COMMENCEMENT OF QIYAAMAH

Qiyaamah will begin after all the signs, happenings and events mentioned by Rasoolullah (SAW) have dom to pass. Allah will command Hadhrat Israfeel (AS) to blow the Trumpet (Soor). The Soor is a huge object having the shape of a horn. Hadhrat Israfeel (AS), the Angel in charge of the Soor, will blow the Trumpet. The thunderous and destructive sound emitting from the Soor, will destroy the entire universe. The heavens, the stars, the planets –everything will be reduced to atoms or bits and pieces. All creation excepting that preferred by Allah , will be utterly annihilated. The souls of those who had already died prior to this event, will lapse into annihilation. Only those and that of creation which Allah desires to remain will not be annihilated by the destructive force of the Soor.

After the annihilation of the universe, a long period of total silence and inactivity will pass by. At the appointed time, Hadhrat Israfeel (AS) will again sound the Soor. The second sounding of the trumpet will restore creation to life. This restoration to life is the Ba'th or Resurrection.

The dead will rise and gather on the Plain of Qiyaamah. The hardships of Qiyaamah will overwhelm all people. People will seek out the Ambiyaa (AS) and petition them to intercede on their behalf so that they may be released from the terrors of that Awful Day. Even the Ambiyaa (AS) will be so much overwhelmed by that fearful Day that they all will refuse to act as intercessors. Finally, the only one who will be the intercessor on this particular occasion will be our Nabi Muhammad (SAW). This initial intercession will be for the commencement of judgement. Rasoolullah 's (SAW) Sifaarish (intercession) will be accepted and as a result, the Stage and affairs of Reckoning (Hisaab) will be set up.

The Mizaan or Scale in which deeds will be assessed will be set up. The nature and operation of this Scale are beyond our grasp. Its description is beyond us but, the Qur'aan and Hadith categorically state its existence and function which is to weigh the deeds of man and Jinn. Virtue and vice will be assessed on the Mizaan.

In Qiyyaamah is a wonderful pond, lake or sea called Haudh-e-Kauthar. On the Day of Qiyyaamah, Rasoolullah (SAW) will gather his Ummah and give them to drink from the Haudh-e-Kauthar while all humanity will still be caught up in the terrors of Qiyaamah. According to the Hadith of Rasoolullah (SAW), the water of Kauthar is whiter than milk and its fragrance sweeter than the fragrance of musk. It comes in the Hadith that on the Day of Qiyaamah, Rasoolullah (SAW) and the Malaaikah will drive away the people of Bid'ah (innovation) from Haudh-e-Kauthar.

After the deeds of creation have been assessed on the Mizaan, the Record of Deeds of the righteous will be given in their right hands. This will signify their success. The Record of Deeds of the evil, will be given in their left hands, signifying their failure.

All will have to pass over Siraat which is the bridge passing over Jahannam. This Bridge is finer than a hair and sharper than a sword. The people destined for Jannat will pass safely over Siraat while those doomed to Jahannam will totter and slip into the Fire below. Those who will safely pass over the Bridge will do so in varying degrees of speed and comfort, which will be commensurate with their righteousness here on earth.