What does the judgement day look like? We see perhaps a glimpse of it in Sura Ya Sin when Allah (SWT) talks about those people who have doubted the messengers and begins (remember that they asked for proof of this last day and asked when will it come)

36:49 مَا يَنْظُرُونَ إِلا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً تَأْخُذُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَخِصِّمُونَ

M[a] yan{th}uroona ill[a] [s]ay[h]atan w[ah]idatan ta/khu[th]uhum wahum yakhi[ss]imoon(a)

In fact what they are waiting for is a single blast, which will seize them while they are yet disputing among themselves in their worldly affairs.

It is only a moment, only a split second of time, but in that split second that single blast, all things come to a stop. Time exists no more and what can we do about it?

36:50 فَلا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ تَوْصِيَةً وَلا إِلَى أَهْلِهِمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Fal[a] yasta[t]eeAAoona taw[s]iyatan wal[a] il[a] ahlihim yarjiAAoon(a)

Then neither they will be able to make a will, nor be able to return to their families.

There is no going back, we have no chance at that time to return for any reason. Our balance sheets are closed and our debts are due to Allah (SWT) no returning for any reason.

36:51 وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَإِذَا هُمْ مِنَ الأجْدَاثِ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَنْسِلُونَ

Wanufikha fee a(l)[ss]oori fa-i[tha] hum mina al-ajd[a]thi il[a] rabbihim yansiloon(a)

The trumpet shall be sounded, when behold! from the graves (people) will rush forth to their Lord!

This is as it is described by Allah (SWT)

قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا مَنْ بَعَثَنَا مِنْ مَرْقَدِنَا هَذَا مَا

وَعَدَ الرَّحْمَنُ وَصَدَقَ الْمُرْسَلُونَ36:52

Q[a]loo y[a] waylan[a] man baAAathan[a] min marqadin[a] h[atha] m[a] waAAada a(l)rra[h]m[a]nu wa[s]adaqa almursaloon(a)

They will say: “Ah! Woe unto us! Who hath raised us up from our beds of repose?”… (A voice will say:) “This is what (Allah) Most Gracious had promised. And true was the word of the messengers!”

So while they were arguing about what was true and what wasn’t, the day came and then they are surprised!? And they wonder, confusedly, what is going on – then they are told and how can they not believe it now, but it is too late for them.

36:53 إِنْ كَانَتْ إِلا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ جَمِيعٌ لَدَيْنَا مُحْضَرُونَ

In k[a]nat ill[a] [s]ay[h]atan w[ah]idatan fa-i[tha] hum jameeAAun ladayn[a] mu[hd]aroon(a)

It will be no more than a single blast, and then they will all be gathered before Us.

36:54 فَالْيَوْمَ لا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا وَلا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Fa(a)lyawma l[a] tu{th}lamu nafsun shay-an wal[a] tujzawna ill[a] m[a] kuntum taAAmaloon(a)

On that Day no soul will suffer the least injustice and you shall be rewarded according to your deeds.

But remember that Allah’s mercy outweighs his anger and his judgement is not like that of men. He knows every thing about our lives The judgement will be on the highest standard of justice and grace. Not the least merit will go unrewarded. No penalty will be exacted but that which the doer himself by his past deeds brought on him or herself.

Part 2.

Brothers and sisters, the deeds you do today are the deeds that Allah (SWT) is talking about in these ayah! Are you building up the merits that will reward you? Or are you bringing the penalty down upon you?

We are given some choices in our life here on earth. Some call it a probationary life. If we use it for good and for the worship of Allah (SWT) then we are guaranteed eternal life in the most pleasant of surroundings. But if we do not then we are given the punishment that we deserve.

The good news is that we have some control over this! Do we want to be rewarded or punished?

Think about your lives even now in this period of probation. Do you feel better when you do good or when you do evil? If you view your life with the eye of your heart what does it tell you? Are you happy with the way you behave? Are you happy with your commitment to your deen? Do you practice every day to increase your ‘ilm and your ‘abd? Or are you wasting this time? Brothers and sisters the choice is yours in this case. You cannot control when that blast will come, when that split second arrives and the books of your life are closed. But you can control in what condition you greet that time. This is jihad al akbar – struggle with yourself to attain the highest knowledge and to put away the false ego, the nafs which is subject to the influence of shaitan. Today’s readings from Sura Ya Sin may be a hard message to hear, no one wants to think about them, but we, as Muslims must think on this and ponder the meanings and take it personally!

Let us go from here pledging ourselves to that cause in our lives.

Wa allahu alim.