2.3.5.3 Resurrection and Judgment

The Reality of Resurrection

Belief in resurrection and judgment is a central part of faith in the Last Day. It means that after death, Allah will bring every human being back to life, gather them, and judge them with perfect justice. This belief gives true meaning to life, death, and moral responsibility.

Allah describes resurrection clearly in the Qur’an.

“Then indeed, after that you are to die. Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected.”
Qur’an 23:15‑16

The Prophet ﷺ also stated that resurrection is one of the foundations of faith.

“Faith is that you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and that you believe in divine decree, its good and its bad.”
Muslim

Belief in resurrection is not symbolic in Islam. It is real, physical, and certain. Allah, who created the human being the first time, will bring him back again.

“And he presents for Us an example and forgets his own creation. He says, ‘Who will give life to bones while they are disintegrated?’ Say, ‘He will give them life who produced them the first time, and He is, of all creation, Knowing.’”
Qur’an 36:78‑79

The Trumpet and the End of the World

The Qur’an describes that the end of this world and the beginning of the Resurrection will occur when a mighty angel blows the Trumpet by Allah’s command. This angel is called Isrāfīl in the Sunnah.

“And the Trumpet 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.”
Qur’an 39:68

The first blowing will cause the end of all earthly life. After a period known only to Allah, the Trumpet will be blown again and all people will rise from their graves. The Prophet ﷺ mentioned this scene.

“Then the Trumpet will be blown, and I will be the first to raise my head. I will see Mūsa holding on to one of the pillars of the Throne. I do not know whether he was raised up before me, or whether he was exempted because of the shock he suffered before.”
Bukhārī, Muslim

This shows that resurrection takes place after a real destruction of the present world and that people will be brought back to life by a command from Allah, not gradually, but suddenly.

Rising from the Graves

Allah describes the moment people come out of their graves as something sudden and overwhelming. The Qur’an often compares it to crops bursting from the earth or people rushing toward a call.

“And the Horn will be blown, and at once from the graves to their Lord they will hasten. They will say, ‘O woe to us! Who has raised us up from our sleeping place?’ [The reply will be], ‘This is what the Most Merciful had promised, and the messengers told the truth.’”
Qur’an 36:51‑52

The Prophet ﷺ explained that bodies will indeed be recreated. There is a tiny bone at the base of the spine that will be the starting point of physical resurrection.

“Every part of the son of Ādam will decay except one bone, and from that bone he will be re-created on the Day of Resurrection. They said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which bone is that?’ He said, ‘The tailbone.’”
Bukhārī, Muslim

People will rise barefoot, naked, and uncircumcised, with nothing of their worldly status or possessions.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “You will be gathered barefoot, naked and uncircumcised.” Then he recited: “As We began the first creation, We will repeat it.”
Qur’an 21:104
Bukhārī, Muslim

When ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها asked about men and women looking at each other in that state, the Prophet ﷺ replied:

“The situation will be too hard for them to be concerned about that.”
Bukhārī, Muslim

This shows the intensity of that Day, when everyone will be overwhelmed by fear and concern about their own fate.

The Gathering Before Allah

After resurrection, all human beings from the first to the last will be gathered in one place. This is called al‑ḥashr, the gathering. Animals will also be gathered and then judged among themselves in a way that suits them, after which they will be turned to dust.

“Say, ‘Indeed, the former and the later ones are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day.’”
Qur’an 56:49‑50

The Qur’an describes the gathering as something that will surely be fulfilled.

“That is the Day of Truth. So whoever wills may take to his Lord a [way of] return.”
Qur’an 78:39

The Prophet ﷺ described the hardship of standing on that Day. People will stand so long that they will sweat according to the level of their deeds.

“The people will sweat on the Day of Resurrection until their sweat goes into the earth seventy cubits, and it will reach up to their mouths and ears.”
Muslim

In another narration, he ﷺ said:

“The sun will be brought near to the people on the Day of Resurrection and it will be at a distance of a mile or two.” The narrator said, “I do not know what is meant by mile here.” “The people will be submerged in sweat according to their deeds, some up to their ankles, some up to their knees, some up to their waists, and some will be bridled with sweat.” And the Prophet ﷺ pointed to his mouth.
Muslim

This gathering will be on a great plain. No mountains or buildings will hide one person from another, and no one will hide from Allah.

Standing Before Allah and Individual Judgment

The most serious moment of a person’s existence will be when he stands alone before Allah, answering for what he did in this life. The Qur’an repeatedly reminds us that this meeting is certain.

“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”
Qur’an 99:7‑8

The Prophet ﷺ described this standing in a powerful hadith.

“There is none among you but his Lord will speak to him without any interpreter between them. He will look to his right and see only what he has sent forward. He will look to his left and see only what he has sent forward. And he will look in front of him and see nothing but the Fire facing him. So protect yourselves from the Fire, even with half a date.”
Bukhārī

Another hadith mentions the detailed questioning.

“The feet of a servant will not move on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about four things: about his life and how he spent it, about his knowledge and what he did with it, about his wealth, how he earned it and how he spent it, and about his body and in what he wore it out.”
Tirmidhī

Judgment will be with complete justice and also with mercy for those whom Allah has forgiven. No one will be wronged.

“And We will set up the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant.”
Qur’an 21:47

The Records of Deeds

During our lives, angels write everything we do and say. On the Day of Judgment, these records will be presented. They are called the books or scrolls of deeds. Allah says:

“And the record [of deeds] will be placed, and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, ‘Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?’ And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.”
Qur’an 18:49

Each person will be told to read his own record.

“Read your record. Sufficient are you against yourself this Day as accountant.”
Qur’an 17:14

The Prophet ﷺ described how these records will be given either in the right hand, the left hand, or from behind the back. Those who receive their book in the right hand rejoice, while others are filled with regret.

“Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, ‘Here, read my record! Indeed, I was certain I would be meeting my account.’ So he will be in a pleasant life, in an elevated Garden.”
Qur’an 69:19‑22

“But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, ‘Oh, I wish I had not been given my record and had not known what is my account. I wish it had been the decisive end.’”
Qur’an 69:25‑27

In some cases Allah will cover a believer and make him admit his sins privately, then forgive him.

The Prophet ﷺ said about a believer: “Allah will bring him close and cover him and will say, ‘Do you recognize such and such sin? Do you recognize such and such sin?’ He will say, ‘Yes, my Lord.’ When He makes him confess his sins, and he thinks he is doomed, Allah will say, ‘I concealed them for you in the worldly life, and today I forgive them for you.’ Then he will be given the book of his good deeds.”
Bukhārī, Muslim

This shows both the justice and the mercy of Allah in the process of judgment.

The Scales of Justice

One of the scenes of judgment is the weighing of deeds on real, but unseen, scales. Good and bad deeds will be weighed, not according to human opinions, but according to the value Allah has given them.

“And the weighing [of deeds] that Day will be the truth. So those whose scales are heavy, it is they who will be the successful. And those whose scales are light, they are the ones who have lost themselves for what injustice they were doing toward Our verses.”
Qur’an 7:8‑9

Sometimes a seemingly small deed can outweigh many others because of sincerity. The Prophet ﷺ mentioned a powerful example.

“A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, and ninety‑nine scrolls will be spread out for him, each scroll as far as the eye can see. Then a small card will be brought out on which is written ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh, Muḥammad Rasūl Allāh’. He will say, ‘O Lord, what is this card compared to these scrolls?’ Allah will say, ‘You will not be wronged.’ Then the scrolls will be placed on one side of the scale and the card on the other. The scrolls will be light and the card will be heavy, and nothing is heavier than the Name of Allah.”
Tirmidhī

This does not mean a person should rely on a single statement without living by it. It shows the immense weight of sincere faith.

Intercession and Allah’s Permission

On that terrible Day, people will be desperate for relief. Some types of intercession will take place, but only by Allah’s permission and only for those He is pleased with. No one can force Allah to forgive or save anyone.

“Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?”
Qur’an 2:255

The greatest intercession belongs to Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ. This special intercession, called al‑Maqām al‑Maḥmūd, is when he will intercede for the judgment to begin after people go to other prophets asking for help.

“And from part of the night, pray with it as additional worship for you. It is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.”
Qur’an 17:79

The Prophet ﷺ described how people will go to Ādam, then Nūḥ, then Ibrāhīm, then Mūsā, then ʿĪsā, each of them saying “I am not fit for this,” until they come to Muḥammad ﷺ. He will then prostrate under the Throne and praise Allah, and Allah will say:

“O Muḥammad, raise your head. Ask and you will be given. Intercede and your intercession will be accepted.”
Bukhārī, Muslim

He will then intercede for different groups among the believers, including some whose sins had taken them into Hell, until Allah removes them.

Intercession will not benefit those who reject Allah and die on clear disbelief.

“And they do not intercede except for one with whom He is pleased, and they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive.”
Qur’an 21:28

The Ḥisāb: Detailed Reckoning of Deeds

The word ḥisāb refers to the taking of account. Some people will have an easy reckoning, where their deeds are reviewed briefly and they are admitted to Paradise. Others will have a difficult and detailed questioning that leads to punishment.

The Prophet ﷺ said about the easy reckoning:

“Whoever is brought to account will be punished.” ʿĀ’ishah said, “O Messenger of Allah, did not Allah say, ‘Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will be judged with an easy account’?” He said, “That is the presentation of deeds, but whoever is examined in detail in the reckoning will be ruined.”
Bukhārī, Muslim

For some believers, Allah will conceal their sins and forgive them. For others, sins will be exposed in front of all creation as a disgrace. For the disbelievers and hypocrites, the judgment will be one of condemnation.

A special type of terror on that Day will be the settling of rights among people. Even acts like insults, backbiting, or unjust harm will be repaid by exchanging deeds.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Do you know who the bankrupt person is?” They said, “The bankrupt among us is the one who has neither money nor goods.” He said, “The bankrupt of my Ummah is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, fasting and zakah, but he insulted this one, slandered this one, consumed the wealth of this one, shed the blood of this one, and beat this one. So this one will be given from his good deeds and that one from his good deeds. If his good deeds run out before what he owes is paid off, then their sins will be taken and thrown onto him, then he will be thrown into the Fire.”
Muslim

This shows that acts of worship alone do not save a person if he has treated others unjustly.

The Ṣirāṭ: The Bridge Over Hell

After the reckoning and the settling of rights, a bridge will be placed over Hell. This bridge is called al‑Ṣirāṭ. All people will have to pass over it, believers and disbelievers alike, each according to their deeds.

The Qur’an indicates this passage.

“And there is none of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed. Then We will save those who feared Allah and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.”
Qur’an 19:71‑72

The Prophet ﷺ described the Ṣirāṭ in vivid terms.

“Then the bridge will be placed over Hell.” We said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the bridge?” He said, “It is a slippery bridge on which there are hooks and spikes and thorns like the thorn of Saʿdān in Najd. The believers will cross it like the blink of an eye, like lightning, like the wind, like fast horses and camels, and some will pass safe and sound, some will be scratched and then let go, and some will be thrown into the Fire.”
Bukhārī, Muslim

The speed and safety with which a person crosses the Ṣirāṭ will depend on the strength of their faith and the weight of their good deeds in this life.

The Pond (Ḥawḍ) of the Prophet ﷺ

Among the honors of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ on the Day of Judgment is his special pond, al‑Ḥawḍ. It is a large body of water where believers from his Ummah will drink after passing the Ṣirāṭ. Whoever drinks from it will never feel thirst again.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“My ḥawḍ (pond) is as large as the distance of a month’s journey. Its water is whiter than milk, its smell is better than musk, and its drinking vessels are as numerous as the stars in the sky. Whoever drinks from it will never be thirsty again.”
Bukhārī, Muslim

However, some people who claimed to be from his community, but later changed his teachings or introduced serious innovations, will be turned away.

“Some men from my Ummah will be brought and driven away from the ḥawḍ. I will say, ‘O Lord, my companions.’ It will be said, ‘You do not know what they innovated after you.’”
Bukhārī, Muslim

This shows the importance of remaining faithful to the authentic Sunnah and not altering the religion.

Allah’s Perfect Justice and Wisdom on That Day

Throughout all the stages of resurrection and judgment, Allah’s justice and wisdom are absolute. No one will be punished for the sin of another. No hidden good deed will be lost, and no injustice by humans will remain without compensation.

“Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom’s weight, while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.”
Qur’an 4:40

Those who were oppressed in this world and could not get justice will finally receive it on that Day. Even animals will receive justice among themselves.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Rights will certainly be restored to those entitled to them on the Day of Resurrection, until even the hornless sheep will be given retaliation from the horned one.”
Muslim

After full justice is established, people will go to their eternal home, either Paradise as a reward and mercy, or Hell as a punishment and justice. That final outcome belongs to the chapters on Paradise and Hellfire, but it is important to know that resurrection and judgment are the doorway to that eternal life.

Belief in resurrection and judgment shapes a Muslim’s life. It teaches that this world is a test, not a final home, and that every moment and action has a permanent consequence. The Qur’an frequently links this belief with moral behavior in this life, so that a person lives every day knowing that he will stand before Allah and answer for how he used his time, body, knowledge, and blessings.