Article appeared Friday, June 16th, 2017 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (480) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Sometimes, while fighting with others, we seek judgment from God on the Day of Judgment.
While we do this, have we ever thought of the meaning or significance of this Day to come?
What meaning does it hold for us? Is judgment only for the person that we are having a fight
with? What about us? In fact, for that matter, is the Day of Judgment real?

Is it possible to find out or even work out the existence of a Day of Judgment sometime in the
future? Where would we find answers? Related to the Day of Judgment are additional questions
such as why do human beings need a Judgment Day and what will happen thereafter? Before
we look for references or examine the underlying logic, let us first revisit the meaning of the
word Judgment (with a capital J). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary {1} gives the definition as
the final judging of humankind by God. As it is God who would be in the Judgment Seat, let us
study the purpose given in the Holy Quran.
In order that God may separate the impure from the pure put the impure one on
another, heap them together and cast them into hell. They will be the ones to have lost.
[8.37]

The purpose, therefore, is to separate those who have purified themselves. What/who is pure?
Is it separating those who are good from those who are evil? Who are evil?
And on the Day that the Unbelievers will be placed before the Fire (it will be said to
them): "You received your good things in the life of the world and you took your pleasure
out of them: but today shall you be recompensed with a Penalty of humiliation: for you
were arrogant on earth without just cause and that you (repeatedly) transgressed."
[46.20]

Unbelievers are therefore those who enjoy the individual life and blessings given by God but do
not turn to Him in humility, piety and gratitude. Demonstration of ingratitude is a transgression or
sin against God. Such people do not recognize God as the Benefactor and demonstrate
arrogance as opposed to humility such a characteristic or attitude is proof of impurity or evil.
So what will happen when the Day of Judgment arrives?
Say, "It is God Who gives you life then gives you death; then He will gather you
together for the Day of Judgment about which there is no doubt": but most men do not
understand. [45.26]

What will the scenario be like at the advent of the Day of Judgment? Everyone from the first
human being to the last will be raised and standing and looking on, fearful of what is going to
happen it will look like waves of human beings.

18.99 On that Day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another; the
trumpet will be blown and We shall collect them all together.
At present, Hell or Hellfire is just a word, something that can be visualized. However, on the
Day, Hell will be physically visible for all to see.

18.100 And We shall present Hell that day for Unbelievers to see all spread out.
On earth, the unbelievers did not use their given faculties (sight and hearing) to discover God
and turn to Him in gratitude.
18.101 (Unbelievers) whose eyes had been under a veil from Remembrance of
Me and who had been unable even to hear.
In fact, the ability to hear and the ability to see, was ineffective while on Earth. These were given
perchance they would work out the source of their existence and be grateful.
It is He Who brought you out from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing;
and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that you may give
thanks (to Allah)

Who other than God can originate life? Yet many believe that created things have power over
their lives. So, God asks,

18.102 Do the Unbelievers think that they can take my servants as protectors
besides Me? Verily We have prepared Hell for the Unbelievers for (their)
entertainment.
For example, people use Amulets {2} thinking that the inanimate piece can protect them. Do
such manmade pendants even have the intelligence to understand why it is being worn? And
exactly what power would such a pendant use to protect? How many such imagined powers
do we approach. All power is exclusively vested in God; all else are created entities.

18.103 Say: "Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds?
There are many of us who do a lot of social work which may lead to feelings of greatness.

18.104 Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that
they were acquiring good by their works?
However, it is God who creates the opportunity to do social work. Without acknowledging God
and the opportunities that He has given, such social work will not carry any weight with Him on
the Day of Judgment. Do we doubt that we will meet our Creator on the Day of Judgment?

18.105 They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their
having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works nor shall We on the
Day of Judgment give them any Weight.
Deeds without acknowledging Gods given opportunities and blessings will prove to be futile.

18.106 That is their reward Hell; because they rejected Faith and took My Signs
and My Messengers by way of jest.
On the other hand, those who are grateful for the opportunities provided by God to do good
work, and also share the understanding of His Signs and blessings will succeed.

18.107 As to those who believe and work righteous deeds they have for their
entertainment the Gardens of Paradise

18.108 Where they shall dwell (forever): no change will they wish for in their
status (they will have therein whatever they could ever want).
After the Day of Judgment, depending on the attitude towards God, we will either be in Gardens
of Paradise or in Hell permanently. The purpose of the temporary life on earth is to give an
opportunity for us to decide whether we acknowledge God for who He is as well as His Role in
our lives. On the Day of Judgment it will be decided whether we want Him or just the things that
He has given.
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{Notes}:
{1} https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judgment
{2} https://ultraculture.org/blog/2015/02/27/5-ways-to-protect-yourself-from-the-evil-eye/