Two talks clipped together here, but the first one may well have been me talking to people about how I put a talk together, as it is just what is written below with a long list of Qur'an quotes in numerical order, whereas the second clip seems to have slightly expanded the text and folded in an assortment of quotes in appropriate places. Both talks were actually prepared for what the talk was called in the previous syllabus - Heaven, Hell and Judgement Day - close enough not to bother changing anything!
ISLAMIC OUTREACH - Lesson
Belief in the Day of Judgement.
First Clip
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
Where do you start when setting out a beginners talk? First research subject. Outlining by extrapolating an original idea (like prayer lecture) if you know the subject well, or extracting from researched material, like this one reduced down. Imagine how the statements you make might be challenged, and try to come up with the flaws in arguments for and against.
What is the first question to ask about H-H-&-JD? "What are we talking about!" The Afterlife. Unprovable, so Faith required. Belief in God and the Afterlife not confined to muslims. Main point of afterlife? Justice, redressing the balance.
Reward is the Garden. Other uses of "Garden" - Garden as one of the signs of God; Garden used as an allegory for various subjects in stories; Adam & Eve in Garden of Eden; Garden of Paradise.
Punishment is Gehenna, an-nar - the Fire, al-jahim - the Burning, as-sair - raging flame, as-saqar - scorching fire, al-hawiyah - the abyss, al-hutamah - crushing pressure.
The physical sufferings of hell are the concretization of the state of inner contradiction which ensues from the denial of God. Hell is the manifestation of that denial. The soul undergoing the sufferings is in fact attached to them, that is, enjoys them in a certain way, just as the cruel or self-destructive enjoy the results of their cruelty in this life, those who are or remain in hell do so because they cannot detach themselves from the errors that brought them there in the first place.
There is a Hadith "He shall make men come out of hell after they have been burned and reduced to cinders" God can forgive any sin but one: denial of His reality, which is most easily grasped as His essential Unity: that nothing is absolutely real, except Him.
Day of Judgement - The Last day, death at a set time, the questioning of Munkar and Nakir in the grave, the punishment of the grave and its bliss, the raising of the dead, their gathering in one place on the Day of Rising, the Reckoning, the Bringing of Books, the weighing of actions, the intercession, the Sirat, Kawthar, the Garden and the Fire, that the Believers will see Him, the Great! All these are true and correct. (Shaykh Uthman dan Fodio)
Second Clip
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim - Fatihah[if supportFields]>PRIVATE
Heaven, Hell, and the Judgement Day - a Quranic viewpoint
Heaven? Hell? Judgement Day? What are we talking about?
The Afterlife. Unprovable, so Faith is required. Faith, believing in something that you cannot prove but happens to be true. Like we discussed when we talked about God.
Why believe in an afterlife? Because it's true. Without it the creation would have no Justice. The Afterlife redresses the balance.
7.8 The weighing that day is true; he whose scales are heavy -
7.9 and he whose scales are light - they have lost their souls
99.6 Upon that day men shall issue in scatterings to see their works,
99.7 and whoso has done an atom's weight of good shall see it,
99.8 and whoso has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it.
We all have to die. Why think about it? Because our attitude to death determines out attitude to life. We should live our lives always remembering that the next moment might well be our last, and making sure that our balance sheet is in credit. Fearing death is a useful way to remind ourselves of what is important.
50.19 And death's agony comes in truth; that is what thou wast shunning!
50.20 And the Trumpet shall be blown; that is the Day of the Threat.
50.21 And every soul shall come, and with it a driver and a witness.
50.22 "Thou wast heedless of this; therefore We have now removed
After death, there are certain things that happen, which are of course rather difficult to describe, as they can't be experienced in this life, the life in which we use our language. But we know that after death there's no way back.
23.99 Till, when death comes to one of them, he says,
23.100 haply I shall do righteousness in that
There are things that we go through in the grave, but at some point in time we know there will be a raising of the dead, our books will be shown to us, our actions will be weighed, the Reckoning will be made, and we will get what we deserve. That day is worth bearing in mind.
56.1 When the Terror descends
56.2 (and none denies its descending)
56.3 abasing, exalting,
56.4 when the earth shall be rocked
56.5 and the mountains crumbled
56.6 and become a dust scattered,
77.8 When the stars shall be extinguished,
77.9 when heaven shall be split
77.10 when the mountains shall be scattered
77.11 and when the Messengers' time is set
77.12 to what day shall they be delayed?
77.13 To the Day of Decision.
77.14 And what will teach thee what is the Day of Decision?
77.15 Woe that day unto those who cry it lies!
78.38 Upon the day when the Spirit and the angels stand in ranks
78.39 That is the true day; so whosoever wills
23.101 For when the Trumpet is blown, that day there shall be no kinship
23.102 Then he whose scales are heavy - they are the prosperers,
23.103 and he whose scales are light - they have lost their souls
So our actions in this life can produce two results in the Afterlife, Reward and Punishment.
57.12 Upon the day when thou seest the believers, men and women,
57.13 Upon the day when the hypocrites, men and women, shall say
88.2 Faces on that day humbled,
88.3 labouring, toilworn,
88.4 roasting at a scorching fire,
88.5 watered at a boiling fountain,
88.6 no food for them but cactus thorn
88.7 unfattening, unappeasing hunger.
88.8 Faces on that day jocund,
88.9 with their striving well-pleased,
88.10 in a sublime Garden,
88.11 hearing there no babble;
88.12 therein a running fountain,
88.13 therein uplifted couches
88.14 and goblets set forth
88.15 and cushions arrayed
88.16 and carpets outspread.
In Qur'an the reward which we call Paradise is known as Jannat - the Garden, and the punishment we know as Hell is Jahannum, though unlike the Garden it is described using various names : an-nar - the Fire, al-jahim - the Burning, as-sair - raging flame, as-saqar - scorching fire, al-hawiyah - the abyss, al-hutamah - crushing pressure.
The difference in the way Qur'an treats the mercy and the chastisement reflect certain differences in their nature.
The one name for the Garden expresses the unifying nature of Mercy, and the varied forms of hell the divisive nature of Shaitan.
The inhabitants of Paradise live there forever, and
(44.56) They shall not taste therein of death, save the first death.
But
20.74 Whosoever comes to his Lord a sinner,
Once in Heaven there is no more fear of punishment, but in Hell there is still hope for forgiveness. The Prophet said "He shall make men come out of hell after they have been burned and reduced to cinders" God can forgive any sin but one: denial of His reality, which is His essential Unity: that nothing is absolutely real, except Him.
When describing hell, the Qur'an talks in terms of physical pain. Now we all know that there are many forms of human suffering - mental, emotional, and physical. We have all read of wealthy and powerful people so miserable that they blow their brains out. Most of us know the anguish of heartache, the death of a loved one, or unrequited love. These things we suffer in this life, but they are somewhat intangible, and Qur'an deals with the pain of punishment in the most tangible forms imaginable. The sustained physical pain of burning the largest and most sensitive organ in the body - the skin.
Let us consider how Qur'an describes the punishment
those that follow Satan, being perverse;
15.43 Gehenna shall be their promised land
15.44 Seven gates it has, and unto each gate
25.11 Nay, but they cry lies to the Hour; and We have prepared
25.12 When it sees them
25.13 And when they are cast, coupled in fetters, into a narrow place
18.29 Say: "The truth is from your Lord; so let whosoever will
4.56 Surely those who disbelieve in Our signs - We
22.19 As for the unbelievers,
22.20 whereby whatsoever is in their bellies
22.21 for them await hooked iron rods;
22.22 as often as they desire in their anguish
37.62 Is that better as a hospitality,
37.63 We have appointed it as a trial
37.64 It is a tree that comes forth in
37.65 its spathes are as the heads of Satans,
37.66 and they eat of it, and of it fill
37.67 then on top of it they have a brew
37.68 then their return is unto Hell.
37.69 They found their fathers erring,
37.70 and they run in their footsteps.
37.71 Before them erred most of the ancients,
37.72 and We sent among them warners;
37.73 and behold, how was the end of
37.74 except for God's sincere servants.
We are given plenty of warning, and we are all shown what pain feels like.
32.21 And We shall surely let them taste the nearer
5.89 But those who disbelieve, and cry lies
O.K. Hell is for those who disbelieve - in God and the Afterlife, and those who refuse to recognise the signs of God. The signs named throughout the Qur'an, of which many of the most frequently used relate to aspects of the garden of earthly creation. The rain giving life to a dead land, and the fruit swelling and ripening for our sustenance and pleasure.
51.20 In the earth are signs for those having sure faith;
51.21 and in your selves; what, do you not see?
51.22 And in heaven is your provision, and that you are promised.
51.23 So by the Lord of heaven and earth, it is surely true
50.7 And the earth - We stretched it forth, and cast on it
50.8 for an insight
50.9 And We sent down out of heaven
50.10 and tall palm-trees with spathes compact,
50.11 a provision for the servants,
The Garden is spoken of often in Qur'an. As well as one of the signs of God; Gardens used as an allegory for various subjects in stories; Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden; the Garden of Paradise. What awaits us in the Garden, insh'allah can be recognised in terms relevant to our present lives.
2.25 Give thou good tidings to those who believe
4.122 But those that believe, and do deeds of righteousness,
4.123 It is not your fancies, nor the fancies
4.124 And whosoever does deeds of righteousness,
4.125 And who is there that has a fairer religion
5.122 God said,
18.30 Surely those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness -
18.31 those - theirs shall be Gardens of Eden, underneath which
22.23 God shall surely admit those who believe
22.24 and they shall be guided unto goodly speech,
We are told not only the rewards of heaven, but how to get them
51.15 Surely the godfearing shall be among gardens and fountains
51.16 taking whatsoever their Lord has given them;
51.17 Little of the night would they slumber,
51.18 and in the mornings they would ask for forgiveness;
51.19 and the beggar and the outcast had a share in their wealth.
3.133 And vie with one another, hastening to forgiveness
3.134 who expend in prosperity and adversity in
3.135 who, when they commit an indecency or wrong
3.136 Those - their recompense is forgivevess from
3.195 And their Lord answers them: "I waste not
4.58 God commands you to deliver trusts
20.75 And whoso comes unto Him a believer
20.76 Gardens of Eden, underneath which rivers flow,
9.71 And the believers, the men and women, are friends
9.72 God has promised the believers, men and women,
78.31 Surely for the godfearing awaits a place of security,
78.32 gardens and vineyards
78.33 and maidens with swelling breasts, like of age,
78.34 and a cup overflowing.
78.35 Therein they shall hear no idle talk, no cry of lies,
78.36 for a recompense from thy Lord, a gift, a reckoning,
78.37 Lord of the heavens and earth, and all that between them is,
Not just dwelling places
25.10 Blessed be He
32.19 As for those who believe, and do deeds of
35.33 Gardens of Eden they shall enter; therein
35.34 And they shall say, "Praise belongs to God
35.35 who of His bounty has made us to dwell
76.11 So God has guarded them from the evil of
76.12 and recompensed them for their patience
76.13 therein they shall recline upon couches,
76.14 near them shall be its shades, and its clusters hung
76.15 and there shall be passed around them vessels of
76.16 crystal of silver that they have measured
76.17 And therein they shall be given to drink a cup whose
76.18 therein a fountain whose name is called Salsabil.
76.19 Immortal youths shall go about them;
76.20 when thou seest them then thou seest bliss
76.21 Upon them shall be green garments of silk
76.22 "Behold, this is a recompense for you, and
76.23 Surely We have sent down the Koran on thee,
76.24 so be thou patient under the judgement of thy Lord,
76.25 And remember the Name of thy Lord
76.26 and part of the night; bow down before Him
Not just material things, but mental and emotional paradise
52.22 And We shall succour them with fruits and flesh
52.23 while they pass therein a cup one to another
52.24 and there go round them youths, their own,
52.25 They advance one upon another, asking each other questions.
52.26 They say, "We were before among our people, ever
52.27 and God was gracious to us, and guarded us
52.28 we were before ever calling upon Him; surely
15.45 But the godfearing shall be amidst gardens
15.46 "Enter you them, in peace and security!"
15.47 We shall strip away all rancour that is
15.48 no fatigue there shall smite them, neither
15.49 Tell My servants
15.50 and that My chastisement
3.198 But those who fear their Lord - for them shall be
4.57 And those that believe, and do deeds of righteousness,
25.15 Say: "Is that better, or the Garden
25.16 Therein they shall have what they will
37.40 Except for God's sincere servants;
37.41 for them awaits a known provision,
37.42 fruits - and they high-honoured
37.43 in the Gardens of Bliss
37.44 upon couches, set face to face,
37.45 a cup from a spring being passed round to them,
37.46 white, a delight to the drinkers,
37.47 wherein no sickness is, neither intoxication;
37.48 and with them wide-eyed maidens
37.49 as if they were hidden pearls.
37.50 They advance one upon another, asking each other questions.
37.51 One of them says, "I had a comrade
37.52 who would say, `Are you a confirmer?
37.53 What, when we are dead and become
37.54 He says, "Are you looking down?"
37.55 Then he looks, and sees him in the midst of Hell.
37.56 He says, "By God, wellnigh thou didst destroy me;
37.57 But for my Lord's blessing, I were one of the arraigned.
37.58 What, do we then not die
37.59 except for our first death, and are we not chastised?
37.60 This is indeed the mighty triumph,
37.61 and for the like of this let the workers work."
48.5 and that He may admit the believers,
48.6 and that He may chastise the hypocrites,
48.7 To God belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth;
48.17 There is no fault in the blind, and there is
57.21 Race to forgiveness from your Lord,
61.12 He will forgive you your sins and admit
S.55 THE ALL-MERCIFUL
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
55.1 The All-merciful
55.2 has taught the Koran.
55.3 He created man
55.4 and He has taught him the Explanation.
55.5 The sun and the moon to a reckoning,
55.6 and the stars and the trees bow themselves;
55.7 and heaven - He raised it up, and set
55.8 (Transgress not in the Balance,
55.9 and weigh with justice, and skimp not in the Balance.)
55.10 And earth - He set it down for all beings,
55.11 therein fruits, and palm-trees with sheaths,
55.12 and grain in the blade, and fragrant herbs.
55.13 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.14 He created man of a clay
55.15 and He created the jinn
55.16 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.17 Lord of the Two Easts,
55.18 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.19 He let forth the two seas that meet together,
55.20 between them a barrier they do not overpass.
55.21 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.22 From them come forth the pearl and the coral.
55.23 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.24 His too are the ships that run, raised up in the sea like landmarks.
55.25 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.26 All that dwells upon the earth is perishing,
55.27 yet still
55.28 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.29 Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth implore Him;
55.30 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.31 We shall surely attend to you at leisure,
55.32 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.33 O tribe of jinn and men, if you are able to
55.34 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.35 Against you shall be loosed
55.36 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.37 And when heaven is split asunder,
55.38 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.39 on that day none shall be questioned
55.40 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.41 The sinners shall be known by their mark,
55.42 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.43 This is Gehenna, that sinners cried lies to;
55.44 they shall go round between it and between
55.45 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.46 But such as fears the Station of his Lord,
55.47 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.48 abounding in branches -
55.49 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.50 therein two fountains of running water -
55.51 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.52 therein of every fruit two kinds -
55.53 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.54 reclining on couches lined with brocade,
55.55 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.56 therein maidens restraining their glances,
55.57 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.58 lovely as rubies, beautiful as coral -
55.59 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.60 Shall the recompense of goodness be other than goodness?
55.61 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.62 And besides these shall be two gardens -
55.63 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.64 green, green pastures -
55.65 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.66 therein two fountains of gushing water -
55.67 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.68 therein fruits,
55.69 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.70 therein maidens good and comely -
55.71 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.72 houris, cloistered in cool pavilions -
55.73 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.74 untouched before them by any man or jinn -
55.75 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.76 reclining upon green cushions and lovely druggets -
55.77 O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?
55.78 Blessed be the Name of thy Lord, majestic, splendid.