The Title of the Sermon: And They Will be Secure from the Terror of That Day
The Elements of the Sermon:
1- The Day of Resurrection is the Day of the Greatest Terror.
2- Who are those who will be secure on the Day of Resurrection?
3- Choose for yourself the path of safety.
All praise is due to Allah, Who bestows security upon the people of faith, and casts fear into the hearts of the disbelievers and oppressors. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him in abundance.
To proceed: Fear Allah, servants of Allah, with true piety, and be ever mindful of Him in private and in public, as He says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
“O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except as Muslims.” [Āl ʿImrān: 102]
Servants of Allah:
The Prophet ﷺ entered upon a young man who was on his deathbed and asked: “How do you feel?” He said: “By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I have hope in Allah, yet I fear my sins.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “These two do not meet in the heart of a servant in such a situation except that Allah grants him what he hopes for and grants him security from what he fears.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī.
This is how the believer lives in this world: he loves his Lord, hopes for His mercy, and fears His punishment. He is eager and hopeful, yet also fearful and apprehensive. He obeys his Lord while anxious that it may not be accepted. He sees his sins as a mountain about to collapse upon him. He walks with both fear and hope, until when he meets Allah on the Day of Resurrection, Allah grants him security from what he fears.
This is the promise of Allah, as our Prophet ﷺ conveyed: “By My might, I will not combine two fears nor two securities upon My servant: if he fears Me in this world, I will secure him on the Day of Resurrection, and if he feels secure from Me in this world, I will make him fear on the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by Ibn Ḥibbān.
Do you know what it means that Allah secures you on the Day of Resurrection? Come, let me tell you about the journey of safety and tranquility for the believers, and another of fear and terror for the criminals.
When the breaths of the servant come to an end in this world, death arrives—about which the Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, death is terror.” Narrated by Muslim.
At that moment, the believer does not panic, but hears the glad tidings from the angels of mercy, saying:
أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ * نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنْفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ * نُزُلًا مِنْ غَفُورٍ رَحِيمٍ
“Do not fear, nor grieve, but receive glad tidings of Paradise which you were promised. We are your allies in the life of this world and in the Hereafter. There you shall have whatever your souls desire, and you shall have whatever you ask for—an accommodation from the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” [Fussilat: 30–32]
As for the disbeliever, he is surrounded by the angels of punishment, with threats and strikes, as Allah says:
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ
“If you could only see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved, striking their faces and their backs, and [saying]: Taste the punishment of the Burning.” [Al-Anfāl: 50]
Then, when the believer is in his grave and the angels come to make him sit and question him, the Prophet ﷺ said: “The righteous man is made to sit in his grave, without fear or alarm… and the evil man is made to sit in his grave, terrified and shaken.” Narrated by Ibn Mājah.
Then comes the Day of Resurrection, the Day of the Greatest Terror, a day of immense fears and calamities.
Isrāfīl will blow into the trumpet for resurrection, the earth will quake, the heavens will split, the stars will scatter, the sun will be folded up, the seas will erupt and blaze, the mountains will be pulverized and set in motion, the wild beasts will be gathered, and the graves will be overturned.
At that time, people will be resurrected barefoot, naked, and uncircumcised—some walking, some riding. You will see the disbelievers dragged on their faces, blind, dumb, and deaf. The arrogant will be like tiny ants, covered in humiliation. The sun will draw near to the heads of creation, in overwhelming distress.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The sun will be brought near to creation on the Day of Resurrection until it is as close to them as a mile. Then people will be submerged in their sweat according to their deeds—some up to their ankles, some up to their knees, some up to their waists, and some will be bridled by their sweat.” Narrated by Muslim.
It is the Day of Resurrection—the Day of Judgement and Recompense, the Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the Worlds. It is the overwhelming calamity, the Day when man will remember what he strove for, the Day when a man will flee from his brother, his mother, and his father. Every nation will be kneeling, faces humbled before the Ever-Living, the Sustainer. You will hear only whispers—no lineage, no status, only judgement and accountability.
The heavens will split with clouds, and the angels will descend, surrounding creation in ranks upon ranks. Then Hell will be brought forth. And what will make you know what Hell is? At that moment, man will remember, but how will remembrance benefit him then?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Hell will be brought on that Day with seventy thousand reins; with every rein will be seventy thousand angels dragging it.” Narrated by Muslim.
Four billion and nine hundred million angels dragging Hell, which is almost tearing apart with rage, casting forth sparks like massive palaces.
All of creation will then stand exposed, nothing hidden from Allah. Sovereignty belongs to Allah, the One, the Subduer. The scales will be set, the records will fly, the bridge will be laid across Hell, and every servant will be called to be presented before his Lord, Who will speak to him directly without any interpreter.
Now the innermost secrets will be exposed, the limbs will bear witness, and the tongues, hands, and feet will speak of what they used to do.
On that Day, every prophet will say: “Indeed, my Lord has become angry today with an anger unlike any before it and unlike any after it. Myself, myself!” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim. And our Prophet ﷺ will be standing at the ṣirāṭ, saying: “My Lord, grant safety, grant safety.” Narrated by Muslim.
A Day whose length is fifty thousand years, filled with horrors, terrors, and fears—yet for the people of faith it will be safety and security.
As for the disbelievers and criminals, their hearts will be empty, torn from their chests and lodged in their throats out of terror and dread. They will be struck with fear when the Record is placed and they see all their crimes within it, not a single deed missing. Allah says:
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ
“And the record will be placed, and you will see the criminals fearful of what is in it, and they will say: Woe to us! What is with this book that leaves nothing small nor great except that it has enumerated it? And they will find what they did present before them. And your Lord does not wrong anyone.” [Sūrat al-Kahf: 49]
They will be struck with fear when the keepers of Hell stop them before the raging Fire, each part crushing the other. Allah says:
وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَاوَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
“If you could but see when they are made to stand before the Fire and they will say: If only we could be sent back and not deny the signs of our Lord and be of the believers.” [Sūrat al-Anʿām: 27]
The greatest terror will be when their bodies taste the torment of Hellfire. Death will come to them from every direction, then death itself will be slaughtered between Paradise and Hell, so they despair completely of any escape. Then Hell will be shut tight upon them, locked over them with no way out.
As for the people of faith, their Lord will protect them by virtue of their faith with which He promised them, saying:
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ وُقِفُوا عَلَى النَّارِ فَقَالُوا يَالَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلَا نُكَذِّبَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّنَا وَنَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“They will not be grieved by the greatest terror, and the angels will receive them [saying]: This is your Day which you were promised.” [Sūrat al-Anbiyāʾ: 103]
The Companions asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “Where will the believers be on that Day?” He said: “Seats of light will be placed for them, shaded by the clouds. That Day will be shorter for the believers than an hour of the day.” Narrated by al-Ṭabarānī.
But who are those who will be safe on the Day of Resurrection? None will be safe on the Day of Resurrection except the Muslim believers. No safety will be granted to a disbeliever on that Day.
Allah will call out to the people of Islam and faith on the Day of Resurrection, saying:
لَا يَحْزُنُهُمُ الْفَزَعُ الْأَكْبَرُ وَتَتَلَقَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ هَذَا يَوْمُكُمُ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
“O My servants, there is no fear upon you today, nor will you grieve—those who believed in Our signs and were Muslims.” [Sūrat al-Zukhruf: 68–69]
As for the disbelievers, polytheists, and hypocrites, they will be as Allah said:
يَا عِبَادِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ وَلَا أَنْتُمْ تَحْزَنُونَ * الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا مُسْلِمِينَ
“If you could but see when they are terrified, but there is no escape, and they are seized from a place nearby.” [Sūrat Sabaʾ: 51]
Indeed, Allah cast terror into the hearts of the disbelievers in this world, and He will resurrect them terrified on the Day of Resurrection. Did Allah not say:
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ فَزِعُوا فَلَا فَوْتَ وَأُخِذُوا مِنْ مَكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ
“We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved because they associated with Allah that for which He sent down no authority. Their abode is the Fire, and miserable is the dwelling of the wrongdoers.” [Sūrat Āl ʿImrān: 151]
As for the people of tawḥīd who did not associate anything with Allah, they are as Allah said:
سَنُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ بِمَا أَشْرَكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَمَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ وَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الظَّالِمِينَ
“Those who believe and do not mix their faith with wrongdoing—for them is security, and they are the guided.” [Sūrat al-Anʿām: 82]
True Islam is the declaration of ‘lā ilāha illā Allāh.’ That good deed—whoever comes with it in truth and action, Allah will grant him safety on the Day of Fears. Allah says:
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمُ الْأَمْنُ وَهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ
“Whoever comes with a good deed will have better than it, and they will be secure from the terror of that Day. But whoever comes with an evil deed, their faces will be thrust into the Fire. Are you recompensed except for what you used to do?” [Sūrat al-Naml: 89–90]
The fears of the Day of Resurrection will be lifted from the believers, the God-fearing, those who performed righteous deeds and strove for reform, fulfilling the duty of rectification to the best of their ability. Allah says:
مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْهَا وَهُمْ مِنْ فَزَعٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ آمِنُونَ * وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَكُبَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“So whoever believes and reforms, no fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve.” [Sūrat al-Anʿām: 48]
And He said:
فَمَنْ آمَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
“So whoever fears Allah and reforms, no fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve.” [Sūrat al-Aʿrāf: 35]
And Allah says:
فَمَنِ اتَّقَى وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
“Indeed, the allies of Allah—there is no fear upon them, nor will they grieve. Those who believed and were God-fearing—for them are glad tidings in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. There is no changing the words of Allah. That is the supreme success.” [Sūrat Yūnus: 62–64]
This fourfold quality—faith, God-fearing, righteous deeds, and reform—are the traits of Allah’s allies who will enjoy complete safety on the Day of Resurrection. As our Prophet ﷺ described them: “They are people from different backgrounds and tribes, without close kinship ties between them. They loved one another for the sake of Allah and were sincere with one another. Allah will set for them pulpits of light on the Day of Resurrection, seating them upon them, making their faces light and their garments light. People will be terrified on the Day of Resurrection, but they will not be terrified. They are the allies of Allah, those upon whom there is no fear, nor will they grieve.” Narrated by Aḥmad.
May Allah bless me and you in the Great Qur’an, and benefit me and you with what is in it of signs and wise remembrance. I seek Allah’s forgiveness for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness, for indeed He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
The second sermon:
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and those who follow him.
To proceed:
O servant of Allah:
You are in the abode of this world, so choose for yourself either its safety or its fear and terror. Our Lord, exalted is He, says:
أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ * الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ * لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَى فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
“Is one who is cast into the Fire better, or one who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you will; indeed, He sees well all that you do” [Sūrat Fuṣṣilat: 40].
Can he who hears the angels calling him to enter Paradise, saying to him:
أَفَمَنْ يُلْقَى فِي النَّارِ خَيْرٌ أَمْ مَنْ يَأْتِي آمِنًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
“Enter it in peace, secure” [Sūrat al-Ḥijr: 46]
Be equal to one who is told:
ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ آمِنِينَ
“The punishment will envelop them from above them and from beneath their feet, and it will be said: Taste what you used to do” [Sūrat al-ʿAnkabūt: 55]?
Can those of whom Allah said:
يَغْشَاهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِمْ وَيَقُولُ ذُوقُوا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“And they will be in elevated chambers, secure” [Sūrat Sabaʾ: 37]
Be equal to those in the depths of Hell, for whom there is sighing and roaring?
O Allah, grant victory to Islam and honor the Muslims, and destroy the criminal disbelievers.
O Allah, send tranquility into the hearts of those striving in Your cause, deliver Your oppressed servants, and raise high the banner of the religion by Your strength, O Mighty, O Firm.
O Allah, grant us safety in our lands, set right our leaders and those in authority over us, and make our leadership among those who fear You, are mindful of You, and follow what pleases You.
Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.
