Primordial Creations
Part III
The Primordial Water
"And He it is Who, has created the heavens and the earth in six Days, and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is best in deeds. But, if you were to say to them: "You shall indeed be raised up again after death," those who disbelieve would be sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious magic." (Hud, 11:7)
The 'Water' referred to in the above verse (Hud, 11:7) is the Pre-creation water or the Primordial water, that was created at the same time (?) as the Throne. This water has limitless potentials. It serves as the Prime Source from which all living creatures are created, it supports the continuation of life, and it is the water that will be used for resurrection of people in the Hereafter.
The Prime Source of Life: Life originate from water:
"Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of creation), before We clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they not believe?" [Al Ambiya, 21:30]
Means of Revival (Resurrection):
"It is Allah Who sends the winds, so that they raise up the clouds, and We drive them to dead land, and revive therewith the earth after its death. As such (will be) the Resurrection." (Fatir, 35:9)
Abu Huraira said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'Between the two sounds of the trumpet, there will be forty." Somebody asked Abu Huraira, "Forty days?" But he refused to reply. Then he asked, "Forty months?" He refused to reply. Then he asked, "Forty years?" Again, he refused to reply.
Abu Huraira added: "Then (after this period) Allah will send water from the sky, and then the dead bodies will grow like vegetation grows. There is nothing of the human body that does not decay except one bone; that is the little bone at the end of the coccyx of which the human body will be recreated on the Day of Resurrection." [Narrated Al-A'mash, Sahih al-Bukhari 4935, Book 65 Hadith 456, Vol 6, Book 60, hadith 457]:
"It is He, Who sends the winds like heralds of glad tidings, going before His Mercy: when they have carried the heavy-laden clouds, We drive them to a land that is dead, make the rain descend thereon, and produce every kind of harvest there with. Thus, shall We raise up the dead: perchance you may remember." (Al A'raf, 7:57)
Divine Treasure and Bounty
The ProphetSAW said: "The Right Hand of Allah is full, and its fullness is not affected by the continuous spending day and night…His Throne is over Water, and in His other Hand is the Bounty or the Power to bring about death, and He raises some people, and brings others down." [Narrated Abu Hurairah, Sahih al-Bukhari 7419, Book 97, Hadith 47]
Just like Allah's Blessings are beyond human reckoning, His Treasure to support and meet creation's demand is infinite and inexhaustible:
"And there is not a thing but its (inexhaustible) treasures are with Us, but We only send down thereof in due and ascertainable measures." (Al Hijr, 15:21)
Creation's provision is already predetermined based on the Eternal Knowledge of AllahSWT about the need of that particular individual. No one knows the decree of AllahSWT, and no one knows what the morrow will bring for him:
"Nor does anyone know what it is that he will earn on the morrow." (Luqman, 31:34)
AllahSWT does not send down the provision in excess of what has already been decreed. If He would send it in excess of the need, men would transgress beyond all bounds and create injustice in the earth:
"If Allah were to enlarge the provision for His servants, they would indeed transgress beyond all bounds through the earth. But He sends it down in due measure as He pleases, for He is with His servants Wll-Acquainted, Watchful." (Al Shura, 42:27)
Allah's Right Hand is the Prime Source of wealth, and continuous spending symbolizes His Extreme Generosity. AllahSWT, not only creates, but He also protects and sustains the creatures. After creation, He does not sit apart, careless of mankind, or of any of His creatures. Every creation consciously or subconsciously asks Him for its need, and AllahSWT responds to their need day and night. He does not get tired, nor does He need slumber (2:255). He serves His creations continuously with new Splendor, every day, every hour, every moment:
"Every creature in the heaven and on earth, seeks its need of Him: Every day in (new) Splendor, does He (shine)." (Al Rahman, 55:29)
Allah's general favors, like air, water, and light, are showered freely on all – the just and the unjust, the deserving and the undeserving, Believing and the disbelieving. But in the case of specific gift, all gifts are not of equal value. Those who thrive for spiritual gifts and earn it, their ranks are higher in dignity and honor before AllahSWT, and worth more on the Day of Accountability, than the transitory material gain of this world:
"Of the bounties of your Lord, We bestow freely on all – these as well as those: the bounties of your Lord is not closed (to anyone). See, how We have bestowed more on some than other; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation, and more in excellence." (Al Isra', 17:20-21)
Allah's Left Hand is the Bounty, or the Power: It symbolizes the power of giving life and taking life away; it holds the balance of Justice, therefore determines the reward and punishment, and, it holds the treasure of Bounty, therefore, the power of distribution of wealth to bestow upon someone the kingship of a domain, and honor him, or to take away the kingship to make him destitute, and to humiliate him:
Say: "O Allah! Lord of Power (and Rule), You give power to whom You please, and You strip of power, from whom You please. You endow with honor whom You please, and You bring low whom You please: in Your Hand is all good. Verily, You have Power over all things." (Ali 'Imran, 3:26)
Science And Primordial Water (Allah knows best):
1. Extent of Primordial Water:
Presence of water is universal. The remnant of the primordial water is in existence in every corner of the universe, and in every creation, starting with rocks and living cell, then to the horizon of the galaxies. Researchers say that water has been detected in a galaxy roughly 12.8 billion light years away from earth. (https://www.usatoday.com › news › world › 2021/11/03)
There is speculation that presence of water in all rocky planets, may be commonplace throughout the Milky Way. [Rocky planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars]. In July 2022, water was detected on the exoplanet WASP-96b based on spectrum studies with the James Webb Space Telescope. (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/astronomers-find-water-on-an-exoplanet-twice-the-size-of-earth/). The exoplanet WASP-96b is 1,150 light years away, in Phoenix Constellation, in the Southern Hemisphere X. The rocky planets of Milky Way may have water:
This water, in the remotest corner of the galaxy, is a part of the Primordial Water, a part of the Primordial Creations. It has a mix of all necessary elements required in the creation of the universe: the heavens and the earth, and everything in them and everything in between them. It got incorporated in the galaxies, when the cosmic chaos settled within few seconds after the separation of the heavens and earth:
"Have not those who disbelieve that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece (Rathqan), then We parted them (Fathqan). And We have made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe." (Qur'an, 21:30)
The concept of primordial water and its limitless potentials, is a time-old philosophical precept, that prevailed in most ancient beliefs. The ancient Egyptians referred to the pre-creation/primordial water as 'nu' or 'nun', that has limitless potentials to create things: "And We made every living thing from Water (21:30)".
"It is He Who has created man from water, then he has established relationships of lineage and marriage: for your Lord has power (over all things)." (Al Furqan, 25:54)
2. The Origin of Earthly Water
The source of earthly water is the cloud in the sky, the source that pours on the ground to make springs, rivers and oceans. Some of this water, however is preserved in the most unexpected places like rocks in mountains and hills, to serve as a perineal source, particularly in dry season:
"For among rocks, there are some from which rivers gush forth, others there are which when split asunder send forth water." (Al-Baqarah, 2:74)
In addition, water is preserved in reservoirs, deep inside the earth. In a study by Steve Jacobsen and Brandon Schmandt, using seismic waves to find magma generated at the base of the transition zone of the earth, around 410 miles deep, suggests the transition zone may contain oceans worth of H2O, dissolved in high-pressure rock [https://phys.org/news/2014-08-scientists-evidence-oceans-worth-earth.html]:
Schematic cross section of the Earth's interior
These oceans of water, must have been incorporated in earth's interior, at the time of the birth of the earth. The exit of this water from the interior of the earth is during earth quacks, volcanos, and tsunamis, the results of the movement of earth's tectonic plates. One of the many outcomes of these natural processes, is to replenish the surface water.
The extent of the Primordial water can only be imagined by a backward deduction: Since the Throne encompasses the creation, and it is on Water, then this water, rather "Water Belt", must encompass the creations, like the seven heavens and similar number of earths, that comprise the universe.
3. Water and 'Space-Plasma':
In scientific term, the primordial/pre-creation water can be equated to 'space plasma', a mix of solid, liquid and gas, that came into existence after the Big Bang event, which is proposed as the beginning of time and space. Immediately after the event, the space was filled with particulate matter in the form of ions and electrons. This was followed by the formation of Hydrogen, Helium, Oxygen, water and other matters, followed by the formation of stars, planets and galaxies. The leftover of ions and electrons, that fills the interstellar space is called the "space plasm":
The Holy Qur'an, revealed fourteen centuries ago, puts spot light on this issue, and takes scientists and the philosophers to the beginning of the creation, far beyond Big Bang, and the like, confirming that the earthly water is a part of the primordial water:
"Have not those who disbelieve that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece (Rathqan), then we parted them (Fathqan). And We have made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe." (Qur'an, 21:30)
The above verse refers to the phenomenon of "Fusion" (or Rathqa) and "Fission" (or Fathqa). Fusion brought the elements of the would-be heavens and earth together, and the Fission caused the separation of the two with tremendous force. The estimate of that force can only be given in terms of the mass (of the primitive heavens and the earth) multiplied by square of the velocity of light, as depicted in Sir Albert Einstein's famous equation e = mc2, (where e = energy, m = mass, c = velocity of light).
The results of the Fission were the creation of the primitive earth, and the heavens, and liberation of tremendous amount of energy and heat. The heat of Fission kept the interstellar material in ionic form, giving it the name, cosmic plasma or space plasma, that fills the void between interstellar material. Since this is not visible, it is also called the black/dark matter. The dark matter and the energy liberated from the event exert pressure for expansion of the space, while the gravitational force between the newly formed masses exert control over the expansion force. The algebraic sum of these two opposing forces is in favor of expansion, the cause of present-day expansion, which itself is a staggering force, beyond our reckoning:
"With Power did We construct the heaven. Verily, We are able to expand the vastness of the space. And We have spread out the earth: how Excellent Spreader (thereof) are We." (Suraah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:47-48)
After the Fission, the primitive earth existed in the form of dust, and the sky existed in the form of smoke. AllahSWT prepared the earth to sustain life on it in six Eons, and the primitive sky, the smoke, was stratified into seven heavens in two Eons:
"He placed therein (i. e. the earth) firm mountains from above it, and He blessed it, and measured therein its sustenance (for its dwellers) in four Days (equal) for all those who ask about its creation.
Then He rose over (Istawa) towards the heaven, when it was (as) smoke…then He completed and finished from their creation (as) seven heavens…such is the Decree of Him, the All-Mighty, the All-Knower." (Fussilat, 41:10-12)
4. Extent and location of the Water Belt:
Since the Kursi encompasses the universe (2:255), and the Throne encompasses the Kursi (the Throne is immensely larger than the Kursi), and the Throne is on water, the water belt that is carrying the Throne, must encompass the universe. The universe, in a geocentric model, includes the earth and the circles of seven heavens up to the Limit Horizon or Sidrat-ul-Muntaha::
"Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (a lot-tree of the utmost boundary over the seventh heaven, beyond which none can pass). Near it is the Paradise of Abode." (An-Najm, 53:14-15)
So, the location of the Water Belt is above the Sidrat-ul-Muntaha, and above the Paradise of Abode (the Jannatul-Firdaws).
The immensity of the size of these creations can only be fathomed by computing the distance of one sphere to the next, taking the earth as the reference point. The Holy Prophet Muhammad SAAW said that the first sky is separated from the earth by a distance of five hundred years of journey, the second sky is separated from the first sky by a similar distance, then the same pattern continues for the rest of the skies, up to the seventh. Then there is a similar distance between the seventh sky and the Thorne of AllahSWT. [Paraphrased, Jami' at-tirmidhi 3298, Book 47, Hadith 350, Al Hassan from Abu Hurairah]
5. Primordial Water in living cells
What has been observed in the macro-sphere of the universe, the same phenomenon can be observed in the microsphere of a living cells, albeit at the microscopic level. A living cell is a micro-universe, factory of consumption and production, and the source of energy. It only takes a keen observation to see the limitless miracles in a cell:
"And on the earth are signs for those who has Faith with certainty. And also, in yourselves. Will you not then see." [Adh Dhariyat, 51:20-21]
A living cell, is a structural and functional unit of life. In it, there is a substance called Protoplasm, preserved within its wall. Is it the remnant of the Primordial water? The DNA, that holds the genetic information, is suspended in the nucleoplasm of the nucleus, the command center, and the RNA, that controls the production of all metabolic components including protein, fat and carbohydrate, is suspended in the protoplasm.
Protoplasm is composed mainly of five basic substances: water, electrolytes, protein, lipid, and carbohydrates. Water: the principal fluid media of the cell, is present in most cells, in a concentration of 70-85 percent. Many cellular chemicals are dissolved in the water. Others, like mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and ribosomes, are suspended in the water as solid particulates. Chemical reactions take place among the dissolved chemicals or at the surfaces of the suspended particles or membranes. [modified from Guyton and Hall, Text Book of Medical Physiology, Twelfth Edition, p 11]. Thus, the unit of a living body is a living cell, and a living cell depends on water in the protoplasm to stay alive. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that protoplasm is a remnant of the Primordial Water, from which all creations were created.
Conclusion
We need to acknowledge that AllahSWT is the Creator. Everything beside Him, starting with the Throne, the Kursi, the Primordial Water, the heavens and the earth, and everything in between the heavens and earth, is creation. The Throne and the Kursi symbolize His Majestic Power, and the Water symbolizes the Primordial Water, from which all living creatures are created. The "Right Hand of Allah", symbolizes the Treasure, the Strength and Generosity, while "His Left Hand" symbolizes His Power and Decree: The Power of giving life and causing death, and the Power of honoring someone, and humiliating others (when they repeatedly disobey Him).
The verse in discussion (Hud, 11:7) deals with unseen entities, starting with the Creator down to the creations. These are the Utmost Truths. Believing in them, without seeing, is an article of Aqida, and the subject of trial for mankind. Those who believe without seeing are Believers, and Allah is pleased with them; they will be in the Gardens of Eternity, and those who do not believe without seeing, are the deniers of Allah; He is displeased with them, and they will be in Hellfire:
"Those who reject (Truth) among the People of the Book, and among the polytheists, will be in Hellfire, to dwell therein. They are the worst of creatures. Those who have Faith, and do righteous deeds—they are the best of creatures; their reward is with Allah: Gardens of Eternity, beneath which rivers flow…". (Al Bayyinah, 98:6-8)
Primordial Creations (Contd.)
Part IV
Kursi, The Footstool
Kursi is the Footstool, located in front of the Throne. The immensity of the Kursi is that it encompasses the heavens and the earth: "His Kursi extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them..." [Al-Baqarah, 2:255].
And, the Prophet MuhammadSAW said:
"The Kursi, compared to the 'Arsh, is nothing but like a ring thrown out upon open space of the desert." If the Kursi extends over the entire universe, then how much greater is the 'Arsh. Indeed Allah, the Creator of both the Kursi and 'Arsh, is the Most-Great. (Prophet's Tafsir of verse 2:255. Ref: The Noble Qur'an, English Translation of meanings and commentary, page 57).
Waki narrated that Ibn Abbas said: "Kursi is the footstool, and no one is able to give due consideration to (Allah's) Throne. (At-Tabarani 12:39)
Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas said:
"If the seven heavens and the earth were flattened and laid side by side, they would add up to the size of a ring in a desert, compared to the Kursi." [Ad-Dahhak from Ibn Abbas, recorded in Ibn Abi Hatim 3:981]
Muhammad bin Abdullah and other religious scholars said that the Kursi is in the front, and at the Foot level of the 'Arsh. (Fatwa Ibn Taimiyah, Vol. 5, Pages 54,55)
Primordial Creations (contd.)
Part V
The Universe
The Holy Qur'an, and Science correlation:
The primitive universe: The creation of the universe belongs to the realm of Unseen (A-Ghaib). Islamic knowledge about it derives from what is revealed in the Holy Qur'an. On the other hand, many theories regarding the creation of the universe abound in nineteenth century literature. One of the commonly accepted theories is the Big Bang theory, proposed by Georges LeMaitre (1894-1966). It postulates that at the beginning (about 13.7 billion years ago), the universe was confined in an infinitely small, dense and hot area, which eventually exploded to create the space, the expansion of which is our present universe. And, evolutionists like Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895), postulated that the living things on earth evolved from simple inorganic material by a process called Abiogenesis. Although these theories posit somewhat detailed explanations for creation, they pale in comparison to what is revealed in the Holy Qur'an, almost fourteen centuries ago (610-632 CE):
"Have not those who disbelieve know that the heavens and the earth were joined together (Ratqan) as one united piece, then We parted them (Fatqan)? And We have made from water every living thing. Will they not believe?" (Al-Ambiya, 21:30)
The above verse refers to the primordial existence of the heavens and the earth as single joint unit (Ratqan), that was separated (Fatqan), at a later point in time to create the primitive heavens and earth, as separate individual units. This is similar to the scientific concept, respectively of, 'Fission and Fusion'. The amount of energy contained in, or liberated from, during these processes, must have been enormous [in terms of Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity (e = mc2)].
The Expansion of the Universe:
The magnitude of this energy liberated during the separation (Fatqan) of the primitive sky and the earth, must have been sufficient enough to expand the universe to its present state, and will continue to do so.[1] This supports what is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an:
"With power did We construct the heaven. Verily, We are Able to expand the vastness of space thereof. And, We have spread out the earth: how Excellent Spreader (thereof) are We!" (Adh-Dhariyat, 51:47-48)
The Time, Space and "what fills the space":
The Holy Qur'an also addresses the phrase "what is in between the heavens and the earth": "We created the heavens and the earth and what is in between them in Six Days…" (Qaf, 50:38).
The "Big Bang" theory assumes that the existence of matters at Point Singularity was at Zero-Time, and explosion of Point Singularity as the Beginning of the ephemeral time and the expansion of point singularity as a result of explosion created the space, and the force of explosion is the cause of expansion of the space to the present level. Although, the gravitational force acts counter to the expansion force, still the expansion force is greater that the gravitational force to continue the expansion, but is a controlled fashion.
The force of explosion of Point Singularity scattered the matters far and wide. These scattered matters, filling up the space, existed in the forms of matter (the electron), and antimatter (the positron). The elements in this "Primordial Soup" are light without measurable dimensions and dispersed far and wide; they are non-visible, therefore called the Dark Matter[2], that makes up about 27% of the universe.
So, there is "something" in the space between the heaven and the earth, and this "something" being invisible, must be very light, and thinly dispersed, so that it does not block the sunlight to produce a shadow, and compatible with the environment. The critical density for the Universe is approximately 10-26 kg/m3 (or 10 hydrogen atoms per cubic meter). Dark matter makes up about 85 percent of the total mass of the universe, and about a quarter (26.8 percent) of the universe's total mass and energy. (Google.com)
Therefore, the results of explosion were the beginning of space, (an expansion of Point Singularity), release of matters (electron and positron, filling the space), and release of energy. The consolidation of matters lead to the formation of the heavens and the earth, and the left over matter formed the dark matter, filling the void.
In sum, the results of the historical explosion were the following:
(1) the beginning of space as an expansion of Point Singularity,
(2) the "Primordial Soup" (the mix of electron and positron) filling the space,
(3) very hot environment from release of energy, and,
(4) the beginning of time, as an extension of the "Zero-Time at Singularity".
The Primordial Creations
Part VI
Resurrection
The general meaning of the Resurrection is to "bring back to life". Life begins at birth and continues in Eternity after Resurrection. It is a long and solitary journey. It has three segments: the worldly or material life, the Interregnum or life in Barzakh, and the Final Return to the never-ending Eternal Life. The journey to Resurrection is inevitable for all who have begun their life at birth. The purpose of this August Return is to recapitulate our worldly life, to be held accountable for our deeds, and to be rewarded according to the quality of our deeds:
"Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid if your wages in full. And whoever is removed from the fire and admitted to the Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing)." (Surah Al-Imran, 3:185)
The worldly life or the Hayatud-Duniya, begins at birth, and ends in death. It is a physical metamorphosis in which the physical body gets separated from the soul. This separation or departure begins the 'Stupor of death' or the 'Precoma', that precedes the onset of irreversible coma of death.
The precoma is painful, because this is the time of separation of the Nafs (soul), which is amalgamated with every cell of the body. The agony of the state of stupor or "precoma" is characterized by listlessness, difficulty in breathing, grimaces, and purposeless movements. These signs are obvious to the naked eye, but a living person ignore this vivid experience, and soon get busy with material world:
"And the stupor of death will come in truth: "This is what you have been avoiding!" (Surah Qaf, 50:19)
At the time of the stupor of death, the entities of unseen world start to become visible; the Angel of Death and his companion angels start to appear before the dying person to extract the soul:
"Then why do not (intervene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches the throat? And you at the moment are looking on. But We (i.e. Our angels who take the soul) are nearer to him than you, but you see not." (Surah Al-Waqi'ah, 56:83-85)
The coma of death gradually sets in, when the signs of precoma gradually become less noticeable: the movements gradually cease (starting with lower extremities), breathing become slow and labored, the heart beats become slow, the eyes roll upwards (as if seeing the soul leaving the body), and finally all vital functions stop, causing death, the end to the worldly life:
Say: "The death, from which run away, will surely overtake you: then you will be sent back the Knower of things secret and open: and He will tell you (the truth of) the things that you did!" (Surah Al-Jumu'ah, 62:8)
Death is the gateway to the next phase of the journey, the life in the Interregnum or Barzakh, which begins with our burial and last until the Day Resurrection. In the grave (in state of Barzakh), the interrogating angels (Nakir and Munkar), will question person to establish his identity: a believer and a non-believer/polytheist, and He will be subject to brief periods of pleasure or punishment. The person will remain in this state till the Day of Resurrection:
Death controls our lonely journey by allowing only forward movement, like a one-way turnstile, and it does not allow any backward movement, even if someone would like to go back to the world to amend his deeds:
"So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!" No! It is not a word that he speaks; and behind them is a Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected." (Surah Al-Mu'minun, 23:100)
Resurrection in the Holy Qur'an
In the Holy Qur'an, different words with closely related shades of meaning have been mentioned to express the meaning of the word "Resurrection". Some of them are: Al-Hashar, An-Nushur, Al-Ba'as, Al-Khuruz, Al-Qiyamah, As-Sa'ah, Al-Liqaa:
Al-Hashar:
(The day of) Resurrection:
"And when mankind is Gathered on the Day of Resurrection, they (false deities) will become their enemies and will deny their worshipping." (Surah Al-Ahqaf, 46:6)
(The day of) Gathering: "He it is Who, drove out the disbelievers among the people of the Scripture, from their home at the First Gathering. You did not think that they would get out…" (Surah Al-Hashar, 59:2)
An-Nushur:
"It is Allah Who sends forth the Winds, so that they raise up the Clouds, And We drive them to a Land that is dead, and revive the Earth therewith after its death: As such will be the Resurrection." (Surah Fatir, 35:9)
Al-Ba'as:
"And those who have been bestowed with knowledge and faith will say: "Indeed you have stayed according to the Decree of Allah, until the Day of Resurrection (Ba'as): so, this is the Day of Resurrection (Ba'as), but you knew not." (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:56)
Al-Khuruj:
"A provision for (Allah's) slaves. And We give life therewith (blessed water) to a dead land. Thus, will be the Khuruj (Resurrection of the dead)." (Surah Qaf, 50:11)
"The Day when they will hear As-Saihah (loud shout) in truth: that will be the Khuruj (the Day of coming out from the graves, i. e. the Day of Resurrection)." (Surah Qaf, 50:42)
Al-Qiyamah:
"I swear by the Day of Al-Qiyamah (Resurrection)." (Surah Al-Qiyamah, 75:1)
"He asks: When will this Day of Al-Qiyamah (Resurrection)." (Surah Al-Qiyamah, 75:6)
As-Sa'ah (the Hour):
"They ask you (O muhammadSAAW) about the Hour (Resurrection) -- When will it be its appointed time?" (Surah An-Nazi'at, 79:42)
Al-Liqaa: (The Meeting):
"Say (O MuhammadSAAW): "I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me that your Ilah (God) is one Ilah (i. e. Allah). So, whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness, and associate none as partner in the worship of his Lord." (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:110)
The Hour and Signs of The Resurrection
The Hour of Resurrection is one of the five things, that are unknown, except to AllahSWT:
"Verily Allah, with Him Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die." (Surah Luqman, 31:34)
According to the Holy Prophet Muhammad SAAW, the onset of the Hour will be heralded by minor and major signs. The major signs are:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The last hour will not come or happen until there appear ten signs before it: the rising of the sun in its place of setting, the coming forth of the beast, the coming forth of Gog and Magog, the Dajjal (Antichrist), (the descent of) Jesus son of Mary, the smoke, and three collapses of the earth: one in the west, one in the east, and one in the Arabian Peninsula. The last of that will be the emergence of a fire from Yemen, from the lowest part of Aden, and drive mankind to their place of assembly. (Sunan Abi Dawad 4311, Book 39, Hadith 21, Book 38, Hadith 4297)
Resurrection will be heralded by disintegration of the present order of the universe, and taken to an unknown spiritual realm:
"They made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. So, on the Day of Al-Qiyamah, the whole earth will be grasped by His Hand, and heavens will be rolled in His Right Hand. Glorified be He, and High be He above all that they associate as partners with Him." (Surah Az-Zumur, 39:67)
"On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth, and so will be the heavens, and they (all creatures) will appear before Allah, the One, the Irresistible." (Surah Ibrahim, 14:48)
Lowing of Trumpets:
There will be two Trumpets to herald Resurrection. With the first Trumpet, all lives will fall into a state of slumber for an unknown period of time. (Then there will be shower of rain), followed by the blowing of the second Trumpet, when everyone will come out of their graves, quickly as racing to a goal-post (70:43). As they gather on the New Plain lighted up with Divine Light, they will be naked, bewildered, and confused; standing and looking:
"And the Trumpet will be blown, and who are in the heavens (skies) and all who are on the earth, will soon away, except him whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown a second time, and behold, they will be standing, and looking on." (Surah Az-Zumur, 39:68)
The Holy Prophet Muhammad SAAW said: "I will be the first to raise my head after the second blowing of the Trumpet and will see MusaAS holding or clinging to the Throne; and I will not know whether he had been in that state all the time or after the blowing of the trumpet." (Narrated Abu Hurairah, Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol 6, Hadith No. 337)
Beginning of Judgement:
AllahSWTwill come to judge, and the New Plain will shine with Divine Light, the Prophets, the Messengers, and the witness will be called, the Books of deeds will be laid open:
"And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord (Allah, when He will come to judge among men): and the Book will be placed (open); and the Prophets and the witness will be brought forward; and it will be judged between them with truth, and they will not be wronged." (Surah AZ-Zumur, 39:69)
Grouping of people:
On the Day of Judgment, there will be sorting out of the Good and Evil, or rather there will be three classes:
"And you will be sorted out into three classes: So, those on the Right Hand (that is those who will be given their Records in their right hands)—how (fortunate) will be those on the Right Hand." (Surah Al-Waqi'ah, 56:7-8)
Among the Good, there will be the specially exalted class, those nearest to AllahSWT, the Muqarrabun, and the righteous people in general, called the Companions of the Right Hand (Ashab al-Maymanah):
"And those foremost [(in Islamic Monotheism and in performing righteous deeds) in the life of this world on the very first call for to embrace Islam] will be foremost (in Paradise). These will be the nearest (to Allah), in the garden of Delight (Paradise)". (Surah Al-Waqi'ah, 56:10-12)
And among the Evils, there will be those in agony, the Companions of the Left Hand (Ashab al-Mash'amah) i. e. those who will receive their Records in left hand, as a disgrace for them, because they will enter Hell:
"And those on the Left Hand—and how (unfortunate) will be those on the Left Hand." (Surah Al-Waqi'ah, 56:9)
Once the sorting is done, the angels will be directed to guide the groups to their respective destinations: the Disbelievers to the Hell and the Believers to the Paradise.
The keepers of the Hell, knowing what is about to befall on the disbelievers, will ask them, whether their Messengers warned them of the consequences of disbelieve in the Day of Judgment. They will answer in affirmative, and will enter the Hell on their own admittance of the truth. This is the result of arrogance in denying Allah, the A-Mighty, and disobeying Him:
"And those who disbelieved, will be driven to Hell in groups till, when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened (suddenly), and its keeper will say, "Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Verses of your lord and warning you of the Meeting of the Day of yours? They will say "Yes," but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers." (Surah Az-Zumur, 39:71)
The righteous ones will also be led to the Paradise in groups, till they reach it, and will find its gates been opened in anticipation of their arrival (as in welcoming an honorable guest), and the keepers of the Paradise will welcome them with Salam (Salamun Alaikum):
"And those who keep their duty to their Lord (Al Muttaqun) will be led to the Paradise in group, till when they reach it, and its gates will be opened, and its keepers will say: Salamun Alaikum! You done well, so enter here to abide therein." (Surah Az-Zumur, 39:73)
Once the Believers enter the Paradise, they find the angels making Tawaf around Allah's Throne glorifying the praises of AllahSWT, the Lord of all that exist:
"And they will see the angels surrounding the Throne from all round, glorifying the praises of their Lord. And they will be judged with truth. And it will be said, "All the praises and thanks belong to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin." (Surah Al-Zumur, 39:75)
This is the end of the lonely journey and beginning of Eternal Life: the traveler has passed through the Turnstile Gate, and never will return to the past life.
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