FRIDAY
LEARNING ZONE FROM
21st Dhul-Hijja
1427 AH / 12th January 2007
No. 2
Many people today,
do not believe that there is something called ‘The Day of Judgement’.
Unfortunately, some Muslims also, particularly the youths express their doubts
on this matter. A youth once asked, ‘How would you convince us that there is the Day
of Judgement?’
Firstly,
belief in resurrection gives meaning to life.
If there was no Hereafter, and this world
would have been the only life, then this life would have been meaningless and
empty. Take an example of a child who
is in its mother’s womb. A foetus is imprisoned for
months in the darkness of a womb. If it were to have wisdom and intellect, it
would be shocked by its confinement in the womb and most certainly ask: What am I doing here? When and why did I
come here? Why am I imprisoned here? Why do I have to move in water and blood?
What will happen to me in the end? But if the foetus
is made aware that: This is a preliminary stage; Its organs are formed
here; After 9 months, it will be freed
and moved into the world where the sun shines, the moon reflects, trees grow
and streams of water flow; the foetus would be relieved and have something to look forward
to. In the same manner, we must reflect on this life and ask ourselves: What is
the point of living for 60 to 70 years in this world? For a time, we are
immature and inexperienced, by the time we mature, our life ends! We study and
then work hard for what? To eat, drink and put on clothes? Is
this extensive universe and expansive world, and the storing of knowledge and
experience all repeated only for eating, drinking and putting on clothes? For
those, who do not believe in the Hereafter, and reduce the objective of life to
eating, drinking and putting on clothes soon find this life as meaningless and
miserable! They either commit suicide to end the absurd life or resort to
things that make them forget their misery. As for those, who have something to
look forward to, just like a foetus, bear the hardships
of this life courageously in hope for a better life!
Secondly,
Belief in QIYAMAH brings about Sense of Justice and Discipline in this
life.
Just assume for a moment that if it were
announced in any country that there would be no punishment for any crime you
commit for just a day, and live the way you desire. The government gives the
day off to the police, the army and security forces and locks off the doors of
the courts. How do you think that society would spend that day? Whilst the
police, the army and the security forces are operating, we are complaining
about the crimes. What would happen if they were not there and full freedom was
granted to the people to behave in any manner?
Whether police and army are at work or not,
the concept of QIYAMAH is one thing that will stop a believer from
harming anyone in this life and will make him abide by the rules of Allah
(SWT), which are benefiting to mankind! This is exactly the reason why Islam is
telling us to adopt the attribute of TAQWA and search for the same in
others. A person writes to one of the Imams about a matter concerning the
marriage of his daughters and complains that he has still not found suitable
grooms for them. In reply, the writes back: “Marry
your daughter to one who is Godwary. If such a person
loves your daughter, he will also respect her; and incase if he does not love
her then atleast he will not do any injustice to
her.”
A Powerful leader, who does NOT believe in Judgement Day, is bound to commit injustice towards his people.
But a leader, who believes in Judgement Day, however
much powerful he may be, he will be God-conscious at all times. To earn the
Mercy of Allah, he will exhibit his own mercy towards his subjects! It is the
faith in Judgement Day, which made Imam ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (as) say: “By Allah! If I am made to spend from dawn to dusk on
thorns; and if my hands and feet were chained, and I were to be dragged through
the streets and markets, it is better than to present myself to the court of
Allah, if I have committed an oppression against any one of his creatures or if
I have usurped the rights of another”. (Nahjul-Balaghah)
So belief in QIYAMAH brings
about sense of justice and self-discipline.
And finally, the example of the Day of Judgement is within us.
Man, in this life
has to go through three courts for his crimes: The first
court is of humanity and this is full of deficiencies and ineffectiveness. He
reaches here only if he is caught. And the second court is of retribution of
deeds. If you do good, good will happen to you; and if you do bad, bad will happen to you. Although this is not a general
rule, it is true for most people. The third court, which is more precise, is
that of the conscience. This has been referred to as NAFSUL-LAWWAMAH.
NAFS-E-AMMAARA prompts
man to do evil. NAFSUL-LAWWAMAH recognizes the evil and prompts man to
resist it. It is this NAFS that drives man towards Allah (SWT) and makes
him seek His forgiveness. Therefore, when man commits evil, within himself, he presents
himself in the court of NAFSUL-LAWWAMAH, which passes judgements, and man is
entangled in struggle from within. This
is such a honourable court,
that Allah (SWT) has talked about it jointly with QIYAMAH. “I swear by the Day of Qiyamah! I
swear by the self-blaming soul.” (75:1-2) However, since the cry of
this conscience grows weak with continuous sins that it cannot be heard, there
is a dire need for a final court, and that will be on the Day of QIYAMAH.