Day of Judgment

#Yaum al-Qiyamah, the Day of Judgment, is a central tenet of Islamic belief, detailing the end of the world and the resurrection and final reckoning of humanity

. The sequence of events is described in the Quran and elaborated upon in the Hadith, though the precise order of some major signs varies in scholarly interpretation. 

The stages can be categorized into three main phases: the signs preceding the end of the world, the events of the resurrection and gathering, and the final judgment leading to Jannah (Paradise) or Jahannam (Hell). 

Signs of the End Times 

Before the Day of Judgment begins, a series of minor and major signs will occur. Many minor signs are believed to have already happened, are ongoing, or will happen long before the end. The major signs indicate the imminent arrival of the Last Hour. 

Minor signs include: 

  • A rapid passage of time.
  • An increase in killing and immorality.
  • An abundance of wealth, but people still strive for worldly gain.
  • The widespread construction of tall buildings.
  • The disappearance of religious knowledge and the prevalence of ignorance.
  • The land of the Arabs becoming green again with meadows and rivers. 

Major signs include: 

  • The appearance of the Dajjal (False Messiah).
  • The descent of Prophet Isa (Jesus) to defeat the Dajjal.
  • The emergence of Ya’juj and Ma’juj (Gog and Magog).
  • The sun rising from the west.
  • The emergence of the Beast of the Earth.
  • A widespread smoke covering the Earth.
  • A fire that drives people to the plain of assembly.
  • Three major landslides, in the east, west, and Arabian Peninsula. 

Destruction and Resurrection 

The events of Yaum al-Qiyamah begin with the sounding of the Trumpet (

alβˆ’Ε«ra l minus Ε« rπ‘Žπ‘™βˆ’Ε«π‘Ÿ) by the angel Israfil. 

  1. First blast: The first blow of the Trumpet will destroy all life in the heavens and on Earth, causing everything to perish and the universe to be convulsed.
  2. Second blast: After an unknown period, a second trumpet blast will be blown. This will signal the resurrection of all of creation, who will rise from their graves to be gathered for judgment. 

The Day of Reckoning (

isābi s ā b𝑖𝑠ā𝑏) 

The resurrected are then brought together on a vast, flat plain called

alβˆ’Mashara l minus cap M a s h a rπ‘Žπ‘™βˆ’π‘€π‘Žπ‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿ to await their judgment. This period of waiting is long and arduous. 

  1. The Great Intercession: As the waiting becomes unbearable, people will seek intercession from the great prophets, who will all decline until they approach Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He will perform the great intercession by prostrating before Allah and asking for the judgment to begin.
  2. Book of Deeds: A person’s complete record of their deeds in life will be presented. The righteous will receive their book in their right hand, while the wicked will receive it in their left or behind their back.
  3. The Scales (alβˆ’Mizāna l minus cap M i z ā nπ‘Žπ‘™βˆ’π‘€π‘–π‘§Δπ‘›): A scale of divine justice will be set up to weigh each person’s good and bad deeds. The weight of one’s good or bad deeds will determine their fate.
  4. The Basin (alβˆ’Kawthara l minus cap K a w t h a rπ‘Žπ‘™βˆ’πΎπ‘Žπ‘€π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿ): The Prophet Muhammad will have a basin or pool called alβˆ’Kawthara l minus cap K a w t h a rπ‘Žπ‘™βˆ’πΎπ‘Žπ‘€π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿ, from which believers may drink to quench their thirst. It is described as whiter than milk and sweeter than honey.
  5. The Bridge (Asβˆ’Sirātcap A s minus cap S i r ā tπ΄π‘ βˆ’π‘†π‘–π‘ŸΔπ‘‘): A bridge finer than a strand of hair and sharper than a sword will be stretched over the Fire of Hell. Every person must cross it to reach Paradise. Believers will cross swiftly, guided by their light, while the wicked and hypocrites will stumble and fall into Hell.
  6. The Post-bridge Gathering (alβˆ’Qantaraa l minus cap Q a n t a r aπ‘Žπ‘™βˆ’π‘„π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ž): After crossing the bridge, believers will be gathered at a final checkpoint (alβˆ’Qantaraa l minus cap Q a n t a r aπ‘Žπ‘™βˆ’π‘„π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ž) before entering Paradise. Here, disputes between people who have wronged each other will be settled to ensure that everyone enters Paradise without any lingering malice.
  7. Jannah and Jahannam: Based on the final judgment, individuals will be assigned to their eternal abode. Jannah (Paradise) is a place of perpetual reward and delight for the believers, while Jahannam (Hell) is a place of punishment for the wicked. Sinful Muslims will be purified in Hell for a temporary period before eventually entering Jannah.