In this life, even an atom’s worth of good is accepted , if it

is done with sincerity . In the hereafter , the whole world in

gold will do one no good.

On the Day of Judgement, from the moment you rise from your
grave to when you take your place in the great assembly, from
when you are brought forth to be held accountable for your
deeds, to preparing to cross the Bridge (Ṣirāṭ), there are good
deeds that you have sent forth that will come to your aid. Deeds
that will take you by your hand and testify on your behalf, that
will settle your feet and shade you from the scorching heat,
that will light your way in the darkness and guide you to the

LIGHT THE WAY

DEEDS THAT
abode of eternal delight.

So do not ask your Lord when the Day of Judgement will be,
but ask yourself what deeds have you prepared for that day.

OM A R SULEIM A N
Imam Omar Suleiman is the Founder and President
of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and
Professor of Islamic studies at Southern Methodist
University in Dallas, USA.

ISBN 978-1-84774-197-4
51595
ISBN 978-1-84774-197-4 US$15.95
ISBN 978-1-84774-197-4
51595
In association with
Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research 9 781847 741974 OM A R SULEIM A N
9 781847 741974
 OM A R
S U L EI M A N

In association with
Judgement Day:
Deeds That Light the Way

First published in England by

Kube Publishing Ltd
Markfield Conference Centre
Ratby Lane, Markfield
Leicestershire, LE67 9SY
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1530 249230

Website: www.kubepublishing.com
Email: info@kubepublishing.com

© Omar Suleiman 2023

All Rights Reserved. 1st impression, 2023.

The right of Omar Suleiman to be identified as the author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patent Act 1988.

Cataloguing-in-Publication Data is available from the

British Library.

ISBN 978-1-84774-197-4 Casebound

eISBN 978-1-84774-198-1 Ebook

Proofreading and editing: Wordsmiths

Cover design, Arabic calligraphy and typesetting: Jannah Haque
Printed by: IMAK Ofset, Turkey.

ii
 Transliteration
Guide
A brief guide to some of the letters and symbols used
in the Arabic transliteration in this book.

th ‫ث‬ ḥ ‫ح‬ dh ‫ذ‬

ṣ ‫ص‬ ḍ ‫ض‬ ṭ ‫ط‬

ẓ ‫ظ‬ ʿ ‫ع‬ ’ ‫ء‬

ā ī ū

‫ﷺ‬ b 
May the peace and Glorified May Allah
blessings of Allah and Majestic be pleased
be upon him. (is He). with him.

  
May Allah be May Allah be pleased May peace be
pleased with her. with them both. upon him.

 
May peace be May peace be
upon her. upon them both.

iii
 Contents

Introduction...........................................................................vi

1. After One Dies...............................................................1

2. When the Trumpet Sounds.........................................13

3. Attires of Honour or Humiliation...............................23

4. With Those Whom One Loves.....................................31

5. When Allah Addresses the Gathering.........................39

6. Two Faces and One Tongue.........................................49

7. Long Necks and Grey Hair..........................................57

8. Under Which Banner?..................................................65

9. Pulpits of Light............................................................73

10. Under the Shade of Allah ........................................81

11 When He Asks About One’s Prayer.............................93

12. Mountains and Mirages.............................................105

13. One’s Limbs Will Testify........................................... 117

14. Justice for the Oppressed...........................................129

15. Saved for Saving Others.............................................139

iv
16. Those Who Intercede.................................................149

17. Saved by Sūrah s.......................................................... 163

18. One’s Unanswered Duʿā’s..........................................173

19. The Reward for One’s Patience..................................183

20. Deeds Performed Secretly..........................................193

21. Heavy Words on One’s Scale......................................201

22. The Weight of One’s Character..................................211

23. The Deeds Worth Seven-Hundred and More............219

24. The Shahādah Card....................................................227

25. Sincerity Shines and Hypocrisy Blinds......................235

26. The Many Blessings of Wuḍū’......................................247

27. Crossing the Ṣirāṭ...................................................... 255

28. Drinking from the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬Hands.....................265

29. Waiting at the Gates of Heaven.................................273

30. One’s Eternal Home.. ............................................ 283

v
 JUDGEMENT DAY: DEEDS THAT LIGHT THE WAY

Introduction

T here is an inevitable and undeniable truth that, one

predetermined day, we will die and depart from this world.
But this naturally leads to the existential question of what will
occur in the next domain. Regarding the nature of the worldly
and otherworldly realities, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib  has stated:
َ‫آ َ ةُ � ق� َ ةً َ ُ ّ َ َ ة نْ � َ ن� ن‬ َ َ‫ْ َ ْ ت‬ ُ �‫اِ ْر تَ� َح َل‬
،�‫ُو‬ � ‫ وِلك ِل و حا�د ٍ� م��هَا �ب‬،�‫الد ن� ي��َا ُمُ د ِب� َر ة� َوا ْر� َحل تِ� ال� �خ�ر� مُ�ْ���بل‬ ِ‫ت‬
ُ ‫ َولَا تَ� �ك ن�ُو�ُوا � نْ� أَ��بْ ن��َاء‬،�‫ال� �خ� َر ِة‬
،‫الد ن� ي��َا‬
‫آ‬ َ‫أ‬ � � َ
‫ف�ك نُو�ُوا م� نْ� ��بْ ن�� َِاء‬
ِ ‫م‬
َ َ ٌ َ ً ‫ف نَّ ْ َ َ َ ٌ َ َ َ َ َ غ‬
.‫ا� َولا ع َمل‬ ‫ و�دا حس ب‬،�‫ا‬ ‫ال��َوم عمل ولا ح�س ب‬ ‫��إ � ي‬
“The life of this world is fast departing, while the life
of the Hereafter is fast approaching, with every one of
them having their own children. Thus, opt to be the
children of the Hereafter, and not of this world.
For in the present state there are deeds without any
reckoning, but in the case of tomorrow there will be
a reckoning without deeds.”

Even the most marginal amount of good done in the Earth

will be accepted and rewarded by Allah in the other
world, provided it is done with a sincere heart. But in the
Hereafter, having every ounce of gold in one’s possession will
not confer on one the slightest benefit. From the moment
one rises from one’s burial place and assumes one’s spot in
the assembly of resurrected humans, all dynamics change.

vi
 Introduction

In the otherworldly plane, one will be subject to a number of

trials and tribulations: one’s official records will be weighed
in the Mīzān (Scales) and one will be required to cross the
Ṣirāṭ (Bridge-Over-Hell). In all these circumstances, the
true saviour will be one’s own virtuous deeds: they will
physically appear and protect one from the heat of the Last
Day by producing beneficial shade, illuminating one’s path so
that one may navigate through the pitch-black darkness that
engulfs one, and even testify on one’s behalf in the presence of
the Lord of the worlds  . In sum, one’s virtuous deeds will be
the decisive factor in ensuring that one becomes an inhabitant
of Paradise. Instead of constantly speculating and postulating
when the Day of Judgement will occur, the Muslim should
devote his energies to performing good deeds so that he may
be assisted in the trials that he will face in the other world.

“So as for those whose scales are heavy with

good deeds, they will be in a life of bliss.”
ˉ RIʿAH, 6 –7
AL - QA

vii
 1

After One Dies

A s a thought experiment, I would like you to perceive

yourself as being a parent in relation to your deeds. You
bring them into being, nurture them, and facilitate their
development while anticipating a variety of subsequent gains
and benefits. The only difference between children and deeds
is that while the former are tangible and concrete beings, the
latter are abstract entities. But just as an ageing parent wishes
to obtain benefits from his or her children in this world, one
also hopes to benefit from one’s deeds in the Hereafter through
obtaining eternal bliss and comfort. Keeping the latter points
in mind, the key questions ultimately are: how many deeds we
have nurtured and raised in this temporal world? And in what
state shall we find them in the next world?

1
 o build a home
in Paradise, one must be
aware that the building
process begins in the
temporal plane of this
universe. In order to
die in a blessed and
pious state, one must
make sure to live in that
manner as well in all
stages of one’s life.

20
 4

With Those
Whom One Loves

I n this temporal world, surrounding oneself with people of

a certain temperament or value system will almost always
translate into acquiring their beliefs and characteristics. For
instance, having a good friend or companion will likely lead to
the attainment of virtues and noble values. Conversely, having
a morally iniquitous acquaintance will adversely affect one’s
lifestyle choices; people may even assign negative values to a
person due to his problematic associations.

On the Day of Judgement, one will be resurrected among the

people one associated with or with those one has admired,
even if one did not manage to meet them in person. For this
reason, every Muslim should reflect on his or her current
friendships and associations and ask whether they would
wish to be resurrected with such personalities on the Last Day.
This question should determine one’s friend making process
from beginning to end, just as one should be mindful that the
Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬once remarked that no person loves a people or folk

31
 With Those Whom One Loves

except that he will be resurrected with them in the Afterlife.

Obviously, considering the fact that, in the next life Paradise
and Hell will be brought in close proximity to every being in
this planet, the intelligent person wishes to stand with and
accompany the people of Paradise, not the people of Hellfire.

In a very powerful report, the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said:

َ َ َ َ ‫� نَ أ‬ ُّ َ ‫� نَ أ‬ �‫��ئ�ذ ل‬ َّ َْ
.‫ُو� � ف ِل�ْ� ََمل ٍك ي �ج� � ُُّر نو� �هَا‬ ‫ ََم َع ك ِل َ�زَِم ٍام س� بَ��ْع‬،‫ُو� � ف ِل�ْ� َ�زَِم ٍام‬ ‫ي��ُ�ؤ �تى ب�ِ�ج� َه ن�َ� َم ي� ْ�َو ََم� ٍ َه�َا س� بَ��ْع‬
“On that Day, Hellfire will be brought forth with
70,000 bridles, with each bridle being tugged forward
by 70,000 Angels.”

After making the necessary calculations, one will reach

the conclusion that an astronomical figure of Angels—
approximately 4.9 billion of them—will be hauling Hellfire
and bringing it forward before the wicked. This will be a
horrifying sight for the evildoers and oppressors, since not
only will they be staring at the dreadful abyss that awaits
them, but they will also be overwhelmed by the line of Angels
facing them, which will include the chief Archangel Jibrīl .
This awesome and powerful setting has been discussed in the
following Qur’ānic verse:
َ َ‫ْ َ ق� ُ ُّ حُ َ َ َ ئ َ ةُ فّ َّ َ ت� َ َّ � ن‬
َ ‫الر ْح َم نُ�ٰ� َو قَ� َال‬
.‫ص�َوا بً�ا‬ َّ ُ‫ُو� ِإ�لَّا ََم نْ� أ� ذِ� نَ� َله‬ ‫ي��َوم ي��َ�ُوم الرو وال�َْمل ِا�ك� ص�َ�ًا ۖ لا �ي �َكلم‬
“On the Day the spirit and the Angels will stand in ranks.
None will talk, except those granted permission by the Most
Compassionate and whose words are true.” 7

7 Al-Nabā’ , 38.

32
 8

Under
Which Banner?

A s times become more deceiving and delusive, it becomes

relatively more difficult to identify who the fraudsters
are. The Prophet described the interval preceding the Day of
Judgement as being sanawāt khaddāʿāt (deceptive years), and
further said:
ُ‫ق‬ َّ‫�ذ‬ ‫� َّ قُ ف‬
.� ِ‫ ويُ�ك بُ� ف� ي�ها ا�لصاد‬،�ُ‫الكا� ب‬
ِ‫ي�ُصد� � ي�ها ذ‬
“In those years the truthful one is belied, while the
liar is believed.”

In essence, all conventional standards of credibility will be

abandoned, and the overwhelming majority of people will
become unprincipled. The liars will be able to materially
flourish since they will be unbridled by any moral principles.
In such a corrupt setting, the sincere and truthful members
of society will face severe difficulties, since they will refuse to
compromise their moral principles for the sake of progressing
in society.

65
 Under Which Banner?

Each individual person has a particular moral orientation or

bearing, but his or her personal nature is hidden from others.
One can only imagine what it would be like if the angels provided
their own reviews of the people they surround and observe. That
way, one would be able to know the level of credibility of a person
before befriending him or her or engaging in transactions with
him or her. Such a certification process would be immensely
useful, especially if such information could be provided in front
of a person’s business or household. In the spiritual realm, such
modes of accreditation and labels do in fact exist. In a notable
ḥadīth, the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬mentioned that no one leaves his home
except that he will be followed by two banners, one banner held
by an Angel and the other banner raised by a devil. If the person
plans to undertake an action that Allah  loves, then he will
traverse his path under the banner hoisted by the angel. However,
if he decides to go and commit a forbidden action, then he will
be accompanied by the devil’s emblem until he returns home.
While these banners and symbols are concealed from the human
eye in this world, they will be fully visible in the Hereafter, such
that every human being will be able to see them. At the same
time, however, it is true that the identities of some figures will
be clearly illustrated. For instance, with regard to the Dajjāl
(Antichrist), the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said:
َ ٌ �‫َ نَّ َ ْ نَ � نَ � َ ت‬
.‫ُو� ك �فا� ٌر‬
‫�إو � ب� ي�� ع يَ��ْ� ي�ْهِ َمك�ْ� ب‬
“Between his two eyes the word disbeliever (kāfir) is written.”

That way, every true believer will be able to identify the Dajjāl
and thus avoid his call to disbelief and falsehood. Afterwards,
he will be vanquished by the true Messiah, and the earth will

66
 9

Pulpits of Light

S hould one enter a mosque and find a person presiding over

the pulpit, it would be reasonable to assume that that person
enjoys a privileged and honourable position in that place of
worship. There are individuals who settle interpersonal affairs
in a fair and impartial manner, thereby keeping their desires
for power and material gain in check. There are others who
are disinterested in obtaining authority over others. But when
others entrust them with such positions, they accomplish their
responsibilities with the required level of fidelity (amānah).

73
 Pulpits of Light

Yet, there are some people who are eager to form relations and
ties with others, but in a solely altruistic manner; they have no
hidden desire to attain monetary or social rewards from other
people. Regarding these themes, Allah  establishes a decisive
otherworldly principle:
ْ ُ َ َ َ‫ْ أ‬ � َ‫نَ َ ُ ُ ن‬ � َ‫تِ ْ َ َّ ْ آ ُ ن‬
.�َ‫و� عُ ل ًُّوا �ف يِ� ال� ْر ضِ� َولا ف� َس ًادا ۚ َوا �ل�ْع �قَا� ب� ة�َ� لِل � ُم�تَّ���ق ي� ن‬ ‫الد ُار ال� �خ� َر ة� � ��ج�ْعَلُه�َا لِلَّ�ذِ ي�� لا ي� ِري�د‬ ‫�لك‬
“That Home in the Hereafter We reserve for those who seek
neither tyranny nor corruption on the Earth. The ultimate
outcome belongs to the muttaqīn (righteous).” 22

Furthermore, the aforementioned points explain why ʿIsā ibn

Maryam  once said:
َ
.�‫الَم ن�� ِبَا� ِر ي� ْ�َو َم ا�ل� �ي��ق� ََاَم ِة‬
َ �‫ا‬ُ‫الد نْ� ي��َا ُه ْم أ� ْص َح ب‬
ُّ �ِ‫للم� َت�َوا���ض��ع� نَ� �ف‬
ُ � ‫ط�ُو�َى‬
‫ي ي‬ ‫ب‬
“Glad tidings to the humble and meek ones in the temporal
world. For they will be the possessors of the pulpits (manābir)
on the Day of Judgement.”

There will be multiple levels of eminence and grandeur on

the Day of Judgement, with every particular level being
assigned its own specific status. While many individuals may
have heard of the pulpits of light, there are in fact noteworthy
stations and ranks besides them. For instance, the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬
highlighted three specific categories of people who will be
protected from the horrors of the Day of Judgement by having
their sessions of accountability (ḥisāb) waived altogether.
In fact, the Prophet said that while the rest of humanity is

22 Al-Qaṣaṣ, 83.

74
 18

Unanswered
Duaˉ’s

T he eminent Companion Ibn Masʿūd  once shared

an incredible account which demonstrates the perfect
knowledge and wisdom of Allah :
َ َ‫أ‬
. ُ‫ال� ََِم َار ِة� ََح�تَّى يُ� يَ�سَّ َر له‬ َ �‫ِال� ْْمر م� نَ� ال���ت‬
‫ج�َار ِة� َو إ‬ ُّ � َ �‫نَّ � َ ل‬
ِ �‫ِإ�� ا�لع بَ��ْد يَ�هُم ب‬
“The servant would be on the verge of pursuing trade or
political leadership to the point it becomes facilitated for him.”

For instance, one may be constantly making duʿā’ (supplication)

for a certain worldly benefit or result, and eventually comes
close to achieving one’s objective. But Ibn Masʿūd notes that
once the desired objective is within reach, Allah  will observe
His persistent servant and then issue the following directive to
the angels:
َ
‫ فَ� إ� نَّ� ُه ِإ� نْ� �يَسَّ ْرتُ� ُه َلهُ أ� ْد خَ� ْل ت� ُ� ُه ن‬،‫اِص فرُ� ُوه �ع نَ� ُ�ْه‬
.‫ال� ََّار‬ ْ
ِ ِ
“Direct it away from him, for if I were to make it easy to him,
I would then have to put him in Hellfire.”

173
 22

The Weight of
One’s Character

A lthough they may have been physically bulky and

prominent, in terms of faith and character both Abū
Jahl and Abū Lahab were insignificant in their spiritual
constitution. This is akin to how some people enjoy the gift
of eyesight but lack any spiritual foresight and vision due to
the blindness of their hearts. Thus, the truly insignificant
and small person is not the one who is limited in his physical
constitution, but rather the one who is devoid of character and
morals. People who lack such inward attributes oftentimes
resort to making their physical appearances, expressions, and
interpersonal interactions more prominent, which often causes
them to become even more obnoxious in nature. All the scales
and measures of this world focus on the physical dimension of
human beings, with the key targeted attributes being weight,
height, muscle density, and other physical variables. Yet, in
this world, one cannot find any scale—regardless of its level of
sophistication—that can measure the nature of one’s character.
Such a scale only exists in the Hereafter.

211
 ne’s actions,
motives, and intentions
will be recorded in
one’s register of deeds.
Whoever performs
even a minuscule act of
good in this temporal
world will reap its fruits
in the Hereafter. Such
a promise reflects the
infinite mercy and
justice of Allah  .

215
 In this life, even an atom’s worth of good is accepted , if it
is done with sincerity . In the hereafter , the whole world in
gold will do one no good.

On the Day of Judgement, from the moment you rise from your
grave to when you take your place in the great assembly, from
when you are brought forth to be held accountable for your
deeds, to preparing to cross the Bridge (Ṣirāṭ), there are good
deeds that you have sent forth that will come to your aid. Deeds
that will take you by your hand and testify on your behalf, that
will settle your feet and shade you from the scorching heat,
that will light your way in the darkness and guide you to the

LIGHT THE WAY

DEEDS THAT
abode of eternal delight.

So do not ask your Lord when the Day of Judgement will be,
but ask yourself what deeds have you prepared for that day.

OM A R SULEIM A N
Imam Omar Suleiman is the Founder and President
of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and
Professor of Islamic studies at Southern Methodist
University in Dallas, USA.

ISBN 978-1-84774-197-4
51595
ISBN 978-1-84774-197-4 US$15.95
ISBN 978-1-84774-197-4
51595
In association with
Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research 9 781847 741974 OM A R SULEIM A N
9 781847 741974