🌅 Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyāmah): The 🔄 Islamic Concept of Resurrection
Comprehensive Definition
The Day of Judgment, also known as Yawm al-Qiyāmah (يوم القيامة), is a pivotal concept in Islamic eschatology. It refers to the divinely appointed day when all humans will be resurrected for a final judgment concerning their deeds. It is when the scales of justice will balance, and every soul receives reward or retribution.
Etymology
The term “Yawm al-Qiyāmah” is derived from Arabic:
- “Yawm” (يوم) means “day.”
- “Qiyāmah” (قيامة) derives from “Qāma” (قام) meaning “to rise” or “to stand.”
Hence, Yawm al-Qiyāmah translates to the “Day of Standing” or the “Day of Resurrection.”
Background
This day is when the world as we know it ceases to exist, and all individuals are brought forth to face their Creator. The Qur’an and Hadith offer vivid descriptions of cataclysmic events preceding this day, such as the blowing of the trumpet (Sur) by the angel Israfil, heavens splitting asunder, and a general upheaval in cosmic order. The deeds of each soul are judged, based on the divine record kept by angels.
Cultural Differences & Similarities
- Islamic Theology: In Islam, the Day of Judgment is marked by the resurrection of the dead and transparent accountability of one’s actions.
- Christianity: It resonates with the Christian belief in “Judgment Day” where Christ returns to judge both the living and the dead.
- Judaism: Shares conceptual similarities with the Jewish belief in a “Day of Judgment” (Yom HaDin) when God’s justice will be universally acknowledged.
Differences:
- Islam emphasizes the physical resurrection of the body, while some interpretations in Christianity suggest a more spiritual resurrection.
- The process and signs preceding the Day of Judgment also vary across religions.
Synonyms
- Day of Reckoning
- Last Day
- Last Judgment
Antonyms
- Day of Ignorance (in the pre-Islamic context)
Related Terms
- Sur: The trumpet blown by Angel Israfil signaling the Day of Judgment.
- Barzakh: The intermediate state between death and resurrection.
- Jannah: The eternal paradise for the righteous.
- Jahannam: The eternal hellfire for the wicked.
Exciting Facts
- The Qur’an describes over 70 different signs and phenomena that are believed to occur before Yawm al-Qiyāmah.
- It’s believed that there will be an intercession (Shafa’ah) by Prophet Muhammad on behalf of the believers on this day.
Quotations
- “The Hour will not begin until the sun rises from the west.” - Hadith (Sahih Bukhari)
- “Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your full compensation on the Day of Resurrection.” - Qur’an 3:185
References & Suggested Literature
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Books:
- “The End of the World: Major and Minor Signs of the Hour from the Qur’an and Sunna” by Dr. Muhammad Al-‘Areefi
- “Judgment Day: Islam, Israel, and the Nations” by John MacArthur
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Articles:
- “Eschatology in Islam: Beliefs about the End of the World and Afterlife” by Karen Armstrong
- “Significance of the Divine Scales: The Doctrine of Action and Consequence in Islamic Eschatology” by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Quizzes
Ibrahim Hassan
3rd October 2023
“Contemplate on the transient nature of life, for the Day of Judgment reminds us that our deeds echo in eternity.”
