19. When will the judgement day happen?

In Islâm, Yawm al-Qiyāmah (Arabic: يوم القيامة‎ “the Day of Resurrection”) or Yawm ad-Din (Arabic: يوم الدين‎ “the Day of Judgment”) is believed to be God’s final assessment of humanity. The sequence of events (according to the most commonly held belief) is the annihilation of all creatures, the resurrection of the body, and the judgment of all sentient creatures.

The exact time when these events are to occur is not specified. However, there are said to be major and minor signs which are to occur near the time of Qiyamah (End time). Many Qur’anic verses, especially the earlier ones, are dominated by the idea of the nearing of the day of resurrection. Al-Qiyama is the name of the 75th surah of the Qur’an, whose subject is the resurrection.

Belief in Al-Qiyāmah is considered a fundamental tenet of faith by all Muslims. Belief in the day of Judgement is one of the six articles of faith (refer back to question 9. The trials and tribulations associated with it are detailed in both the Qur’an and the hadith, as well as in the commentaries of the Islâmic expositors and scholarly authorities such as Ghazali, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Majah, Muhammad al- Bukhari, and Ibn Khuzaymah who explain them in detail. Every human, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, is believed to be held accountable for their deeds and is believed to be judged by God accordingly. The importance of the ‘last judgment’ in the Islâmic belief system is underlined by the many references to it in the Qur’an and its many names. For example, it is also called “the Day of Reckoning”, “the Hour”, “the Last Day”, “Day of Judgment”. Muslims believe that the Qur’an provides the framework for understanding the Day of Judgment. Ideas such as the return of Jesus to Earth and the second kingdom before the occurrence are believed to be indirectly mentioned in the Qur’an. There are a wide variety of views and interpretations of the verses in the Qur’an referring to the Day of Judgment.

• The timing of the day of judgement is not known to people – only God knows when it will occur

• Muhammad, as the messenger of Islâm , did not know when the day will be

• Muhammad cannot bring it forward

• The people will believe that a short time has passed between their deaths and resurrection.

• Nothing will remain except Allâh

• God will resurrect people even if they turn to stone or iron

• The majority of Islâmic scholars are of the view that the Trumpet will be blown twice: the first time all creatures will swoon, and the second time the resurrection will come to pass. This is based on the verse in the Qur’an in which Allâh says (interpretation of the meaning): ‘The Trumpet will ( just) be sounded, when all that are in the heavens and on earth will swoon, except such as it will please Allâh (to exempt). Then will a second one be sounded, when, behold, they will be standing and looking on!’ – Surah 39 Az-Zumar, ayah 68

• The Qur’an declares that the belief in Allâh, the belief in the last prophet Muhammad (including the belief in all the prophets of Islâm), the last Day of Judgment and the doing of good works on earth are required for salvation, provided that shirk is not committed. Believing in and observing in the five pillars of Islâm: tawheed, salat, fasting, zakat and hajj are necessary to secure heaven.

• No injustice shall be done. Surely Allâh does not do injustice to the weight of an atom, and if it is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward. – Qur’an, Surah 4 An-Nisa, ayah 40

• Non-Muslims will go to hell

The events described as taking place on the day of judgement appear in many chapters/surahs of the Qur’an describe proposed events to occur on the day of judgement:

• Destruction/flattening of the earth

• Creation of a new earth

• Resurrection of people

• Gathering of the people

• Books of records of the deed accounts of the people shall be given to them in their right hands if they are judged to be good on earth and in their left hands if they are judged to be evil on earth

• Separation of the people who are hell-bound and heaven-bound