Glimpses into the World of the Unseen

By Raiiq Ridwan

Glimpses into the World of the Unseen Part: I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII

On the 14^th of May, the first Islamic course at Al-Kauthar Institute in Bangladesh, entitled “World of the Unseen,” ended. The course instructor was Shaykh Tawfique Chowdhury, founder of Al-Kauthar. I feel so very thankful to Allah (swt) that Allah has blessed me with the tawfiq (good fortune) to attend the course and benefit immensely from it alhamduilllah (praise be to Allah).

While the people in the West often benefit from these kind of courses, we in Muslim countries sometimes find our opportunities lacking, subhan Allah (glory be to Allah). Shaykh Tawfique Chowdhury made us swear by Allah (swt) that we would at least teach what we learnt little by little to a minimum of five people. I found it so beneficial, I wish the whole world could have attended the course over the last two days.

So, I will be posting insha’ Allah (God willing) a series of short notes as a review of what was covered in the course. This will hardly amount to a drop from the ocean of knowledge that was taught in the course, but it will insha’ Allah benefit us. This first article will be on some of the various names of the Day of Judgment.

Yawm Al-Qiyamah: the Day of Standing

The most common name of the Day of Judgment literally means “Day of Standing.” It is called this because people will have to wait standing for fifty thousand years on the Day of Judgment, before Allah (swt) and the angels come and start the judgment. Subhan Allah, have we imagined standing for even fifty minutes, let alone fifty thousand years?

However, Allah’s love for the believer means that he will be given respite from the intense pain of standing on this Day, and a riding animal will be assigned to him to sit on. May Allah (swt) raise us up among the believers!

A point to note: increase your `ibaadat (worship) and strengthen your imaan (faith) in Allah (swt) such that this long standing will be made easy on you.

Yawm ad-Deen: the Day of Establishment of the Deen

This is the name of the Day of Judgement that we repeat in the 4th ayat (verse) of Al-Faatihah (The Opener, Qur’an 1:4). It means “Day of Establishment of the Deen.” This is the Day that Allah (swt) will establish His deen over all others. Al-Islam, the deen (way of life) of Truth, will prevail and its followers will be honored. May Allah (swt) allow us to be true followers of Islam, and torchbearers of His Deen!

A point to take: Allah (swt) will finally establish His deen whether we like it or not, and whether others like it or not. Is it not time now that we establish the deen of Allah (swt) in our lives, so that we may be among the honored ones in the hereafter?

Yawm Al-Hisab: the Day of Accounting

This is the Day on which everything will be accounted for. Witnesses will testify whether the deeds we did were good or bad, and the scales (meezan) will be put up to weigh our good deeds against our bad deeds. Seven witnesses will witness for or against us on that Day:

• Angels;
• Books that Recorded our Deeds;
• The Earth;
• People;
• Our Skin, Our Eyes, Our Body;
• The Qur’an and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ;
• ALLAH.

Subhan’Allah, if all these are witnesses against us, imagine where we will be. The angels recording our deeds will testify as to what we did; the books will testify; the earth will testify as to what we did upon it. The people around us will testify—our own bodies will. The Qur’an and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will also testify, and, most terrifying of all, Allah (swt) the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth HIMSELF will be a witness for or against us. May Allah (swt) make the witnesses for us and not against us!

A point to note: If we want witnesses for us, we should use our bodies for doing good, do good upon the earth, and obey the commandments of the Qur’an. The Qur’an will then testify for us, and the Prophet ﷺ will insha’Allah intercede for us, and Allah (swt) will accept us—ameen!

Yawm Al-Hasrah: the Day of Distress or the Day of Regret

Imagine the Day of Judgement. If ONE deed were to prevent you from entering jannah (heaven), how would you feel? How much would it pain you that Day when you look back and think, “Ugh, I should have done this at that time,” “Oh no, why did I commit that sin,” “Why did I look that way,” and so on and so forth. Regret that Day will be overwhelming, and unfortunately it will be of no use. When 4.9 billion angels bring hellfire before us, distress will be at its maximum, and regret will be so great that some disbelievers will say, “Oh, I wish that I were dust!” (Qur’an 78:40).

A point to take: Repent today for the sins you have done before. Make a commitment to utilize your time better, and to use it for the sake of Allah (swt) such that no regret comes on the Day of Judgment. This hadith of the Prophet ﷺ comes to my mind: “Fear Allah wherever you are and follow up a bad deed with a good deed, such that it may wipe it out.”

Regret now while regret still works, for regret then will be of no use.

Al-Wa`qiah: the Definite Day; Al-‘Aazifah: the Day that Definitely Comes

Man in his quest to fulfill his lusts and desires at times denies the very existence of the Day of Judgment. However, the Day is definitely coming, and it is indeed guaranteed.

A point to take: When we know something is guaranteed, we prepare for it. Death and the Day of Judgment are the only guarantees in our life, subhan’Allah. So, all we can do is definitely work for it.

Yawm Al-Fasl: the Day of Division

The Day of Ultimate Division. A day when a mother will leave her child, a father will leave his daughter, and a son will leave his mother. A day when the believers will be known and the disbelievers will be known. The people of paradise will be set apart from the people of hellfire. Truly, mankind will finally be divided along the correct lines and the truth established.

A point to take: The line that day will be laa ilaha illa allah (There is no God except The God), and you will either be on this side of the line or the other. It’s up to you to choose insha’Allah. If you choose to live laa ilaha illa allah, then Allah (swt) will honor will you on that Day, and you will reach everlasting bliss!

There are more names of the Day of Judgment; I restricted myself to these in consideration of length. Insha’Allah this will benefit us all. Please make du`a’ (supplication) for me, my family and friends, for yourself, your family and friends, and for this ummah (community) of Muhammad ﷺ.