i. Definition of al-nushur in linguistic terms. The words nashr, nushur and inshar refer to bringing the dead back to life.
ii. Definition of al-nushur in Islamic terminology

In Islamic terminology, the word nushur refers to the people being brought forth from their graves to the place of standing for the reckoning and the requital. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Then when He wills, He will resurrect him ansharahu." (‘Abasa 80:22) ‘Abd al-Razzaq ‘Afifi said, “It is called yawm al-nushur because people will come from all directions intishar to the place of standing.”

2.1.3. Definition of al-ma‘ad in linguistic terms and in Islamic terminology
i. Definition of al-ma‘ad in linguistic terms
Al-ma‘ad refers to any place to which is the return or ultimate destination. The hereafter is the ma‘ad or ultimate destination of people. Al-ma‘ad may refer to the time of returning or the place to which one returns.

ii. Definition of al-ma‘ad in Islamic terminology
Ibn al-Athir said, “Al-Mu‘id is the One Who will bring the people back yu‘id to death after life in this world, and will bring them back to life after death on the Day of Resurrection.” The hadith says, “Wa aslih li akhirati allati fiha ma‘adi (Set right for me my Hereafter in which will be my final destination).” (Muslim) Al-Hafiz al-Hakami said, “The ma‘ad is returning to Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, and going back to Him.” ‘Abd al-Razzaq ‘Afifi said, “It is called the Day of Return (yawm al-mi‘ad) because souls will return to their bodies, and thus life will return to the bodies.”

2.2. Evidence that it is obligatory to believe in the resurrection
2.2.1. Evidence for the resurrection from the Holy Qur’an
The Qur’an uses various ways to affirm the resurrection and that it will happen, including the following:
i. Swearing that the resurrection will happen. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "They ask you: Is this true? Say: Yes, by my Lord. It is indeed true, and you can never escape it." (Yunus 10:53)

ii. Reminding people of the initial creation in order to prove that the second creation will happen
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "They say, 'What! When we have turned into bones and dust, will we really be raised up and created anew? Say: Even if you turned to stone or iron, or any other substance you think even more unlikely to be given life. Then they will say: Who will bring us back to life? Say: The One Who brought you into being in the first instance. They will nod their heads at you in disbelief and mockery and say: When will that be? Say: It may well be soon. On the day when He calls you, you will respond by praising Him and think that you have tarried but a short while." (al-Isra’ 17:49-52) "Does man not see that We created him from a drop of semen? Yet he becomes argumentative, able to express himself, producing arguments against Us and forgetting his own creation. He says: Who can give life to bones that have crumbled to dust? Say: He Who created them in the first place will give life to them, for He has full knowledge of every act of creation. It is He Who produces fire for you out of the green trees, with which you kindle your fires." (Ya-Sin 36:77-80) "Does man think that he will be left unchecked?
Was he not a drop of semen emitted, then he became a clinging clot, then Allah formed him and fashioned him,
and made from him the two genders, male and female? Is not He Who has done that able to bring the dead to life?" (al-Qiyamah 75:36-40) "Let man consider that from which he was created. He was created from an ejected fluid
originating from between the backbone and the ribs. Surely Allah has the power to bring him back to life on the day when people’s inner secrets will be examined." (al-Tariq 86:5-9)

iii. Drawing attention to the revival of dead earth as proof that the dead will be resurrected
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "O humankind, if you are in doubt about the resurrection, then consider that We created you from dust, then from a drop of semen, then from a clinging clot, then from a lump of flesh, shaped and unshaped, so that We may make clear to you Our power. And We cause to remain in the wombs whomever We will for an appointed term. Then We bring you forth as infants, then We cause you to grow so that you may reach your age of full strength. Then some of you die and some are sent back to a feeble age, so that, after having had knowledge, they then know nothing at all. You see the earth dry and barren, but when We send down rain upon it, it stirs and swells, and brings forth beautiful plants of every kind. That is because Allah alone is the Truth; He alone brings the dead to life, and He has power over all things. For verily the Hour is coming; there can be no doubt about it. And verily Allah will raise up those who are in the graves." (al-Hajj 22:5-7) "Among His signs is this: you see the earth barren and desolate, but when We send down rain upon it, it stirs and swells. He Who gives it life will surely give life to the dead, for verily He has power over all things." (Fussilat 41:39)

iv. Drawing attention to the creation of the heavens and the earth as proof that the dead will be resurrected
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Do they not realize that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and was not wearied by their creation, is able to bring the dead to life? Verily, He has power over all things." (al-Ahqaf 46:33) "Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like of them? Yes indeed, for He is the Creator of all, the All-Knowing." (Ya-Sin 36:81)

v. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, tells us some stories of people and other creatures who were brought back to life in this world and others witnessed that
Examples of that include the following:
a. The story of the man who passed by a town that lay in ruins. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Or have you seen the one who passed by a town that lay in ruins? He said: How can Allah restore this to life when it has died? Then Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then brought him back to life. He said: How long did you remain in this state? He said: Perhaps a day or part of a day. He said: No; you remained like this for a hundred years. Look at your food and your drink; they have not changed. But look at your donkey, so that We may make of you a sign unto the people; look at the bones, and see how We bring them together then clothe them with flesh. When it had all become clear to him, he said: I know that Allah has power over all things." (al-Baqarah 2:259)

b. Ibrahim asked his Lord to let him see the revival of the dead. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "And remember when Ibrahim said: Show me, O Lord, how You will give life to the dead, He replied: Do you not believe then? He said: Yes of course, but just to reassure my heart. Allah said: So take four birds and cut their bodies into pieces, then place a piece of each of them on each hill. Then call them; they will come swiftly to you. Know that Allah is Almighty, Most Wise." (al-Baqarah 2:260)

c. The death of the Israelites who demanded to see their Lord, so the thunderbolt struck them, then Allah brought them back to life. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "And remember when you said: O Musa! We will never believe in you until we see Allah with our own eyes, but a thunderbolt struck you while you were looking on. Then We brought you back to life after your death, so that you might be grateful." (al-Baqarah 2:55-56)

d. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, tells us of the slain Israelite whom He brought back to life after he was killed and he identified his killer. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "And remember when you killed a man and disputed among yourselves concerning the crime, but Allah brought forth that which you were concealing. So We said: Strike the body with a piece of the sacrificed cow. Thus Allah brings the dead to life and shows you His signs, so that you may understand." (al-Baqarah 2:73)

e. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, tells us of the death of the thousands of people who left their homeland for fear of death, so Allah caused them to die then he brought them back to life. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Have you not heard of those who fled their homes in their thousands for fear of death? Then Allah said to them: Die, then He brought them back to life. For Allah is most gracious to humankind, but most of them do not give thanks." (al-Baqarah 2:243)

f. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, tells us of the people of the Cave, whom He caused to sleep for a long time, then revived them after their sleep. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Do you think that the people of the cave and the inscription were more wondrous than Our other signs? When the young men took refuge in the cave, they said: Our Lord, bestow upon us mercy from Yourself, and guide us through our ordeal. Then We caused them to fall into a deep sleep in the cave for many years. Then We awoke them so that We might see which of the two parties would best calculate the length of their stay in the cave." (al-Kahf 18:9-12)

2.2.2. Evidence for the resurrection from the Sunnah
i. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “Allah said: ‘The son of Adam denied Me and he had no right to do so. And he reviled Me and he had no right to do so. As for his denying Me, it is his saying: ‘He will not recreate me as He created me the first time’ – and the initial creation (of him) is not easier for Me than recreating him. As for his reviling Me, it is his saying: ‘Allah has taken a son,’ when I am the One, Who is sought by all, I beget not nor am I begotten, and there is none comparable to Me.” (Al-Bukhari)

ii. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “In man there is a bone which the earth will never consume, and from it he will be recreated on the Day of Resurrection.” They said: Which bone is it, O Messenger of Allah? He said: “The tail bone.” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

According to another report, the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “All of the son of Adam will be consumed by the earth, except the tailbone. From it he was created and from it he will be recreated.” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

The scholars are agreed that the resurrection is proven. Abu’l-Hasan al-As‘ari narrated that there was consensus among Ahl al-Sunnah regarding that, as he said: “The scholars are unanimously agreed that the torment of the grave is true… And that Allah will recreate them as He created them the first time, barefoot, naked and uncircumcised; that the bodies which did acts of obedience and disobedience are the bodies which will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection. Similarly, the skins, tongues, hands and feet that they had in this world are the ones which will testify against them on the Day of Resurrection.”

They are unanimously agreed that the one who denies the resurrection in the hereafter is a disbeliever. Ibn Hazm said: “All the Muslims who face the qiblah in the prayers, despite the differences in their sects, are agreed on belief in the resurrection in the hereafter and that the one who denies it is a disbeliever.”