This page portrays Hajj worship as a miniature depiction of the events of the Day of Resurrection and the Vast Plain, adapted from Ibn Kathir's account of the turmoil of the Day of Judgment.
Spirits of various nations and complexions have gathered in Makkah, Arafah, and Mina. Hearts at peace bow before the Lord of Might, aware of their weakness and non-existence. Restless hearts crawl miles away, not feeling the magnitude of the miniature Vast Plain they will encounter.
Hajj is a rehearsal of death. Second by second. Scene by scene. Destruction. The soul departing. Resurrection. Judgment. Miserable is he who returns from Hajj yet has not felt the awesomeness of death. One day, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that on this day Israfil had placed the trumpet to his mouth, gazing towards the Throne. Waiting for Allah's command when the Day of Destruction will be executed. Ever since the trumpet was created, Israfil has done this; nothing can hasten it, nothing can delay it.
The Prophet informed that the trumpet whose diameter is as vast as the heavens and earth will be blown three times. The first terrifying blast, Nafkhatul Faza', will astound all living creatures. Allah commanded Israfil to prolong the blast without ceasing. Then mountains will move like clouds, then crumble and scatter like a mirage. The earth shakes violently. Its inhabitants are like boats on the open sea, tossed back and forth by waves.
At that time, human hearts are filled with great fear. Women forget the babies they are nursing. The pregnant miscarry their offspring. Little children suddenly turn grey. Billions of humans, though acting proudly and boastfully, panic and scatter. Not a single soul can protect them from Allah's punishment on that day.
Suddenly the earth splits in two. The event is most distressing. Only Allah knows their suffering. They look up to the sky. At that instant the sky becomes like molten metal, then splits. Stars scatter, collide, the sun and moon no longer shine.
Only those people whom Allah wills to keep alive are not startled by this catastrophic event, namely the martyrs who fell in the way of Allah. They never die in Allah's sight and continue to receive provision.
Next, all the inhabitants of the heavens and earth are killed by Allah with the second trumpet blast, Nafkhatush Sa'iq. Then Gabriel. Then Michael. Then Israfil. Then the angels who carry the Throne. The last to be killed by Allah the Mighty is Izra'il, the angel of death. Thus, from that point there is nothing alive except Allah who is One, the Irresistible, the Solitary, upon whom all creatures depend, who has not begotten anyone nor has been begotten. He is the First and the Last.
With His power unlimited by anything, He spreads the Day of Judgment. All creatures are resurrected with the third trumpet blast, Nafkhatul Ba'ats. There is no shade or protection except from Him on that day. Billions of humans—from Adam (peace be upon him) to the last human alive when the heavens and earth are destroyed—await their turn to be judged one by one at the Vast Plain. The duration of this waiting is 50,000 years of the Hereafter. How short is life in this world.
He thunders most severely saying, 'O assembly of jinn and mankind, indeed I have been silent with you all from the time I created you until today. During this time I have heard your words and seen your deeds. Now, listen to Me. Here are all your deeds and records of your actions, recited to you. Whoever receives good, then let him praise Allah. And whoever receives otherwise, let him blame only himself.'
Every case that has occurred throughout human history will be judged with perfect justice. Not a single person killed but there is retaliation for their killer. Not a single person oppressed but receives recompense. Even, a person who mixes milk with water will be forced by Him to purify the milk from water again.
After all cases are settled, a call is proclaimed that is heard by all creatures, 'Let each follower of a religion follow their lord, or whatever they worshipped besides Allah.'
On that day an angel is manifested in the form of Uzair, then followed by the Jews. Another angel is manifested resembling Isa, then followed by the Christians. Then this false deity leads them all to hellfire.
"If these idols were gods, they would not enter hellfire. And all of them will remain eternal within it." (Al-Anbiya': 29)
After all the inhabitants of hellfire are driven to their place, Allah appears in a form of His choosing saying, 'Now only I remain, and I am the Most Merciful among the merciful.'
Then groups upon groups of people are entered by Him into paradise, starting from those known to the one most beloved by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), until the righteous who lived in the ages after him. Indeed, His will is to raise some of the inhabitants of hellfire to be forgiven and transferred to paradise full of blessings, and all will remain eternal within it.
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the fire, and admit us to the garden with the righteous, O Mighty One, O Merciful One, O Lord of the Worlds
* adapted from the book "The Turmoil of the Day of Judgment" by Ibn Kathir, a prominent scholar who lived in the 8th century of the Islamic calendar, compiled from verses and authentic hadith
Source: http://swaramuslim.com
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