SUN OF TRUTH WILL SHINE IN QIYAMAT
This world is a night, a darkness. No one knows about others. Rather man is unaware of even his own self (inner self). People's deeds are hidden from one another. But Qiyamat is a Day, which is a 'day' in its real meaning with which there is no night. The Day will be of fifty thousand years' duration when the sun of truth will shine. In Qiyamat we will realize what we are and what others are.
THE STATION OF FEAR IN QIYAMAT
We have mentioned above that there will be several stations in Qiyamat. The station astonishment has been described earlier. Another station is that of fear which causes silence and stillness as mentioned in the Holy Quran :
And the voices shall be low before the Beneficent God so that you shall not hear aught but a soft sound. (20:108)
And warn them of the day that draws near, when hearts shall rise up to the throats, (40:18)
The third station is that of talks and conversation, of questions and answers between people :
And some of them shall advance towards others, questioning each other. (37:27)
They will ask one another about their good and bad deeds.
FLYING AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER LIKE LOCUSTS
One of the stations will be that of fleeing and running away wherein all will run to avoid one another. Father will run away from son, wife and husband from one another, brother from brother. Everyone would try to avoid one another. All will try to hide their faces. The Holy Quran has likened it with scattered moths :
The day on which men shall be as scattered moths, (101:3)
In Surah Qamar God says :
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Their eyes cast down, going forth from their graves as if they were scattered locusts, (54:7)
Fear will show out of the eyes of the unbelievers. When they will come out of their grave, they will scatter like locusts in the field of Mahshar.
You must have observed that when an army of locusts arrives how everyone of them flies in different direction, some upward, some downward, some in the right, some in the left. They remain scattered in an unorganised manner. Husband and wife, father and son etc will also, in the field of Mahshar, on the Day of Resurrection, remain scattered likewise for avoiding one another. But this fleeing of theirs will be useless.
THEIR FLEEING WILL BE OF NO USE
As mentioned in the explanation of Surah Rahman on that day, God will command that angels on the first sky should come down to earth and take the entire mankind in their control. The angels of the second sky will stand encircling the angles of the first sky. Similarly angels of all the seven skies will line up. These will be the Divine armies, which will encircle and the Grand Field of Gathering (Mahshar) :
O assembly of the jinn and the men! If you are able to pass through the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass through; you cannot pass through but with authority. (55:33)
On that Day men will ask, "Where should I run away?" There is no place or room for escaping except towards the Lord. This also is only for one who had some connection with God. Otherwise, for others, there is no escape.
THEY WILL BEG EVEN FOR A SINGLE GOOD ON
THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT
one more station will be that of asking and begging. Everyone will request his acquaintance to offer one of his goods (reward fetching deeds) but no one will oblige because he himself is also in dire need of it. A father will say to his son, "How many hardships I suffered
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for you sake in the world. How much trouble I took for training you? Now, you please give me one of your good deeds." The son will reply, "At this time, I myself am in dire need of the good and I am more needy than you." Similarly a brother will tell his brother. But none would be able to help the other. All would be in terrible anxiety and will not care for others.
RECORDS OF DEEDS
Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he will say: Lo! Read my book :
Surely I knew that I shall meet my account.
So he shall be in a life of pleasure, (69:19-20)
One of the things in which we believe is the recording of our deeds. This is mentioned at a number of places in the Holy Quran. It is mentioned that recording angels are writing our deeds :
Honorable recorders,
They know what you do. (82:11-12)
At one place in the book, these two angels are mentioned as 'Raquebun Ateed" who note down even the most trifling and little thing :
He utters not a word but there is by him a watcher at hand. (50:18)
Of course we do not know anything about the style of their recording, that is, whether they use paper and ink or have any other way. Only the eye of the Messenger can see it.
In short, Even the slightest step that you take is being noted down by the angels. They record even the intention of doing a good deed. Of course no evil (sin) is noted until it is committed.
THE FRAGRANCE OF GOOD INTENTION ALERTS THE ANGELS
The narrator asked the Imam (a.s.) how angels know good intention of a faithful person? The Imam replied, "As soon as a servant thinks of doing a good deed his body emanates a pleasing fragrance. So the angels understand it and they record that good intention."
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When a fellow thinks of committing an evil, the bad smell of it hurts the angels. If a man thinks of doing good, a good is at once noted in his record of deeds. Then, if he carries out that good deed, ten goods are noted in his record.
Whoever brings a good deed, he shall have ten like it, and whoever brings an evil deed, he shall be recompensed only with the like of it, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly. (6:160)
Just see His generosity. The one who will do a good deed will get ten-fold reward of it. But if a man commits an evil he will be punished only for that one crime or offence and he will not be dealt with unfairly.
RESPITE IN RECORDING GOOD AND EVIL
One of the mercies and generosities of the Most Merciful One is also this kindness that when a servant intends to do an evil the angel named Ateed wants to note it down. But the angel Raqueeb tells him, "Just wait. Give him some respite. Perhaps he may feel ashamed at his intention and may repent over it." So that person is given a respite of about five to seven hours and no evil is entered in his work sheet. It is all right if he repents during this time. Otherwise, the angels say, "How shameless is this servant." Then they enter his crime.
THEY NOTE EVEN THE BLOWING AT FIRE
Narrations show that there are two records for every person. One is the record of good and another of evils. Each and every deed is recorded in one of the two records. So much so that if a man blows in furnace or fire that action too is noted down. It is mentioned in the Holy Quran :
And everything they have done is in the writings.
And everything small and great is written down. (54:52-53)
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THE MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE ALI (A.S.) ADDRESSES
INDECENT YOUTH TALKERS
Shaykh Sadooq (a.r.) has mentioned in his book Aqaid that one day, Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) was passing by a place where he saw a group of youths who were busy in senseless talking and joking. The Imam said, "Are you darkening your records of deeds by such foolish deeds?" They replied, "0 Amirul Mo-mineen! Do angels note even such gossips?" The Imam (a.s.) replied, "Yes, they record even a blow in fire."
Yes, even if you pick up and throw away a little thorn from a thoroughfare, your eyes will be bright and cool tomorrow in Qiyamat, because you saved the servants of God from harm. If you find a peel of banana or any other fruit on a road and if you remove it with an intention of saving God's servants from falling down, then remember, even this small and insignificant deed will also not go unrewarded.
WISDOM BEHIND RECORD OF DEEDS
Here arises a question that when God is All-knowing Himself why any need of recording deeds of His servants?
Nay! Most surely the record of the righteous shall be in the Iliyin. (83:18)
Nay! most surely the record of the wicked is in the Sijjin. (83:7)
Why all this giving the record of good people in their right hands by the angels and their carrying upwards and the records of evil fellows downwards? The answer is that the Most Merciful God likes it that His servants may not even go near evils and sins. If he knows that there is someone who is recording his deeds as per God's Command, he will remain cautious.
O sinful servant! Beware! The Lord of the Universe has appointed two spies over you in addition to your own body organs so that man may have some shame. On the other hand, they may be encouraged to do good through their knowledge about the recording of deeds and its importance and their good consequences. For a clearer
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understanding we explain as follows :
COME! LOOK AT MY MARK SHEET
How much happiness the student feels who stands first in the examination. He jumps and shouts so that all may know about his shinning success. "Come and look at my mark sheet!" shouts the student, "I have stood first."
Tomorrow, on the Day of Judgement too, a believer will be given his scroll of Deeds in his right hand his happiness will know no bounds and he will very joyfully tell everyone, "0 friends! 0 my acquaintances! Just read my Record of deeds."
Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, lie will say: Lo! read my book: (19:69)
Look at this testimonial about the acceptance of my prayers, my fasting and my good deeds! I was always worrying about the accounting of this Day.
Surely I knew that I shall meet my account.
So he shall be in a life of pleasure, (69:20-21)
But how unlucky is the child who has failed in his examination. He will walk towards his home bowing his head in a very unhappy state of mind. He will be telling to himself: Had I died and not seen this dark day of shame. Sometimes such badly affected child also becomes ill. Multiply the degree of effect of this example a thousand times. You will have an idea of the pitiable condition of sinners when they will be given their record of deeds in their left hand.
I WISH THEY HAD NOT GIVEN ME MY RECORD OF DEEDS
And as for him who is given his book in his left hand he shall say :
O would that my book had never been given me :
And I had not known what my account was :
O would that it had made an end (of me) :
My wealth has availed me nothing :
My authority is gone away from me. (69:25-29)
He will say so only because he will observe that his record has
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nothing but shame. He will wish for death after which there would be no death again and everything would end permanently. Then he will wail, "Neither my money help me nor my land and my power all have left me lurking in pain and shame."
HOW THE RECORD WILL BE GIVEN FROM BEHIND
There also will be some people in the field of Mahshar on the Day of Judgement, who will be handed over their records of deeds from behind :
And as to him who is given his book behind his back, He shall call for perdition,
And enter into burning fire. (84:10-12)
This (giving of record from behind) can be in two ways: First, both of his hands may be tied to his back and his head will be turned so that he can read his record. Another way can be that his left hand will pierce in his chest forcing it to come out of his back and then his face will be turned and he will be ordered to read his record :
Read your book; your own self is sufficient as a reckoner against you this day. (17:14)
He will himself read back-biting, false allegations, lies, shameless utterances and actions, assaults on others' honour and all other evils committed by him in his worldly life. Likewise, he will also read the offences done by his physical organs. He would start wailing, "This book is such that it has not left even any big or small deed of mine without writing it down." Whatever he has done in the world will be now before his own eyes.
And the Book shall be placed, then you will see the guilty fearing from what is in it, and they will say: Ah! woe to us! what a book is this! it does not omit a small one nor a great one, but numbers them (all); and what they had done they shall find present (there); and your Lord does not deal unjustly with anyone. (18:49)
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SEVERE PAIN AFTER READING THE RECORD
Some people will be such that reading their records of deeds all the joints of their bodies will disintegrate. Blood and dirt will begin to flow from their eyes. It is mentioned in a tradition of the Holy Prophet that, at that time, a voice will come, "Is there in this record even a single deed which you had not done?" He will reply, "No, 0 My Lord! Everything recorded in this sheet is true." Then he will bow his head in shame.
NO SUSPENSION OR A SUSPENSION FOR A THOUSAND YEARS
On the Day of Judgement, man will, in a split second, remember all of his lifelong deeds and also see them recorded in a scroll or sheet. It would be a very strange realm. Everyone's record will appear clear before everyone's eyes. Some people will be able to become free of accounting within seconds. They will be the righteous people. But some would remain suspended in their accounting for a thousand years, not because their record will be very lengthy but what will be aimed at will be the pain and hardship due for them. Some people's accounting will take very little time, just as for milking a sheep. The time taken for some people's account will be, so to say, from noon to Asr afternoon. Some will remain suspended in accounting for forty years, a thousand years and even upto fifty thousand years in some cases.
GOOD TIDINGS FOR THE FRIENDS OF AHLE BAYT (A.S.)
And the rcturn of the creation is towards you and their accounting is upon you.
It is mentioned by Shaykh Mufeed (r.a.) through consecutive evidences in Biharul Anwar vol. 3 that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, "On the Day of Judgement God Almighty will entrust the accounting of our Shias to us. Then if there will be anything due to God, we will request God to grant it to us and it will be granted. Then whatever will be due to us from them we will forgive. Then the Imam recited this verse:
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Surely to Us is their turning back,
Then surely upon Us is the taking of their account. (88:65-66)
THE HOLY PROPHET WILL PAY UP FOR THE RIGHTS
OF THE SHIAS
In the third volume of the same book of Biharul Anwar there is another narration relating to the accounting on the Day of Judgement wherein the Imam says after the mention of God's rights and Imam's rights (which will be forgiven), "If Shias have to pay up the dues of people, the same will be paid up to the concerned people by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)."
May the Most Merciful Allah make us the Shias of Aale Muhammad (a.s.) and also raise us with them on the Day of grand gathering. Amen.
THANKS TO GOD OUR ACCOUNT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED
TO GENEROUS PERSONS
The good tiding for Shias is that, on the Day of Judgement, Almighty Allah will call every community with their Imam. Glory be to Allah! How lucky is the deed the auditor of which will be Hazrat Hujjat lbn-ul-Hasan (a.t.f.s.). When the Imam will look at our deeds, though we will be bowing our heads down due to our shameful deeds, we will be hopeful because of being his lovers that he will intercede for us. Thanks to the Merciful God that our accounting will be in the hands of the one who will be extremely generous and who will be having a very high status in the court of God Who alone is worth worship.
BALANCE (MIZAN)
The Balance (Mizan) of the Divine Justice in which there is not the slightest chance of deviation or mistake is the Holy Prophet or Amirul Mo-mineen Ali (a.s.). If the Prayers of all the earlier and the latter people are compared with the prayer of Ali (a.s.) the latter's prayer will surpass all other's prayers.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have said, "The balances or scales which will be established on the Day of Judgement, for weighting
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the deeds of people will be the Prophets and their legatees." They are the Aale Muhammad (a.s.). Our prayers will be brought to the field of the Grand Gathering (Mahshar) and it will be observed whether or not they have any resemblance with the prayers of Ali (a.s.). Whether or not we have anything like the high virtues of Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) like generosity, courage, bravery, self-respect, manliness, kindness, justice and fair-play etc. Have we any of it and upto what extent?
Of course, it is established fact that doubtlessly it is impossible that our deeds, prayers, fasting and our virtues could ever be like those of Imam Ali (a.s.). The only thing to be seen is that our deeds must not be contrary to the character of Amirul Mo-mineen and the Holy Imams (a.s.); that they should not be deviated or divergent from that. So, God forbid, if you have extended your hand towards any prohibited thing or have eaten the property of others unlawfully then do remember that you have turned away from the balance of the truth.
WHAT WRONG HAVE WE EVER SEEN IN TRUTH AND JUSTICE
THAT WE MAY TURN TOWARDS THE WRONG PATH
Has a man who is religious, who walks straight and acts with justice any deprivation compared to one who adopts an irreligious and unfair path? What does the former lack? These veiled women who observe religious commands; are they lacking in anything when compared with the free thinking unveiled women? What comfort is not available to the religious woman? Do not imagine that more pleasure of life is available to the unveiled women. If there is any happiness, it is for the faithful also. If there is illness and pain, it inflicts both. There is no difference between them. Both are participating in the pleasures of marriage. Both are equal in the matter of legal and lawful worldly joys, though such joys too are not permanent. On the contrary, we often see how an irreligious person suffers several deprivations. Let me give an example. Such an irreligious man looks at a beautiful woman in a cinema hall and his heart becomes uncontrollable. Sometimes he becomes mad after
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such desire. But does he succeed in what his heart longs for? Whatever troubles he may take, it is not necessary that he must succeed in his desire, because, it is possible that the said woman may be married. How sorry will that man be after knowing this? Or think of the drunkards. It is quite possible that in their condition of intoxication they may quarrel or kill one another and then lead a lonely life behind bars for several years. This applies to other matters too.
PEACE AND COMFORT IS ONLY FOR THE FAITHFUL
A trader who cares for what is permissible and what is unlawful knows that the guarantor of his sustenance or provision is Almighty God. So he does not indulge in dishonestly and unfair dealing in his business. He does not worship the buyer. He does not flatter or deceive his buyers. But the unlucky trader who does not care for truth and justice and fair play, flatters his buyers and deceives them in various ways. From every angle, we find such trader wrong and wayward. If we look from the material viewpoint, we will find that the deviated people are in no way superior to the righteous ones. Rather if there is anything like true happiness and peace of mind and comfort it is available only to the righteous and religious people :
Those are they who shall have the security and they are those who go aright. (6:82)
THE PROFIT OF MATERIALISTS IS DOUBTFUL
The summary of our discussion is that those who abide by the balance of truth have not lost or missed anything in this world also, nor are they now at any loss. Rather, even if there is any profit they alone are benefited by it. On the contrary, those poor people who deviate from the true path are certain to bear the loss in the Hereafter. Their profit in this world is also doubtful. Rather, they get nothing but loss and harm. For example, if he has gained a profit of ten dollars by way of cheating or unfair dealing, he spends its hundred fold in medicines. So, 0 people who seek satisfaction in this world! Never deviate from the true path. Let me know, have you ever suffered any loss due to walking on the straight path? If you
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have not told a lie even in any single matter, have you definitely suffered any loss due that truthfulness? Then why should we ever leave the path of truth?
Come, let us all take an oath that we will never deviate from the balance of truth and the balance of truth is the person of the Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.).
FOUR GROUPS OF PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THEIR ACCOUNTING
On the Day of Resurrection, people will be divided into four groups on the basis of their accounting: Some people will enter paradise without any accounting. They will be the friends of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) who never committed any unlawful deed or they left the world after repenting. Another group will be quite opposite of them, that is, they will go to hell straight away without any accounting. About them God Almighty says in the Holy Quran :
These are they who disbelieve in the communications of their Lord and His meeting, so their deeds become null, and therefore We will not set up a balance for them on the day of resurrection. (18:105)
There will be no accounting of those who leave the world without Faith. There will be no value of their deeds because they had died without Faith.
PUNISHMENT FOR A HUNDRED YEARS DUE TO ONE SIN
The third group is of those people whose deeds will be worth weighing. They will remain suspended at the stage of Qiyamat. But at last, since their good deeds will be more (than evils) they will get salvation. Of course their suspension in the station of accounting will be in proportion to their sins. Therefore, once the Holy Prophet told Ibne Masood, "Man will remain suspended for a hundred years in Mahshar due to one sin (though finally he will enter paradise)."
Of course, the narration does not specify as to what kind of sin it will be. So a faithful must fear the suspension in the station of Mahshar accounting. He should refrain from all big or small sins.
The fourth group will consist of those people the number of whose
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sins will be more than that of their good deeds. If they are lucky to get the intercession of the Infallibles and if God showers His mercy on them, they will get salvation and will go to paradise. Otherwise they will be awarded the punishment in hell. They will have to remain in hell till they get purified by the chastisement. Then they will get salvation and angels will take them to paradise. No person who had even the slightest Faith will remain in hell forever. Only the unbelievers and the enemies of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) will live in hell permanently. It means they will get no reward (everything will be given to them either in the world or in Barzakh). Even if his good deeds are numerous, he will never get a place in paradise because the basis of entrance to paradise is belief in Almighty God and His Signs (verses). How can one who does not have faith in God and who dies in such a condition ever see paradise?
THE PROVISION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TO DIE WITH FAITH
It is mentioned in the tradition regarding a Bedouin and the lizard that the Holy Prophet once said, "I will guarantee the provision of righteousness to the one who provides journey provisions to this Bedouin." Salman asked, "0 messenger of God! What is the provision of righteousness?" The Prophet said, "Saying Laa Ilaah Illallaah at the time of death. If you say so at that time, you will see me. Otherwise you will not see me."
1
It must be understood here that reciting the formula faith in the oneness of God means dying with faith in heart. So if one is in the state of dying and is unable even to move his tongue and to utter anything, the said faith in heart is enough. In such a condition if people recite the reminder (Talqeen) to him, he must take it to heart.
NULLIFYING OF DEEDS AND EXPIATION OF SINS
And (as for) those who disbelieve, for them is destruction and He has made their deeds ineffective.
That is because they hated what Allah revealed, so He rendered
____________
1 Biharul Anwar, vol. 10.
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their deeds null. (47:8-9)
We intend to describe this matter in a style understandable for all. The fact is that if a man leaves this world with no faith in God even after doing only good deeds throughout his life, he will not be benefit by it. 'Ahbaat' means to nullify, making void, to end and finish. Dying faithless nullifies all good deeds. If somebody asks, "Is it not written in the Holy Quran:
So he who has done an atom's weight of good shall see it. (99:7)
The reply is: The person who died faithless has himself destroyed his deeds, because, after denying God, there is no meaning for him of getting any reward and entering paradise (that is, whatever good he did, he did not do in obedience to God, but he did it only because it was good in his thought). Therefore, God also paid him the reward of that good deed in the world, as He has said that He does not destroy anyone's deed. As we have said earlier, for example, it is possible that he may get relief during the agony of death or he may not become ill or regain health soon, may not suffer any monetary losses etc.
CURTAIN BETWEEN HATIM AND NAUSHERWAN AND
THE FIRE OF HELL
It is also likely that good deeds of an unbeliever may cause curtailment in his punishment in the Hereafter. Accordingly it is said that since the generosity of Hatim Tai and the justice of Nausherwan was famous, hellfire does not burn them though they are in it.
And repentance is not for those who go on doing evil deeds, until when death comes to one of them, he says: Surely now I repent; nor (for) those who die while they are unbelievers. (4:18)
Also it is mentioned at another place :
And (as to) those who reject Our communications and the meeting of the hereafter, their deeds are null. Shall they be rewarded except for what they have done? (7:147)
That is, One who goes as an unbeliever from this world, his deeds will go in vain.
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SINS WHICH MAKE A MAN DIE FAITHLESS
All the verses and traditions, which were mentioned so far, about going of deeds in vain, were regarding atheism and polytheism. But what about other sins or offences? Do they also make good deeds go in vain?
Yes! Some of the sins are such according to some specific narrations. For example, regarding disobedience to parents, it is mentioned by the Infallibles (a.s.) that :
A voice will be heard: 0 disobedient to parents! Do whatever you wish; none of your good deeds will ever be accepted.
If someone has made his or her mother unhappy, her complain will burn down into ashes good deeds even if they are Himalayan in size. Some other sins like making false allegations against others also make one faithless. Likewise it is also mentioned that if one is much jealous and openly so, causing pain to others, then according to a narration: Jealousy devours faith like fire devours wood.
FAITH IS THE EXPIATION OF DISBELIEF AND REPENTANCE
IS THE ATONEMENT OF SINS
The root of 'Takfeer' (disbelief) is 'Kufr'.
That He may cause the believing men and the believing women to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein and remove from them their evil ... (48:5)
It means covering (hiding) and to remove the effect of sins. There is no doubt that becoming a believer removes the effects of earlier disbelief. So if one was faithless from the beginning of his life but he believed (became Muslim) at the end and dies, he will certainly get salvation.
But the thing, which can remove the effects of sins committed by a faithful person, is true repentance. The Holy Quran says :
So these are they of whom Allah changes the evil deeds to good ones; (25:7)
It means that the kind and Merciful God changes their sins and
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offences into good deeds and virtues.
