This article is in response to Ali Sina's article "Day of Judgment?" which can be accessed here.
Ali Sina said:
Muslims believe that when a person dies two angels called Nakeer and Munkar visit him in his grave. They question him about
his Faith, if he is found a believer his tomb is widened 70 cubits square (each cubit is one foot six inches) and it is illumined.
Then he is told to go to sleep like a bridegroom until the day of resurrection when Allah raises him up to reward him. But if he
is found a "hypocrite" they order the tomb to squeeze him until his ribs are crushed.
Quran says that at the Day of Judgment, the heaven is split asunder (Q.84:1) and it will heave with (awful) heaving (Q.52:9),
the sun is overthrown (Q.81:1), the Earth is shaken with her (final) earthquake (Q. 99:1), the moon is eclipsed (Q.75:8) and
"the angel Israfil will sound the trumpet and all living creatures, mankind, angels and jinn then living, will die. Another blast and
all will be raised to life. Allah's throne will appear in the clouds, carried by 8 angels. Believers will receive a book of their deeds
in their right hand, and unbelievers in their left hand. The books will be opened and men's works weighed on scales (mizan). In
fear, men will look for someone to plead with Allah. They will go to Adam, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, but find no help. At last
they will turn to Muhammad"
"Muslims also believe that there is a bridge across Hell, named Sirat, which is sharper than the edge of sword and thinner than
a hair. Faithful Muslims believe that they will cross over it in the "twinkling of an eye" and enter Paradise. Other Muslims may
fall into Hell, but will later be released. Unbelievers will fall into Hell and remain forever."
No one knows the exact time for the Day of Judgment but it is going to be a Friday 10th of Muharram. At that time Allah will
resurrect all the dead. He will collect their dispersed dusts and call them to visit him. And people will see Allah as clear as
seeing the sun in a not cloudy day. Then he will judge them based on their beliefs. Those who did not associate any other
God with Allah, irrespective of what crimes they have committed will go to Paradise. There are verses in Quran that speak of
good deeds like this one,
[Al-Imran 3:30] On the Day when every soul will find itself confronted with all that it hath done of good and all that it hath done
of evil (every soul) will long that there might be a mighty space of distance between it and that (evil).
But actually the evil for Muhammad did not mean what we usually think of it. By evil he meant disbelief. This is clear from the
following verse.
[Ibrahim 14:44] And warn mankind of a day when the doom will come upon them, and those who did wrong will say: Our Lord!
Reprieve us for a little while. We will obey Thy call and will follow the messengers. (It will be answered): Did ye not
swear before that there would be no end for you?
For Allah nothing is more abhorrent than disbelief and once you believe all your sins are forgiven and your place in paradise
is guaranteed. In a Hadith noted by Bukhari the importance of belief over good deeds is emphasized.
Bukhari Volume 4, Book 54, Number 445:
Narrated Abu Dhar:
The Prophet said, "Gabriel said to me, 'Whoever amongst your followers die without having worshipped others besides Allah,
will enter Paradise (or will not enter the (Hell) Fire)." The Prophet asked. "Even if he has committed illegal sexual
intercourse or theft?" He replied, "Even then."
But for disbelievers there is no salvation.
[al-Ma'idah 5:36] As for those who disbelieve, lo! if all that is in the earth were theirs, and as much again therewith, to ransom
them from the doom on the Day of Resurrection, it would not be accepted from them. Theirs will be a painful doom.
[al-Kahf 18:106] That is their reward: hell, because they disbelieved, and made a jest of Our revelations and Our messengers.
[Ta Ha 20:100] Whoso turneth away from it, he verily will bear a burden on the Day of Resurrection,
My Response:
I find nothing wrong with Ali Sina's introduction to the topic.
Ali Sina said:
What about those who have loved others? We humans put a great emphasis on loving and helping each other and on
charitable works, but for Allah all that is irrelevant.
[al-`Ankabut 29:25] The love between you is only in the life of the world. Then on the Day of Resurrection ye will deny each
other and curse each other, and your abode will be the Fire, and ye will have no helpers.
My Response:
Its ironic how Ali Sina doesn't even fully quote the verse. Here is the verse...
Surah 29:25
And (Ibrahim (Abraham)) said: "You have taken (for worship) idols instead of Allah, and the love between you is only in
the life of this world, but on the Day of Resurrection, you shall disown each other, and curse each other, and your abode will
be the Fire, and you shall have no helper."
So this verse is referring to idol worshippers. Them and their idols will be cursing each other as a punishment for their
polytheism. This is not a general statement for all people.
Ali Sina said:
Those who did not accept Allah will easily be recognized because they will have their faces "blackened".
[az-Zumar 39:60] And on the Day of Resurrection thou (Muhammad) seest those who lied concerning Allah with their faces
blackened. Is not the home of the scorners in hell?
If another person said the above politically incorrect statement, it would have offended the blacks, but strange as it is the
blacks are the ones who are flocking towards Islam, as if they are completely unaware of the prophet's low opinion of their
race.
This stereotyping is reaffirms in another place.
[Al-Imran 3:106] On the Day when (some) faces will be whitened and (some) faces will be blackened; and as for those whose
faces have been blackened, it will be said unto them: Disbelieved ye after your (profession of) belief? Then taste the
punishment for that ye disbelieved.
My Response:
Words such as "whitened" and "blackened" are just terms used in every day language. It has nothing to do with racism.
Taken from http://www.hyperdictionary.com/search.aspx?define=black
[adj] stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable; "black deeds"; "a black lie"; "his
black heart has concocted yet another black deed"; "Darth Vader of the dark side"; "a dark purpose"; "dark
undercurrents of ethnic hostility"; "the scheme of some sinister intelligence bent on punishing
him"-Thomas Hardy
Taken from http://www.hyperdictionary.com/search.aspx?define=white
[adj] benevolent; without malicious intent; "white magic"; "a white lie"; "that's white of you"
[adj] free from moral blemish or impurity; unsullied; "in shining white armor"
The Quran makes it clear that no one is superior than the other unless that person is more God fearing (Surah 49:13).
Also read the end of the Prophet's farewell Sermon
The prophet, peace be upon him, said: "All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a
non-Arab has any "superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over
white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute
one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely
and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves." (Hafiz Ibn Hibban reported in al-Sahih 11 / 203 / 4862 , via his
isnad, from Fadalah ibn Ubayd)
How could the Prophet be a racist when he told Bilal that he heard his footsteps in paradise...
Saheeh Bukhari
Volume 002, Book 021, Hadith Number 250.
Narated By Abu Huraira : At the time of the Fajr prayer the Prophet asked Bilal, "Tell me of the best deed you did after
embracing Islam, for I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise." Bilal replied, "I did not do anything worth mentioning
except that whenever I performed ablution during the day or night, I prayed after that ablution as much as was written for me."
How could the Prophet be a racist when he gave Bilal (a black African slave) the honor of being his Mu'adhdhin (caller to
prayer)...
Saheeh Muslim
Book 004, Hadith Number 0741.
Chapter : How Adhan is to be pronounced.
Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had two Mu'adhdhins, Bilal and 'Abdullah b. Umm
Maktum, who (latter) was blind.
The Prophet (saws) once reprimanded Abu Dharr for derisively calling Bilal, 'son of a black woman', then he went on to say,
"Look! Surely you are not better than a brown man nor a black man except by fearing Allaah more than them." (Reported by
'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr and collected by Ahmed)
So how could the Prophet be a racist?
Ali Sina said:
Of course the absurdity of this belief is self-evident and needs no clarification. However Muslims are unable to ask themselves
simple questions like what is the use of a wide and illumined grave to a deceased?
My Response:
Because Ali Sina is an anti super naturalist, he does not believe in these kind of things. However, his subjective opinions mean
nothing.
Well obviously if the grave is widened, the person will feel more relaxed and not so compressed in his grave.
Ali Sina said:
Has anyone seen a widened and illumined grave?
My Response:
Have you ever dug one up to check if it was widened?
Ali Sina said:
Islamic Paradise is a physical place. That is why Allah has to collect all the dust of the dead people to punish or reward them.
That makes even less sense when we know that we constantly renew the elements that compose our body..
It seems that the prophet had no idea of the spiritual reality of man that is independent from the material world. Allah's rewards
are hoories, wine, honey, gardens, mansions, cloths with gold embroidery and other material objects. These are all material
rewards. What is the use of all these for human spirit? His punishment is also physical: fire. Heaven, in Islam, is the place
where believers will be reclining under the shade of the trees, eating and drinking exquisite wines, and engaging in sex with
virgins.
[Surah 55:54-46]"They will recline on carpets whose inner linings will be of rich brocade: the fruit of the gardens will be near.
In them will be (Maidens), Chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched (virgins)."
Good deeds have no merits; Belief in Allah and his messenger is the only requisite to inherit this materialistic paradise.
My Response:
I recommend all to read my article regarding Islamic paradise.
Ali Sina said:
Even Christians will not be spared.
In one place one is lead to believe that the people of the scriptures, i.e. the Jews and the Christians are saved,
[al-Hajj 22:17] Lo! those who believe (this revelation), and those who are Jews, and the Sabaeans and the Christians and the
Magians and the idolaters - Lo! Allah will decide between them on the Day of Resurrection. Lo! Allah is Witness over all things.
Then again, this is contradicted by another verse.
[al-Ma'idah 5:14] And with those who say: "Lo! we are Christians," We made a covenant, but they forgot a part of that whereof
they were admonished. Therefore We have stirred up enmity and hatred among them till the Day of Resurrection, when Allah
will inform them of their handiwork.
The same is said of the Jews (Q.10:93).
My Response:
Those Jews and Christians refer to the people at the time of the prophets who accepted the true message, which is Islam. Its
talking about the Jews (true followers of Moses), Christians (true followers of Christ) who stuck to the true original teachings of
their Prophets.
This statement by Ibn `Abbas indicates that Allah does not accept any deed or work from anyone, unless it conforms to the
Law of Muhammad that is, after Allah sent Muhammad . Before that, every person who followed the guidance of his
own Prophet was on the correct path, following the correct guidance and was saved. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Source)
Also read this.
Ali Sina said:
So don't be surprised to see Mother Theresa burning in the Hell while Khomeni and Saddam Hussein who believed in Allah
and his messenger sitting under the shade of a tree with a pretty hoory at their right side and another at their left, sipping from
the chilled wine in Paradise.
The concept of the life after death in Islam is very much similar to the Jehowa's Witnesses' concept of the other world. Jehowa
Witnesses believe that after the death, the deceased has no consciousness until the last day when he is risen from death and
if found a believer would inherit the Earth and would live in a terrestrial Paradise forever. This is how Quran and Hadith explain
the life after death. However, this subject is foggy for most of the Muslims. They have their personal ideas about it that often
contradict the above what Quran and the hadithes teach about the life after death.
My Response:
Ali Sina is just making fun and being immature. He has no case and has failed to bring any objective evidence against Islam.
We do not know if Khomeni or Saddam Hussein are in heaven and Mother Theresa are in hell. God will judge everyone fairly
as that is his promise.
Taken from www.islamhelpline.com...
In Islam we believe that those who have received the true message of Islam and rejected it knowing that it is the truth, those
are going to hell. God does not punish those who have not received the true message. God never puts anyone in Hell for no
reason or if the person does not deserve it.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Haa Meem verse 46:
46 Whoever works righteousness benefits his own soul; whoever works evil it is against his own soul: nor is thy Lord ever
unjust (in the least) to His servants!
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verses 7-10:
7 And verily the Hour will come: there can be no doubt about it or about (the fact) that Allah will raise up all who are in the
graves.
8 Yet there is among men such a one as disputes about Allah without knowledge, without guidance, and without a Book of
Enlightenment.
9 (Disdainfully) bending his side in order to (lead men) astray from the Path of Allah; for him there is disgrace in this life and
on the Day of Judgment we shall make him taste the Penalty of burning (Fire).
10 (It will be said): "This is because of the deeds which thy hands sent forth for verily Allah is never unjust to His servants!
One amongst the many Noble and Exclusive Attributes of our Lord Creator is that He is the ?Al-Aadil' or the All-Just; and it
does not behove and befit His Majesty and His Mercy to ever be unjust to any in His creation.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verses 13-15:
13 Every man`s augury We have fastened on his own neck: on the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll which
he will see spread open.
14 (It will be said to him:) "Read thine (own) record: sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee."
15 Who receiveth guidance receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss: no bearer of burdens
can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent Our messenger!
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 26 Surah Shuaraa verses 208-209:
208 Never did We destroy a people but had its warners
209 by way of reminder; and We never are unjust.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Faatir verse 24:
24 Verily We have sent thee (O Prophet) in Truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and as a warner: and there never was a people
without a warner having lived among them.
And just to make absolutely sure that this Just-Law is implemented and that one who has not received the Message of their
Lord is punished, every time a people are about to be cast into the dungeons of the Hell Fire, they will be asked by the
guardian Angels of the Hell Fire whether or not a warner from their Lord came to them and recited to them the Warning and
the Message of their Lord! And every wrongdoer at the gates of Hell Fire on that Tumultuous Day will indeed admit and
confess himself that Allah's warner did indeed come unto them, but it was they themselves who in their arrogance rejected
Allah's Message and His Warning!
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 67 Surah Mulk verses 6-11:
6 For those who reject their Lord is the Penalty of Hell: and evil is (such) destination.
7 When they are cast therein they will hear the (terrible) drawing in of its breath, even as it blazes forth.
8 Almost bursting with fury: every time a group is cast therein its keepers (the Angels) will ask "Did no warner come to you?"
9 They will say: "Yes indeed: a warner did come to us but we rejected him and said `Allah never sent down any (Message): ye
are in nothing but an egregious delusion!` "
10 They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence we should not (now) be among the companions of the
Blazing Fire!"
11 They will then confess their sins: but far will be (Forgiveness) from the Companions of the Blazing Fire!
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumar verses 71-72:
71 The unbelievers will be led to Hell in crowds; until when they arrive there its gates will be opened and its Keepers (the
Angels) will say "Did not messengers come to you from among yourselves rehearsing to you the Signs of your Lord and
warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" The answer will be: "True: but the decree of punishment has been
proved true against the unbelievers!"
72 (To them) will be said: "Enter ye the gates of Hell to dwell therein: and evil is (this) abode of the arrogant!"
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Fatir verses 36-37:
36 But those who reject (Allah) for them will be the Fire of Hell: no term shall be determined for them so they should die nor
shall its Penalty be lightened for them: thus do We reward every ungrateful ones!
37 Therein will they cry aloud (for assistance): "O Our Lord! Bring us out: we shall work righteousness not the (deeds) we
used to do!" Did We not give you long enough life so that he that would should receive admonition? And (moreover) the
warner came to you! So taste ye (the fruit of your deeds): for the wrongdoers there is no helper."
End ...
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