BaKhabar, September 2012, Page-3 [Our Journey To The Day Of Resurrection, Part-XV + Reduced to the lowest of the low

BaKhabar, Vol 5, Issue 9, September 2012

OUR JOURNEY TO THE DAY OF RESURRECTION, PART-XV

- By Gheyas S Mahfoz Hashmi, Jeddah (hgheyas@albatool.com.sa)

… Continued from previous issue.

Below are links to all the previous parts for the convenience of readers and those who are seeking Jannah.

Previous:	Part-1 \|\| Part-2 \|\| Part-3 \|\| Part-4 \|\| Part-5 \|\| Part-6
	Part-7 \|\| Part-8 \|\| Part-9 \|\| Part-10 \|\| Part-11 \|\| Part-12\|\| Part-13 \|\| Part-14 ..... contd.

In previous 2 issues we have discussed Hisab (Reckoning). Scrutiny of records and adjustment of accounts by giving and taking of rights is completed. Records are now finalized and ready to be weighed. The next stage is MIZAN (weighing of good deeds and bad deeds).

First, the weight of Kufr and Eiman will be taken, as some of the interpreters (mufassireen) of Quran say, whereby Muslims and Non-Muslims will be separated. Non-Muslim’s good deeds (charity, social services, etc), whatever it is in amount, will be null and void against Kufr. It is clearly mentioned in Quran, for example, one of the verses reads as:

But the Unbelievers,- their deeds are like a mirage in sandy deserts, which the man parched with thirst mistakes for water; until when he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing: But he finds Allah (ever) with him, and Allah will pay him his account: and Allah is swift in taking account. (Al-Noor: 39)

The Messenger of Allah (S) said, "Indeed the Muflis (bankrupt) from my nation is the one who comes on the Day of Judgment with prayers, fasting, and Zakat (to his/her credit). (Despite all this) he comes having cursed this one, slandered this one, eaten the wealth of this one, shed the blood of this one, and beaten up this one. So this one will be given and recompensed from his good deeds and this one from his good deeds. If his good deeds are all used before all his dues (to those who were wronged by him) are paid off, their bad deeds will be taken and thrown on him. Then he'll be thrown in the fire at last." [Reported by Imam Muslim, Tirmidhi and Ahmad]

As for Muslims, their good deeds and bad deeds, both, will be weighed. Good deeds will be put on one side of the scale and bad deeds will be put on another side, to compare the weight of each item. If the scale of good deeds is heavy there will be salvation, and if the scale of the bad deeds is heavy there will be punishment. Allah says in Quran:
Then, he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) heavy; Will be in a life of good pleasure and satisfaction. But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) light, - Will have his home in a (bottomless) Pit. And what will make you know what it is? A fiercely blazing Fire! (Al-Qaria:6-11)
Items that are heavy in scale are: Good deeds, Sadaqah, obedience of parents, respect for the elderly, good manners, ethical values, jihad (striving in the way of Allah, e.g., educating or reforming people), silence (no unnecessary talks), tears coming out due to the fear of Akhirah, spreading Islam, ink of the pen by which scholars have written science and provisions of religion, and two words (سبحان الله وبحمده سبحان الله العظيم).
To summarize, all deeds in books of deeds will be weighed, even with their slightest details, and everyone’s balance-sheet of profits and deficits will be figured out and their account will be closed. If a person’s good deeds are more than his/her evil deeds, that is, if his/her profits are more than his/her deficits, he/she will succeed. Otherwise, he/she will be a loser.
Imam Ibn Kathir says, after alalysing all the available evidences, that the Weighing may take place many times depending upon the circumstances, and its complete knowledge is with Allah only.
It is impossible for us to perceive the essence of this scale with our earthly measures. However, it is sure that Allah will accomplish the weighing of all people’s deeds in a short time and reveal their goodness and badness without the slightest injustice, as Allah says (4:40).

Surely, Allah wrongs not even the weight of a speck of dust, but if there is any good (done), He doubles it, and gives from Him a great reward.

..... to be continued, insha-Allah

Reduced to the lowest of the low ...

- By Shakeel Ashraf (shakeel.ashraf@yahoo.com)

Qamar was my coworker, an Arab mechanical engineer in his thirties. His wife had a government job in her native country so she stayed there with her school going son. He used to visit them two or three times a year. Last time his journey was scheduled in February and there was bloodshed there but it didn’t stop him. More than six months has passed and we have no communication with him. May Allah be his savior!

Mr. Farooque is our manager having the same nationality as Qamar. He resides here with his wife and children while his ailing old mother lives in her native place. He visits her once in a year during summers. This year he didn’t go there because of the unrest. He changed his destination and headed to a tourist spot in Malaysia with his wife and children for a cool summer break.

Alas, tears of an old mother have no value compared to smiley of a young wife!

An old woman was sick and confined to bed. Her daughters were the caregivers as sons stayed away with their wives and children. She slipped into comma and they lost hope of her recovery. Everyone was praying to Allah for easiness in her last moment and not for recovery. The family possessed a nanny goat giving milk. The goat was hit by a naughty neighbor and got severe injury. All of them started to pray for the recovery of the pet from the bottom of their heart.

Aghast, a milk giving goat seems more valuable than a mother who is confined to bed!

The incidents are not taken from any book. I am the eyewitness to all the three narratives (names changed). It is not limited to few among us. Most of us need to do our soul searching.

“Surely we created man of the best stature. Then we reduced him to the lowest of the low; Save those who believe and do good works, and theirs is a reward unfailing. [Quran, 95:4-6]

RAMADAN CHECK-LIST

- By Gheyas S Mahfoz Hashmi, Jeddah (hgheyas@albatool.com.sa)

Hope our brothers in Islam did their best this Ramadan to get Allah’s Forgiveness, Mercy and Salavation, and hopefully same enthusiasm will continue. Ramadan is not just merely a holy month, and fasting therein is not just abstention from foods and drinks. It is a month of physical and spiritual training. It is the month of refreshing courses to keep the Muslim refreshed for remaining 11 months. Following is the check-list of what we have got and what we have lost, during this Ramadan, and how much we can expect from this Ramadan’s training during our next 11 months. Please evaluate your action done in Ramadan and also check its effects month-wise for the next 11 months till you see Insha Allah another Ramadan with more dedicated action. For info, a Muslim has evaluated himself and has put his remarks as below in the Check-list (Click on the image to view a larger, readable size):