Day of Resurrection

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported as hading said: “Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) once said:

‘When the Day of Resurrection has finally arrived, and all creatures have gathered together on a single piece of high ground “for a Day of which there is no doubt,” a black shadow will envelope them, and the darkness will be so intense that they will not be able to see one another.  The assembled creatures will be standing on the balls of their feet [as they try to peer upwards], even though the distance between them and their Lord (Almighty and Glorious is He) will still be that of a journey that takes seventy years to complete.’

Allah the Exalted Manifests Himself to Angels

“He then went on to say (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him):

‘While they are in that situation, the Creator (Blessed and Exalted is He) will suddenly make Himself manifest to the angels.  The earth will at once become radiant with the light of its Lord, and the darkness will vanish away.  All those creatures will thus be enveloped in the light of their Lord, while the angels are circling around the Heavenly Throne, hymning the praise of their Lord and celebrating His holiness.’

Record of Deeds and Scales Brought Forward

“He then continued (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him):

‘While those creatures are all standing there in rows, with each religious community lined up in a separate area, the record sheets and the balance will suddenly be bought to the fore.  The record sheets will be laid in the scale, while the balance is held suspended by the hand of one the angels, and they will sometimes cause it to rise up high, and at other times to sink down low.’

Unveiling of Paradise and Hell to the Assembled Creatures

“To this he added (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him):

‘While they are in that state, lo and behold, the screen will suddenly be removed from the Garden of Paradise, which will then be bought nearer.  A wind will blow forth from inside it, and the Muslims will discover that it has a fragrant aroma like musk, even though the distance between them and the Garden of Paradise is still that of a journey that normally takes five hundred years to complete.

‘The lid will then be removed from Hell, and a wind will blow forth from it, together with a terrible cloud of smoke.  The wicked sinners will thus discover that it has a stinking aroma, even though the distance between them and Hell is still that of a journey that normally takes five hundred years to complete.

‘He will then be bought closer, dragged along by means of an enormous chain, to which it has been firmly tied.  Nineteen keepers, chosen from among the angels, will be tugging at that chain, and each of those keepers will be accompanied by seventy thousand other angels, serving as his assistants.  While each of the nineteen keepers, together with his assistants, take a turn in dragging hell along, the other keepers, together with their assistants, will be walking to the right and left of it, and following up behind it.  Each and every angel amongst them will hold in his hand grappling hook made of iron.  They will shout and bellow as they goad Hell along, but its slow progress will be made to the accompaniment of moaning and sighing, staggering and stumbling, clouds of gloom and smoke, rattling and clanking noises, and a towering inferno stoked by the fury of its rage against its own inhabitants.  Thus they will eventually install it in a position midway between the Garden of Paradise and the place where the resurrected creatures are kept standing.