The distribution of the books of deeds:
When people have been brought to account for their deeds,
each person will be given the book that contains the record of all his
deeds. The believer will be given his book in his right hand, as a sign of
honour. He will be the one who is saved and happy on the Day of
Resurrection. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Then as for him who will be given his Record in his right
hand,
He surely, will receive an easy reckoning,
And will return to his family in joy!”
[al-Inshiqaaq 84:7-9]
“Then as for him who will be given his Record in his right
hand will say: ‘Here! read my Record!
Surely, I did believe that I shall meet my Account!’
So he shall be in a life, well-pleasing.
In a lofty Paradise,
The fruits in bunches whereof will be low and near at
hand.
Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on
before you in days past!”
[al-Haaqqah 69:19-24]
But the kaafirs, hypocrites and followers of misguidance will
be given their books in their left hands, from behind their backs. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
“But whosoever is given his Record behind his back,
He will invoke (for his) destruction,
And he shall enter a blazing Fire”
[al-Inshiqaaq 84:10-12]
“But as for him who will be given his Record in his left
hand, will say: ‘I wish that I had not been given my Record!
And that I had never known how my Account is!
Would that it had been my end (death)!
My wealth has not availed me;
My power (and arguments to defend myself) have gone from
me!’
(It will be said): ‘Seize him and fetter him;
Then throw him in the blazing Fire.
Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy
cubits!’”
[al-Haaqqah 69:25-32]
When the people have been given their books, it will be said
to them:
“This Our Record speaks about you with truth. Verily, We
were recording what you used to do (i.e. Our angels used to record your
deeds)”
[al-Jaathiyah 45:29]
“Read your book. You yourself are sufficient as a reckoner
against you this Day”
[al-Isra’ 17:14]
With regard to the Balance:
The Balance will be set up to weigh people’s deeds.
Al-Qurtubi said: “When the Reckoning is completed, then people’s deeds will
be weighed, because the weighing has to do with reward and punishment. So it
is apt that it should come after the Reckoning. The Reckoning is to evaluate
the deeds, and the weighing is to determine the amount of reward or
punishment.”
The texts indicate that the Balance is a real Balance, with
two pans, in which people’s deeds will be weighed. It is a huge Balance, the
size of which is known only to Allaah. The scholars differed as to whether
it is one Balance in which people’s deeds will be weighed, or whether there
are numerous Balances, so that each person will have his own Balance. Those
who said that there will be numerous balances quote as evidence the fact
that the word appears in plural form in some verses, for example
(interpretation of the meaning):
“And We shall set up Balances of justice on the Day of
Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if
there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are
We to take account”
[al-Anbiya’ 21:47]
Those who say that it
will be one Balance quote as evidence the words of the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “The Balance will be set up on the Day
of Resurrection, and if the heavens and the earth were to be weighed in it,
it would be sufficient to carry them. And the angels will say, ‘O Lord, who
is this for?’ Allaah will say, ‘For whomsoever I will from among My
slaves.’” (al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, 941). They interpret the verse in
which the plural form is mentioned as referring to the large number of
things to be weighed, namely words, deeds, records and people.
One of the things that indicate that words will also be
weighed is the hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah, according to which the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Two words
which are light on the tongue but will weigh heavily in the Balance and are
beloved to the Most Merciful: Subhaan Allaah il-‘Azeem, Subhaan Allaahi
wa bi Hamdihi (Glory be to Allaah the Almighty, Glory and praise be to
Allaah).” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6406).
The fact that deeds will be weighed is indicated by the
saheeh hadeeth narrated from Abu’l-Darda’ who said: “I heard the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, ‘There is nothing that
will be placed in the Balance that will weigh more heavily than a good
attitude. The one who has a good attitude will attain thereby the status of
one who fasts and prays (a great deal).’” (Saheeh Sunan al-Tirmidhi,
1629)
Another thing that indicates that the books of deeds will be
weighed is the hadeeth of al-Bitaaqah from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas
who said, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “Allaah will separate a man belonging to my ummah in the
presence of all creatures and will spread ninety-nine scrolls for him, each
scroll extending as far as the eye can see. Then He will say, ‘Do you object
to anything in this? Have my scribes who keep note wronged you?’ He will
say, ‘No, my Lord.’ He will ask him, ‘Do you have any excuse?’ He will say,
‘No my Lord.’ Allaah will say, ‘On the contrary, you have with Us a good
deed, and you will not be wronged this Day.’ A slip of paper will then be
brought out, on which are the words ‘Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa
ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluhu (I bear witness that
there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and
His Messenger).’ Allaah will say, ‘Bring your weight (i.e., the scrolls).’
The man will say, ‘O Lord, what is this slip of paper in comparison to these
scrolls?’ And He will reply, ‘You will not be wronged.’ The scrolls will
then be put in one side of the Balance and the slip of paper in the other,
and the scrolls will become light and the slip of paper heavy, for nothing
could compare in weight to the name of Allaah.” (Saheeh Sunan al-Tirmidhi,
2127)
One of the things that indicate that people will be weighed
is the hadeeth narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him),
according to which the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “A huge fat man will be brought on the Day of
Resurrection, and he will not weigh more before Allaah than the wing of a
gnat. Recite: ‘and on the Day of Resurrection, We
shall assign no weight for them’ [al-Kahf 18:105 – interpretation of the
meaning].” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4729). It is
also indicated by the fact that Ibn Mas’ood was trying to break a siwaak
branch from an araak tree and he had thin legs and the wind started to
buffet him, so the people laughed at him. The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “What are you laughing
at?” They said, “O Prophet of Allaah, because his legs are so thin.” He
said, “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, they will weigh more heavily in
the Balance than Mount Uhud.” Its isnaad was classed as hasan by al-Albaani
in Sharh al-Tahhaawiyyah, no. 571, p. 418
We ask Allaah to make us weigh heavily in the Balance.
And Allaah knows best.
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