The Muslim Belief in Absolute Justice and the Final Purpose

The Day of Judgment : The Muslim Belief in Absolute Justice and the Final Purpose

1. The Starting Point: The Rational Necessity of Judgment Day

Belief in the Day of Judgment is not merely a religious doctrine; it is a logical and rational necessity that serves the greater faith in a Just Creator. If God is perfect in His justice and mercy, it is impossible for the lives of the oppressor and the oppressed, the good-doer and the wrong-doer, to end equally in death and annihilation. The existence of evil, suffering, and injustice in this world logically necessitates another arena where absolute Divine Justice is realized. The Day of Judgment is the comprehensive answer to the existential question: What is the fate of deeds that went unpunished in this life?

2. The Chronology of Judgment Day: The Major Phases

The Islamic belief portrays the Day of Judgment as a series of successive cosmic and spiritual events, beginning with the end of worldly life and culminating in the final separation of creation:

A. The Major Signs and the Great End

The first stage begins with the appearance of the Major and Minor Signs of the Hour, preceding the first blow of the Trumpet (Sūr) by the Angel Isrāfīl. This is the moment when the lives of all beings in the cosmos will end. This cosmic event marks the announcement of the end of the testing period and the beginning of the period of recompense.

B. Resurrection and Gathering (Al-Ba’th wal-Nushūr)

This stage forms the core of the belief. After a period of time, the second blow of the Trumpet sounds, and souls return to their bodies, which are gathered from the earth. People will rise from their graves (the Resurrection) and will be driven to the Plain of Assembly (Al-Nushūr)—a leveled ground where all creatures, from Adam to the last human, will be gathered to await the accounting.

C. The Accounting and Presentation of Deeds

Here, the process of individual accountability begins. Every person is handed their Book of Deeds, in which the angels recorded all their statements and actions (minor or major). This book is presented to the servant, and their own limbs (hearing, sight, and even skin) will bear witness, speaking of what they did. The accounting is precise and comprehensive, as God questions the servant about their life span, their knowledge, their wealth, and the worldly pleasures they consumed.

D. The Balance (Mīzān) and the Bridge (Sirāṭ)

After the presentation of deeds, these actions are weighed in the Divine Balance (Mīzān)—a real scale that places good deeds in one pan and evil deeds in the other to determine which side prevails. Thereafter, people will cross the Sirāṭ, a bridge set over Hellfire, whose crossing determines their salvation or their ruin.

3. The Methodological Impact of Belief in the Day of Judgment

Faith in the Day of Judgment is not merely a theoretical idea; it is a crucial component of moral behavior and a catalyst for righteous action in this life:

• Self-Monitoring (Iḥsān): The certainty that there is an accurate record and a Just Judge who sees everything (secret and public) creates a high level of self-monitoring. A Muslim lives by the principle of Iḥsān (worshiping God as if you see Him), because the Great Court is inevitably coming.
• Compensation for Worldly Injustice: This belief gives the oppressed immense psychological strength and a firm conviction that their rights will not be lost, and that there is a day when they will be victorious. This mitigates the desire for personal revenge in this life and attaches hope to absolute Divine Justice.
• Purpose and Accountability: Faith in the Resurrection transforms life from mere futility into a period of time-bound test and responsibility. Every decision and every action gains deeper meaning because it influences the eternal destiny.

4. The Final Destination: Paradise and Hellfire (Eternal Judgment)

The Day of Judgment concludes with the final division into two eternal abodes, which represent the ultimate realization of Divine Justice:

• Paradise (Jannah): This is the abode of eternal bliss, prepared for those who believed, performed righteous deeds, and followed the Messengers. It is the reward for the believers’ patience and sacrifice in this world, where all sorrow and pain will be removed from them.
• Hellfire (Jahannam): This is the abode of eternal punishment, prepared for those who disbelieved, were obstinate, and committed oppression. It is the realization of justice against those who caused corruption on earth and violated the rights of the Creator and His creation.

Belief in the Day of Judgment is a fundamental pillar of faith in Islam. It is the cornerstone that establishes the moral and social structure, connecting the individual to their human history (Resurrection), their present (righteous action), and their eternal future (Recompense).