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Day of Recompense
By: Ayatullah Dastghaib Shirazi
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Alas for the servants! there comes not to them an apostle but they mock at him. Do they not consider how many of the generations have We destroyed before them, because they do not turn to them? (36:30-31)
Qiyamat is a bright day in comparison with this dark world
We are talking about the verse:
Alas for the servants…(36:30)
It explains the condition of man in the grave and in the Hereafter and it reveals hidden truths. There are and were people who mocked the messengers and those who followed these ‘callers towards God’, who invited the people to Hereafter. How pitiable and disgraceful will be their condition on the day when truth is manifested.
Quran refers to resurrection as ‘the Day’, for example, day of gathering, day of Qiyamat, day of recompense and so on. Why is it called a ‘day’? There is no sun in the Hereafter, like we have in this world:
When the sun is covered…(81:1) And the sun and the moon are brought together, (75:9)
On the gathering ground of Mahshar there will be no shining of sun but radiance of Muhammad (‘s).
So, on the basis of this, what does ‘day’ denote? Day is bright compared to night, which is dark. In this world, there is darkness. Truth is hidden and inner conditions are veiled. Truth is not visible. From the moment of death begins the real dawn for the opening up of secrets. For example, however much you want to recognize Ali (‘a) you will not be able to do so fully and perfectly as he is hidden. From the moment of death, the grave life opens. Now you may visualize the highness and greatness of Ali (‘a) as much as you can. With the powerful hand of God, good people will enjoy divine bounties and the evil ones will taste the divine chastisement. Thus it is night (full of darkness) from the hour of birth till death and after death it is day, which reveals all truths.
Let there be the manifestation of truth. At that time those who mocked the messengers will realize their arrogance. Then they will realize what befalls them. They will see that those whom they had mocked have gained lofty ranks.
In king’s company and manifestation of truth
Here I narrate a story from the book Faraj baad az shiddah.
A justice-loving king ruled over a part of India and when he died, he was succeeded by his son who also was as good and justice loving and sympathetic as his father. But there was a rebellion in his kingdom and the good-natured prince thought if fighting took place there would be much bloodshed and anarchy would prevail. So he thought it would be better if he himself left the kingdom. While leaving he put on a royal coat studded with costly jewels with a view that it would help him in adverse conditions. He did not take any money or food with him and went to forest on foot. He set off at night and next morning he rested under a tree by a stream. There he saw a man with a load on his back. The prince thought that this was also a traveler whom he could accompany in his journey and he might also be having food with him. At last that man came near him and sat down, spread his tablecloth, ate and did not say even a word to the prince. The prince also, due to self-respect and shame, could not say that he was hungry. At last both began to travel together and again at dinnertime the man with food ate inviting his fellow traveler to join him.
Thus for two days and nights this runaway king moved along with this miserly man without eating anything. On the third day, naturally, the king had no strength to walk further. He separated from that man and traveled alone. Then suddenly he saw a city where a house was under construction. He asked the man in charge of construction work, “Can I get some work here?” The contractor agreed. The refugee king asked for his wages early and he got them. Then he bought some food, ate it and started working with enthusiasm. The builder noted that this was not a professional laborer and that he seemed a noble personality possessing royal traits.
So he mentioned this to the respectable lady who owned the building under construction. She called for the strange laborer and in the evening he was brought in her presence. She understood the nobility of the man at first sight, hosted him and offered her hand in marriage to him. The king prayed to God to let him live there, as there was no other place.
Thus he passed three years with this noble lady and benefited from her generosity but during all these years he did not divulge to her who he actually was. After three years, he recognized a man from his native land that was searching for someone. The king asked him, “What is the news about India?”
The man replied, “We had a good and just king. But there was rebellion; the rebels grabbed the throne and ruled over us for three years committing much injustice all this time and oppressing us severely. At last people could bear it no longer and they killed the rebels. Now they are searching for the real king so that if he is found he may be reinstated on the throne to rule judiciously over us. Thus we are now in search of him.
The king made himself known and also showed his royal coat to prove the veracity of his claim. Then he informed the lady of the facts and told her, “I am now going. If I get the throne without trouble, I will send my men to bring you home.” The messenger returned to India and gave the news to his countrymen. Along with their army the people arrived to welcome him and placed him on his throne without any trouble.
While fleeing his kingdom the king had realized how difficult it was to travel alone penniless, so he ordered that inns should be constructed at intervals for travelers and that at every such halting place the travelers should be given provision for three days. He also ordered, “If a foreigner comes to our city he should be brought to me so that if he needs anything I may help him.”
After a few days that miserly man who had accompanied the king in his journey for three days also arrived in the city. The king recognized him at once and asked, “Do you know me?” “You are the king,” he replied. “No, I am that same man who was in your company for three days,” reminded the King. The fellow was severely ashamed and wished that earth should split and swallow him.
The king told him, “Do not be afraid, you will not see anything but good from me.” Then he ordered that the newcomer should be given a room in the royal palace. He made him dine with him and provided him various facilities and honors. At night he provided a royal bed to him and gave him the best of slave girls. After sometime the slave girl came to the king and reported, “Your guest is deed in sleep.”
“Do you think he has died?” asked the king. So they went back and saw that it was so. The king said, “This man has drowned in extreme sorrow and grief and a feeling of shame. I had intended it to be so.”
Hit by deep desires after revelation of facts
O man! All of us here are to be hit by deep regret except those who value the message of divine messengers in this world. They would then express their sorrow:
Alas for the servants!
They would understand what God had said and how they were indifferent towards the divine scholars and messengers. They would also understand how the Lord of the worlds only increased His bounties upon them despite such disrespect on their part. They indulged in ungratefulness and mockery, yet God showered them with bounties and behaved mercifully with them. Woe unto man when this reality is manifested.
In the first station in Qiyamat, the first forty years will be those of amazement and astonishment. Thereafter it would be shame in facing the Holy Prophet (‘s). It is narrated that the feeling of shame will cause perspiration so profusely that man would wish that he should be sent to hell to escape this situation.
How We annihilated the ancient people?
At that time the Almighty would tell threateningly to those who had mocked His messengers’ invitation, “Look at your predecessors (who had done so earlier).”
Do they not consider how many of the generations have We destroyed before them…
Meaning: Look what has happened to those who had mocked the divine prophets earlier. You Arabs do pass, during your travels through places they inhabited. You repeatedly see the habitats of Prophet Lut etc; how we turned them upside down. How We destroyed them who paid no heed to the invitation of divine messengers.
They do not believe in it, and indeed the example of the former people has already passed. And even if We open to them a gateway of heaven, so that they ascend into it all the while, they would certainly say: Only our eyes have been covered over, rather we are an enchanted people. (15:13-15)
So take lesson from this. Before you, some had revolted and disobeyed. From among them were the people of Pharaoh whom We drowned. Also We pushed some deep in earth. To some We killed by a thunder like the killers of Habib Najjar.
So each We punished for his sin; of them was he on whom We sent down a violent storm, and of them was he whom the rumbling overtook, and of them was he whom We made to be swallowed up by the earth, and of them was he whom We drowned… (29:40)
So do not be like them. They were destroyed because they did not return to Us in repentance.
This Ummah is blessed for taking lesson from the predecessors
A religious figure has said with regard to this community, that it is the blessed community because it is the last one that has learnt from the mistakes of the past people and thus became eligible for divine mercy. One who comes first is likely to fall down without noticing a hole in the path, but one who follows, looks at those who fall and avoids the peril.
Thus Allah says, “You are the blessed Ummah. You saw what happened to the community of Lut, Salih and Hud. You read about them in history and saw their remnants while traveling. Why do you not take lesson therefrom?”
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
And all of them shall surely be brought before Us. And a sign to them is the dead earth: We give life to it and bring forth from it grain so they eat of it. And We make therein gardens of palms and grapevines and We make springs to flow forth in it, That they may eat of the fruit thereof, and their hands did not make it; will they not then be grateful? (36:32-35)
All come up before God, willingly or otherwise
Allah says:
Do they not consider how many of the generations have We destroyed before them, because they do not turn to them? (36:31)
It means that don’t you see how the past people were destroyed by Us? You should take lesson from their fate and not adopt their ways. People imagine death means destruction; that it is annihilation forever whereas what is meant is passing away from this world and arriving in the world of requital. As we have said, death, from the superficial viewpoint of man, is absolute annihilation. But from the point of view of intelligence and religion, death is not for anyone. Rather it is a change of place and dress.
And all of them shall surely be brought before Us. (36:32)
That is, without exception, each and everyone will come to Us. No one would ever be able to escape or remain absent. Allah says in Surah Rahman: O group of men and jinn! If you have power to cross the regions of the earth and the skies, do so.
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)
In the explanation of this verse it is mentioned that on the Day of Judgment, angels of the first heaven would surround the grand field of gathering. They in turn would be surrounded by angels of the second heaven and so on till the angels of the seventh heaven. Then a voice will be heard: O groups of men and jinn! If you can cross these parameters, escape from this horizon.
All have to appear before the supreme court of Divine Justice. Two divine functionaries would be there with each and every person.
And every soul shall come, with it a driver and a witness. (50:21)
They will not be able to move either this side or that. Guards would there along with them. At their hint one will have to march on upto the highest court of God.
Let me be sacrificed for the one who does not need a pusher or watcher and who comes up on his own and submits his accounts himself readily. That is the ‘Mumzaroon’ – Those who will come up. The place for meeting with God is mentioned here as ‘Meeqaat-e-Ilaahi’:
Shall most surely be gathered together for the appointed hour of a known day. (56:50)
He also gives proof of this in other verses, that is, proofs of the Return and Resurrection; rather of practical monotheism.
Sign of Qiyamat—enlivening of a dead earth
And a sign to them is the dead earth… (36:33)
The Arabic word ‘Ayat’ means sign, proof and evidence. Here it is a sign to show that you have to live in another world after your death where all your good fortune will come out openly.
They say: How this rotten and decomposed body will come to life again? Look at the earth beneath your feet and observe how God gives it life after it has dried and was dead.
Life and death of everyone and everything is like this. Earth also has life and death. Its death has grades and levels. One of its grades is growing and not growing. The season of fall and winter is death of earth. The beginning of spring is life for earth. How much life grows with it and is added to it. The earth wherein no movement was seen is lashed with spring breeze. Seeds show up their heads in the form of plants. All sorts of vegetables and grass grow. Who gave it this life? Did it happen itself? Why couldn’t it do so in fall and winter? This fresh life is a proof of the life after death, that is, Resurrection.
From a grain of wheat, he gives seven hundred or even more
And a sign to them is the dead earth: We give life to it and bring forth from it grain so they eat of it.
Here ‘grain’ means a corn seed. The chief grains are wheat, barely, lentils and rice etc. By way of development, a seed of wheat becomes a ear or cluster. Thereafter, a seed gives seventy to seven hundred seeds. This shows God’s Might and indicates that the universe is being directed by a limitless power.
You sowed a date seed. Then it bears branches and leaves producing hundreds of dates, each of which contains the same seed stone. This is manifestation of God’s powerful might. The One Who created wheat also gave you teeth to eat it. Who created taste in your tongue and Who made this date fruit so sweet in taste?
Whether movement in quality or quantity, every movement requires a mover. Nothing shakes without a shaker. Every cluster of grapes, in the beginning, is smaller than a seed of wheat. But then gradually it increases in size. Who gives it this quantitative movement and who evolves it with a fixed order and regularity?
The grape fruit, in the beginning, was very sour and then it gradually sweetened. Sometimes its extreme sweetness sickens man. Every movement or turn requires a mover, a driver, or pusher. Who is behind the quantitative and qualitative changes in grapes? Is it anyone except Only One God? He gives life to a dry barren earth. He makes the grass to grow. As Sadi Shirazi has said:
The clouds, the winds, the moon, the sun, the sky, all are doing their work.
So that you may eat your bread and may not remain heedless.
All of them are working for you and are at your service.
It is, therefore, not just on your part not to obey (The Almighty God)
Germination of a seed is a sign of resurrection
Monotheism is clearly understood from this verse from the aspect of resurrection. The farmers know that the seed they sow in the earth, after getting water, is changed. The seed was hard when placed in the soil but after it settled down and got water, it sprouted. Thereafter, it turns green and raises its head from the ground. Half of it comes up and half remains under ground. Half of it secures its root and base and the other half looks after its top and stem.
The point to be noted here is that after its disintegration who has given it a new life again? Only One God! Exactly like my body and your body. You ask what is going to happen after its disintegration? You have seen the events in this world how there is life after death. Why do you not think of hereafter?
And certainly you know the first growth, why do you not then mind? (56:62)
The bones will be disintegrated and after the Almighty wills they would again be resurrected. There will be a life-giving blow making all atoms and molecules alive again.
And the trumpet shall be blown, when lo! from their graves they shall hasten on to their Lord. (36:51)
Of course there would be changes therein. This time the body would be subtle, especially if it is of the people of paradise. It is mentioned about the female dwellers of paradise that the houries will be jealous of them as these (women of paradise) will be extremely fine and beautiful. The substance of body is the same substance but appearance is changed. Of course its deeds will be like those of the angels. God willing, nothing but good will be done by them. On the other hand those who will be punished will get hard and coarse bodies corresponding to the harshness of divine torture.
And We make therein gardens of palms and grapevines and We make springs to flow forth in it, (36:34)
That is, look at these gardens of dates and grapes, which are just before your eyes; where was this sweetness? From where did it come? Say, ‘Praise be to Allah, Allah is the Greatest, from the inner fold of dry wood from earth and from water.’ What a wonderful drawing of essence in this systematic and well-organized manner. How it reached in this form to each and every cell of the fruits! What a marvelous relationship between a seed and the complete fruit! Indeed He is powerful over everything…
After this Quran says:
and We make springs to flow forth in it, that they may eat of the fruit thereof, and their hands did not make it; (36:34-35)
God produces both sweet juice and sour vinegar from grapes
…and their hands did not make it…
Meaning it is ‘We’ not the people, who has created these fruits. It is God Who created grapes but man extracts juice from them, which is pleasing to taste. Similarly he makes vinegar from grapes, which was among the diet of messengers.
…will they not then be grateful?
Meaning: Are you then not thankful? O ungrateful one! O disloyal fellow! Should you not be thankful to God Who granted you such precious and delicious things? Is it not necessary for you to chant His praise constantly?
Praising of the intermediary is good provided its being intermediary is not forgotten. But the fact is that One in Whose hand is the original or main bounty must be thanked. None should be made partner in this main thanksgiving and appreciation.
If the water supply is stopped to you who is it that makes palatable water available to you?
Say: Have you considered if your water should go down, who is it then that will bring you flowing water? (67:30)
Whatever bounty reaches us, it is from Him and there is no bounty for us except from God.
And whatever favor is (bestowed) on you it is from Allah; then when evil afflicts you, to Him do you cry for aid. (16:53)
Bounty worship or benefactor worship
Though the comparison is rather awkward, there is no harm. Does a dog, with all of its lowness, give more importance to a bounty or to its benefactor? Dog is, indeed, a benefactor worshipper, not bounty worshipper. It harkens to the call of the owner of the house, not to its food.
Several times, its owner forgets to feed it, but the dog does not ignore him. It remains meek; it flatters him, and wags its tail for him.
It is an animal and does not have more intelligence than this. But you, O man! In spite of the fact that God gave you intelligence, why did you forget your Benefactor? You knew your Lord and you said: There is no god except Allah. Now, do you have anything to do with the Benefactor or with the bounty (given by him)? Are you a Benefactor worshipper or a bounty worshipper?
Since God has granted the precious bounty to you, you should praise and glorify Him alone so that He may increase the bounty.
If you are grateful, I would certainly give to you more, and if you are ungrateful, My chastisement is truly severe. (14:7)
In fact it is prohibited to say, “Such and such food has harmed me.” Rather, you should say, “I was not fit for that food.” Of course foods having opposite effects should not be taken together.
It is narrated that, among reasons of chastisements like squeeze of grave, is thanklessness for bounties. So, to avoid such ungratefulness, kiss the bread and respect it, let it not fall down and be trampled.
It is a must for all of us to repent from the bottom of our hearts for whatever thanklessness has been shown by us. There are things about which we did not realize that they are great bounties of Allah. For example, we did not consider a son a big bounty from God. But when he died we say, “God took him away from me.” Now this is ungratefulness.
We should say, “O God! Whatever we have is only from You. There is no God except You. We are monotheists. We are thankful people and we are shamed of our past when we did not realize that all bounties were from You. I seek forgiveness from You and I turn towards You (in repentance).
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
There would be naught but a single cry, when lo! they shall all be brought before Us; So this day no soul shall be dealt with unjustly in the least; and you shall not be rewarded aught but that which you did. Surely the dwellers of the garden shall on that day be in an occupation quite happy. They and their wives shall be in shades, reclining on raised couches. They shall have fruits therein, and they shall have whatever they desire. (36:53-57)
Qiyamat will arrive after the two blowings
And they say: When will this threat come to pass, if you are truthful?
They say, “Where is that which was promised by the Prophets?” They ask it by way of denial and mockery. The reply to them is, “You will have to face only two blows (or shouts): One calling all to die and another commanding all to rise up.” Only God knows the interval between these two cries. There are various narrations regarding it. Angel Israfil who is near God will do the blowing. He has a trumpet, one end of which is towards the earth and another towards the sky. When he will blow it, all living creatures on earth will die and so also those who are in the sky.
And the trumpet shall be blown, so all those that are in the heavens and all those that are in the earth shall swoon, except such as Allah please; then it shall be blown again, then lo! they shall stand up awaiting. (39:68)
Then God shall command Israfil: Die. So he would also die. No one except Only One God will be alive.
In both the worlds, Only One God will remain and that is all. All others will be dead. (Persian Couplet)
Then a voice would call out, “For whom is the Kingdom, today?” That is, “Where are all those who used to say, ‘My wealth, my kingdom’?” There would be none to reply. He Himself replies, “Only for the overpowering and dominant Lord.”
Imam (‘a) says, “During the interval between two blowings nothing would remain alive, the earth will become changed, mountains will turn into dust.”
And they ask you about the mountains. Say: My Lord will carry them away from the roots. (20:105)
There will remain nothing like trees, mountains, vales and hills. Everything will be changed.
On the day when the earth shall be changed into a different earth, and the heavens (as well)…(14:48)
Manifestation of justice of God in Mahshar Field
When the blow to become alive will be blown, all those who will become alive will be present for the Divine Judgment in the Mahshar field of grand gathering. Everyone will arrive with two guards “Saiq” and “Shaheed”.
And every soul shall come, with it a driver (Saiq) and a witness (Shaheed). (50:21)
No one will have the ability to disregard the command to arise. This is the day of the manifestation of the true justice of Almighty Allah. In the world of matter, justice does not become manifest, but here, even the tiniest of deed, weighing an atom’s weight would not be disregarded.
This day no injustice would be done to anyone, be he a disbeliever or a believer, a sinner or a worshipper.
So this day no soul shall be dealt with unjustly in the least; (36:54)
If one has done a bad deed, he would not be punished more than what he is liable for. His good deeds will be taken into consideration and he would be rewarded for them. If he has not sinned, he will not be punished. The punishment of every sin will be on the one who has committed it, not on anyone else.
And a burdened soul cannot bear the burden of another… (35:18)
Whatever chastisement is there, it is due to the deed of the person who has committed it and not because of someone else. If you lied or spoke vulgar words your own mouth would be dirty and foul smelling. Likewise, if you had recited salawat you will enjoy the fragrance of your own tongue.
And you shall not be rewarded except (for) what you did. (37:39)
Thereafter Allah mentions some statements of the people of paradise and some wailings of the people of hell. The believers will indeed hear both. Yearning for reward and fear of chastisement. The aim is that one should yearn for paradise by hearing such verses. Why are you so much afraid of death? It is because we have no yearning for paradise. It is so because we imagined death to be a frightening python.
Surely the dwellers of the garden shall on that day be in an occupation quite happy. (36:55)
Enjoyment of paradise bounties and unawareness of hell
This is the first praise in favor of the people of paradise. They are fully engaged in enjoyment. In Arabic, “Shughl” (engagement) means a preoccupation that prevents man from doing anything else. For example if one is engaged in construction work, he spends all of his labor and time in that business and pays no attention to any other job. It is called “Shughl”. God put the people of paradise in such an enjoyment that they are oblivious to the sounds of Mahshar, shrieks of hell, cries of sinners, quacking of earth, frights and fears. So much so that even if ones own family members are in hell, one would be so much engaged with Divine bounties that one would pay no attention to them.
So unawareness from hell, its painfulness and hardships is such that no attention is paid to the people of hell, but only when God so wishes. Quran tells us that it is the time when a window is opened and they look at the people of paradise and shout out to them, “Have mercy on us. Please give us something from the bounties given to you by God.”
And the inmates of the fire shall call out to the dwellers of the garden, saying: Pour on us some water or of that which Allah has given you. (7:50)
They will reply:
They shall say: Surely Allah has prohibited them both to the unbelievers. (7:50)
That is all those who left this world without Faith cannot get anything from these bounties.
The preoccupation that prevents one from paying attention to any other thing, is sometimes, due to fear and fright and sometimes because of longing. The people of paradise are in joy and happiness due to the bounties. This has made them unmindful of other things.
Wives of the people of paradise, a great divine bounty
Some commentators have said that there are two verses after the description of something about the preoccupation of the people of paradise: They and their wives are reclining on pillows under shade. Therein, for them, in this garden, is every kind of fruit and whatever they desire.
Fondness with heavenly wives is the activity of the people of paradise. Now, they are busy with fairies or believing women who belong to men who are admitted to paradise. We have mentioned repeatedly that every woman who has become worthy of paradise will be with her husband if he also is admitted therein or if he is given a place in paradise as a result of someone’s recommendation or intercession. The real meeting is in paradise. Hoorul-eein is the fairy in praise of whom God has said:
In them are goodly things, beautiful ones. (55:71)
Their eyes never fall on anyone but their husbands. They are husband-lovers and husband-appreciators. They are as bright as rubies and pearls.
As though they were rubies and pearls. (55:57)
Copulation in Paradise reminds one of God’s bounties
Another point is that there is a marked difference between the marriage in paradise and marriage in this world. None should imagine it to be similar. No, it is totally different. The first difference: Copulation in this world, besides carrying uncleanness at the time of gratification, also makes people neglectful. But, an intercourse in paradise makes one mindful and aware. Singing and music in paradise comprises of glorification and praising of God. People once asked the Holy Prophet (‘s), “Is there any singing in paradise?” “No,”
he replied, “It is of a higher rank.”[1] Imam Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said that its example is that the trees of paradise will be singing[2]. It is also mentioned that if you hear the songs of the heavenly birds in this world you will faint.
Food of Paradise entails no refuse
You have heard that when Prophet Dawood (‘a) used to recite the Psalms in a melodious voice, birds and animals gathered round him in wilderness. Some of them were swooning and then never rising up. Dawood is a heavenly singer.
Leaves of heavenly trees too sing songs like “Glory be to God” and “Praise be to Allah”. They are indeed spiritual. The doors, windows and everything in paradise is also such, which make all remember God above all and the wife is also like that.
It is likewise in the matter of eating food. In this world first there is labor in earning food, then trouble in digesting it and then is the ejection of waste matter. But in paradise, there are no such troubles. Therefore, some great people have said that the people of paradise do not have anus and hence there is no problem of excreta. The food of paradise has nothing like waste and refuse to be ejected.
Hourie—manifestation of the mercy of the Beneficent and the Merciful
According to a narration, the Last Prophet said, “God has created a Hourie that has ‘In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful’ on her lips which of course is Noor (Radiance). Similarly ‘Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah’ is inscribed on her forehead and ‘Ali is the Wali of Allah’ on her chin and ‘Al Hasan and Husain’ on her right and left cheek respectively.”
What a beauty and for whom? It can be known from these sentences and Holy names that they are for the monotheists, and who know God, who understand the meaning of Beneficent and Merciful and who must have acquired all the virtues of piety.
So they asked, “O Messenger of God! For whom are these Houries?” He replied, “For those who recite, ‘In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful’ with due respect and honor.”
This is the first stage of ‘Ba’ of Bismillahirrehmaanirraheem. What to say about the complete meaning of it!
They and their wives shall be in shades, reclining on raised couches.
The people of paradise and their wives (especially if she was his wife in the world also) are promised by God that the believing husbands and wives will join one another. It is also mentioned in some narrations that even if one’s son and wife are in a lower station they will be, as a result of the intercession of a Faithful, be joined with him. They would be reclining under shades or on thrones.
The tents in Paradise would be four farsakh by four farsakh (One farsakh is six kilometers). In them are heavenly thrones, which will be the restful place for the people of paradise and their spouses.
The Holy Prophet (‘s) is reported to have said that a faithful man will enjoy a hundred virgins in a day in paradise and the astonishing fact is that they would again become virgins immediately thereafter.[3] As for his food, it is mentioned that he will have a hunger equal to a hundred men in this world and it will be, as mentioned repeatedly, without any of the worldly hardships.
Beauty equal to a hundred Yusufs
It is mentioned in some traditions that if a Hourie from paradise comes to this world, all the men here will faint because they do not posses the power of looking at such a beauty. For better understanding of this point, just pay attention to what is mentioned in Quran in the story of Prophet Yusuf and the ladies of Egypt. Though Yusuf (‘a) was a human being, living in this material world, God gave him such elegance that the women cut their fingers instead of the fruit when they saw him. What is more curious is that they were not aware they are cutting their hands. So what can be said of the beauty and elegance of Paradise?
So when she heard of their sly talk she sent for them and prepared for them a repast, and gave each of them a knife, and said (to Yusuf): Come forth to them. So when they saw him, they deemed him great, and cut their hands (in amazement), and said: Remote is Allah (from imperfection); this is not a mortal; this is but a noble angel. (12:31)
So, whatever is there in Paradise it could be achieved only by making efforts. We should make efforts so that we may be able to look at that beauty or even better than that beauty, that is the beauty of Muhammad (‘s) and His progeny.
There will be neither sun nor moon in the land of Mahshar. All the light will be the elegance of Muhammad.
A poet has mentioned in a nice way: Those who are talking bad of me should look at their own faces. Instead of the fruit, they all cut off their own hands!
Expansion of heart for perceiving the beauty
The following verse says that, for whomsoever God desires to guide He expands the heart of that person for understanding Islam.
Therefore (for) whomsoever Allah intends that He would guide him aright, He expands his breast for Islam, and (for) whomsoever He intends that He should cause him to err, He makes his breast strait and narrow as though he were ascending upwards; thus does Allah lay uncleanness on those who do not believe. (6:125)
Prophet Moosa also supplicated likewise:
O my Lord! Expand my breast for me, (20:26)
What is this expansion of heart? It is the ability to perceive beauty. He grants enough strength whereby one can see the beauty and enjoy it. In paradise, there is beauty inside beauty. But who is there to benefit from it? It is one whose heart has been expanded. He must have benefited from the splendor of Ali (‘a). That is why I say, “Prepare yourself for paradise. Attain cleanliness and piety so that you may perceive the beauty.” How can one who has not benefited from beauty himself understand the absolute beauty?
Brightness on the cheeks of Hourie is due to tears of the faithful
It is quoted in the book Bahrul ma Arif from a scholar who says, “They showed me a Hourie. I was astonished and asked, ‘Who are you?’ She replied, ‘God has created me for you.’ When I tried to get near to her, she distanced herself saying, ‘The joining is after death.’ Then I asked her, ‘Please tell me how your cheeks are so radiant?’ She replied, ‘It is due to the tears you shed.’
So, whatever is there is due to Faith and acting according to it (good deeds).
And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for; And that his striving shall soon be seen; (53:39-40)
If you kept your soul healthy (performed good deeds), you are in the abode of safety (Paradise). On the contrary, if you have sickened yourself, you are in the land of disease (Hell).[4]
Shade of God’s kindness over the inmates of Paradise
Some have also said that ‘Shade’ means honor, that is protection and safety from troubles and pains, just like a shade overhead that saves one from the heat of the sun. Thus whatever protects man from troubles and difficulties is called ‘shade’. Hence we pray, “May God not remove His shade from our heads.” It indicates that He is protecting them from hardships and the people of paradise and their wives are in safety from pains of all kinds.
According to one narration they (people of paradise) are under the Shade of the Throne of the Beneficent. They are under the shade of God’s kindness.
They shall have fruits therein, (36:57)
Another pre-occupation of the people of paradise is enjoying heavenly fruits like apples, pomegranate and fresh dates. But we must know that only similarity is in names. The reality is different and their taste is a hundred thousand fold better.
…and they shall have whatever they desire.
That is whatever they like or desire is readily available to them. Is there any king in this world for whom whatever he wants is at once available? Rather, what is denied to him is more that what is given to him. God brought you in this world. He created the entire universe for you and created you for Himself and for the Hereafter. He created you for eternity, not for perishing. “You have been created for an everlasting life and not for annihilation.” Deprived is the one who does not avail of these Divine bounties.
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Peace: a word from a Merciful Lord.And get aside today, O guilty ones! (36:58-59)
On that Day which is full of terror, hardships and harshness, the people of paradise are enjoying the bounties and tastefulness. There is no fear for them. Rather, they do not even think of those things
They and their wives shall be in shades, reclining on raised couches.
They and their wives are reclining on royal divine thrones under the divine shade.
They shall have fruits therein…
There are heavenly fruits for the people of paradise. As I have said earlier, the similarity is only in name while their qualities are very different. No one in this world can even imagine the fruit available in paradise as to what kind it would be. It has to be experienced and perceived, it cannot be explained. Whatever the description in this world, the reality is very much different.
…and they shall have whatever they desire.
Whatever they want or desire is easily and immediately available to them.
Allah directly salutes the people of Paradise
Peace: a word from a Merciful Lord. (36:58)
That is Salam to you. Its predicate is ‘upon them’ but another explanation is that it could be the object of the verb. That is, Salam on the people of paradise from the Merciful Lord.
The apparent meaning of this Holy verse is that the Salam is without any intermediary, directly from the Lord of the worlds. Salam for the Faithful is usually through mediatories. At the moment of death, it is through the angel of death and his assistants.
Their salutation on the day that they meet Him shall be, Peace, and He has prepared for them an honourable reward. (33:44)
It is one of the indirect Salams. Then, after the faithful sits on the royal divine throne, twelve thousand angels arrive from the Lord of the worlds saluting him.
The appointees say that the faithful is currently with a Hourie. They seek permission to be present. Today is the day of honor, respect and manifestation of the dignity of the Faithful. The angels arriving from every gate say:
Peace be on you because you were constant, how excellent, is then, the issue of the abode. (13:24)
Greetings from God to you because of the patience you showed in the world. You were forbearing; you fulfilled your duties painstakingly. You remained steadfast facing hardships and calamities. You restrained yourselves in front of luring sins. Paradise is the dwelling place of the patient ones. No one arrives in paradise without showing patience. This residence and rank, which you got, is as a reward of your forbearance in your worldly life. This dwelling place is so very nice. O Faithful! Congratulations to you for achieving this position. You are among the lucky ones. Many congratulations, how nice is this great and high rank. The greatest news is about eternity. It is being intimated that this position will never end and you too are eternal.
In the world, if you possess even the best of mansions and gardens, you have to leave them in the end. Either the possessions go away first or the one who possesses them dies. Just also think about the sorrow, which one has to experience at the time of losing them.
Two big defects in a beautiful palace
It is written in Tafsir Ruhul Bayan that: One of the past kings founded a palace with an intention to make it unparalleled. Then, when it was complete, he invited all sections of people to visit it. He also kept a notebook at the exit so that anyone who observes any defect may note it and then it can be removed.
When he checked the visitor book he saw that all had praised this palace except two, who had criticized it. The king called these two persons.
He asked them what defect they had noted. They replied, “There are two defects in this mansion. But what is the use when there is no remedy?” They also said, “We are afraid, if we mention our observation, the king may become angry.” The king said, “No harm. Tell me what you feel.”
They said, “The first defect is that this building will finally be destroyed and another is that its owner will depart from it. How can you fall in love with a thing, which is with you only for a little time?”
I want to point out that the house of the hereafter would be so really good and without defects that it would never be taken away from you, nor would it ever be destroyed.
Salam from God—what a great honor for the Faithful
Salamun Alaikum – O Believer! The direct Salam is for you. After those indirect Salams, in the sight of those who are intelligent and who know, is the great heavenly bounty in the form of this direct Salam. The bounties of God on one side and the bounty of a dialogue with Him on the other. God Almighty says direct Salam to His servants. This remembrance by God and that too with congratulations and praise!
If even once you say: O My Lord! I am Your servant
It makes Him happy on the Great Throne.
O handful of dust! God talks to you. Woe unto that fellow who gets lost in the worldly futile things and loses the opportunity of God speaking to him.
Salam is not only a greeting but also a great and important event, especially when it is from a spiritual person, messenger, Imam or angel. Then what to say when it is from God Himself! It is absolute safety and security. It is safety from every kind of pain, trouble or annihilation, from every illness, every weakness. So much so that there will be nothing like slumber, laziness or weariness.
A reward for what they used to do. They shall not hear therein vain or sinful discourse, (56:24-25)
The happiness is also absolute and there will be nothing like aversion, hatred or jealousy. If anybody has an iota of jealousy, his place is in the house of sick in hell so that he may become pure and clean. Thereafter he is admitted to the House of Safety, which is one of the names of paradise.
They shall have the abode of peace with their Lord, and He is their guardian because of what they did. (6:127)
There will be no trouble and illness. What is most important is that there will be no mortality or perishing.
Letter from the Lord to the Faithful servant
Prophet Muhammad (‘s) is reported to have said, “After a believer is admitted to paradise, he will receive greeting from God Almighty, which is ‘Salam from the Merciful Lord’”. In this narration, it is mentioned under the heading of ‘Correspondence’ that an angel hands over to the believer a letter from the Lord of the Worlds. The letter is then opened and it would read as follows: This letter is from the Everlasting Lord and the Protector of everything and Who never dies. It is addressed to the one who too is alive and will never die. We are the Lord Whose intention is sufficient for attainment of everything. From this day, We have given you a thing whereby whatever you wish will happen within a moment.
Has whatever I said about paradise during the last two or three days evoked any longing in the speaker and the hearer? Have we or have we not become those who yearn for Paradise? You ought to be like that Shia of Ali (‘a) who said: Had it not been destined by God, people who are faithful, might have desired that their souls should immediately leave the body and proceed towards the high world to enter the guest house of God.[5]
Are you ready to seek death?
What is meant is not that you should want to die. It is wrong. It is prohibited. Is there any benefit in it? Do you rightly imagine that, at the time of your death, you will be on the right path? May be you will first see hardships and punishments.
A man expressed to the Imam his desire for death. The gist of this narration is that the Holy Imam asked that man, “Have you made prior arrangements? Have you made provision for the journey? Suppose the hour of death has arrived. Have you readied yourself for it?” Rather you should say, ‘O God! Give me respite so that I may prepare myself for the journey’”[6] In these Holy nights of Ramadan, I say: O Lord! Forgive me please. Of course this also is an introduction. Where is the real longing for death so that pressure and trouble may decrease? One may repent.
And if Allah should hasten the evil to men as they desire the hastening on of good, their doom should certainly have been decreed for them… (10:11)
But this appeal to which Ali (‘a) refers is with regard to longing for paradise, longing to meet God, consequent to a strong desire for reward and to avoid chastisement. He is also afraid of divine chastisement and fears the separation from God’s friend and hence wants that his body should get rid of fear.
But you can see the current situation: People love everything except paradise and divine reward and they fear everything except God’s anger and punishment!
It is distressing to go from company to loneliness
See how Fatima (‘a) longed to meet God. You have heard that when the Holy Prophet merely informed her: You are the first among my household who will meet me, she became extremely happy. This is the sign of a friend of God.
Say: O you who are Jews, if you think that you are the favorites of Allah to the exclusion of other people, then invoke death If you are truthful. (62:6)
It is written in Kashkol of Shaykh Bahai that a man asked Imam Hasan (‘a), “Why are we terrified of death?” He replied summarily that it is because you live in an inhabited place and for you the Hereafter is a lonely ruin. The one who has ruined his Hereafter and this world, who has nothing in that world becomes unhappy while leaving this world.
Sinners must get separated in Mahshar
And get aside today, O guilty ones! (36:59)
It means, ‘Get away!’ It is a destined order and not a matter of choice. In the beginning, a voice will be heard in the Field of Grand Gathering: “Get aside, O Sinners! Today”. In the past world there was a veil over your deeds. Nothing was known. No one knew what was in the heart of others because a number of hypocrites had placed themselves among the believers. But today truth is manifest.
On the day when hidden things shall be made manifest, (86:9)
Here there is no scope for false claims. There is nothing except what is right, truthful and actual. The sinners must separate themselves from every side; by their appearance, words, place and time – The sinners must get aside until the forceful voice is heard: Whosoever is sinful, his face is black and whosoever is among the people of paradise, his face is bright. Thus the sinners would be recognized by their faces.
The guilty shall be recognized by their marks… (55:41)
Some of the sinners who were fond of monkeys and pigs will get their faces changed to these forms. Some will have the face of a dog. Some will arrive as ants because they were arrogant. The more one is mean at heart the more proud he is in his attitude. The proud fellow is not known here. How can it be known? Tomorrow in the field of Mahshar he will arrive in the form of a mean little lowly ant. Everyone will be recognized by his appearance that will tell what kind of a man he was in his worldly life. His belly is so bloated that he is unable to move. Everyone will know that he took usury. He was eating fire.
Those who swallow down usury cannot arise except as one whom Shaitan has prostrated by (his) touch does rise. (2:275)
They will not be asked, as they are known
So on that day neither man nor jinni shall be asked about his sin. (55:39)
They will not be asked anything as everything will be apparent in various ways and their own organs will witness as we have seen earlier.
The late Faiz has also quoted a narration in Ainul Yaqeen: Every drunkard entering the field of Mahshar will be holding a bottle of wine. Every violinist will be holding his violin, which would be thrashing his head. The Holy Quran also hints at this:
On the day that every soul shall find present what it has done of good and what it has done of evil… (3:30)
Everyone who had done a wrong and a bad deed would desire to distance himself from it; that this cup of wine and this instrument of gambling should remain at a distance from him but they will not go away. Strange indeed is the situation on the Day of Judgment! Just read any chapter of the Holy Quran. It reminds one of that World of Tomorrow. Rather it makes us frightful.
Recite these supplications of Ali (‘a) during the remaining nights of this Holy month: O God! Grant us safety from these frightening conditions of Qiyamat.
One who is guilty would be given the scroll of deeds in ones left hand. Everyone who is to go to paradise will get it in his right hand. This is a kind of differentiating the sinners. Everyone who will raise his head from the grave will say: Alas! Who raised us from our grave? This is a sign of one being guilty. On the other hand would be those who, emerging from the grave say: Thanks to God Who fulfilled His promise and made us the inheritors of land whereby we may live in this paradise. So how nice is the Reward of those who worked for God!
And they shall say: (All) praise is due to Allah, Who has made good to us His promise, and He has made us inherit the land; we may abide in the garden where we please; so goodly is the reward of the workers. (39:74)
Of course, in the world, everyone whose tongue was free, used to say whatever one liked. In hell also, the people of hell are in trouble and harassed by the tongues of one another. So it is mentioned in a narration that the hell dweller, due to feeling of shame, in the dangling of chains, will not even groan because of chastisement.
They will fall on hell fire like bats
You have a fire extinguisher for putting out the fire. In Qiyamat in the front would be the people of hell. They become separated from all. They arrive like that until they are turned away from the Sirat Bridge. The Holy Prophet describes that it is like a moth that leaps directly into the fire. Similarly the sinner criminals will fall in hell fire. Everyone will take his own place. The people of paradise also will take their place in the ‘correct seat’ (Maqad-e-Sidq).
And you shall see the angels going round about the throne glorifying the praise of their Lord; and judgment shall be given between them with justice, and it shall be said: All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. (39:75)
O God! Grant us the Faith whereby we may understand this meaning. We are afraid of the humiliation on the Day of Judgment tomorrow. May we not be dishonored in front of the former and latter nations. O you, who are having self-respect and who like to be honored! Remove negligence from yourselves. Let your hearts not harden. Desires and passions, aspirations and negligence reduce faith, that faith, which makes you reach your place in the Hereafter.
Drag me to fire, perhaps I may wake up
In Asrarus Salat of Tabrizi, it is written in the story of the well known scholar Allamah Shaykh Muhammad Mazandarani that when this great man felt that he was being negligent, he used to go out of city into wilderness along with his son and a servant. The Shaykh first asked them, “Is it not necessary for you to obey my orders?” After the two said ‘yes’ the Shaykh said, “I am collecting fuel wood. You also do so.” Then he lit the fire and told the two that they drag him towards the fire saying, “O aged sinner! Imagine that Qiyamat has come up.” The scholar used to order them, “Drag me to the fire, that perhaps, the heat may awaken me.”
When Ali (‘a) fired the furnace of a destitute woman, he drew his face near that fire saying, “O Ali! Taste the heat of this fire. You have no ability to bear the fire of hell.”[7]
Remembrance of death cures negligence
Negligence hinders the growth of faith. Faith is weak and negligence is more dangerous. Every one of you should, to the best of his ability, provide means of remembrance and admonition for himself. What come in the way of spiritual progress are the same aspirations and desires.[8]Unless and until you trample upon your desires and passions, how can you develop a longing to meet God?
Ali (‘a) says, “Two things which worry me are your pursuit of desires and lengthening of your aspirations.”[9] If you can see that death is near, you would slow down.
In the night of Ashura, Husain saw that Zainab was very restless. He employed a remedy for her and it made her quiet. It was the remembrance of death. “My grandfather was better than me. He passed away from this world and so was my father…”
Notes:
[1] Safinatul Bihar, vol.1, pg.383
[2] Safinatul Bihar, vol.2, pg.328
[3] Layaliul Akhbar, pg. 507
[4] …for it is (the benefit of) what it has earned and upon it (the evil of) what it has wrought…(Surah Baqarah 2:285)
[5] Nahjul Balagha
[6] Safinatul Bihar, vol.2, pg.555
[7] Biharul Anwar, vol. 9
[8] Dua Abu Hamza Thumali
[9] Nahjul Balagha
Notes:
[25] Safinatul Bihar, vol.1, pg.383
[26] Safinatul Bihar, vol.2, pg.328
[27] Layaliul Akhbar, pg. 507
[28] …for it is (the benefit of) what it has earned and upon it (the evil of) what it has wrought…(Surah Baqarah 2:285)
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