In our practical life, we come across many things covered under layers of doubts and uncertainties. This may be true, for instance, to the question about the span of life one may have or the recovery of a patient. This is so only because we have no knowledge of the unseen. No human being, not even an angel knows it. In fact, man has the knowledge only to the extent the Lord Creator has made him possible for him. The Qur’ān has settled this issue in the conversation between God and angels. God said, “I surely know that of which you have no knowledge,” (2:30) to which the angels submitted, “Limitless are You in Your glory! We only know what You have taught us. Indeed, You alone are All-Knowing, Wise.” (2:32)
But one thing is quite certain, fixed and inevitable; and that is the coming of the Last Hour, the Day of Resurrection. When will this Day come? Again we do not know. We only know that this Hour shall come. Then, why is this certainly? It is because the Lord, the All-Knowing has taught us. He repeatedly informs us about the coming of the Final Day. Surah Al-Hajj, the 22nd chapter of the Qur’ān, presents a very terrible scene of the Day of Resurrection. But before presenting it, the Lord addresses man and commands him to “Have fear of your Lord”. And then comes the announcement, “The violent convulsion at the Last Hour will be awesome indeed.” (22:1) This Divine announcement makes hearts tremble. It warns man about what can happen on the terrible Day of Judgement. The terms ‘violent convulsion’ and ‘awesome indeed’ have clear indication of the nature of the Day.
This announcement follows the terrible scene: “On the day when it comes, every suckling mother will utterly forget her nursling, and every woman heavy with child will cast her burden; and it will seem to you that all mankind are drunk, although they are not drunk. But severe indeed will be God’s punishment.” (22:2) This description is even more awesome and frightening. We have the picture of a suckling mother who will forget whom she was feeding. And every expected woman will miscarry. The scene will present as if people ‘are drunk, although they are not drunk’. This will happen due to the horror of the Day as ‘severe indeed will be God’s punishment’.
But what about people’s doubt about it. There are only two probabilities. If it happens as per the people who have doubt about the coming of the Last Day that it will never happen, there will be end of life as they think. But if it happens as per the Lord has promised us, the people who cast doubt upon the coming of this Day will be ultimate losers; and only those who believe and submit to the Lord and act as per His commandments will succeed and enjoy the eternal life of the Paradise. We pray the Lord save us from the severity of the Day and guide us to earn His pleasure.