Sermon's Title: “And fear Allah, to whom you will be gathered.”
Themes of the Sermon:
1- Every person will be resurrected upon what he died upon.
2- The states and appearances of people on the Day of Resurrection.
3- Whoever repents, Allah will protect him from punishment.
All praise is due to Allah, who grants honor to those who believe in Him, obey Him, and fear Him, and who humiliates those who oppose His command and disobey Him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant and messenger; may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him in great abundance.
To proceed: Fear Allah, servants of Allah, with true God-consciousness, and be mindful of Him in private and in public:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
.“O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims.” [Āl ʿImrān: 102]
Servants of Allah:
A man from among the companions was standing at ʿArafah, reciting the talbiyah and humbly supplicating. While he was in that state, he fell from his mount and died. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Wash him with water and lotus leaves, and shroud him in two garments. Do not apply perfume to him and do not cover his head, for he will be raised on the Day of Resurrection reciting the talbiyah.” Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
What a tremendous ending for a servant to be resurrected upon on the Day of Resurrection—walking among all creation on the Day of Gathering reciting the talbiyah.
It is a Day of Gathering which the believers both hope for and fear: hope, for what it holds of honor for the righteous; and fear, for what it holds of disgrace for the disbelievers and the criminals. Our Lord, Exalted is He, says:
وَأَنْذِرْ بِهِ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْ يُحْشَرُوا إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ
“And warn thereby those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord, for them besides Him there will be no protector and no intercessor, that they might become righteous.” [Sūrat al-Anʿām: 51]
It is as though you can see the creation that Day, when Allah resurrects them from their graves—even the wild beasts and animals Allah will gather. Have you not recited His saying:
وَإِذَا الْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ
“And when the wild beasts are gathered.” [Sūrat al-Takwīr: 5]
On that Day, people will be resurrected in many different states and forms.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every servant will be resurrected upon what he died upon.” Reported by Muslim.
Meaning: Allah will resurrect him upon the condition in which he died. How fortunate is the one who dies in obedience, and how miserable is the one whose end is sealed with evil, dying in a state of disobedience.
On the plain of gathering you will see people from whose wounds pure blood is flowing, and its fragrance is like that of musk. Do you know who they are?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every wound with which a Muslim is wounded in the path of Allah will come on the Day of Resurrection in its very state when it was inflicted: its blood will be flowing, its color will be the color of blood, and its scent will be the scent of musk.” Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
On the Day of Resurrection we will recognize the sincere mu’adhdhins—those who used to call people to prayer with ‘Allāhu akbar’. Do you know by what sign we will recognize them?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The mu’adhdhins will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection.” Reported by Muslim.
How great is their honor and rank.
While others will face disgrace and humiliation for what they used to earn. The greatest humiliation that Day will be the humiliation of the disbelievers, for Allah will resurrect them in the ugliest of forms.
Allah will raise them with blue (discolored) eyes, with blackened faces, blind, dumb, and deaf. Allah the Exalted says:
وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تَرَى الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ وُجُوهُهُمْ مُسْوَدَّةٌ
“And on the Day of Resurrection you will see those who lied against Allah, their faces blackened.” [Sūrat al-Zumar: 60]
And He says:
وَنَحْشُرُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ عُمْيًا وَبُكْمًا وَصُمًّا مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ كُلَّمَا خَبَتْ زِدْنَاهُمْ سَعِيرًا
.“And We will gather them on the Day of Resurrection on their faces—blind, dumb and deaf. Their refuge is Hell; every time it subsides We increase for them blazing fire.” [Sūrat al-Isrā’: 97]
And He, majestic in His glory, says:
يَوْمَ يُنْفَخُ فِي الصُّورِ وَنَحْشُرُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ زُرْقًا
“The Day the Horn is blown and We will gather the criminals that Day, blue-eyed.” [Sūrat Ṭā Hā: 102]
They will be gathered walking on their faces. You might be amazed and ask: how can that be?
A man asked the Prophet ﷺ: “O Prophet of Allah! Will the disbeliever be gathered on his face on the Day of Resurrection?” He ﷺ said: “Is not the One who made him walk on his two feet in this world able to make him walk on his face on the Day of Resurrection?!” Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
We will also see the people of major sins who persisted in their crimes and died without regret or repentance. Allah will resurrect them with disgrace and exposure on the Day of Resurrection.
Allah, and His Messenger ﷺ, have informed us of some of these people.
He informed us of those who were stingy and did not pay the Zakāh of their wealth—those who withheld the rights of the poor and clung greedily to their treasures. Allah will turn their very wealth into a punishment for them on the Day of Resurrection until judgment is passed among all creation.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever Allah has given wealth, and he does not pay its Zakāh, that wealth will appear to him on the Day of Resurrection as a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over its eyes. It will encircle him on the Day of Resurrection, then seize him by the sides of his mouth—meaning his cheeks—and say, ‘I am your wealth! I am your treasure!’ Then he recited:
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَهُمْ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
‘And let not those who withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them; rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection…’” [Āl ʿImrān: 180] Reported by al-Bukhārī.
Allah has informed us about those who consume usury, including those who put their money in interest-bearing banks and call it “profit,” and those who engage in interest-based contracts which Allah has forbidden. Allah will resurrect them like madmen seized and beaten by devils. Allah says:
الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا
.“Those who consume usury will not stand except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, ‘Trade is just like usury,’ while Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury.” [al-Baqarah: 275]
The Prophet ﷺ recited this verse and said: “Whoever consumes usury will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection as a madman stumbling uncontrollably.” Reported by al-Tabarani.
Allah has also informed us about the fate of those who commit ghulul—those who take from the spoils of war before they are lawfully divided. He says:
وَمَنْ يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
.“And whoever commits ghulul shall bring forth what he took on the Day of Resurrection.” [Āl ʿImrān: 161]
On the Day of Resurrection we will see people carrying the very wealth they stole from the Muslims—wealth taken through treachery and betrayal. Among them are employees who take gifts from people in return for facilitating their affairs, or to grant them what they do not deserve, unjustly and wrongfully.
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The Prophet ﷺ stood among us and mentioned ghulul, magnifying its severity and seriousness. He said:
“Do not let me find any one of you coming on the Day of Resurrection carrying a sheep that is bleating on his neck, saying: ‘O Messenger of Allah, help me!’ I will say: ‘I do not possess anything for you; I conveyed (the warning) to you.’
Or carrying a horse that is neighing on his neck, saying: ‘O Messenger of Allah, help me!’ I will say: ‘I do not possess anything for you; I conveyed (the warning) to you.’
Or carrying a camel that is groaning on his neck, saying: ‘O Messenger of Allah, help me!’ I will say: ‘I do not possess anything for you; I conveyed (the warning) to you.’
Or carrying gold and silver on his neck, saying: ‘O Messenger of Allah, help me!’ I will say: ‘I do not possess anything for you; I conveyed (the warning) to you.’
Or carrying fluttering garments on his neck, saying: ‘O Messenger of Allah, help me!’ I will say: ‘I do not possess anything for you; I conveyed (the warning) to you.’”
Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Such will be the condition of those who took the wealth of Muslims through betrayal and treachery. Moreover, every betrayer will be exposed on the Day of Resurrection, for a banner will be raised for him, and it will be proclaimed: “This is the betrayal of so-and-so, son of so-and-so.” The greater the betrayal, the greater and higher the banner—so that his disgrace will be proportionate to his treachery. The worst of them is the one who betrayed while holding a great responsibility.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “For every betrayer there will be a banner on the Day of Resurrection, raised according to the degree of his betrayal. Indeed, no betrayer is greater in treachery than a leader over the general people.” Reported by Muslim.
Many are those whom the intoxication of this worldly life has overtaken—until they wronged others and consumed their rights. But what will this worldly life avail them on the Day of Resurrection?
Have you not heard of the usurper who seizes the right of another, even the measure of a handspan—how great will be his humiliation on the Day of Resurrection?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever wrongfully takes a handspan of land, Allah will burden him to dig it out down to seven earths, then He will make it encircle his neck on the Day of Resurrection until judgment is passed among the people.” Reported by Ibn Hibban.
And the astonishing scenes of creation on the Day of Resurrection continue, serving as warnings to every believing heart.
We will see, on the Day of Resurrection, people the size of tiny ants—humanoid in form, but so small and insignificant that people will trample them beneath their feet. Who are they?
The Prophet ﷺ answers: “The arrogant will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection like ants in the form of human beings, overwhelmed by humiliation from every direction.” Reported by al-Tirmidhi.
These are those whose hearts were filled with arrogance—those who rejected the truth and belittled people. Their end will be humiliation and disgrace, in exact accordance with their deeds.
We will also see people whom Allah granted knowledge in this world, yet we will find in their mouths a bridle like that placed on animals—except that it will be made of fire. Allah will place it upon their mouths because they concealed the knowledge Allah had given them at a time when people were in need of it.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever is asked about knowledge and conceals it, Allah will bridle him with a bridle of fire on the Day of Resurrection.” Reported by Abu Dawud.
You will see a man walking among the people with one of his sides leaning—his body visibly crooked. This will be his just recompense because he leaned and failed to be fair between his two wives in spending and housing.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever has two wives and inclines toward one of them over the other will come on the Day of Resurrection with one side leaning.” Reported by al-Nasa’i.
Have you ever imagined a person with two tongues?
In the world, there were people with two faces—they approached people with one face and approached others with another. They flattered someone to his face, then spoke ill of him behind his back.
Allah will give them two tongues on the Day of Resurrection, but they will be tongues of fire.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever had two faces in this world will have two tongues of fire on the Day of Resurrection.” Reported by Abu Dawud.
May Allah bless me and you through the Noble Qur’an, and benefit us with what is in it of signs and wise remembrance. I seek Allah’s forgiveness for me and for you, so seek His forgiveness. 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 all who follow him. To proceed:
Servants of Allah:
These scenes are a warning to whoever possesses a living heart or listens attentively while being present.
To the one overtaken by heedlessness and drifting into misguidance: you still have an opportunity before the Day of disgrace and regret.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The wailing woman who does not repent before her death will be raised on the Day of Resurrection wearing a garment of tar and an armor of scabs.” Reported by Muslim.
Look at how the Prophet ﷺ warned the one who screams and wails at death, objecting to Allah’s decree and listing the virtues of the deceased. Allah will clothe her with a shirt of tar that increases the blaze of the Fire, along with scabs covering her skin—except for the one who repents to Allah before her death.
And likewise with all these crimes whose punishments you have heard: if their perpetrators repent to Allah before their death, Allah accepts their repentance and replaces their misdeeds with good deeds.
O Allah, support Islam and grant honor to the Muslims, and destroy the Zionist criminals.
O Allah, send tranquility into the hearts of those striving in Your path.
O Allah, grant deliverance to Your oppressed servants and raise the banner of the religion by Your might, O Mighty, O Strong.
O Allah, forgive the Muslim men and women, the believing men and women, the living among them and the dead.
O Allah, grant success to our leader in what You love and are pleased with, and guide him to righteousness and piety.
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Servants of Allah: remember Allah with abundant remembrance, and glorify Him morning and evening.
And our final supplication is that all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
