FRIDAY LEARNING ZONE FROM WESSEX JAMAAT
26th Safar 1428 AH / 16th March 2007
No. 11
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE
When the second Trumpet is blown, there will be a massive earthquake and the earth will throw out all its burdens. “When the earth is rocked with a terrible quake; and the earth discharges her burdens”. (99:1-2) ‘Allama Tabatabai in Tafseer al-Meezan writes: The earth will throw out everything that is in her womb. This includes all the dead and the treasures and minerals, which are in her.
About the treasures and minerals, the Holy Prophet (saww) has said, “The earth will throw out the pieces of its liver (contents). Gold and silver will come out like columns. A murderer will come and say: ‘I killed for this’. One who broke ties of kinship will say: ‘For this I severed the ties of kinship’. The thief will say: ‘For this I got my hands amputated’. Then they will leave it there and no one will take anything from it”. (Ibn Katheer)
So there will be a massive earthquake and the earth will vomit all its contents out. The dead will also be thrown out and they will come to life. At that time two voices will be heard. One voice will be of the believers and the virtuous that will be saying: ‘Praise be to Allah Who has fulfilled His promise’. The other voice will be of the disbelievers and the sinners saying: “They will say: Woe to us! Who raised us from our place of sleep?” The angels will tell them: “This is what the All-Beneficent had promised, and the Apostles had spoken the truth”. (36:52)
When the dead will rise from their graves, they will not move anywhere at first. Infact, they will be made to wait near their graves. This waiting will be for very long; People will be naked and with bare feet; their one foot will be in the grave and the other outside the grave and there will be anxiety on their faces.
In schools or colleges, students usually sit for exams. Those students who have worked hard know that their result will be good. As for those, who did not put in necessary efforts know that their result is bad. When the results are being announced, those who have done well are eager to receive their certificates; whereas those who have failed do not want to hear anything. This will somewhat be the situation on that day. When the people are all waiting by their graves, the believers will say: “O Allah! Hasten us to our eternal abode”. Whereas the unbelievers and the sinful shall say: “O Allah! Let us remain here for Your wrath is lesser here”.
‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood has reported from Imam ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) who said,
(Manazil al-Aakhirah)