BELIEF IN THE LAST DAY

The Last Day is the Day when mankind will be resurrected to be asked about their deeds and receive reward or punishment for them. It is called the Last Day,because it is the last day, no day after that. Afterwards, people of Paradise will permanently reside and take their places in it, and people of Hell will permanently reside and take their places in it.  ^[1]

Belief in the Last Day is  firmly believing that everything that Allah has told us about in His Book (Al-Quran) and that His Messengerﷺhas told us about what will happen after death, will indeed happen and come to pass. That includes believing in the signs of the Hour which will happen before the Last Day; in death and things that accompany it when a person is on his deathbed; what comes after death, namely the trial of the grave and torment or blessing therein; the Trumpet and resurrection; the standing and terrors of the Day of Resurrection; the details of the gathering and reckoning; Paradise and its delights, the greatest of which will be looking upon the Face of Allah; Hell and its torments, the most severe of which will be their being veiled from seeing their Lord. And belief in the Last Day includes acting in accordance with what is implied by these beliefs,  A'laam al-Sunnah al-Manshoorah, 110; Sharh al-Usool al-Thalaathah by Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 98-103. ^[2]

Quran

One must believe that the life of this world will come to an end. Allah says: "Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish." (Quran Surah 55:26) When Allah wills this world to come to an end, Allah will order Angel Israafeel to blow the Trumpet. At that point, everything on Earth will perish. Then He will order him to blow it again, and upon that, all people will rise from their graves in their bodies, all over the world, from the time of Adam («may god exalt their mention»). Allah says: "And the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth will collapse and die, except him whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown a second time and behold, they will be standing, looking on (waiting)." (Quran Surah 39:68)

Belief in the Last Day Has Three Parts

1. To believe in the Resurrection

The Resurrection happens when the Horn will be blown for the second time. Afterwards, mankind will be resurrected to face the questioning by the Lord of the worlds. Allah said, what translated means, As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it, (it is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it." [Quran Surah21:104] 

The Resurrection is a true event that the Quran, the Sunnah and the consensus of Muslims have confirmed. Allah said, what translated means, After that, surely you will die. Then (again), surely, you will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection.[Quran Surah 23:15-16]

The Muslims are unanimous on confirming the Day of Resurrection. This is the wisdom of Allah, for He decreed that creation will have a day of reckoning for their deeds after He sent them Messengers to inform them of His Commandments. He said, what translated means, Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?[Quran Surah 23:115] and, Indeed, [O Muhammad], He who imposed upon you the Qur'an will take you back to a place of return. Say, "My Lord is most knowing of who brings guidance and who is in clear error."[Quran Surah 28:85] 

2. To believe in the Reckoning

In the Last Day, the slave will be rewarded or punished for his deeds. This fact was also confirmed by the Quran, the Sunnah and the consensus of Muslims. Allah said, what translated means, Verily, to Us will be their return. Then verily, for Us will be their Reckoning.[Quran Surah 88:25-26], Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof tohis credit, and whoever brings an evil deed shall have only the recompense of the like thereof and they will not be wronged.[Quran Surah6:160] and, And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it And Sufficient are We as Reckoners.[Quran Surah 21:47].

The Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, what translated means, Allah will bring the believer closer to Him, and will shield him from being exposed (for his evil deeds in front of everyone). He will say: ˜Do you remember such and such (evil) deed? Do you remember such and such (evil) deed? He will say: ˜Yes, O my Lord! When He gets his confessions for his evil deeds, and he (the salve) thinks that he is close to destruction, he will say: ˜I have preserved you (from being exposed in front of others for these evil deeds) during your lifetime. Today, I forgive them for you. Then, he will be given his record of deeds. As for the disbelievers and the hypocrites, they will be called in public: ˜These are the ones who lied on their Lord (did not follow His Guidance sent down with their Prophets). Therefore, Allahs curse will befall the unjust ones." [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]

And, Whoever intends to perform a good deed, and performs it, Allah will record it for him as ten deeds, to seven hundredfold, to many more folds. Whoever intends to commit and evil deed, and commits it, Allah will record it as one evil deed.[Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim 237] 

Muslims are unanimous that the Day of Reckoning will come. This is the Wisdom of Allah. He revealed the Books, sent down the Messengers and commanded that they be accepted, followed and obeyed. He commanded that whoever opposes them (the Books and the Messengers) are to be fought. He permitted shedding their blood, and the seizure of their children, women and possessions. If there will not be a Day of Reckoning, then this Commandment will be time wasted. Allah is immune from such joyful play. Then surely, We shall question those (people) to who it (the Book) was sent and verily, We shall question the Messengers. Then surely, We shall narrate unto them (their whole story) with knowledge, and indeed We were not absent. [Quran Surah 7:6.7]. 

3. To believe in Paradise and Hell

 They are the final destination for whoever deserves either one of them, and for eternity. Paradise is the destination of the ultimate happiness and joy that Allah prepared for the believers who feared Him, believed in what He required from them to believe and obeyed Him and His Messenger. They are the ones who were sincere to Allah and followers of His Messenger. Paradise contains, of Allahs bounties, What no eye has ever violated, what no ear has ever heard of and what no mind has ever imagined (of joys that Allah hid for the believers).

Allah said, what translated means, Verily, those who believe (in Allah) and do righteous, good deeds, they are the best of creatures. Their reward with their Lord is Gardens of Eternity, underneath which rivers flow, they will abide therein forever, Allah Well-Pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord.[Quran Surah98:7-8] and, No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.) [Quran Surah 32:17]. 

As for Hell, it is the destination of torment and punishment that Allah prepared for the unjust disbelievers. They are the ones who disbelieved in Him and disobeyed His Messengers. Hell contains kinds of punishment and torment that no one could ever imagine. Allah said, what translated means, And fear the Fire, which is prepared for the disbelievers.[Quran Surah3: 131] We have prepared for the wrongdoers, a Fire whose walls will be surrounding them. And if they ask for help (relief, water etc.) they will be granted water like boiling oil that will scald their faces. Terrible the drink, and an evil dwelling.[Quran Surah18: 29] and, Verily, Allah has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire (Hell). Wherein, they will abide forever, and they will find neither a protector nor a helper. On the Day when their faces will be turned and rolled form all sides in the Fire, they will say: Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger (Muhammad).[Quran Surah33:64-66] ^[3]

Details of belief in the Last Day

Belief in the Last Day constitutes, belief in everything Allah and His Messenger, may Allah exalt his mention, has informed us about:

1. To believe in the life of the Barzakh:

This life is the time after one’s death until the Last Day. In it, the believer will live a life of pleasure, while the disbelievers will be punished. Allah says: "The Fire; they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon, and on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): ‘Make Fir‘awn’s (Pharaoh) people enter the severest torment!" (Quran Surah 40:46)

2. To believe in the Resurrection:

Allah will resurrect mankind, naked, barefooted, and uncircumcised. Allah says: "The disbelievers pretend that they will never be resurrected (for the Account). Say: Yes! By my Lord, you will certainly be resurrected, then you will be informed of (and recompensed for) what you did, and that is easy for Allah." (Quran Surah 64:7)

3. To believe in the Gathering:

Allah will gather all creation together and call them to account. Allah says: "And (remember) the Day We shall cause the mountains to pass away (like clouds of dust), and you will see the earth as a leveled plain, and we shall gather them all together so as to leave not one of them behind." (Quran Surah 18:47)

4. To believe that people will be brought before Allah in ranks:

Allah says: "And they shall be brought before your Lord, standing in ranks: Now certainly you have come to Us as We created you at first. Nay, you thought that We had not appointed to you a time of the fulfillment of the promise." (Quran Surah 18:48)

5. To believe that one’s limbs will bear witness.

Allah says: "Till, when they reach it (Hellfire), their hearing (ears) and their eyes, and their skins will testify against them as to what they used to do. * And they will say to their skins, ‘Why do you testify against us?’ They will say: ‘Allah has caused us to speak, He causes all things to speak: and He created you the first time, and to Him you are made to return.’ * And you have not been hiding yourselves (in the world), lest your ears, and your eyes, and your skins testify against you; but you thought that Allah knew not much of what you were doing." (Quran Surah 41:20-22)

6. To believe in the Questioning.

Allah says: "But stop them; verily they are to be questioned. * ‘What is the matter with you? Why do you not help one another [as you used to do in the world]?’ * Nay, but that Day they shall surrender." (Quran Surah 33:40)

7. To believe in the Siraat (Bridge) and that everyone must pass over it.

Allah 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 Surah 19:71)

8. To believe in the weighing of deeds.

Allah will call people to account and reward those who did well with what they deserve, due to their righteous deeds, their Belief, and adherence to their Messengers, and He will punish those who did evil. Allah says: "And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We to take account." (Quran Surah 21:47)

9. To believe in the handing out of Scrolls and Books.

Allah says: "Then, as for him who will be given his Record in his right hand, He surely will receive an easy reckoning. * And he will return to his family in joy! * But whosoever is given his Record behind his back. * He will invoke (his) destruction. * And he shall enter a blazing Fire and made to taste its burning." (Quran Surah 84:7-12)

10. To believe that people will be rewarded with Jannah or Hellfire in an everlasting and eternal life.

Allah says: "Verily those who disbelieve from among the people of the Book (Jews and Christians) and the mushrikoon (pagans) will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures * Verily, those who believe and do righteous deeds, they are the best of creatures. Their reward with their Lord is ‘Adn (Eden) Jannah (Gardens of Eternity), underneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever, Allah will be pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord." (Quran Surah 98:6-8)

11.To believe in the Hawdh(Kauthar), Intercession, and all other things which the Messenger of Allah informed us.

The Merits of Belief in the Last Day

1.It would make one prepare himself for that Day, by performing good deeds, and competing therein, and abstaining from sinful acts and fearing His punishment.
 

2.It would comfort the believers; since they know what they missed in this world, Allah would reward them with better in the Hereafter.
 

3.To distinguish the believers who are truthful in their faith from those who are not. ^[4]

See also

Allah; Unique aspect of hereafter; Paradise; Hell; Signs of the Hour; Harut and Marut; Life after Death; Purpose of Life;

References

[1] http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=25

[2] http://en.islamway.net/article/8553

[3] http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=25

[4] http://www.1ststepsinislam.com/en/belief-in-angels.aspx