This is not a hypothetical scenario but a reality that awaits every Muslim on the Day of Judgement (Yawm al-Qiyamah). This is the Day when the earth will be shaken, the mountains will crumble, the sun will be folded up, and the trumpet will be blown. Qiyamah is the Day when every soul will be brought to account, and nothing will be hidden from Allah (swt). This is the Day when the scales of justice will be set, the books of deeds will be opened, and the bridge over Hell will be crossed. This is the Day when the believers will be rewarded with Paradise, and the disbelievers will be punished with Hell.
As Muslims, we must prepare ourselves for this inevitable Day by learning about its signs, stages, and outcomes. We must also strive to obey Allah (swt) and follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (saw), who was sent as a mercy and a guide for all humankind. You and I must also seek Allah’s (swt) forgiveness for our sins and His protection from the hardships and horrors of that Day. We must also hope for His mercy and grace and His promise of eternal bliss in Jannah – the Reward for True Muslims.
To learn more about the Day of Judgement and the reward for Muslims, please read our blog post, Jannah – The Reward for True Muslims.
Preparing Ourselves for Qiyamah
Qiyamah is the Day of Resurrection when Allah (swt) will bring all people back to life and judge them by their deeds. This is one of the six articles of Islamic faith, and also known as the Day of Judgement, the Day of Reckoning, the Hour, or the Reality.
This is a reality that we, as Muslims, must believe in and prepare for. We should not let the pleasures of this world deceive us, because they are temporary and fleeting. We should strive to do good deeds, avoid evil deeds, and seek forgiveness from Allah (swt) for our sins.
You should also learn about the concept of life after death in Islam, along with the signs of the Day of Judgement, which you can find in our blog post, The Concept of Life After Death in Islam.
Qiyamah is a day that will surely come, and we do not know when. We should ask ourselves: Are we ready for Qiyamah?
The Day of Judgement in the Quran:
The Day of Judgement (Qiyamah) is a central theme in the Quran. The Quran uses different names to refer to this Day, such as Yawm ad-Din (the Day of Recompense), Yawm Al-Khurooj (the Day of the Exodus), Al-Qaari’ah (the Striking Calamity), and Yawm Al-Fasl (the Day of Judgement).
One of the chapters (surah) of the Quran that gives a detailed description of the events of Qiyamah is Surah Al-Qiyamah. It mentions the shaking of the earth, the gathering of people, the opening of the books of deeds, and the witnessing of every soul what it has done.
Allah Almighty says in the Quran:
This verse reminds us that Allah is the only Judge, and He will settle all the disputes and differences among His creation on the Day of Resurrection. We, as Muslims, should prepare ourselves for this Day by following His commands and avoiding His prohibitions.
When is the Day of Judgement?
The Day of Judgement is a reality that every Muslim believes in, but no one knows when it will happen. Only Allah (SWT) has the knowledge of the Hour, and He has not revealed it to anyone. Allah says in the Quran:
This is a mercy from Allah because if we knew when the Day of Judgement would come, we might become complacent or despairing. Instead, Allah wants us to be always prepared and vigilant, and to do good deeds in every moment of our lives. He reminds us that this world is not our permanent home and that we will be accountable for what we do in it.
Allah Almighty says in the Quran:
Signs of the Day of Judgement
Many signs of the Day of Judgement are mentioned in the Quran and the hadith. Some of these signs have already occurred, some are happening now, and some are yet to come. These signs warn us and motivate us to repent and reform ourselves before it is too late. Some of the major signs of the Qiyamah are:
Allah Almighty says in the Quran, Are they only waiting for the Hour to take them by surprise? Yet (some of) its signs have already come. (47:18).
They have been divided into minor and major signs.
Major Signs of Qiyamah
Major signs of Qiyamah indicate the approach of the Day of Judgement. Among the major signs that will precede the Day of Judgement are:
Emergence of the Dajjal
The emergence of the Dajjal, the false messiah who will claim to be God and mislead many people with his extraordinary powers. He will be one-eyed and have the word “kafir” (disbeliever) written on his forehead, which only the believers will be able to read.
Narrated Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra):
Hazrat Muhammad (saw) said: “There are three, for which when they appear, a soul will not benefit by its faith if it did not believe before the Signs: Ad-Dajjal, the Beast, and the rising of the sun from its setting place”
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3072)
Appearance of Imam Mahdi
The appearance of Imam Mahdi, the guided leader who will unite the Muslims and lead them to victory against their enemies. He will be from the descendants of the Prophet (saw) and will have the same name and kunya (nickname) as him. Imam Mahdi will emerge from a place between Iraq and Syria and will have a black flag with him. He will fill the earth with justice and peace after it has been filled with oppression and corruption.
Return of Hazrat Isa (ra) (Jesus)
The descent of Hazrat Isa (ra) (Jesus), the son of Mary and the Prophet of Allah, who was raised up to heaven by Allah and will return before the Day of Judgement. He will descend at the eastern minaret of Damascus, wearing two garments dyed with saffron and placing his hands on the wings of two angels. Hazrat Isa (ra) will join Imam Mahdi and his army in fighting the Dajjal and his followers, and he will kill the Dajjal with his spear.
Hazrat Isa (ra) will live for forty years on earth and then die a natural death. He will be buried next to the Prophet (saw) in Madinah. He will be a just and fair ruler and a true follower of the Quran and the Sunnah.
The Rising of the Sun from the West
The rising of the sun from the west is one of the greatest signs of the Day of Judgement. Resultantly, this is a point of no return for repentance.
Hazrat Abdullah bin’ Amr (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“The first signs to appear will be at the rising of the sun from the west and the emergence of the Beast to the people, at forenoon.'” ‘Abdullah said: “Whichever of them appears first, the other will come soon after.” ‘Abdullah said: “I do not think it will be anything other than the sun rising from the west.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah 4069)
The rising of the sun from the west will be a clear and visible sign that will shock and terrify the people. It will indicate that the Hour is near and that the gates of mercy are closed.
The smoke
The appearance of the smoke is another major sign of the Day of Judgement that will affect all people. As Allah says in the Quran:
“So watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke, covering the people; this is a painful torment.”
(Ad-Dukhan 44:10-11)
The smoke will be a thick and suffocating smoke that will fill the air and cause people to suffer. It will last for forty days, according to some reports, and will affect the believers and the disbelievers alike, but the believers will only experience something like a cold, while the disbelievers will be in agony.
Emergence of Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog)
Gog and Magog are two nations who will cause mischief and destruction on Earth before Qiyamah. They will break through a barrier that was built by Dhul-Qarnayn (a righteous king) to prevent them from harming people.
The Beast
The appearance of a beast from the earth that will speak to people and tell them about their faith. It will mark the believers with “mu’min” (believer) and the disbelievers with “kafir” (disbeliever).
You can learn more about these signs and their implications from this blog, What Will Happen on the Day of Judgement?
Minor signs
The minor signs are the events that indicate the approach of the Day of Judgement, as foretold by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). We should take the minor signs of Qiyamah as warnings and reminders of the inevitable end of this worldly life, and prepare ourselves for the Hereafter.
As Muslims, we should be aware of these signs and reflect on their meanings and implications. Here is a brief summary of the minor signs of Qiyamah based on the authentic sources of Islam:
Signs that have already taken place
- The splitting of the moon.
- The death of the Hazrat Muhammad (saw).
- A major battle in Madinah (interpreted to refer to the Battle of al-Harrah during the caliphate of Yazid, 63 A.H.).
- The Muslim conquest of Jerusalem.
- Two large groups of Muslims will fight in a war. (Civil wars among Muslims)
Signs that are happening at present:
- A slave woman will give birth to her master or mistress. (Children disobey parents)
- A trial (fitnah) will enter every Arab household.
- There will be a time when knowledge will be lost due to the death of knowledgeable people and ignorance will prevail.
- Wine consumption will increase significantly, leading to intoxication.
- Earthquakes will become more frequent.
- Violence and bloodshed will increase.
- Trustworthiness will decrease, as people in unworthy positions of authority.
- People will gather for prayer, but they won’t be able to find an imam to lead them.
Future Signs of Qiyamah
- The male population will decline while the female population surges until a ratio of one man to fifty women is reached.
- The Euphrates River is predicted to unveil a golden treasure, inciting deadly conflicts among those contesting for its possession.
- Also, include all major signs of Qiyamah mentioned above.
The Events of Qiyamah
The events of Qiyamah are the most important and decisive moments for all Muslims. They will determine their eternal fate in the Hereafter. The Quran describes these events in various verses, and the following is a summary of some of them:
The Trumpet (Sur) Blowing:
This is the first sign of the Day of Judgement when the angel Israfil will blow the trumpet by the command of Allah (swt). The sound will be so loud and terrifying that it will cause everyone in the heavens and the earth to die, except those whom Allah wills to spare.
Allah (swt) mentions in the Quran,
And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once, they will be standing, looking on.
(Quran 39:68)
Resurrection (Hashr):
After a period of time known only to Allah, the trumpet will be blown again, and all the dead will be brought back to life. They will emerge from their graves with their bodies restored to their original form. This will include every human being, from the first one (Adam) to the last one.
The Quran says,
“Does man think that We will not assemble his bones? Yes. [We are] Able [even] to proportion his fingertips.”
(Quran 75:3-4)
Accountability (Hisab):
On this Day, each person will be held accountable for their deeds in this world. They will be given their records of deeds, which will contain everything they did, said, or thought. They will be judged by Allah, the Most Just, according to their intentions and actions.
The Quran says,
“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”
(Quran 99:7-8)
Books of Deeds (Sijjin and Illiyyun):
The righteous will receive their records in their right hands, signifying their acceptance into Paradise. The wicked will receive their records in their left hands or behind their backs, indicating their punishment in Hell. Sijjin is the name of the record of the sinful, while Illiyyun is the name of the record of the righteous.
Weighing of Deeds (Mizan):
Another aspect of accountability is the weighing of deeds, where the good and bad deeds of each person will be measured on a scale. The scale will be fair and accurate, and the slightest difference will matter.
The Quran says,
“The weighing on that Day will be just. As for those whose scale will be heavy (with good deeds), they will be successful. But those whose scale is light have doomed themselves for wrongfully denying Our signs.”
(Quran 8:9)
Intercession (Shafa’ah):
On this Day, some people will be granted the privilege of interceding for others, by the permission of Allah. This means that they will ask Allah to forgive or reduce the punishment of some sinners. The most honored and effective intercession will be that of the Prophet Muhammad (saw), who will intercede for his ummah (nation).
The Quran says,
“Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?”
(Quran 2:255)
Crossing the Sirat:
The final stage of the Day of Judgement is the crossing of the Sirat, which is a bridge over Hell. It will be thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword, and it will have hooks and thorns on it.
Everyone will have to cross it, and their speed and safety will depend on their faith and deeds. The righteous will cross it swiftly and safely, while the wicked will fall into Hell. The Quran says,
“There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is with your Lord; a Decree which must be accomplished.”
(Quran 19:71)
Entrance into Paradise or Hell:
Based on their deeds and judgment, people will either enter Paradise or Hell. The eternal destinations are described vividly in the Quran, highlighting the pleasures of Paradise for the righteous and the severe punishments of Hell for the wicked.
For more information about Jahannam, you can visit this blogs: Concept of Jahannam in Islam.
Learn More: Signs of Qiyamah by Islam4u
Conclusion: The Certainty of Qiyamah and Our Preparation
The Day of Judgement, Qiyamah, is an absolute certainty in the life of every Muslim. It is a pivotal belief detailed in the Quran and Hadiths. It emphasizes accountability, justice, and life after death. Major signs of the Day of Judgement include the emergence of the Dajjal, the appearance of Imam Mahdi, and the return of Jesus. Minor signs of Qiyamah range from knowledge loss to earthquakes. Qiyamah events involve resurrection, accountability, intercession, and crossing the Sirat. Muslims prepare by following Allah’s commands, seeking forgiveness, and understanding the signs.
