Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The Day of Judgment – The Day of Regret for Many
In the Qur’aan Majeed, the day of Qiyaamah has been referred to by various names. Some of these names are the “Day of Recompense and Repayment”, the “Day of Gathering”, the “Day of Loss and Gain” (i.e. loss for the disbelievers and gain for the believers), and the “Day of Meeting” (i.e. meeting Allah Ta‘ala). When we examine these names, we find that each name reflects the condition that will prevail on the Day of Qiyaamah.
Among the names of the day of Qiyaamah is also the “Day of Regret”. This day will be a day of immense regret for the disbelievers, as Allah Ta‘ala explains in the Qur’aan Majeed, “(O Muhammad [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam]!) Warn them (the disbelievers) regarding the Day of Regret, when the decision will be passed (i.e. for them to be entered into the fire of Jahannum and dwell therein for eternity).” (Surah Maryam v. 39) From this, we understand that the Day of Qiyaamah will be a day of unimaginable and inconceivable regret for the disbelievers.
However, just as it will be a day of great remorse and regret for the disbelievers, it will also be, to some extent, a day of remorse and regret for certain believers. In regard to the regret of the believers, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “(Prior to entering Jannah,) the only regret which the people of Jannah will have will be the time and moments which passed by (in the world) without them remembering Allah Ta‘ala.” (Majma’uz Zawaa’id #16746)
When Allah Ta‘ala will be granting great and magnificent rewards to His special servants for the time they spent in His remembrance, the other believers will be filled with sorrow and remorse over the valuable time and opportunities they wasted in the world without remembering Allah Ta‘ala. Below is a thought-provoking incident which highlights the great value of imaan and life, and the importance of not procrastinating in carrying out good deeds.
Abdullah bin Waabisah Abasi reports the following incident from his grandfather. This incident had transpired before his grandfather embraced Islam. He mentions:
On one occasion, during the beginning days of Islam, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) came to us while we were in our camp in Mina. At the time when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) came to us, he was riding his conveyance while Hazrat Zaid bin Haarithah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was seated behind him. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then spoke to us and invited us to Islam. However, by Allah, we did not accept his invitation, and goodness was not decreed for us at that time. We had heard of him before this and we had also heard him inviting people to Islam during the days of hajj. Now when he stood before us and invited us to Islam, we did not respond and accept his message.
Among our group was a man named Maysarah bin Masrooq Abasi. After hearing the message and invitation of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he explained to his people, “I take an oath by Allah! If we accept the message of this man and we take him with us, until we make him settle in our midst and live among us, then we will be doing that which is wise and beneficial for us! I swear by Allah and I feel that his message will prevail and go far and wide!”
However, the people of his clan said, “Leave us out of this and do not involve us in something that is beyond our ability to manage.” Nevertheless, seeing that he had shown some inclination, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) became hopeful of Maysarah accepting Islam and thus spoke to him further.
After hearing the blessed words and message of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Maysarah responded saying, “How excellent are your words and how they radiate with noor! I wish that I could accept you and help you, but my clan have opposed me, and a man is always in need of his people. If a man’s own clan is not prepared to assist him, then it is even more unlikely that he will be able to acquire assistance from others.” On receiving this response, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) turned and left, and the Banu Abs clan also departed, returning to their families.
On the return journey, Maysarah said to his fellow clansmen, “Let us take a detour through Fadak, as the Jews reside there and we will be able to enquire from them as to whether they have any knowledge regarding this man who has claimed prophethood.” His clansmen agreed, and thus they came to Fadak. On coming to Fadak and placing their enquiry before the Jews, the Jews took out a portion of their holy scripture, the Towraah, and then began to read the description of the final Nabi which was recorded in their scripture. The description they read was:
The final Nabi will be unlettered and will come from the land of Arabia. He will ride the camel as his conveyance and he will suffice on a few pieces of bread as his food. He will be neither excessively tall nor very short (but of medium height). His hair will neither be curly nor straight. His eyes will have a tinge of redness (i.e. the white of his eyes will be tinged with redness).
The Jews then said, “If the man who invited you to his deen fits this description, then accept his message and embrace his deen. As far as we are concerned then we will not follow him as our hearts are filled with jealousy for him. We know that we will fight battles against him in different places as well. From the Arabs, every person will either follow him or fight against him, so ensure that you are among those who follow him.”
When Maysarah heard this, he addressed his clan and said, “O people! This issue, of whether Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is the true Prophet of Allah Ta‘ala, is now absolutely clear!” However, his people procrastinated and said, “When we return for haj next year, we will meet him and embrace Islam.”
They thus returned to their homeland, and the other men of their clan did not accept what they said and did not wish to do as they suggested. In this manner, years passed, until Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) performed hijrah to Madinah Munawwarah. Finally, when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned to Makkah Mukarramah to perform the farewell hajj, Maysarah met him and recognised him.
Maysarah came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and said, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! From the day you stopped your conveyance by us and spoke to us, I continued to wish that I could come to you, accept Islam and follow you. However, something always came up, and in this manner, time continued to pass. Hence, as you can see, my embracing Islam has been delayed until now. As for my other clansmen whom you had addressed in Mina, they have all passed away. Tell me, O Nabi of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), where is their abode, in Jannah or Jahannum?”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “Every person who dies on a deen besides Islam will be in Jahannum.” Hearing this, Maysarah exclaimed, “All praise is due to Allah who saved me from Jahannum!” He thereafter embraced Islam and became a pious, sincere Muslim, to the extent that he was even held in high regard by Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) during the period of his khilaafah. (Hayaat-us-Sahaabah 1/114-116)
