WITNESSES ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS THE MOST MERCIFUL

INTRODUCTION

Many of us are completely unaware that while we may get away in this life regarding our actions, such as lying, cheating, slander, zina, but on the Day of Judgment, everything will be exposed. The mouth/tongue is such a “troublemaker” in this life, that every morning the other body parts will plead with the tongue:

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When the son of Adam wakes up in the morning, all of his limbs defer to the tongue and they say: Fear Allah regarding us, for we are only a part of you. If you are upright, we are upright. If you are crooked, we are crooked.”

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2407

In fact, Allah Warned us in many parts of the Qur’an – that we will have to be accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgment – when every sin no matter how small will be seen, if they are not forgiven by Allah, and at the same time – every goodness will have their rewards.

فَمَن يَعمَل مِثقالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيرًا يَرَهُ

وَمَن يَعمَل مِثقالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ

So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.

And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. 99: 7-8

In the last verse that was revealed in the Qur’an, surah Al Baqarah verse 281:

وَاتَّقوا يَومًا تُرجَعونَ فيهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفّىٰ كُلُّ نَفسٍ ما كَسَبَت وَهُم لا يُظلَمونَ

“And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.” 

Let us of course not forget who Allah is: His Beautiful Names describes that He will see and witness every single thing that we do:

1. Al ‘Alim (The All Knower)
2. Al Khabir (The All Aware)
3. Al Baseer (The All Seer)
4. As Sami’ (The All Hearer)

وَعِندَهُ مَفاتِحُ الغَيبِ لا يَعلَمُها إِلّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعلَمُ ما فِي البَرِّ وَالبَحرِ ۚ وَما تَسقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلّا يَعلَمُها وَلا حَبَّةٍ في ظُلُماتِ الأَرضِ وَلا رَطبٍ وَلا يابِسٍ إِلّا في كِتابٍ مُبينٍ

“And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.” 6: 59

وَلا تَحسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ غافِلًا عَمّا يَعمَلُ الظّالِمونَ ۚ إِنَّما يُؤَخِّرُهُم لِيَومٍ تَشخَصُ فيهِ الأَبصارُ

“Consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.) do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.” 14: 42

Therefore, let us see who are the witnesses on the Day of Judgment:

1. Body parts such as skin, eyes, ears
2. Grounds where we walk
3. The angels – who will then record our deeds
4. The Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
5. ALLAH as the Witness
6. BODY PARTS 

And (remember) the Day that the enemies of Allah will be gathered to the Fire, so they will be collected there (the first and the last).

Till, when they reach it (Hell-fire), their hearing (ears) and their eyes, and their skins will testify against them as to what they used to do.

 And they will say to their skins, “Why do you testify against us?” They will say: “Allah has caused us to speak, as He causes all things to speak, and He created you the first time, and to Him you are made to return.”

And you have not been hiding against yourselves, lest your ears, and your eyes, and your skins testify against you, but you thought that Allah knew not much of what you were doing.

And that thought of yours which you thought about your Lord, has brought you to destruction, and you have become (this Day) of those utterly lost!

 Then, if they have patience, yet the Fire will be a home for them, and if they beg for to be excused, yet they are not of those who will ever be excused.

      41: 19-24

Saaiduna Anas Radiallahu Anhu says “One day we were with the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam when he started laughing.  Then he asked us whether we knew why he was laughing.  We said that Allah and His Rasul Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam knew best.  Then he said “What made me laugh was the dialogue a slave will have with his Lord on the Day of Judgment.  The slave will say, “O my Lord! Did you not give me protection from injustice?” Allah (SWT) will say, “No doubt, I did”.  Then this slave will say, “Since this is so, I would not be satisfied with any evidence in the matter of my accountability, except that some part of my own being stands up as witness”.  Allah (SWT) will say, “Your own being is enough today to take your account”.  Then his mouth will be sealed and his limbs and organs will be asked to tell about his deeds.  Every organ would speak up and give true evidence.  After that his mouth will be unsealed and then he will say to his own organs in displeasure, “May you be ruined; May you be destroyed; whatever I have done in the world was only to make you comfortable (whereas you have stated to give evidence against me)”  (Sahih Muslim)

Saaiduna Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said “This person mouth will be sealed, and his thigh will be called to speak about all his deeds.  Then his thigh, its flesh and bone will all give evidence of his deeds”.  (Sahih Muslim)

(Extracted from Maariful Quran p.647 v.7)

اليَومَ نَختِمُ عَلىٰ أَفواهِهِم وَتُكَلِّمُنا أَيديهِم وَتَشهَدُ أَرجُلُهُم بِما كانوا يَكسِبونَ

“This Day, We shall seal up their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their legs will bear witness to what they used to earn. (It is said that one’s left thigh will be the first to bear the witness). [Tafsir At–Tabari, Vol. 22, Page 24]” 36: 65

2. THE EARTH OR GROUNDS 

The grounds where we walk or the mosque which we prostrate during our prayers will bear witness on the Day of Judgment.

3. THE ANGELS RECORDING OUR DEEDS

وَإِنَّ عَلَيكُم لَحافِظين

كِرامًا كاتِبينَ

يَعلَمونَ ما تَفعَلونَ

“But verily, over you (are appointed angels in charge of mankind) to watch you,

Kiraman (honourable) Katibin writing down (your deeds),

They know all that you do.” 82: 10-12

إِذ يَتَلَقَّى المُتَلَقِّيانِ عَنِ اليَمينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمالِ قَعيدٌ

ما يَلفِظُ مِن قَولٍ إِلّا لَدَيهِ رَقيبٌ عَتيدٌ

(Remember!) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being after he or she has attained the age of puberty), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions).

Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).

 50: 17-18

Eventually these records of deeds will be presented to us on the Day of Judgment

4. UMMAH OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PEACE BE UPON HIM) – YOU AND I

وَكَذٰلِكَ جَعَلناكُم أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكونوا شُهَداءَ عَلَى النّاسِ وَيَكونَ الرَّسولُ عَلَيكُم شَهيدًا

Thus We have made you [true Muslims – real believers of Islamic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad  and his Sunnah (legal ways)], a Wasat (just) (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger (Muhammad ) be a witness over you.  2: 143

5. ALLAH

وَنَضَعُ المَوازينَ القِسطَ لِيَومِ القِيامَةِ فَلا تُظلَمُ نَفسٌ شَيئًا ۖ وَإِن كانَ مِثقالَ حَبَّةٍ مِن خَردَلٍ أَتَينا بِها ۗ وَكَفىٰ بِنا حاسِبينَ

And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We as Reckoners. 21: 47

FACTORS AFFECTING ONE’S ABILITY TO BE AWARE OF THESE WITNESSES AND TO KEEP ACCOUNT:

1. Allah’s Guidance
2. Seeking Guidance through the Qur’an – tadabbur – reciting the Qur’an correctly, understanding it, pondering over the verses and acting upon it
3. With Guidance – our nafs is under control – as our nafs has the tendence to disobey Allah unless Allah Grants His Mercy (12: 53)
4. Seek knowledge especially on the rights of others that we must not in infringe – such as back biting, slandering.
5. Shaytan – 2: 208. Traps of Shaytan and we must always be very conscious of shaytan’s influence and seek refuge in Allah from shaytan
6. Being aware that death is imminent – therefore be prepared
7. Practise al Muhasabah at all times (keeping account) – 59: 18
8. Choose correct companions (43:67, 18: 28)
9. Beware cultural practice that may lead to disobedience to Allah and shirk
10. Dunya – beware of the lures and temptations of the dunya (18: 7, 51: 20)
11. Beware of social media
12. Less talk and be conscious of your tongue
13. Perhaps more fasting – to increase taqwa. 

May Allah continue to Guide us all in the straight path and Ease our journey in the Hereafter.