IIPH (International Islamic Publishing House)

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ISLAMIC CREED SERIES •5
THE FINAL DAY
THE MINOR
RESURRECTION
(What Happens After Death)
In the Light of the Qur'an and Sunnah
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'Umar S. al-Ashqar
INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC PUBLISHING HOUSE
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CONTENTS
TRANSLITERATION CHART.
SYMBOLS' DIRECTORY.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE..
TRANSLATOR'S FOREWORD..
INTRODUCTION.
SECTION ONE
AL-QIYAMAH AŞ-ŞUGHRA
(THE MINOR RESERRECTION, i.e., DEATH)
CHAPTER ONE
DEFINITIONS.
1. Definition of Al-Qiyamah aş-Şughra..
2. Al-Barzakh (interval)...
3. Al-Mawt (death)
(1) Al-Mawt from a semantic point of view
(2) Greater death and lesser death
(3) Death is inevitable.
(4) There is an appointed time for deat
(5) The time of death is not known to us.
CHAPTER TWO
THE MOMENT OF DEATH.
1. The Coming of the Angels of Death..
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The Minor Resurrection 25
had their fill of life's pleasures.
The short period of our existence in this world is extremely important with regard to the next life. The way to eternal happiness which leads to eternal life in the abode of eternity depends on our achieving real perfection in ourselves and in others. This perfection, which purifies our souls and corrects our deeds, has a clear foundation which has been explained by the Messengers and in the divinely-revealed Books.
Because the connection between this life and the life of the Hereafter is so strong, such that this life is like ploughing and sowing, and that life is like reaping and harvesting, man needs to know enough about his life in the Hereafter in order to make him prepare for it and live his life in this world in a manner that will bring him good in the life of the Hereafter.
Because the life of the Hereafter is unseen, the veil cannot be lifted from it even by people with sharp minds and deep insight, let alone those who have less insight. But Allah has told them where they will go after this life, and has informed them about their inevitable course. Mention of the life of the Hereafter is mixed with mention of this life because the two are interconnected, so that souls may be set straight and reformed in a world where many creatures, human and jinn alike, are striving to mislead people and take them far from the right path. The information which Allah has provided us about that unseen Day when we will meet Him cannot be referred to in hints and symbols. It must be spoken of clearly and in detail, in such a way that man will be encouraged to have firm faith (yaqeen) with no element of doubt. Whoever looks at what we have compiled in this book about the Last Day will see abundant quotations from the Qur'an and şaheeḥ Sunnah, which give a detailed picture of many of the things that will happen after death and on the Day of Resurrection.
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The Minor Resurrection 27
The second section deals with the signs of the Hour (the Doomsday). There are many Signs which point to the approach of the Hour, some of which are major and others are minor. Some of the minor signs have already come and gone and some have not yet happened. The major signs have not happened yet. This section will discuss all of that.
Finally, I ask Allah to make this book of benefit, and to make it purely and sincerely for His sake. May Allah send blessings and peace upon His slave and Messenger Muhammad, and upon his family and Companions.
Dr. 'Umar Sulaymân al-Ashqar
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THE MINOR RESURRECTION
العالية المقدافي
What happens after death? When will the end of the world be? Are we really living in the "last days"? These are questions which concern everyone, no matter what his or her background. Many have tried to answer these questions, producing theories that range from the fanciful to the nihilistic. But man-made notions cannot answer questions about matters which man has no way of finding out by himself.
In these as in so many other issues, Islam brings us answers. Surely the One Who gives life and takes it away, is the One Who is the best to inform us of what happens after death. The One Who has
created this universe and mankind is the best to tell us about when this world will come to an end and mankind will be called for Judgement. He has informed us about these matters, in His Book and through His Prophet (pbuh).
In this book, Dr. 'Umar S. al- Ashqar examines all these issues from the point of view of the Qur'an and Sunnah. He looks at issues of death and what happens to a person's soul after death, including the questioning of the angels and the torment of the grave. He also examines the signs of the Hour, which indicate that the Day of Judgement is approaching - many of which are already happening. As always, he quotes extensively from the texts, placing these issues squarely within an Islamic framework and dispelling the myth and misunderstandings that have arisen and become prevalent.
ISLAMIC CREED SERIES 1. Belief in Allah
2. The World of the Noble Angels 3. The World of the Jinn and Devils
4. The Messengers and the Messages
5. The Minor Resurrection (What happens after death)
6. The Day of Resurrection
7 Paradise and Hell
8. Divine Will and Predestination
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