradise and the reward of the muraabit will continue until Allah resurrects him." (at-Tabarani)

Among the pious who will be spare the fear that others will experience are those who help others in distress and those who conceal the faults of others. `Abdullah ibn `Umar radhiallahu `anhuma said that the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "The Muslim is the brother of his fellow Muslim; he should not mistreat him or let him down. Whoever meets the needs of his brother, Allah will meet his needs and whoever relieves a Muslim of some distress, Allah will relieve him of some distress of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal him his faults in this world and the next." (Bukhari)

Other righteous people who will be clearly honoured include the muadhdhin whose will have "the longest necks of all the people on the Day of Resurrection." (Muslim)

As for those who grow old in Islam, the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "Whoever turns grey for the sake of Allah, his grey hair will be a light for him on the Day of Resurrection."

Conclusion
It is thus clear that none can attain salvation and success but through Islam. On the Day of Resurrection when the scores will be settled, Allah will make clear whom He has honoured and whom He is angered with. The marks of distinction will be given to those who were patient and who strove in Islam. The signs of disgrace will be placed upon those who chose the path of disobedience.