On the Day of Resurrection, all people that ever lived will be gathered before Allah to await His judgment for all they have done or said during their lives. During this time, the sun will come very close to the people (as close as one mile according to some narrations). People will want to get away from the heat of the sun but there will be no Shade or shelter to go to and they will start sweating in proportion to their sins. The more sins a person has the more he or she will sweat. Allah says:
وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُولَٰئِكَ رَفِيقًا
“Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, they will be with those whom Allah has blessed from among the Prophets, the Truthful Ones, the Martyrs and the Pious Ones. What a wonderful companionship they are!” (Surat an-Nisa, 4:69)
Islam is based on the concept of reward and punishment. Those who do good deeds and stick to the path of righteousness are rewarded both in this world and in the world hereafter, whereas those who do the contrary are punished. The ones who are blessed receive Jannah as a reward, while the ones who otherwise have the inevitable Jahanum waiting for them. Allah says:
يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَىٰ وَمَا هُم بِسُكَارَىٰ وَلَٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ
The day you will see it, will forget every nursing mother that which she was nursing and will deliver every pregnant woman her load, and you will see [the] mankind intoxicated, while not they (are) intoxicated; but (the) punishment (of) Allah (will be) severe.” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:2)
Although all the righteous will receive Jannah as a reward for their deeds, however, there are special people who for their specific special deeds would receive a higher and greater reward in Jannah. The lines below discuss seven special people who will be under the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgment. Allah says:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
“O our Lord! Give us something good in this life and in the Next Life and protects us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Surat Al-Baqara, 2:201)
The bounties and boundaries of Jannah are unlimited therefore there should be no doubt in the fact that people with better deeds would receive better rewards compared to those who with their ordinary deeds of righteousness would land a place in Jannah.
Types of people who will be under the shade on the Day of Judgement are:
- A just ruler
- A youth who grows up in the worship of Allah
- A man who is deeply attached to the Masjid
- A person who is completely selfless in charity
- Two people who love one another for the sake of Allah
- A man who is called by a beautiful woman and says, ‘I fear Allah’
- A person who remembers Allah in private and sheds tears in doing so
In light of that, one must work hard to fall under at least one of these 7 categories:
- A just ruler: If we ever come into a position of power, we need to make sure to do everything in our capacity to be just. No matter how long we live, there will come a day when we return to the Ultimate Judge and He will make justice prevail on that Day, so we need to be on the side of justice and never lean towards injustice.
- Youth who grew up worshipping Allah: Many young people today think they could delay worshipping Allah and committing to the religion until after they grow old. And this is wrong first because no one can guarantee tomorrow or even guarantee waking up the next morning. Second, even if one lived into old age, they’d miss the opportunity of living a blessed life in worshipful connection with The King in this life, and then earning His Shade and closeness in the next. Committing to Allah at the end of “near-death” is not as sincere as choosing to live a life of true love and commitment to the Creator.
- A man whose heart is attached to being in the mosque: Many brothers forget the major rewards that await them for praying in the mosques, and instead, they pray at home. Whereas the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said if a man goes out of his house after performing ablution with the intention to pray the prescribed prayer in congregation (in the mosque), his reward will be like that of one who goes for Hajj pilgrimage after wearing ihram (robe worn by the hajj pilgrims). (Sunan Abi Dawud)
- Two people who love one another for the pleasure of Allah: Two persons who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the pleasure of Allah will be in the shade of Allah’s throne. Sometimes we forget this virtue and its rewards, so it is essential to revive the habit of sincerely loving our brothers and sisters in Islam for the pleasure of Allah and visiting them specifically for this purpose, not for any other desire or worldly gain.
- A person who resists sexual temptation: A man who is seduced by an extremely beautiful woman (for illicit relations) who then rejects this offer by saying, “I fear Allah” will be in the shade of Allah’s throne on the Day of Judgment. A little patience in this life will earn them eternal, indescribable rewards. So working hard in this area should be a goal.
- A person who gives in charity and conceals it: We are to give in charity in such a way that our left-hand does not know what the right hand has given. That is to say that instead of publicizing the charities that we give and allowing any worldly praise to get into our hearts, we must work hard to conceal our charities. Doing so will make them more sincere and truly genuinely for the sake of Allah and His unrivalled rewards.
- A person who remembers Allah in solitude: When someone goes away from people to sit alone and remembers Allah and then is moved to tears, Allah takes pleasure in that person. How often do we give ourselves the chance to be alone with Allah and His Book, listening to the Qur’an and reading it and allowing this to fill our hearts with peace, joy, serenity, and longing for our Creator, the Most Merciful?
وَالَّذِي أَطْمَعُ أَن يَغْفِرَ لِي خَطِيئَتِي يَوْمَ الدِّينِ
“And the One Who – I hope that He will forgive for me my faults (on the) Day (of) the Judgment.” (Surah Ash-Shu`ara` 26:82)
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
- “Good deeds waive the sins.” (Surah Hud, 11:114)
- “Have you seen the one who denies the Judgment?” (Al-Ma`un 107:1)
- “Indeed, (the) Day (of) the Judgment is an appointed time.” (An-Naba` 78:17)
- “And indeed, upon you (is) My curse until (the) Day (of) Judgment.” (Sad 38:78)
- “This (is the) Day (of) Judgment which you used to [of it] deny.” (As-Saffat 37:21)
- “Indeed, (the) Day of Judgment (is) an appointed term for them all. ” (Ad-Dukhan 44:40)
- “…And do not let hatred cause you to act unjustly, that is nearer to piety.” (Quran 5:8)
- And (the) Day will (be) established the Hour, will (be in) despair the criminals.” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:12 )
وَإِن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا نَحْنُ مُهْلِكُوهَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُوهَا عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِي الْكِتَابِ مَسْطُورًا
“And not (is) any town but We (will) destroy it before (the) Day (of) the Resurrection or punish it with a punishment severe. That is in the book written.” (Surah Al-Isra` 17:58)
This is something we must work on doing much more often for the immense peace it brings in this life and the next. All of these acts have to do with controlling and disciplining the self, being sincere and being truly loving to Allah Almighty. We show this when we prioritize Him over our own desires or worldly gains. Allah says:
قُلْ يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ لَا يَنفَعُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِيمَانُهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
Say, “(On the) Day (of) the Decision, not will benefit those who disbelieve their belief and not they will be granted respite.” (Surah As-Sajdah 32:29)
If you remember all of this and try your best to fulfil what you can of them, then you have taken the means; and may Allah grant you and us His Shade on the Day of Judgment. Allah says:
رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ
“Our Lord, grant us what You promised us through Your Messengers and (do) not disgrace us (on the) Day (of) [the] Resurrection. Indeed, You (do) not break the promise.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:194)
Islam is a religion that should be confined to mosques, as many people imagine. Nonetheless, the mosque should be at the heart of the Muslim community, and the role of those in the authority of the mosques is vital here. They are the ones mainly responsible for making the mosque a welcome refuge for the Muslims. Allah says:
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ النَّهَارَ سَرْمَدًا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ إِلَٰهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُم بِلَيْلٍ تَسْكُنُونَ فِيهِ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ
Say, “Have you seen if Allah made for you the day continuous till (the) Day (of) the Resurrection, who (is the) god besides Allah who could bring you a night (for) you (to) rest in it? Then will not you see?” (Surah Al-Qasas 28:72)
Allah will put us with that group of Prophets, Martyrs, Pious People, and Sincere People. Allah gave that zhill (shade) to Prophet and he will give it to you! No one can understand how valuable that zhill is, and that’s why He said, “On that Day there is no shade except Allah’s Shade.” That means no rahmah except Him, there is no one to save you, even all Prophets except Sayyidina Muhammad (s) will be running with their Nations for shade. To whom do they run? They run to the Prophet (s) to intercede for them! Allah says:
إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ
“If you invoke them not they hear your call; and if they heard, not they (would) respond to you. And (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection they will deny your association. And none can inform you like (the) All-Aware.” (Surah Fatir 35:14 )
O Muslims, Believers! Allah (SWT) wants something from us that He likes. When Allah wants something, it means He likes that thing; when he doesn’t want something, it means He doesn’t like that. He likes from the Ummah something that is so easy, but so precious. Allah knows what is in our hearts. Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا
“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.” (Surah an-Nisa 4:58)
The one who remembers Allah (SWT) when alone and cries is the one who has cultivated a truly special and unique relationship with their Creator; an intimate relationship that cannot be explained by words and is only obtained through long periods of struggling for His sake. The developmental goal is to become intimate with Allah (SWT) and move past the superficiality of common religious discourse.