THE CREATIVE POWER OF ALLAH BEING MANIFESTED WITH OPPOSITE EXTREMES, ENHANCING A VISION THAT THE TIME IS TRICKLING FAST AND THE SOULS NEED TO BE AWAKENED (SURAH NABA- 78 Part II)

 

There must be a day when everything is judged and evaluated. The day is appointed by Allah. “VERILY, the Day of Distinction (between the true and the false) has indeed its appointed time”: (Quran78: 17). It is a day when upheaval overtakes the universe and destroys its systems, “the Day when the trumpet (of resurrection) is sounded and you all come forward in multitudes” (Quran 78: 18).  The ‘Trumpet’ is a kind of horn of which we know nothing except its name and that it will be blown. We need not waste our time trying to discover how, for such discovery will not strengthen our faith. Allah has revealed to us what we need to know of the secrets of the universe so that we may not waste our energy in the futile pursuit of useless knowledge. We can imagine, however, a blast on a Trumpet which people answer by arriving in droves. “and when the skies are opened and become (as wide-flung) gates” (Quran 78:19); When the gates of the mighty Heaven, is opened up for the angels to descend. Allegorically, "The mysteries of that day will be opened to man's understanding" - thus further amplifying the concept of "the Day of Distinction between the true and the false". “and when the mountains are made to vanish as if they had been a mirage” (Quran 78: 20).     The mountains that are otherwise firmly dug-in pegs will be made to move away. They will become as hammered and scattered, will be turned into dust so that be easily blown by the wind. This way they will become non-existent, like a mirage which has no reality. Once this trumpet be blown, horror will become apparent. This day of decision has been so carefully and wisely fixed by Allah. In the eschatology of the Qur'an, the "end of the world" does not signify an annihilation i.e., reduction to nothingness of the physical universe but, rather, its fundamental, cataclysmic transformation into something that men cannot now visualize. This is brought out in many allegorical allusions to the Last Day, which speaks of "the Day when the earth shall be changed into another earth, as shall be the heavens".

       Next the fate of the unbelievers and the righteous ones is being described. The ones who would raise doubts about the fateful tidings would have the hell in front of them where they would remain for a time period appointed by Allah.  “(On that Day) verily, hell will lie in wait (for those who deny the truth)” (Quran 78: 21). “a goal for all who are wont to transgress the bounds of what is right!” (Quran 78:22). “In it shall they remain for a long time” (Quran 78:23). The Hell has been prepared to watch the transgressors and it awaits their arrival where they will have to stay, where they would taste the fitting recompense of what they would have done in their lives. “Neither coolness shall they taste therein nor any [thirst-quenching] drink” (Quran 78:24). “only burning despair and ice-cold darkness” (Quran 78: 25): This recompense will be more like a "burning despair" when one will realize that everything is wrong and nothing will improve, where every hope be lost.  “a meet requital (for their sins)!” (Quran 78:26). This is all because Allah keeps a meticulous record leaving nothing out. They always thought that they will never be brought back to Allah, “Behold, they were not expecting to be called to account” (Quran 78:27).  “having given the lie to Our messages one and all” (Quran 78:28). However, everything is being enumerated in writing at Allah’s end “but We have placed on record every single thing (of what they did)” (Quran 78: 29). Then a message is being delivered that this condition of them won’t be changed and there won’t be any diminution in its intensity.  “(And so We shall say) "Taste, then, (the fruit of your evil doings), for now We shall bestow on you nothing but more and more suffering!" (Quran 78:30) Those who would have committed sins would be requited with nothing more than the like of that.

      Next the corresponding scene of the righteous in complete bliss is being presented by the Quran, “(But) verily for the God-conscious there is supreme fulfilment in store” (Quran 78:31) There one will experience the fulfilment of all that a human being may ever desire symbolized by the "luxuriant gardens", “luxuriant gardens and vinyards”, (Quran 78: 32)  “and splendid companions well matched” (Quran 87:33), The God-fearing will also have companions who will have the relations of the blest with one another, and this points towards the absolute mutual compatibility and equal dignity of all of them. “and a cup (of happiness) overflowing” (Quran 78: 34). They will also drink from a cup overflowing with refreshing beverages.   Since what eyes can’t see, mind can’t perceive; that’s why these luxuries are given a physical description so that the man may be able to appreciate them.  “No empty talk will they hear in that (paradise), nor any lie” (Quran 78: 35). Since it would be a pure life therefore, there would be no room for futile argument. No one shall hear any idle chat and no falsehood would give rise to any controversy.  “(All this will be) a reward from thy Sustainer, a gift in accordance with (His Own) reckoning” (Quran 78: 36).  There one will get their rewards not merely in accordance with their good deeds but far in excess of them, in accordance with God's unlimited bounty.