Allah (‘azza wa jal) says in Surah Al-Ghaashiyah:

هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْغَاشِيَةِ

Translation: Has there reached you the report of the Overwhelming [event]? [Surah Ghashiya, verse 1]

The surah starts with a question, to make you think. The companions would say: Allahu wa rasuluhu a’lam (know better), out of humbleness, even know they had an answer in mind. So humble yourself and listen.

Al-Ghashiyah is, of course, “The Overwhelming” — one of the names of the Day of Judgment. Have you heard of it? Sure. But listen:

وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَاشِعَةٌ

Translation: [Some] faces, that Day, will be humbled. [Surah Ghashiyah, verse 2]

Khaashiyah is from the same root as khushoo–humility.All these people who never humbled themselves to Allah with khushoo’, on that day, will be humbled with khushoo’.

And the indefinitivity of “wujoohun,” some faces, gives us hope–it won’t be everybody.

But it’s too late for them.

عَامِلَةٌ نَّاصِبَةٌ

Translation: Working [hard] and exhausted. [Surah Ghaashiyah, verse 3]

This verse is hard to translate; it means you will see, on their faces, tiredness. Have you ever seen someone who didn’t sleep for two days? Or someone working at McDonalds/Popeyes/etc, standing all day?

Or try going to Walmart at 11pm. You see the tiredness in the faces of people. On the Day of Judgment, there will be no respite from tiredness, no “here’s a lunch break, come back for more punishment in 15 minutes.”

Then Allah says:

تَصْلَىٰ نَارًا حَامِيَةً
تُسْقَىٰ مِنْ عَيْنٍ آنِيَةٍ
لَّيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٍ
لَّا يُسْمِنُ وَلَا يُغْنِي مِن جُوعٍ

Translation: They will [enter to] burn in an intensely hot Fire. They will be given drink from a boiling spring. For them there will be no food except from a poisonous, thorny plant (dariy’), which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger. [Surah Ghashiyah, verses 5-8]

“Aynun aaniyah,” a spring of boiling hot water, so hot, that it would kill a person. Nobody would ever think about drinking such a thing normally–but they will be so intensely thirsty, that they will drink anything that they see. Even this.

But they won’t die.

And for food? Dariy’, which was known to the Arabs of that time, is a thorny plant. When it’s soft, camels eat it; but when it ripens, big, long, HUGE thorns erupt out of it–thorns which can choke you. And on top of that, it’s poisonous and can kill. Nobody would ever think about eating such a thing normally–but they will be so intensely hungry, that they will eat anything they see. Even this.

But they won’t die.

And all that eating and drinking, you’d think they’d slack their thirst or hunger; but Allah says, no, it won’t help you anything.

Then Allah says:

وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاعِمَةٌ
لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌ

Translation: [Other] faces, that Day, will show pleasure. With their effort [they are] satisfied. [Surah Ghaashiyah, verses 9-10]

When you really understand and recite these verses, it’s almost like a breath of fresh air after all the verses of Hellfire. Others on that day, will have brightness, softness–naa’imah. And they will be pleased with the reward that Allah dispenses them.

So what do they get? What is this exclusive reward, for those who avoid Hellfire? Let’s take a quick peek at some of the things waiting for them and us, insha’Allah:

فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ
لَّا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَاغِيَةً
فِيهَا عَيْنٌ جَارِيَةٌ
فِيهَا سُرُرٌ مَّرْفُوعَةٌ
وَأَكْوَابٌ مَّوْضُوعَةٌ
وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌ
وَزَرَابِيُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ

Translation: In an elevated garden, wherein they will hear no unsuitable speech. Within it is a flowing spring. Within it are couches raised high. And cups put in place. And cushions lined up. And carpets spread around. [Surah Ghashiyah, verses 10-16]

When you read these verses, verse after verse, you get a sense of preparation. An elevated, penthouse suite with a spring in it. High, elevated couches. Cups all set out for drinking, and cushions sitting in a row, and the carpet rolled out.

Because when it comes down to it, it’s either this, or hameem and dariy’. The choice is yours. Choose wisely … because Hellfire is not really a choice at all.

References:

• Touched by an Angel: Tafseer of Juz ‘Amma. By Muhammad Alshareef. 2009.

Umar (RA) passed by a garbage dump and stopped there, and it was as if his companions were bothered by it (the smell). He said [... full story at the end...]

What would you think of someone who goes for umra on a 1 week trip. He goes there, buys a car, clothes, house, grocery, …..  He even takes dollars with him and doesn’t exchange them into local currency!  We would think that something is wrong with that person. Right?

This is what most of us do: we get so busy in this life and lose focus on the reality of this life. We forget the ever lasting life of the hereafter. I decided to write this post as a reminder for all of us.

• Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, one day was passing through the market and he passed by a dead goat, which had its ears cut. He held the goat by the ear and asked who would like to have it for one derham (which was a very low price of currency at that time). The people said they wouldn’t take it even if it was free. What could they do with it? He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, asked if they liked it if it was theirs. They said even if it was alive they would still not buy it because of its cut ears. So how could they buy it now especially since it was dead. The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said: “This worldly life is so little in the sight of Allah as this dead animal or goat is so little in your sight” [Muslim]

• A man came to the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, and said: “O Messenger of Allah, direct me to an act which if I do it, [will cause] Allah to love me and people to love me.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, answered: “Be indifferent to the world and Allah will love you; be indifferent to what people possess and they will love you.” [Ibn Majah]

• Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said, “This world (i.e., its pleasures and duration) in comparison with the Hereafter is (similar to the amount of water) one gets when he puts his finger in the sea. Let him then see what it returns with”. [Muslim].

• Abdullah bin Masud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah,sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, slept on a straw mat and got up with the marks left by it on his body. Ibn Masud (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Messenger of Allah! Would that you make us spread out a soft bedding for you.” He (PBUH) replied, “What have I to do with the world? I am like a rider who had sat under a tree for its shade, then went away and left it.” [Tirmidhi]

• It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basri often used to say, “O youth! Seek the hereafter, for we often see people pursuing the hereafter and finding it as well as the dunya (worldly wellbeing), but we have never seen anyone pursue the dunya and gain the hereafter as well as the dunya.” Al-Bayhaqi, [Al-Zuhd Al-Kabîr, article 12]

• Umar (RA) passed by a garbage dump and stopped there, and it was as if his companions were bothered by it (the smell). He said, ‘This is this world of yours which you are so eager for and you weep over. ” [Umar Ibn Al-Khattab - His Life & Times by Dr. Ali M. as-Sallabi]

Now check this out what Allah Subhanallah says in the Quran about the life of this World:

• Brief is the enjoyment of this world whereas the life to come is best for all who are muttaqun or conscious of Allah. [4:77]

• And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life is not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment.[13:26]

• But may you prefer the life of this world although the life to come is better and more enduring. [87: 16-17]

• And this life of the world is only amusement and play! Verily, the home of the Hereafter is the real life if they but knew [29:64]

This doesn’t mean that we go to the other extreme, denounce everything of this world, live miserly and in isolation. The point is that we shouldn’t lose focus and should spend most of our energy and time preparing for this trip.

Action Step:

1. Make a list of your 10 most common activities and see how much of your time is spent preparing for the hereafter
2. Find other narrations and verses on this topic, post in the comments with references
3. Memorize one of the verses listed above and recite it in  your salah
4. Make dua that may Allah make us of those who prepare for the journey to the hereafter

Allah says, in Surah At-Takaathur:

أَلْهَاكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ
حَتَّى زُرْتُمُ الْمَقَابِرَ

Translation: Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you, until you visit the graveyards. [Surah At-Takaathur, verses 1-2]

Subhanallah, even though these verses were revealed over 1400 years ago, we still see the exact same situation today. Al-Haakum means, it makes you compete with each other. At-Takaathur is rivalry, competition, in accumulating material things; thinking that life is about toys, and the one with the most (or most expensive) toys wins.

What is Takaathur?

Imagine you have two people, A and B. A buys a big house, so B buys a bigger house, so A starts looking for a bigger house … or car, or shoes, or clothes, or whatever you want. Dunya. Competing.

And it distracts you from your true purpose here–to prepare for the hereafter.

Verse two literally means, “until you visit” (zurtum) the graves. But it doesn’t mean “visit,” per-se; in this ayah, it means that final, one-way visit to the graves–until you die.

And if you don’t pay attention? If you just let the waterfall of life take you by … this is it, this is that moment when you hear the sound of the falls and you see the edge, right in front of you, sweeping you away. This is when most people wake up to the reality of life.

And these two verses, these are a shaming of the human being. That mutual rivalry for shiny things distracts you until you visit the graves.

Then Allah says:

كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ
ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

Translation: Kalla! You are going to know. Then kalla! You are going to know. [Verses 3-4]

Allah says, kalla–a very strong, emphatic, powerful negation. Kalla refers to a wrong belief, that’s mentioned before it–in this case, the takaathur. This is not what life is about.

And as for knowing? The first “sawfa ta’lamoon,” you will know, refers to when the angel of death comes–al-qiyaam as-sughraa, the minor resurrection. When he comes, you will know then, your fate–is it the angels of mercy, or the angels of punishment? Then, you will know the reality of life.

Thumma kalla, sawfa ta’lamoon–then, again, when al-qiyaam al-kubraa, the major resurrection (on the Day of Resurrection) occurs, you will know the reality of life.

Then Allah says:

كَلَّا لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ الْيَقِينِ

Translation: Kalla! If you only knew with knowledge of certainty… [verse 5]

Most people don’t glean this gem out of this ayah: that the law (if) makes it a statement without an answer. “Kalla, if you knew with certainty of knowledge (ilm-ul-yaqeen) …”

How would your life be if you were certain about the Day of Repayment? About the resurrection of the human race; about the accountability with Allah of every deed, big or small? How would you live your life? What deeds would you do? What sins would you avoid? Reflect on it!

Then Allah says:

لَتَرَوُنَّ الْجَحِيمَ
ثُمَّ لَتَرَوُنَّهَا عَيْنَ الْيَقِينِ

Translation: You will surely see the Hellfire. Then you will surely see it with the eye of certainty. [verses 6-7]

In verse 6, La here is a particle of emphasis. So it could’ve been “tarawunna al-jaheem.” Even tarawunna–the default, normal form is tarawuwna (without a shadda on the noon). The shadda just emphasizes it further and makes it more certain–two forms of emphasis.

And Jaheem is one of the names of Hellfire. Jahama, the root verb, means to look at someone; in fact, it’s the look of a hungry lion right before it pounces on its prey. Subhanallah, this is the Hellfire–a beast, that will glare, roar, and pounce upon the hearts; the Crusher (Al-Hutama). May Allah protect us from it.

And Allah says in verse 7, again, to drive the point home further: you WILL see it. And subhanallah, in verse 5, Allah mentioned certainty of knowledge–we know for sure Hellfire exists, it’s real, and it’s there, even though we haven’t seen it; but on that day, the Day of Repayment, we will all see Hellfire–every single human being–even those who will be saved from it. And that day, our certainty will become ayn-ul-yaqeen, certainty of sight. Because seeing is not like knowing.

‘Ali (radiallahu ‘anhu) used to say, “if I saw Paradise (with my eyes) I wouldn’t desire it more, and if I saw Hellfire, I wouldn’t fear it more.” Ya’ne, that he reached that level of ayn-ul-yaqeen, certainty of sight, despite never seeing them. That’s the level of (some) sahaba over the rest of us.

Then Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) concludes the surah with:

ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ

Translation: Then you will surely be asked that Day about pleasure. [verse 8]

One reflection I had is that, the word for pleasure/bliss, na’eem, is described as a quality of Paradise. Check out other surahs in Juz ‘Amma.

Imam An-Nawawi (rahimahuallah) mentions that this questioning will not necessarily be a punishment–because there’s a hadith about the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) going out with Abu Bakr and ‘Umar in search of food, all hungry, and someone feeding them meat (i.e. a very VIP meal), and the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) quoted this ayah–saying, you will be asked. So it won’t necessarily be a punishment or shaming.

My personal reflections are that, really, this surah should make you stop and think about life. Are you caught up in the dunya? Are you just working hard for money, so you can be more well-off then that other guy? Subhanallah, people buy things they don’t want, with money they don’t have, to impress people they don’t even like! If this is you–and maybe you have a lot of this, or a little of it–remember the grave. That’s where it ends. At that point, none of this dunya stuff will matter.

One ‘alim/scholar, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “if you see people racing with you for the dunya, race with them for the akhirah.” Don’t compete for a bigger house here–compete for a better house in Jannah. Compete to beat your friends and family in salah, in sadaqah, in dhikr, in Qur’an memorization and recitation, in all these good deeds.

Because the ultimate pay-out comes in the Hereafter; this life is only a few days, a few years, and then it’s back to the akhirah.

May Allah make us from those who understand and live these ayaat, as the Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) did.

Action Items:

• Reflect on Life. Are you competing with people in dunya? Maybe a big house, or a good job, or a higher salary? Think, really truly, think hard about it. This is something Allah knows.
• Race to Success. Muhammad Alshareef said a true statement: “anything that measures, increases.” You want to increase in your Qur’an? Your visitations to the masjid? Your sadaqah? Start tracking how much of it you do each month, each week, each day. Wallahi, just opening that spreadsheet and staring at it will motivate you.

Wallahu ta’ala ‘alam.

References:

• Touched by an Angel: Tafseer of Juz ‘Amma. By Muhammad Alshareef. 2009.