In the Name of Allah. “Praise be to Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and made the darkness and the light. Yet, those who disbelieve hold [others] as equal to their Lord. He it is Who created you from clay, then decreed a term, and there is an appointed term with Him, and yet you doubt. And He is Allah in the heavens and the earth. He knows that which you keep secret and that which you announce, and He knows what you earn.” [6 (Al-An`am), 1-3]
The Resurrection
After the intermediate realm of forty years, Allah will again command the angel Israfil to blow the Horn. “ . . . then [the Horn] will be blown another time, and behold! they shall be standing, looking.” [(39) Al-Zumar, 68] Allah will cause a special rain, called “The Water of Life”, to fall, and will thereby cause the bodies to grow from `ajab al-dhanab (a small bone at the end of the spine), in the samme way as plants grow.

It is essential to believe in the bodily resurrection. Just as both the body and soul participated in either obeying or disobeying Allah in this world, so it is only fitting that they should both receive the appropriate recompense of punishment and/or reward. A bodily resurrection is not rationally inconceivable, and furthermore, the texts of the Qur’an and authentic ahadith are quite explicit in their mention of physical pleasures and punishments in the Hereafter, such that there is no room left for doubt. It was only some deviant individuals and groups, who, under the influence of the corrupt ideas of people of other religions and of the pagan philosophers, started to deny this fact, claiming that the Hereafter is purely spiritual, or that Heaven and Hell are mere states of mind which are consequential upon a person’s worldly conduct. Such beliefs display an obstinacy in accepting that which Allah has conveyed to us, and are the fruits of baseless imaginings and Satanic whisperings which afflict those who are not content with clearly-stated, obvious truths. Imam Ghazzali pronounced a verdict of disbelief on the philosphers on three counts : their claim that the universe is eternal, their denial of the bodily resurrection, and their denial that Allah knows the minute details of things.

The Qur’an advances logical arguments to convince those who may be skeptical about the bodily resurrection. “[Allah] it is Who begins the creation, and then repeats it, and it is easier for Him. And His is the highest description in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.” [(30), al-Rum, 27] So, Who created and then destroyed is certainly able to return that creation to existence. Ibn `Abbas said, “All is easy for Him.” In another verse, we are reminded of our lowly beginnings, and that in fact that there was a time when we did not even exist. “Has man not seen that We created him from a [mere] drop, and yet, behold! he is an open adversary! He coins a similitude for Us, and forgets his creation; he says, ‘Who will give live to bones when they are decomposed?’ Say : He will give life to them Who initially brought them into existence, and He is knowledgeable of all kinds of creation. He Who has made for you fire from the green tree, so that you obtain kindling therefrom. Is He Who created the heavens and the earth not capable of creating their like? Indeed, and He is the Supreme Creator, the Knowing.” [(36) Ya-Sin, 78-81] And, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah radiyallahu `anhu : the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam said : Allah, the Exalted, says, “The Son of Adam has given lie to Me, although he may not do so, and he has vilified Me, although he may not do that. As for his giving lie to me, it is his saying, ‘He will not bring me back [to life] in the manner in which He began me.’ Yet, the first creation is not any easier for Me than its repeat. And, as for his vilifying Me, it is his saying, ‘Allah has taken a son,’ although I am the One, the Eternally-Besought, Who neither begets nor was begotten, nor is there any like unto Him.” (Narrated by Bukhari, Ahmad.)
The Gathering
The resurrected will be faced with an unfamiliar and terrifying scenario. “And, on the day when We shall cause the mountains to move [away], and you shall see the earth exposed, and We shall gather them, not missing any one of them.” [(18) Al-Kahf, 47] Fakhr al-Din al-Razi said in his exegesis, putting together this and other related information from the Qur’an : “The mountains shall go through five stages on the Day of Resurrection : [first] shattering, then [they will be] like carded wool, then like scattered dust, then they will be blasted and dispersed, then they will disappear.”

Israfil will summon the dead to their gathering, and the earth will split to let them out. “Listen, the day when the Summoner shall summon from a nearby place. The day they shall hear the Shout (i.e. the Blast on the Horn) in truth; that will be the Day of Emergence. The day when the earth shall split [to allow them] to hurry out; that is a gathering which is easy for Us.” [(50) Qaf, 41-44] The first over whom the earth shall split is the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam, as is narrated by Muslim. The Land of the Resurrection is called al-Sahirah [See (79) Al-Nazi`at, 14.], and in the following hadith, we find it described. “Mankind shall be gathered on a reddish-white land, like a clean, round, flat loaf of bread, not bearing the imprint of anyone.” (Narrated by Bukhari, Muslim.)
Creatures of the Resurrection Plain
Mankind and jinn will be gathered there in their entirety, including even the rebellious devils. “Then, by your Lord! We shall surely gather them, and the devils, and then We shall bring them around Hell on their knees.” [(19) Maryam, 68. See also (6) Al-An`am, 128] Also, “the days will be gathered in their forms.” (Narrated by Tabarani.) The earth shall be gathered there. “On that day, [the earth] shall relate its news, because your Lord shall have inspired it.” [(99) Al-Zalzalah, 4- 5] On the authority of Abu Hurayrah radiyallahu `anhu : The Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam recited these verses, then asked, “Do you know what its news is?” The Companions replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “Its news is that it testifies over every male and female concerning that which he/she did on its surface; that it says, ‘He did such-and-such on such-and-such day. That is its news.” (Related by Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i.) Animals will also be resurrected. “There is no animal upon the earth, nor any bird which flies with its two wings, except that they are nations like you. We have not neglected anything in the Record. Then, to their Lord shall they be gathered.” [(6), Al-An`am, 38] `Abdur-Razzaq has reported that Abu Hurayrah said that Allah will judge between the animals, and then after they have been given their justice, they will be turned to dust. At this point, the disbeliever will wish that he, too, would have been turned to dust. [See (78)Al-Naba’, 40.]
Terrors of the Resurrection Plain
Mankind will be resurrected barefoot, naked and uncircumcized, but the Prophets will have clothes. The first to be clothed will be Abraham `alayhis-salam. Scholars have deduced that the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam will be resurrected clothed. There will be other terrifying and humuliating occurrences also. On the authority of Miqdad ibn `Amr : he said : I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam saying, “The sun will be brought down on the Day of Resurrection until it is the distance of one meel (one mile, or one inch - the narrator is unsure) from the creatures. Then, people will be in perspiration in proportion to their deeds, such that some of them will be [in perspiration] upto their ankles, some of them upto their knees, some of them upto their groins, and some will be bridled by perspiration,” and the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam pointed, with his hand, to his mouth.” (Narrated by Muslim and Tirmidhi.)

Heaven and Hell will be brought near. “The day when neither wealth nor sons will avail; only he who brings Allah a heart clean [from disbelief]. And, Heaven shall be brought near for the pious, and Hell shall be exposed for those who strayed.” [(26) Al-Shu`ara’, 88-91] Thus, the pious will rejoice in the knowledge that they shall be taken into Heaven, while the wicked will agonize in the knowledge that they are destined for Hell. “A neck, with two seeing eyes, two hearing ears and a speaking tongue, will emerge from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection, and say, “I have been assigned to three [types of people] : every obstinate tyrant, everyone who called to another god with Allah, and the picture-makers.” (Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ahmad.)

On that day, a man will flee from his relatives and loved ones. “On the day when a man will flee from his brother, his mother, his father, his wife and his children. Every man, on that day, shall have enough to make him heedless of others.” [(80) `Abasa, 34-37] Ibn Kathir reports in his exegeis that `Ikrimah said, “A man will meet his wife and ask her, ‘What kind of a husband was I to you?’ She will reply, ‘A good husband you were,’ and she will praise him well, as far as she can. Then, he will ask her, “So, today I seek from you [the reward of] a single good deed, that you give it to me so that perhaps I may be saved from that which you see.’ She will reply, ‘How easy is that which you seek! Yet, I cannot bear to give you anything; I am afraid just as you are.’ Then, a man will meet his son, and stick to him, saying, ‘O son! What kind of father was I to you?’ [His son] will praise him well. He will say, ‘O son! I need an atom’s weight of your good deeds, so that perhaps I might be saved from that which you see.’ His son will reply, ‘O father! How easy is that which you seek! But, I am afraid just as you are.”

Also during this time, certain types of punishment will be inflicted on the guilty. On the authority of Abu Hurayrah radiyallahu `anhu : the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “There is not any possessor of gold or silver who does not pay their due [in zakat] except that on the Day of Resurrection the hoard shall be made into sheets which will be heated in the Fire of Hell. Then, his forehead, sides and back will be branded thereby until Allah judges between His servants, on a day whose measure is fifty thousand years of your reckoning. Then will he see his way, either to Heaven or to Hell.” (Narrated by Ahmad, Bukhari, Muslim.)

All of this suffering is exacerbated by the extreme length of that day. “ . . . . a day whose measure is fifty thousand years.” [(70) Al-Ma`arij, 4]
Relief for the Righteous
Yet, terrifying as these phenomena are, those who feared Allah and were anxious of this day in their worldly lives, will be saved from fear. In the Hadith Qudsi, Allah, the Mighty, the Majestic, says, “By My Might! I shall not combine for My servant two fears, nor two [feelings of] safety.” (Narrated by Ibn Hibban.) Seven categories of people will be in the shade of the `Arsh, according to the hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim; they are : a just leader, a youth who grew up in the service of Allah, a man whose heart was attached to the mosques, two men who loved one another for the sake of Allah, a man who was invited by a beautiful and charming woman [to commit adultery] but he refused, saying ‘I fear Allah,’ a man who gave charity with his right hand such that his left hand did not know what he gave, and one who shed tears in seclusion out of fear of Allah. Other ahadith mention some further categories. Also, for the believers, the day will seem shorter, in proportion to their deeds. So, for some, it will seem like the duration of an obligatory prayer. (Narrated by Ahmad.)

People will be gathered with those whom they loved. On the authority of Jabir : “Every soul shall be gathered according to its desires. So, whoever loved disbelief will be with the disbelievers, and his deeds will not benefit him at all.” (Narrated by Tabarani.) And, in the hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim, a man asked the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam, “When is the Hour (of Judgement)?” The Prophet asked him, “What have you prepared for it?” He replied, “Nothing, except that I love Allah and His messenger.” The Prophet told him, “You are with those whom you love.” In Bukhari’s narration, the Companions asked, “And is it the same for us?” He replied, “Yes.” Anas, the narrator of the hadith, says, “We were not pleased so much by anything as by his saying. ‘You are with those whom you love.’”
The Pool
Every prophet has a pool, but that of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam is superior to the others, and is called al-Kawthar. It is filled from Heaven via two channels, and its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. There are as many cups around it as there are stars in the sky. On the authority of Anas ibn Malik : the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa- sallam was once with us in the mosque when he took a nap, and then [awoke and] raised his head, smiling. We said, “What makes you laugh, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Indeed, a surah has just been revealed to me.” Then, he recited Surah al-Kawthar (108). The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam will recognize his followers by their bodily parts which will be bright from the effects of wudu’. All of his followers will drink from the pool, except for apostates and innovators, as well tyrants and those who openly committed major sins.