10. The reckoning (al-hisab)
10.1. Definition of the reckoning (al-hisab) in linguistic terms and in Islamic terminology
10.1.1. Definition of the reckoning (al-hisab) in linguistic terms
In linguistic terms, the word al-hisab (translated above as the reckoning) refers to Allah’s showing people their deeds and telling them the extent of the requital for their deeds, and His reminding them of what they forgot. The root hasaba refers to counting.
10.1.2. Definition of the reckoning (al-hisab) in Islamic terminology
Ibn ‘Uthaymin said, “The Arabic word al-muhasabah (the reckoning or bringing to account) refers to showing people their deeds on the Day of Resurrection. This is indicated by the Qur’an, the Sunnah, scholarly consensus and rational thinking.
In the Qur’an, Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "As for the one who is given his record of deeds in his right hand, he will have an easy reckoning, and he will go back to his family in paradise rejoicing. As for the one who is given his record of deeds from behind his back, he will call out wishing for death, and he will enter the raging fire. He lived rejoicing among his family." (al-Inshiqaq 84:7-12)
In the Sunnah, it is proven in a number of hadiths from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will bring all creatures to account.
As for scholarly consensus, it is agreed upon among the ummah that Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will bring all creatures to account.
As for rational thinking, that is because we have been made accountable, as we are enjoined to do some things, to refrain from some things and to believe in some things. Reason and wisdom dictate that whoever is obliged to do something will be brought to account for it, and will face reckoning for it.
Salih Al al-Shaykh said, “The reckoning is the purpose of believing in the Last Day, for what is meant by believing in the resurrection is believing in the Day when people will return to Allah and be brought to account. The real meaning of believing in the resurrection is believing in the reckoning, because there is nothing that Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will not bring His slave to account for. There are many verses and hadiths which affirm the reckoning, so denying it is disbelief in Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, , because whoever denies the reckoning is denying the resurrection.”
10.2. Evidence for the reckoning
10.2.1. Evidence from the Holy Qur’an for the reckoning on the Day of Resurrection
i. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "We will set up scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so that no soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least. Even if a deed is the weight of a grain of mustard seed, We will bring it forth, and sufficient are We as Reckoners." (al-Anbiya’ 21:47)
Al-Sa‘di said, “Here Allah tells us that He will judge justly and fairly between His slaves when He gathers them on the Day of Resurrection; He will set up the scales of justice which will show even the weight of a tiny particle, to weigh people’s good deeds and bad deeds. so that no soul, Muslim or disbeliever, will be dealt with unjustly in the least by anything being detracted from its good deeds or added to its bad deeds. Even if a deed is the weight of a mustard seed, which is the smallest and most insignificant of things, whether that deed is good or bad. We will bring it forth so that the doer may be required for it. This is like the verses in which Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says, 'Whoever has done an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever has done an atom’s weight of evil will see it.' (az-Zalzalah 99:7-8) "And they will say: ‘Woe to us! What sort of record is this, that leaves no deed, small or great, unaccounted for?’ They will find all they did recorded there." (al-Kahf 18:49) And sufficient are We as Reckoners. Here Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, refers to Himself; sufficient is He as a Reckoner; that is, He knows people’s deeds and has a record of that; He knows their quantity and what reward or punishment they deserve in requital, and He will ensure that the requital reaches the doer.”
ii. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "As for the one who is given his record of deeds in his right hand, he will have an easy reckoning, and he will go back to his family in paradise rejoicing." (al-Inshiqaq 84:7-12)
Ibn Kathir said, “As for the one who is given his record of deeds in his right hand, he will have an easy reckoning that is, it will be a light reckoning, without it being made difficult for him. In other words, it will not go into all details of his deeds. Whoever undergoes a thorough investigation like that will inevitably be doomed… The words and he will go back to his family rejoicing mean: he will go back to his family in paradise. This was stated by Qatadah and al-Dahhak. rejoicing means that he will be happy and pleased with what Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, has given him.”
iii. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "For those who respond to their Lord, there will be the best reward, while for those who do not respond to Him, if they had all that is on earth and as much again, they would offer it as a ransom. But theirs will be a terrible reckoning; their abode will be hell, what a wretched resting place." (al-Ra‘d 13:18)
Ibn ‘Atiyyah said, “Those who do not respond are the disbelievers. The terrible reckoning is that which examines everything, and throughout the process of reckoning there will be no unfairness or overstepping the mark.”
iv. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Today every soul will be requited according to what it earned; none will be wronged today. Verily, Allah is swift in reckoning." (Ghafir 40:17)
Ibn ‘Uthaymin said, “Verily, Allah is swift in reckoning means: He is swift to bring the people to account for their deeds.”
10.2.2. Evidence from the prophetic Sunnah for the reckoning on the Day of Resurrection
It was narrated that ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, 'Whoever is brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be punished.' I said, 'Didn’t Allah say, 'He will have an easy reckoning?' He said, 'That is not the actual reckoning; rather that is the presentation of deeds. Whoever is examined thoroughly at the reckoning will be punished.'" (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
Scholarly views regarding the reckoning on the Day of Resurrection
Ibn Taymiyah said, “Allah will bring the people to account, and He will speak privately with the believer and make him admit his sins, as is described in the Qur’an and Sunnah. As for the disbelievers, the reckoning will not be like that of those whose good and bad deeds are weighed, for they have no good deeds to their credit. Rather their deeds will be listed in detail and shown to them, then they will be made to admit them, and they will be requited for them.”
10.3. The bases on which the reckoning of people’s deeds will take place
10.3.1. Perfect justice that is free of any injustice
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will requite His slaves in full on the Day of Resurrection, with nothing detracted or omitted. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Then every soul will be paid in full for what it earned, and no one will be wronged." (al-Baqarah 2:281)
And Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says, telling us what Luqman said to his son (interpretation of the meaning), "O my son, even if a deed is the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and it is hidden in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Verily, Allah is the Knower of subtleties, the All-Aware." (Luqman 31:16)
Ibn ‘Uthaymin said, “After the resurrection, people will be brought to account and requited for their deeds; if they were good then the outcome will be good and if they were bad then the outcome will be bad. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Whoever has done an atom’s weight of good will see it.
And whoever has done an atom’s weight of evil will see it." (az-Zalzalah 99:7-8) "We will set up scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so that no soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least. Even if a deed is the weight of a grain of mustard seed, We will bring it forth, and sufficient are We as Reckoners." (al-Anbiya’ 21:47) "Whoever comes on the Day of Resurrection with a good deed will be repaid tenfold, but whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed only with the like thereof; and they will not be wronged." (al-An‘am 6:160)
Thus the good deed will earn a tenfold reward, up to seven hundredfold, or many times more than that, by the grace and blessing of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, , for Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, has blessed the doer by enabling him to do righteous deeds, then He blesses him again by giving him this abundant reward. As for the bad deed, the doer will be recompensed only with the like thereof and no more than that. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "But whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed only with the like thereof; and they will not be wronged." (al-An‘am 6:160) This is by His perfect grace and kindness.”
10.3.2. No one is to be held accountable for the sin of another
Allah will requite people for their deeds, good and bad, but no one will be made to carry the burden of sin of another person. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Whoever is guided, is only guided for the good of his own soul; whoever goes astray, only goes astray to his own detriment, and no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. Nor do We punish until We have sent a Messenger to give warning." (al-Isra’ 17:15)
10.3.3. Making people see for themselves the records of their deeds
By His perfect justice, Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will let His slaves see the records of their deeds, so no one will have any excuse.
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "On the day when every soul will find itself faced with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil." (Al ‘Imran 3:30)
Ibn Kathir said, “That is: on the Day of Resurrection, all of a person’s deeds, good and bad, will be brought to him, as Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says elsewhere(interpretation of the meaning), "On that day man will be informed of what he sent on ahead and left behind." (al-Qiyamah 75:13) So whatever of his deeds he sees as good, that will make him happy and bring him joy, and whatever he sees of them as bad, that will upset him and make him angry, and he will wish that he could disavow those deeds and that there could be a great distance between him and them. And he will say to his shaytan, the qarin who accompanied him in this world and encouraged him to do evil, 'Would that there was between me and you the distance between east and west. What a wretched companion!' (al-Zukhruf 43:38) Then Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says, by way of affirming, threatening and warning, 'But Allah admonishes you to fear Him.' (Al ‘Imran 3:30) That is, He is alerting you to His punishment. Then He says, by way of giving hope to His slaves lest they despair of His mercy and think that they are not deserving of His kindness: And Allah is Most Compassionate towards His slaves.”
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "They will find all they did recorded there, and your Lord will not wrong anyone." (al-Kahf 18:49)
Ibn Jarir said, “They will find all they did in this world, of deeds recorded there in their record of deeds, written and documented. They will be requited for bad deeds with the like thereof, and they will be rewarded for good deeds with whatever Allah gives them of reward, and your Lord will not wrong anyone. In other words, your Lord, O Muhammad, will not requite anyone with anything other than what he deserves; He will not give a generous reward to any except the righteous people and He will not punish any except the sinners. This is justice.”
10.3.4. Multiplication of requital for good deeds and not bad deeds
By His grace, Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will multiply the reward for righteous deeds. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "If you lend to Allah a goodly loan, He will multiply it for you and forgive you." (al-Taghabun 64:17)
The minimum multiplication of reward will be tenfold. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Whoever comes on the Day of Resurrection with a good deed will be repaid tenfold." (al-An‘am 6:160)
As for the bad deed, it will only be requited with the like thereof. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "But whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed only with the like thereof." (al-An‘am 6:160)
Al-Sa‘di said, “Whoever comes (on the Day of Resurrection) with a good deed – this includes both words and deeds, outward or inward, having to do with the rights of Allah or the rights of His creation will be repaid tenfold. This is the minimum multiplication of reward but whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed only with the like thereof. This is by the perfect justice and kindness of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, for He will never wrong them in the slightest. Hence He says: and they will not be wronged.”
By the grace of Allah, when a Muslim thinks of doing a good deed but does not do it, one complete good deed will be recorded for him, and when he thinks of doing a bad deed, then refrains from it out of fear of Allah, one complete good deed will be recorded for him.
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, narrating from his Lord Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, “Allah decreed good deeds and bad deeds, then He explained that. Whoever thinks of doing a good deed then does not do it, Allah will record it with Him as one complete good deed. If he thinks of doing a good deed and then does it, Allah may He be glorified and exalted will record it with Him as between ten and seven hundred fold, or many times more. If he thinks of doing a bad deed then he does not do it, Allah will record it with Him as one complete good deed, and if he thinks of it then does it, Allah will record it as one bad deed.”
Al-Nawawi said, “Look – may Allah guide and help you – at the great kindness of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, , and reflect on this wording. The word ‘with Him’ reflects the meaning that He pays great attention to it and the word ‘complete’ is by way of further emphasis and shows that He cares greatly about it. And He says regarding the bad deed that a person thinks of doing then does not do it that Allah records it with Him as one complete good deed, and highlights that it is ‘complete.’ But if he does it, Allah records it as one bad deed, and highlights that it is only ‘one’, and He does not say that it is ‘complete.’ To Allah be praise; we cannot praise Him enough. And Allah is the Source of strength.”
Allah’s grace is so immense that He will turn His slaves’ bad deeds into good deeds. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Those who do not call upon any other god besides Allah; and who do not kill, for that is forbidden by Allah, except in the course of justice; and who do not commit fornication or adultery – for whoever does any of these things will receive the punishment. The punishment will be doubled for them on the Day of Resurrection, and they will abide therein disgraced forever, except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds; for them Allah will change their evil deeds into good deeds, for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (al-Furqan 25:68-70)
10.3.5. The coming forward of the witnesses
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "We will surely cause Our Messengers and those who believe to prevail in the life of this world and on the day when the witnesses come forward." (Ghafir 40:51)
Al-Baydawi said, “What is meant is that the witnesses among the angels, prophets and believers will come forward on the Day of Resurrection to give testimony for or against people.”
The angels (peace be upon them) will be among the witnesses on the Day of Resurrection, according to one scholarly view. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "And the Trumpet will be blown; that will be the day whereof warning had been given. Every soul will come, accompanied by an angel to drive him on and another to bear witness." (Qaf 50:20-21)
Ibn Jarir said, “Here Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, tells us that the day will come when the Trumpet is blown and every soul will come to its Lord, accompanied by (an angel) to drive him on to Allah, and a witness who will testify for him or against him regarding what he did in this world of good or bad deeds.”
The witnesses on the Day of Resurrection will also include the Messengers (peace be upon them); each messenger will testify against his nation that he conveyed the message to them and that they disbelieved in him. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "How will it be when We bring a witness from every nation and bring you O Muhammad as a witness against them the disbelievers of Quraysh?" (al-Nisa’ 4:41)
Al-Baghawi said, “The words How will it be when We bring a witness from every nation mean: how will it be and what will they do, when We bring forth from every nation a witness, meaning its prophet, to testify against them regarding what they did, and we bring you – O Muhammad – as a witness against these people, a witness concerning the entire ummah, those who saw him and those who did not see him.”
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "On the day when We raise up from every nation, a witness against them from amongst themselves, We will bring you O Muhammad as a witness against these your people."
(al-Nahl 16:89)
Among the witnesses on the Day of Resurrection will be the ummah of Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Thus We have made of you an Ummah nation, community justly balanced, that you might be witnesses over humankind, and the Messenger might be a witness over you." (al-Baqarah 2:143)
Al-Shawkani said, “That you might be witnesses over humankind that is, on the Day of Resurrection you will testify for the prophets against their nations, stating that they conveyed to them what Allah instructed them to convey; and the Messenger will be a witness for his ummah, and will testify that they complied with what Allah instructed him to convey to them. This is similar to the verse in which Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "How will it be when We bring a witness from every nation and bring you O Muhammad as a witness against them." (al-Nisa’ 4:41)
Among the witnesses on the Day of Resurrection will be the individual’s own limbs and faculties
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "And remember the day when the enemies of Allah will be gathered together for the fire, then they will be assembled then driven, until, when they come to it, their hearing, their sight and their skins will testify against them concerning their deeds. They will say to their skins: Why do you testify against us? They will say: Allah has caused us to speak, Who causes everything to speak that is able to speak. He created you the first time, and to Him you will be brought back. You did not hide yourselves from your hearing, your sight and your skins lest they testify against you. Rather you thought that Allah did not know much of what you did. But that thought of yours that you thought about your Lord has led to your ruin, and now you are among the losers." (Fussilat 41:19-23)
Al-Sa‘di said: “until, when they come to it when they reach the Fire and want to deny their misdeeds or the sins that they committed,
their hearing, their sight and their skins will testify against them concerning their deeds that is, each of their faculties will testify against them, each faculty saying: I did such and such, on such and such a day.
These three faculties are singled out for mention because most sins are committed by means of them or because of them.”
It was narrated that Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We were with the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he smiled. He said: “Do you know why I am smiling?” We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: “Because of the conversation that a slave will have with his Lord. He will say: O Lord, did You not guarantee me protection from injustice? He will say: Yes. He will say: I do not deem valid any witness against me but my own self. He will say: Your own self will be sufficient as a witness against you this Day, and the witness of the two recording angels. Then a seal will be placed on his mouth and it will be said to his limbs: ‘Speak.’ And they will speak of his deeds. Then he will be allowed to speak and he will say: ‘Away with you and may the curse of Allah be upon you! It was on your behalf that I contended.’”
Al-Muzhiri said: “The phrase ‘Then a seal will be placed on his mouth’ means over his mouth ‘and it will be said to his limbs’ and his physical faculties, ‘Speak.’ So they will speak of his deeds.
In other words, his limb and physical faculties will speak of his sins. So his hand, for example, will say: ‘You used me to steal such and such wealth.’ And his foot will say: ‘You used me to walk to places to commit sins.’ His eye will say: ‘You used me to look at what is forbidden.’ His ear will say: ‘You used me to listen to gossip and lies.’ This is confirmed by the verse in which Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
Today We will seal up their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify to their misdeeds
Ya-Sin 36:65.
Among the witnesses on the Day of Resurrection will be the earth
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "When the earth is shaken with a cataclysmic earthquake and the earth brings forth its burdens, and man says: What is the matter with it? On that day it will tell all its news because your Lord will command it to do so." (al-Zalzalah 99:1-5)
Al-Sam‘ani said, “The words On that day it will tell all its news mean: it – namely the earth – will speak of what was done on it of good and bad deeds.”
Al-Sa‘di said, “On that Day it namely the earth will tell all its news that is, it will testify concerning people and what they did on its surface of good or evil. The earth will be among the witnesses who will testify concerning people’s deeds. And that will happen because your Lord will command it (to do so) that is, He will instruct it to speak of what was done on it, and it will not disobey His command.”
10.4. When will the reckoning happen?
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "On the day when Allah will resurrect them all and will inform them about what they used to do. Allah has kept account of it whilst they have forgotten it. " (al-Mujadilah 58:6)
Ibn Jarir said, “Here Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, confirms that he has kept account of what they did. He has counted it, written in their records and kept it, whilst those who did those things forgot them. And Allah is Witness over all things.”
When Allah brings His slaves together in the place of standing, and starts their reckoning, Allah will give them the records of their deeds so that they may see what is in them, then after that the reckoning will begin. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "As for the one who is given his record of deeds in his right hand, he will have an easy reckoning, and he will go back to his family in paradise rejoicing. As for the one who is given his record of deeds from behind his back, he will call out wishing for death." (al-Inshiqaq 84:7-11)
Al-Qurtubi said, “When the people find out about their deeds from the records that are given to them after the resurrection, they will be brought to account for them.”
Before the reckoning, each group will be made to stand apart from the other, so the believers will be in one place and the disbelievers will be in another place. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Stand apart from the believers this day, O evildoers!" (Ya-Sin 36:59)
Ibn Kathir said, "Here Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, tells us of what the situation of the disbelievers will be on the Day of Resurrection when He commands them to stand apart – that is, to stand apart from the believers in their place of standing."
10.5. Who will be included in the reckoning
i. The Prophets (peace be upon them): Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "We will certainly question those to whom the Messengers were sent, and We will certainly question the Messengers themselves." (al-A‘raf 7:6) Al-Razi said, “This verse indicates that Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will bring all His slaves to account, because they can only be either messengers or people to whom the messengers were sent. The view that the prophets and the disbelievers will not be brought to account is wrong.”
ii. The believers: Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will bring the believers to account in a reckoning which will involve weighing their good deeds and bad deeds, and based on the outcome of their reckoning some of them will be distinguished from others in their levels, according to how heavy or light their deeds are in the balance. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Whoever has done an atom’s weight of good will see it.
And whoever has done an atom’s weight of evil will see it." (az-Zalzalah 99:7-8)
Ibn Jarir said, “The words Whoever has done an atom’s weight of good will see it al-Zalzalah 99:7 mean: Whoever does an atom’s weight of good in this world will see its reward there. And the words And whoever has done an atom’s weight of evil will see it al-Zalzalah 99:8 mean: Whoever does an atom’s weight of evil in this world will see its requital there.”
10.6. Matters concerning which people will be asked
10.6.1. Disbelief and associating others with Allah (shirk)
The polytheists will be asked about the partners and rivals whom they used to worship besides Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "It will be said to them: Where are those whom you used to worship besides Allah? Can they help you or even help themselves?" (al-Shu‘ara’ 26:93)
They will be asked about their making offerings to the gods that they used to worship. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "They allocate a portion of the sustenance We have given them to those whose reality they do not even know. By Allah, you will surely be called to account for the lies you have been fabricating." (al-Nahl 16:56)
They will be asked about their disbelief in the messengers (peace be upon them). Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "On that day, Allah will call to them, saying: What was your response to the Messengers? They will not be able to think of any reply, and they will not even be able to ask one another." (al-Qasas 28:66)
10.6.2. The deeds that each of them did in this world
On the Day of Resurrection, the individual will be asked about all the deeds that he did during the life of this world. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "So, by your Lord, We will surely question them all. About what they used to do." (al-Hijr 15:92-93) It was narrated that Abu Barzah al-Aslami said, "The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, 'On the Day of Resurrection no person’s feet will move on until he is questioned about his life and how he spent it, his knowledge and what he did with it, his wealth and from where he acquired it and on what he spent it, and his body and what he did with it.'" (Al-Tirmidhi, al-Darimi, Abu Ya‘la; sahih)
10.6.3. The blessings that each of them enjoyed
On the Day of Resurrection, people will be asked about the blessings that they enjoyed in this world. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Then on that day you will surely be asked about worldly bounties." (al-Takathur 102:8) Mujahid said, “They will be asked about every kind of pleasure in this world.”
10.6.4. Pledges and covenants
On the Day of resurrection, people will be asked about the covenants and promises they made to Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Yet before that they had made a covenant with Allah that they would not turn and flee, and a covenant with Allah will surely be asked about." (al-Ahzab 33:15) Al-Baydawi said, “and a covenant with Allah will surely be asked about whether it was fulfilled, and Allah will reward the one who fulfils it.”
Any pledge or covenant made between people that is permissible, they are responsible for fulfilling it.Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "And fulfil all covenants, for every covenant will be asked about." (al-Isra’ 17:34)
Al-Sa‘di said, "and fulfil (all) covenants that you make, whether the covenant is with Allah or with other people, for (every) covenant will be asked about that is, you will be asked whether you fulfilled it or not; if you fulfilled it, then you will have a great reward, but if you did not, then you will carry a great burden of sin."
10.6.4. Their hearing, their sight and their hearts
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Do not pursue beliefs, rumours, slander and the like of which you have no certain knowledge, for verily, the hearing, the sight and the heart, all of these will be asked about." (al-Isra’ 17:36)
Al-Sa‘di said, “That is, do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge; rather you should make sure that everything you say or do is verified or proven. So do not think that you can get away with it, for it will be recorded either for you or against you, for verily, the hearing, the sight, and the heart, all of these will be asked about. So the individual – who knows that he is responsible for all that he says and does, and for the way in which he uses his faculties which Allah has created so that he might worship Him – must prepare his answers to that questioning, and that can only be done by using all his faculties in servitude to Allah, doing acts of devotion to Him alone and refraining from that which Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, hates.”
10.7. The first of the people to be brought to account
The first nation concerning whom Allah will pass judgement will be the ummah of Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
It was narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “We are the last of the nations, but will be the first to be brought to account. It will be said: ‘Where is the unlettered nation and its Prophet?’ We are the last but we will be the first.”
Ibn Kathir said, “The first nation concerning whom Allah will pass judgement is this ummah, because of the high status and virtue of its Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). They will also be the first to cross the sirat and the first to enter Paradise.”
10.8. The first of his deeds for which the individual will be brought to account
The first of his deeds for which the individual will be brought to account is the prayer. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say, 'The first of his deeds for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayer. If it is sound, then he will prosper and succeed, but if it is not sound, he will be lost and doomed. If anything is lacking from his obligatory prayer, the Lord Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will say, 'Look and see if My slave has any voluntary prayers to his credit,' then what is lacking from the obligatory prayers will be made up with that. Then all his deeds will be dealt with in like manner.'" (Al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa’i; Sahih)
10.9. Types of reckoning
It was narrated from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, "No one will brought to account on the Day of Resurrection but he will be doomed." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, did not Allah say, 'As for the one who is given his record of deeds in his right hand, he will have an easy reckoning.'? The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, "That is the presentation of deeds. No one will be examined thoroughly at the reckoning on the Day of Resurrection but he will be doomed." (al-Bukhari, Muslim)
Abu’l-Qasim al-Asbahani said, “One of the scholars said: Allah will bring His slaves to account on the Day of Resurrection and will examine their records thoroughly. Those who are going to be forgiven will be brought to account by being presented with their records of deeds, and those for whom punishment is decreed will be brought to account by having their records thoroughly examined.”
Thus Allah will divide His slaves into two groups with regard to the reckoning:
The first group: Those whose reckoning will be easy; they are the ones who receive their records in their right hands. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "As for the one who is given his record of deeds in his right hand, he will have an easy reckoning." (al-Inshiqaq 84:7-8) Ibn Jarir said, “He will have an easy reckoning means that his deeds will be looked at, then he will be forgiven his bad deeds and rewarded for his good deeds,” Al-Sa‘di said, “As for the one who is given his record of deeds in his right hand – this refers to the blessed.
he will have an easy reckoning which will be an easy discussion of his deeds before Allah; Allah will make him admit his sins until, when he thinks that he is doomed, Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will say to him, ‘I concealed them for you in the previous world and I will conceal them for you today.’”
The second group: Those who will face a terrible reckoning; they are the people of Hell. Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "For those who respond to their Lord, there will be the best reward, while for those who do not respond to Him, if they had all that is on earth and as much again, they would offer it as a ransom. But theirs will be a terrible reckoning; their abode will be hell, what a wretched resting place." (al-Ra‘d 13:18) Al-Baghawi said, “Ibrahim al-Nakha‘i said, 'The terrible reckoning is where a man will be brought to account for all his sins, and he will not be forgiven for anything.'"
aqadia
