On the Day of Judgment
Imam Bukhari, a noted early Muslim scholar, has cited a narration attributed to Abdullah ibn Masud, according to which the Prophet Muhammad told him to read out a portion of the Quran to him. The Prophet explained to Abdullah that he liked hearing the Quran from others. And so, Abdullah began reciting the Surah An-Nisa, a chapter of the Quran, till he reached the verse, “How will it be, then, when We bring from every people a witness and bring you as a witness against these?” (4:41) The Prophet told him to stop. Then, Abdullah saw tears in the Prophet’s eyes.
How strange that time will be when God shall assemble His court! At that time, no one will be able to proudly strut about or deny God. People who were thought of by others as valueless and so were ignored by them will be brought forth as His special servants. People whom God had chosen to inform others of the impending Day of Judgment, people whom others thought of as the weakest among them, will be those who shall bear witness that will determine who shall be rewarded and who shall be punished.
Imagine the condition of those people then who, while they were in the world, used to speak incessantly, but will now find that they have turned completely dumb! And of people who in the world were considered to be respectable and powerful but who will now find themselves absolutely powerless! When their reality is exposed, some people who, in this world, have donned the garb of religion will be seen to have actually been completely irreligious! On that day, much apparent goodness will be shown to have actually been its very opposite!
In this world, people conceal their reality under an artificial cover. For some, seemingly charming words are a veil that hides their inner condition. For others, this role is played by material glitter and glamour. But on the Day of Judgment, every person will come forth in his or her real state. What a severe day that will be! If people were to realize this now, they would stop jabbering. Nothing of this world will then give them true joy. They will begin to regard worldly respect as completely utterly meaningless as worldly disrespect.
