INTRODUCTION

 fast, the afterworld, for which he was quoted as saying, «And remember while you hunger and thirst the hunger of the Resurrection Day and its thirst».(1) Add to this issue, this subject is part of the series «They ask you about…» Until now, the subjects that have been released are «They Ask You about Allah», «They Ask You about the Prophets», «They Ask You about the Imams», «They Ask You about the Waliy», and «They Ask You about the Barrier».

 Evidence of the Afterworld

 Example (1): One of the issues that pleases man is eating food. This process of consumption may last for 10, 15, or 20 minutes or a little bit longer. Anyhow, how long does it take him to consume this food, which is the product of a long process of efforts, exhaustion and difficulty?

 homemaker (wife or mother) spends hours in the kitchen, cooking food for her family.

 After half a century of study and practice, a graduated doctor begins searching for the job that does not even meet his requirements for comfort. Instead, it occupies him all the day and wakes him up at night for emergency calls while causing him to stand for long hours in the operating room, etc…

 the afterworld for which Allah the Exalted created the human being that he must seek differs from this mundane world. It is the opposite world.

 the Exalted? The answer is no and a thousand noes. There must exist a day when the wronged will triumph due to justice while the tyrants receive punishment.

 Doubts regarding the Afterworld

 lost in it».(1) They wonder deniably: Once we are consumed [claimed by death] and transformed into dust we become nonexistent(2). Therefore, the presented afterworld does not refer to our resurrection because we have been consumed into ashes. Instead, there will be another form of new creation. It is obvious and based on our wisdom that no newer creation can be held accountable for the mistakes of an older creation.

 The one that the angel of death collects in full, based on the words of the holy Quran, is the soul, not the body. Allah the Exalted says, «Allah receiveth (men’s) souls at the time of their death…»(1)

 2- Can Allah the Exalted bring the dead to life?

 When we ponder on the previous dubiousness, we will realize that it derives from man’s belief in the difficulty of doing something. However, this issue does not mean its impossibility. At this point, we read the following dialogue that took place between Satan and Prophet Jesus (pbuh).

 why the Quranic answer regarding its unlikely came to say that «and it is easier for Him».(1)

 In the second verse, they maintain that life is limited to this world solely, where the ancestors die and the newborn successors live. They also maintain this issue without providing any proof. In fact, they limit their word to their thinking that time is the only claimer of life, the sole destroyer of man. Time refers to the period that lasts from the beginning of man’s existence until his death, which is also defined as the long time. In the statement of theirs, they only believe that nothing will ruin and consume man into dust but the long time that will pass, after which there will be no resurrection or restoration of life.

 2- The story of the people of the cave

 3- The story of the man passing by the town

 He was awed for such a scene. Therefore, he thought that there are two issues requiring great capabilities to restore their lives, as a gesture by him to the power of the Almighty Allah.

 Allah the Exalted commanded him to look at his food, drink and donkey. Suddenly, he could see how his donkey had turned into dust whereas his food and drink did not change. Moreover, Allah the Exalted wanted him to observe His might in restoring the changing or shifting objects hence showed him how he could restore his donkey back to its initial state [dust to life]. This way, Allah the Exalted made him as a sign for people, which demonstrates His might in resurrecting the people and giving them back their lives on the Day of Judgment.(1)

(1) AT-TABA’TABA’EI, Muhammad Hussein, Tafsir al-Mizan (The Scales’ Interpretation), Ps. 365-366.   

25

 The End of the World

 It is evident that the blowing and trumpet expressions have been used in order to give a notion of what is going to happen. For instance, the trumpet is not an ordinary or regular instrument. It is different from the picture that we hold in our minds. An instrument is going to be used to send the blow to the entire world simultaneously. Everyone knows that the speed of the wave sound is slow and cannot speed more than 360 meters per second. Whereas, the speed of light can reach 300 thousand kilometers per second, one million times faster than the speed of sound.(1)

 blow is not similar to the ordinary sound waves. Instead, it is much greater.

 every creature in this world.(1)-(2)-(3)

 the limits of death. In this sense, Allah the Exalted said, «…And Moses fell down senseless…».(1)

 This meaning was also noticed in a quoted speech of Imam as-Sadiq (pbuh) who was asked, «Will the spirit vanish when it departs its mold or will it stay? He (pbuh) said, ‘No, it is remaining until the time when the trumpet will be blown. At this point, things become ineffective and senseless. There will be no sense or tangibility. Things will be restored as their lord started them for as long as four hundred years, when the creation will hibernate during the period between the two blows’».(1)

 world). The second life after the second death is the life of the Day of Judgment.

 prophetic tradition reads, «The hour rises as two men demonstrate their merchandise in a bargain. They will be unable to seal it until the rise [of the hour], and the man that brings his morsel near his mouth will not reach his mouth until the rise…»(1)

 In our book, «The Call for Departure»,(1) we mentioned that they being disregarded does not mean the loss of their sensation in the world of the barrier. Instead, they are being disregarded without any questioning and without dragging the soul into the astral heaven or hell in the barrier. This meaning exists in an authenticated report by Dhureis al-Kanasi that he quoted from Imam Al-Baqir (pbuh). The report reads, «I said to him: May I die for you, what will be of the case of the monotheists who recognize the prophecy of Muhammad (pbuh&hh), and the Muslim sinners who die without an Imam and who are unaware of your guardianship? The Imam (pbuh) said, ‘As for these people, they remain in their graves without any escape. Anyone with a good deed without showing animosity [towards Ahlul Bayt (pbut)] will have a tunnel dug for him and connected to the paradise that Allah created in the west. Hence, the breath of life will enter his grave until Resurrection Day, until he meets Allah Who will hold him accountable based on his good and bad deeds. Hence, either to paradise or to hell. These people await Allah’s decree. The same 

(1) AKRAM, Barakat, the Call for Departure, first edition, Beirut, Dar As-Siraj (publishing house), 2013, P. 119.

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 issue applies to the wronged, stupid, infants and Muslim children who have not reached the age of puberty’».(1)

 away, save him whom Allah willeth…»(1) So they asked him, messenger of Allah, who are these for whom Allah made an exception? He (pbuh&hh) said, «Gabriel, Michael, Israfil, and the angel of death. Therefore, once Allah collects the spirits of the creation He says to the angel of death… Take the life of Israfil, and he takes the life of Israfil. Next, He says angel of death, who is left? He said that he says: praised You are my Lord; blessed and exalted You are my Lord, the owner of reverence and nobility. The ones left are Gabriel, Michael, and the angel of death. He says take the spirit of Michael; and he takes the spirit of Michael turning into a shape like the great mountain. Next, He says angel of death, who is left? He says blessed You are my Lord and exalted. Gabriel and the angel of death are left. He says die angel of death and he dies. He says O Gabriel, who is left? He says blessed You are my Lord and exalted, the owner of reverence and nobility. Your face [existence] is the everlasting permanence whereas Gabriel is the vanishing dead.

 and says praised You are my Lord, blessed and exalted, the owner of reverence and nobility». Consequently, Allah’s messenger (pbuh&hh) says, «At this point, Gabriel dies. He is the last creature to die amongst the creatures of the heavens and the earth».(1)

 This exception is regarded as a generosity given by Allah the Exalted to those remaining alive [after departure from this world] at the time of the blowing of the trumpet. Therefore, such generosity must also reach those classified as the best by Allah the Exalted such as the angels, the fair ones, and the martyrs. At this point, I wish to add to the previously mentioned subjects the prophets and the successors.

 bells equals the distance between the sky and the earth. He adds, as soon as the angels see that Israfil begins descending to the world with the trumpet they say, Allah the Exalted has given permission for the death of the inhabitants on the earth as well as the inhabitants in the skies. Israfil (pbuh) descends and stands next to the sacred place while facing the Kaaba. As soon as the people on the earth see him, they say Allah the Exalted has given the permission for the death of the inhabitants on the earth. He blows one blow and the sound exits the bell that faces the earth. Hence, nothing with a spirit on the earth will escape the swoon unless it dies. Next, he blows again in it and the sound exists the bell that faces the skies. Hence, nothing with a spirit in the skies will escape the swoon unless it dies except Israfil. He adds, Allah the Exalted says to Israfil, O Israfil, die, and Israfil dies.

 (awful) movement. This brings us to His words, ‘on the day when the heaven will heave with (awful) heaving; and the mountains move away with (awful) movement.’(1) In other words, the earth will expand and changes into a different earth. An earth where no prominent sins are being earned, with no mountains or plants, the same as He spread it the first time. He brings back His throne above the water the same as the first time, independent with His mightiness and exaltedness. At this point, the Exalted Almighty calls with a powerful sound reaching the far edges of the skies and earths asking, to whom the sovereignty belongs today. No one answers. At this point, the Almighty replies to Himself, to Allah, the One, the Absolute…»(2)

(1) The holy Quran, chapter 52, verses 9-10.

(2) AL-QUMMI, Ali, Tafsir Al-Qummi (Al-Qummi Interpretation), vol. 2, p. 253.

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 The Universe amid the Two Blows

 cosmic developments. These are:

 3.         Feebleness. Allah the Exalted said, «And the heaven will split asunder, for that day it will be frail».(1) In other words, it is weak.(2)

 The holy Quran was not satisfied with the previous description of the cosmic events that will occur after the first blow. Instead, it mentioned the fate of the celestial bodies based on the following titles:

 The falling process holds two meanings:

 blackness of the sun’s mass, so to speak as an expression.(1)

 the Exalted said regarding the earth, «And attentive to her Lord in fear».(1) In other words, it remains a fact and worthy of listening and obeying her lord.(2)

 1.2.      The grounding of the earth. Allah the Exalted said, «Nay, but when the earth is ground to atoms, grinding, grinding».(1) Grinding means severe pounding.(2) Pounding means breaking an object into small fragments. This is why the earth is famous for being soft and easy for grinding. In this sense, the term ground (past participle of grind) is also used to refer to the leveled land that was ground for the purpose of inhabitation.

 will expand the earth on the Day of Judgment making it wide enough for the assembly of all the creatures.

 In order to indicate this meaning, Allah the Exalted also said, «And the hills are set in motion and become as a mirage».(1) The mountains that were real with strong masses, unshaken by the strong winds and storms, will change by the strong motion and alter into a mirage, become unreal. To indicate the same meaning, Allah the Exalted said, «On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand».(2) In other words, they turn into a quaking and shifting sand. The Arabic word for heap is «Maheel». This word means stirring the bottom of the sand, causing its top to shift.(3)

 the oceans unlike their present situation. They will all connect to each other and overflow, crossing all boundaries to the point where they all become one sea due to the terrifying earthquakes plus the crushed mountains that will fall into the seas.(1) This exegesis of the verses places the term «poured forth» in the sense of penetration. For example, when we say the breaking dawn it is because we are saying that light is penetrating the darkness to fill it with illumination. Hence, the rising of the seas comes in the sense of filling. At this point, the meaning of risen comes in the sense of being filled(2) [as when saying that the water is rising inside the cup, it means the cup is filling].

 The previous discussion summarizes the cosmic general scene that will be followed by the resurrection blowing of the trumpet, after which the people shall rise from their graves, on the day of the greater fear.(1)

(1)    The electrolysis of water; Levie R; Journal of eletroamalytical chemistry, 476, October 1999, p. 92-93.

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 The Greater Fear

 says, O Amro, it is different from what you think and believe. The people receive one call and no one remains dead unless he rises and no one remains alive unless he dies for as long as Allah wills. Next, they will receive another call, those who died will rise again, and they will all line up. The heaven will split asunder, the earth will shake, the mountains will collapse, and the fires will roar and shoot sparks equaling the size of the mountains. Therefore, anyone with a spirit will have his heart dislocated [from fear] and becomes occupied with himself contemplating on his sins for as long as Allah wills. Where will you stand – O Amro – when this happens? 

 effects that will overwhelm them. The next verses describe these effects:

 The hearts that choke the throats coupled with distress describe supreme horror, as if the hearts are moving away from their locations to reach the throats due to the ultimate horror.(1)

 These two verses, add to their description of those safe, also describe that which can save from the horror. We will discuss this issue next.

 such definition. Instead, it presented several examples. Expert scholar AT-TABA’TABA’EI, considered that the traditional reports referring to the cause for the revelation in the two verses given as an example is a method that provides other examples of this sort, which saves these two verses from being limited to one example without other examples. We will notice this issue in the following titles that we will describe as the saviors from the greater fear.

 ‘Lo! Those unto whom kindness hath gone forth before from Us, they will be far removed from thence.’(1) 

 Abdullah (pbuh) said, ‘Do you know the good deed that Allah the Exalted defines in this verse? I swear in Allah, it is the recognition of the Imam plus his obedience’».(1)

 saying, «Whosoever encounters lewdness or lust and avoids it in fear of Allah the Exalted, Allah will forbid him [his flesh] from the hellfire and secure him from the supreme horror».(1)

 his household (pbut) encourages us to recognize the peoples’ needs as a virtue and a competition. For example, the prophet (pbuh) was quoted as saying, «Compete for virtues, run after the loots, and understand that when the people ask your help this represents a blessing of His upon you».(1)

 Moreover, for the respect of the greyed people, the noblest Prophet (pbuh&hh) was quoted as saying, «Part of the magnification of the majesty of Allah is in honoring three people: 1- The greyed in Islam; 2- The just Imam; 3- The knower of the Quran by heart who does not overstate or ignore it».(1)

 and spat in the face of the Sheikh. However, the Sheikh stood up in his praying place, lifted the edge of his gown, and strolled between the lines of the worshipers saying, «Anyone who revers the beard [greyness] of the Sheikh help the Sayyid. Therefore, the people filled the gown of the Sheikh with money and the Sheikh gave it to the Sayyid after which he resumed leading the second prayer.

 his feet to kiss them. He said to him what you are doing! The man said I am apologizing to you because of the way I behaved. He said you are ok. I swear in Allah, I simply entered this mosque in order to ask Allah forgiveness for you».(1)

 of the two mosques will be resurrected by Allah with tranquility».(1)

 Peoples’ Shapes on the Day of Judgment 

 the Day of Judgment – if the innate characteristic of the human being that is inside him and shares part of his soul and heart maintains its humanity, his natural image will also remain humane. On the other hand, if his innate characteristic was inhumane, his image –in the world after death– will also be inhumane and subjected to such innate and design. For example, if a nature of lust and beastliness conquers his innate resulting in a beastliness controlled inner realm, the natural image of such human being will also become an image that resembles one of the beasts that conforms to such nature.

 more characteristics. In this condition, it will not resemble any image of the animals. Instead, a strange image will be formed; such image with its horrible, ominous, strange and frightening form will resemble nothing in this world.(1)

 passing above their faces, and dragged by them [their legs].

 The dumb ones are those fantasized by their deeds.(1)

 Next to these ten descriptions, there are other descriptions such as:

 body. Next, he is told that this is the identity on the Day of Judgment for someone renowned for being double-face and double tongued in the world [previous life]».(1)

 1- The Shiites (followers) of Imam Ali (pbuh)

 I swear in the One Who caused the grain to split and created the creation, they will emerge out of their graves with their faces as white as the snow, dressed in clothes as white as the milk, and shoes made of gold with laces made of shining pearls».(1)

 will not experience dust or ignominy. Moreover, if the tears overflow, Allah will forbid him [the crier] from the hell. Besides, if one whaler of one nation cries they will receive mercy».(1)

 The Court of the Day of Judgment

 The holy Quran mentioned that the questioning of Allah the Exalted on the Day of Judgment rises upon certain elements that define the divine court. They are the documents, the witnesses, and the scales.

 wrote them down in lines».(1)

 Taaer in Arabic means bird. The Arabs were familiar with a method through which the movement of the birds could tell the fortune of man. Therefore, if a bird moves from left to right they would become optimistic, whereas moving from right to left draws their pessimism. Therefore, the holy Quran would tell them that the good or bad omen is in fact your deeds.(1)

 The holy Quran mentioned a sign that indicates the goodness or badness of the account with its praised or dispraised content. This is the side where the human being will be handed his account. If he is handed his account in his right hand, this will signal his good fate. If he is handed his account in his left hand, this will signal his bad fate. Allah the Exalted said, «Then whoso is given his account in his right hand he truly will receive an easy reckoning and will return unto his folk in joy».(1)

 Oh, would that it had been death! My wealth hath not availed me. My power hath gone from me».(1) 

 drives the human being forward [from behind]. The noun siyaqa in Arabic means pushing the cattle from behind (the rear) in order to march forward. It is unlike leadership that means driving while being at the front. Therefore, the human being on the Day of Judgment cannot escape or change his course designed for questionability. He is being controllably driven.

 «When the two Receivers receive (him), seated on the right hand and on the left. He uttereth no word but there is with him an observer ready».(1)

 hours, let us succeed in serving and gratifying You with the attendance of a true witness of your angels».(1)

 2. The Human Organs

 3. The Earth

 is heavier, he will be saved; and if this side is less in favor of the weight of the bad deeds, he will join the deservers of the punishment of Allah the Exalted Who says:

 The Meaning of the Scales

 The Imam (pbuh) said, «No, deeds are not masses. Instead, they describe their actions. The one who needs to weigh the objects is the one who ignores their number and is not familiar with their weight or lightness. Allah, on the other hand, nothing is hidden from Him». The man said describe the scales. The Imam (pbuh) said, «It is Justice».(1)(2)

 in size a fingertip is brought and in it is his testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Once it is placed in the other pan, it outbalances».(1)

 outbalance [positively]».(1)

 The noblest Prophet (pbuh&hh) was quoted as saying, «A slave is brought on the Day of Judgment, when his good deeds will be placed in one pan and his bad deeds will be placed in another pan. Thus, the bad deeds outbalance. Next, a token arrives to be placed with the good deeds and they outbalance. He says Lord, what is this token? The Almighty says this is what has been said about you while you are innocent».(1)

(1)    AL-MAJLISI, Muhammad Baqir, Bihar al-Anwar (Oceans of Light), vol. 106, p. 112.

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 The Account of the Deeds

 them in His words, «What kind of a Book is this that leaveth not a small thing nor a great thing but hath counted it!»(1)

 noticed that you looked up to the sky and smiled! He said yes. I wondered about two angels who descended to the earth to solicit a pious servant in his praying place in order to record his deeds for that day and night. However, they did not find him in his praying place. Therefore, they ascended to the sky and said our Lord, we tried to solicit your pious servant so-and-so but we did not find him in his praying place in order to record for him his deeds for that day and night. Instead, we discovered that he was encumbered by Your ordained illness. Allah the Exalted said record for my servant the equal of the good deeds that he achieved during his fitness for his day and night as long as he remains encumbered by My ordained illness. It is my duty that I record for him the reward of what he performed in his fitness should I deprive him from it».(1)

 Allah’s messenger (pbuh&hh) mentioned them when he was quoted as saying, «An enactor of a good tradition receives its reward plus the reward of whosoever performs it until the Day of Judgment. On the other hand, an enactor of an ill tradition receives its burden plus the burden of whosoever performs it until the Day of Judgment».(1)

 5. The Current Deeds

 He said my Lord; I passed by this grave early this year while its resident was suffering. On my return this year, I discovered that he was suffering no more. Allah inspired him that he had left behind a righteous son, who paved a road and gave shelter to an orphan; hence, I forgave him due to his son’s deeds».(1)

 carried out. Why? The answer is in the following Prophetic words, «A man is brought on the Day of Judgment to stand trial before the Exalted Allah, receiving his book without seeing his good deeds in it.

 He conceals for them these recorded sins and neutralizes the witnesses to these wrongdoings. This issue was mentioned when Imam as-Sadiq (pbuh) was quoted as saying, «If a slave sincerely repents Allah loves him and covers for him. Asked and how does He cover for him? He (pbuh) said that He [Allah] makes his two angles forget their recording of his wrongdoings and inspires his organs to conceal his sins and inspires the regions of the earth to conceal the sins he committed on them. Consequently, he meets Allah when he meets Him with nothing that can witness any of his wrongdoings».(1)

 me, and You Yourself were my observer without them knowing, and the Witness of what has been hidden from them; and out of Your mercy You have concealed it, and through Your bounty You have veiled it…»(1)

 Some said, ‘«And those who, when they do an evil thing or wrong themselves, remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins - Who forgiveth sins save Allah only? - And will not knowingly repeat (the wrong) they did. The reward of such will be forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever - a bountiful reward for workers!»’(1) He said it is an act of kindness, not that one. After the people stopped [ceased from guessing] he said, what is wrong with you Muslims? They said nothing we swear in Allah; we have nothing. He (pbuh) said I heard my beloved messenger of Allah (pbuh&hh) saying that the most promising verse of the book of Allah is, ‘«Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Lo! Good deeds annul ill deeds. This is reminder for the mindful».’(2) He [The Prophet] said: O Ali! I swear in He Who has sent me with 

(1)    The holy Quran, chapter 3, verses 135-136.

(1)    The holy Quran, chapter 11, verse 114.

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 righteousness as a bringer of good tidings and a warner! Once the one amongst you ends his ablution, the sins will suddenly fall off his limbs. If he turns his face and heart towards Allah, he will not turn away before the last of his sins is gone, like the day when his mother gave birth to him. Should he earn anything between the two prayers, he will earn the same until he [the Prophet] counted the five prayers. Next, he [the Prophet] said: O Ali, the rank of the five prayers with respect to my nation is like a river running by the doorstep of someone amongst you. Anyone amongst, with dirt on his body, should think that if he wishes to wash in that river five times a day nothing of the dirt would remain on his body? The same issue, I swear in Allah, applies to the five prayers designed for my nation».(1)

(1)    AT-TABARSI, Al-Fadl, Majma’ al-Bayan (The Explanation Volume), vol. 5, p. 346.

107

 Accountability Concerning Faith 

 to hell someone who is infallible and sinless because this represents an ugly deed and does not conform to reason.

 spite and arrogance. Then see the nature of the consequence for the wrong-doers!»(1) 

 denial and negligence differs, necessitating punishment for the infidel because of his denial (unjust stubbornness) and behavior in being negligent.

 the infliction of punishment upon the infidel.

 the Just punish him? Does His punishment not resemble the punishment of the insane or the little child for his perpetrations, which remains the result of unawareness?

 religion, if it is the result of failure and weakness and was not deliberate by the ignorant man, presents an excuse for Allah the Exalted».(1)

 highly ranked people? Where are those, whose hearts are reconciled to the truth?’»(1)

 are incapable with ignorance, [they are] not negligent. Their populace obviously, without any sparking disagreeable argument to their beliefs within their minds, conclude the trueness of their beliefs whereas deem other beliefs false, like the populace of the Muslims. Similarly, our populace are aware of the trueness of their belief and the falseness of other beliefs without any sparking disagreeable argument within their minds. For the purpose of learning and cultivation within the surroundings of Islam, the same issue applies to their populace, without any difference between the two on one hand. The person with dogmatization remains excused with his continual conviction, and cannot be deemed disobedient or sinner, and his punishment remains incorrect regarding his [dogmatic] tenacity. Other than their populace, most of them, based on instructions since childhood and cultivation within the environment of infidelity have become certain and true believers in their false beliefs to the point where anything that contradicts with them remains unaccepted by their intellects that have been cultivated against the trueness since their childhood. For example, the Jewish or Christian scholar, equally like the Muslim, do not believe that the argumentation 

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 of the other is true. Therefore, its falseness with respect to him has become a necessity because the trueness of his belief is a necessity of his own and does not tolerate disagreement.

 Sheikh Muhammad Kathim al-Kharasani (RIP) said, «Seeking satisfaction out of doubt remains illicit against that which must be attained by reason and legal judgment; and it [such satisfaction] remains distant from knowledge. Therefore, knowledge must be attained if possible. If impossible man remains excused if it was due to his incapability, inadvertence or due to the ambiguity of the request with the lack of preparedness. Many women and even men set an example of this case. It contradicts the case of being negligent towards diligence, even if it is for the simple embracement of the method of the fathers and ancestors and following the tradition of the forefathers».(1)

 because of something out of reach. It would be one of the true examples of wrongness. The incapable ignorant remains excused and unpunished for his lack of learning the truth based on the judgment of the intellect providing that he does not oppose it and that he is entirely obedient to it».(1)

 The Four Questions

 Zein el-Abideen (pbuh) was quoted as saying, «The longest the son of Adam can ever be in age is on the day when his mother gives him birth».(1)

 have lingered and struck fast».(1)

 of the day and night. One box full of light and delight. On seeing it, he receives joy and delight, which if shared by the residents of hell its sensation would dazzle away from them the excruciating feeling of the hellfire. This represents the time when he obeyed his Lord. Next, another box opens for him that is dark, stinky and dreadful. On seeing it, he will receive horrors and gloom which if shared by the residents of the paradise it would disturb their heavenly bliss. This represents the time when he disobeyed his Lord. Next, another box opens for him to discover that it is empty with nothing inside that can cause his delight or disturbance. This is the time when he slept or occupied himself in one of the permissible mundane issues. Hence, he will feel disillusion and sorrow for missing that which he could have exploited to increase the indescribable kindnesses. This represents His words, «…that will be a day of mutual disillusion(1)».(2)

 Noblest Prophet (pbuh&hh) brought attention to this stage in his commandment to the noble companion, Abu Zar al-Ghafari.

 The stage of youth is a trial period for the human being. This is the secret behind the question asked about this stage on the Day of Judgment in this form: …about his youth and how he spent it? At this point, Islam advises us to exploit the stage of youth through two main issues, which will help provide good answer for the previous question. These two issues are:

 issue can be acquired through the religious education. The Prophet (pbuh&hh) pointed to this issue saying, «Knowledge is in three issues: Arbitral verse, just obligation, or established law…»(1) The first represents the knowledge of the tenet. The second represents the knowledge of jurisprudence. The third represents the knowledge of ethics. Through tenet, man learns his way towards his aim and perfection. Through jurisprudence, he learns the laws of this way. Through ethics, he learns the spirituality of the journeyer.

 physiology and the knowledge of religions».(1)

 Third Question: About his Wealth

 (pbuh) was quoted as saying, «Anyone who looks through it, it will enhance his insight. Anyone who looks at it, it will blind him».(1) In order to render the relationship with wealth as a positive issue, Islam focused on two matters, the two main parts of the question concerning wealth on the Day of Judgment. How did he earn it? How did he spend it?

 In order to pass this test, Islam encouraged us to study the financial laws concerning our profits. For instance, Imam Ali (pbuh) was quoted as saying, «Hear me merchants, jurisprudence comes before the store, jurisprudence comes before the store, jurisprudence comes before the store».(1)

 There is another question. Did he deduct from it the legal rights, which are the Islamic taxes such as Khoums and Zakat? Alternatively, did he not deduct from it the legal rights rendering his money evil? Imam Ali (pbuh) was quoted as saying, «The most evil wealth is that from which the right of Allah the Exalted has not been subtracted».(1) Consequently, his destiny is described in the quoted words of Imam Al-Baqir (pbuh), which reads, «Allah the exalted and blessed resurrect the people from their graves with their hands tied to their necks, unable to grab the size of a fingertip. The angels scold them harshly saying these are the ones who prevented the little kindness and lost the great value. These are the ones whom Allah gave whereas they prevented Allah’s right to their money».(2)

 Expressive Story

 the poor who stood with you for a short period. Hence he [the rich] says: the bliss have changed you after you parted from me».(1)

 question us. He (pbuh) laughed with his teeth showing and said, ‘O Sudeir, you will not be questioned for good food, soft clothes, or sweet odor. Instead, these issues were created for us as we for them in order to act with piety.’ I said to him, may I shield with my father and mother O son of the messenger of Allah. What is the pleasure? He (pbuh) said, ‘It is the love of Ali and his Family (peace be upon them)’».(1)

of Muhammad dies forgiven. Whosoever dies holding love towards the family of Muhammad dies repentant. Whosoever dies holding love towards the family of Muhammad dies faithful with complete faith. Whosoever dies holding love towards the family of Muhammad dies while the angel of death gives him good tidings concerning heaven followed by Munkar and Nakir.

 Other reports by Ahmad Bin Hanbal and al-Tarmathi narrated that the Prophet (pbuh&hh) used to stare at Hassan and Hussein (pbut) and say, «He, who loves me and these two, and their father and mother, will accompany me in my grade on the Day of Judgment».(1)

 And you being part of the prayers’ testimonies means

 beloved. If man sees beauty, courage, justice, honesty or other similarities of perfection in someone, his heart will be attracted towards him. It is evident that such attraction is involuntary, a forcible attraction. A man cannot decide to love another person by overlooking his perfections. In fact, the perfections attract one person to another.

 their recognition consequently identifying their perfections that attract the hearts of people towards them especially that they are the door of the religion of Allah the Exalted. Without their acquaintance, man will be lost and deviated from his religion. This is why the following words of a related supplication read, «…My God, let me be acquainted with your proof; if you do not let me be acquainted with your proof I will be deviated from my religion…»(1)

 Loving kindness based on language means showing love through expression or behavior. Abstract love has nothing to do with loving kindness. Therefore, the question about love is a question about how to activate it through loving kindness. At this point, the previous report of Hannan Bin Sudeir narrated that Imam as-Sadiq (pbuh), when asked about the meaning of pleasure, said, «The love of Ali and his progeny. He asks them on the Day of Judgment: How was your gratitude towards me when I granted you the love of Ali (pbuh) and his progeny?»(1)

 do harm».(1) Therefore, how do we comprehend this speech?

 (pbuh) is the one who guards his stomach and chastity, struggles hard, works for his creator, begs for His reward, and fears His punishment. If you meet such people, they are the Shiites of Ja’far».(1)

 towards Allah is a follower of us. Anyone acting with disobedience towards Allah is an enemy of us. Our guardianship can only be attained through work and piety».(1)

 Secondly: The true love of Ali (pbuh) emanates light and faith that enable their holder to avoid mischief, pushing him to repent if he is afflicted with a sin. Hence, he does not continue with the mischief and disobedience.(1)

 forbids – to be involved in every illicit issue that belongs to the legal taboos and to remove from his shoulder the responsibility of assignment. This poor unlucky person did not give attention to Satan who deluded him; and that he, at the end of his life, risks the loss of this hollow kindness that is useless and worthless, rendering him resurrect empty-handed on the Day of Judgment».(1)

(1)    Same previous source, Ps. 511-512.

147

 Intercession

 that is similar».(1) Therefore, intercession means interference in order to collect the positivities (values) that a human being possesses in order to reach the aspired goodness. In other words, intercession means the joining of the stronger individual to the weaker individual in order to help him eliminate the points of weakness or increase the points of strength.(2)

 (Exalted He is). This way of thinking contradicts with unification. Moreover, the holy Quran denied any intercession that is independent from Allah the Exalted Who said, «And guard yourselves against a day when no soul will in aught avail another, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be received from it, nor will they be helped».(1)

 One: The first story mentions that one reason is in «bona fides» or the good faith in Allah the Exalted. For example, Imam as-Sadiq (pbuh) was quoted as saying, «A disobedient slave is brought on the Day of Judgment and Allah says to him: Did I not command you to obey me? Did I not dissuade you from my disobedience? He says: Yes, You did my Lord. However, my lusts controlled me. Therefore, if You torment me it is because of my sin and You are not being unfair to me. Consequently, Allah commands that he be dragged to hell. He says: This was not my faith in You. He [Allah the Exalted] says: What kind of faith did you have in Me? He says: My faith in You was the best of faiths. Hence, He commands that he be in heaven. Consequently, Allah the Exalted says: Your good faith in Me was beneficial to you at this hour».(1)

 in them and sought refuge with Me in the hope that My mercy will include him. Be a witness [My angels] that I forgive him due to his good faith in My mercy. Therefore, when the Day of Judgment begins and he is brought for trial and questioning, He says: My slave, I am the One Who concealed it for you in the world, and I am the One Who conceals it for you today».(1)

 - «Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave?»(1)

 A number of scholars explain this speech saying that the intercession of these three types of people initiates form their role in guiding the people. The prophets will intercede for those who followed them in guidance. The same issues applies for the scholars. Imam as-Sadiq (pbuh) confirms this issue when he was quoted as saying, «If it is the Day of Judgment, Allah resurrects both the scholar and the worshiper. Once they stand before the Almighty Allah, the worshiper is commanded to enter the paradise whereas the scholar is commanded: wait and intercede for the people based on your teachings to them».(1) Besides, the martyrs also will be granted permission to intercede because of their teachings to the people; however, their guidance may simply be limited to their bloods [shed in sacrifice and for the way of Allah the Exalted].

 Allah’s messenger (pbuh&hh) was quoted as saying, «In fact, my intercession is for the great sinners of my nation whereas unto the doers of good there is no road».(1)

 In the same context, the book al-Kafi (The Sufficient) narrates a quotation of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (pbuh) to have said in a correspondence to his companions, «Anyone wishing to be pleased by a beneficial intercession of the interceders of Allah, let him implore Allah to be pleased with him».(1)

 Jesus (pbuh), and Jesus (pbuh) points them saying you should seek Muhammad the seal of the humans [humans’ prophets]. Hence, Muhammad (pbuh&hh) says, I am for it. He walks until he arrives at the gate of the paradise. He knocks and he is asked, who is this? Allah knows best. He says this is Muhammad. Hence, it is commanded that it opens for him. Once the gate is open, he receives his Lord(1) and bows in prostration. He would never lift his head again until he is told, speak, ask, and you will be granted. Intercede and you will be interceded. Therefore, he lifts his head up and receives his Lord to bow down [again] in prostration. He is told the same and he lifts his head up to intercede for those burning in the hellfire. No one of the people of all the nations on the Day of Judgment is more notable than Muhammad (pbuh&hh) is, hence His words, «… It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to a praised estate».(2)»(3)

(1)    Receiving the Lord has nothing to do with embodiment because Allah the Exalted is not a mass that exists in a certain place. Allah is exalted from such description.

(2)    The holy Quran, chapter 17, verse 79.

(3)    AL-MAJLISI, Muhammad Baqir, Bihar al-Anwar (Oceans of Light), vol. 8, Ps. 48-49.

158

 Sayyid At-Taba’taba’ei (RIP) annotated his quotation of this tradition saying, «I say: … This meaning is elaborative and the common and private reported it in different ways. It is evident that the praised estate in the verse represents the rank of intercession. This issue does not contradict the fact that prophets other than him (pbuh&hh) plus others may also be licensed for intercession. This is because their intercession branches from his [the prophet’s] intercession, the inauguration of which is in his own hand (pbuh&hh)».(1)

 you have any good deeds that can match them and could help your entrance into god’s mercy in heaven or surpluses that could help with your entrance as god promised? The slave replies: I do not know. Hence, the caller of our Lord the Exalted says: my Lord asks you to call upon the courtyards of the resurrection [and say] that so-and-so, from such a country and such a village, has been shackled by his bad deeds that equal the mountains and seas with no good deeds that can match them. Therefore, is there anyone of the residents of this resurrection to whom I have been benevolent or has any knowledge that can save me from His punishment?

 showed nothing but modesty. Therefore, we give away our services in his favor. Ali (pbuh) asks: And what do you have left that can help you enter the Eden of Your Lord. They say: By god’s spacious mercy that will not deprive he who supported you and supported your family O brother of the messenger of Allah. Consequently, the voice arrives from Allah the Exalted: O brother of the messenger of Allah, these are his brothers in faith who have given him. What will you give him? I am the judge concerning the sins between Me and him, for which I granted him absolution because he supported you. Regarding the wrongness between him and My slaves, I must separate between him and them. Therefore, Ali (pbuh) says: O Lord, I will do whatever You command me. Allah says: O Ali, give guarantee to his adversaries concerning their compensations for his wrongness towards them. Therefore, Ali (pbuh) gives them the guarantee and says to them: Suggest to me whatever you wish, and I will reward you for his wrongness towards you. They say: O brother of the messenger of Allah, for his wrongness towards us, give us the reward of one breath of your breaths on the night when you slept in the bed of Muhammad 

161

 (pbuh&hh).(1) Ali (pbuh) says: I grant you so. 

 compensated by Ali (pbuh), end in these gardens. In addition, they behold the benefits added by Allah the Exalted to the kingdoms of Ali (pbuh) in the gardens, which equal much more than what he gave generously to his supporting affiliate equaling the doubles of whatever he desires of the benefits that only He [Allah the Exalted] knows their worth. Next, Allah’s messenger (pbuh&hh) says: Is this better as a welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum that was appointed [a torment] for the dissenters of my brother and successor, Ali Bin Abi Talib (pbuh)?(1)

 thousand angels to march on her left, and one hundred thousand angels to carry her on their wings until they reach the gates of heaven. Once she arrives at the gates of heaven, she turns around. Allah says: O daughter of my beloved one, why did you turn around while I commanded that you enter my heaven. She (pbuh) says: O Lord, I wish that my value be recognized on a day like this day. Therefore, Allah says: O daughter of my beloved one, return and look for anyone who holds love in his heart for you or for any one of your descendants, take his hand and bring him with you to heaven. Abu Ja’far [Imam as-Sadiq (pbuh)] said: I swear in Allah O Jabir, on this day, she will pick up her Shiites and adorers like the bird picks up the good seed without the bad seed. Once her Shiites arrive with her at the gates of heaven, Allah inspires them to turn around. When they turn around Allah says: My dear ones, why did you turn around while I let Fatima the daughter of my beloved one intercede for you. They say: our Lord, we wish that our value be recognized on a day like this day.

 Fatimah (pbuh), fed you for the sake of loving Fatimah (pbuh), clothed you for the sake of loving Fatimah (pbuh), saturated you for the sake of loving Fatimah (pbuh), and defended your honor for the sake of loving Fatimah (pbuh); take his hand and bring him with you to heaven».(1)

(1)    Same previous source, Ps. 51-52.

165

 The Path

 «But that ye worship Me? That was the right path».(1)

 such as in His words, «As for those who strive in Us, We surely guide them to Our ways, and lo! Allah is with the good».(1) On the other hand, the term «Sirat» has been used only in the singular form.

 Another report quoted from the Imam (pbuh) reads, «It is thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword. Some will cross it walking, some will cross it crawling, and some will cross it clinging on and letting the fire take something from them while leaving other things».(1)

 The Obstacles of the Path

 contrary], once the breaker of family ties and betrayer of trust walks no other deed will benefit him and the path will lead him to the hellfire’».(1)

 Moreover, it was explained as the road where the enemy is being observed and watched.(1) This obstacle is a bridge, and the wrongness is the right that you demand from the unjust who took from you [by force].(2)

 What Helps Crossing the Path?

 Allah the Exalted for more than just guidance unto the path. This is placing him on the path. Therefore, Allah the Exalted taught us to recite, «Show us the straight path»(1) without using the word unto before it. In other words, place us on it through Your special guidance after directing us to it through Your general guidance.

 descends has certainly fallen (lost indeed)».(1)

 The Definition of the Rope of Allah the Exalted

 path of Allah and his loop that is unbreakable».(1)

 path, which is the bridge above the hellfire in the afterworld. Anyone who does not recognize him in the world his foot will slip off the path in the afterworld, and he will fall into the hellfire’».(1)

 without inclining towards anything that is false. The other path is the path of the believers leading to heaven, which is straight and will not deviate them from heaven to the hellfire. Other than hell there is nothing but heaven».(1)