Which Group Do You Want To Be With?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

A young lady wrote to me and asked me for resources about the Day of Resurrection. That is a good sign about the future of our youths. I suggested to her to first read surah Waqi'ah which we are recommended to read every night. One of the benefits of reading this surah is protection from poverty. We all should encourage our children to learn and memorize this surah and read it every night before they go to sleep.

The Surah tells us that in the Day of Judgment we all will be sorted into 3 groups.

Some will be on the right of Allah's Throne, and they are those who were brought forth from `Adam's right side. This category will be given their Books of Records in their right hand and will be taken to the right side. As-Suddi explained that they will comprise the majority of the residents of Paradise. Another category is those who will be placed to the left of Allah's Throne, and they are those who were brought forth from `Adam's left side. This category will be given their Books of Records in their left hands and will be taken to the left side. They are the residents of the Fire, may Allah save us from their actions. A third category is comprised of those who are the foremost and nearest before Allah. They are in a better grade and status and nearer to Allah than those on the right side. They are the chiefs of those on the right side, because they include the Messengers, Prophets, true believers and martyrs. They are fewer than those on the right side. (Tafsir ibn Kathir)

Which group do you want to be with?

The vivid description of this Day in this surah should not leave you so soon. Immediately before you go to sleep you will set your alarm so you can wake up to do the tahajjud prayers. You will not miss the fajr prayer. You will not go back to sleep after fajr prayer but read some Qur'an before going about to take care of your family, your livelihood and your community. You will be kind to your parents. You will be charitable to the needy. You will be merciful to those under your charge. You will visit the sick. You will be honest and truthful in your dealings. You will not cheat in your business. You will not find time to argue, to fight, to bicker and to gossip.

In short, you will rush to obey Allah and race to good deeds, and you will stay away from evil deeds and disobedience of Allah. You are more conscious of your time to do only good.

Such is a life of a slave of Allah, working our way to draw near to Allah, until the angel of death comes to take our soul away to meet our Lord. And all that matters now is our Faith in Allah and our good deeds before this. This is the point of reading Surah al-Waqi'ah every night and knowing the Day of Resurrection.

And Allah knows best.

May we be given our Books of Records from our right hands and may Allah resurrect us with the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and enter us into Paradise with him. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

Wassalaam