The End of the World.

I'm scared about the end of the world,I once heard that it is better for one not to be alive during the time and with te predictions and signs showing it is very close I'm really worried and afraid.I'm still in Secondary school,I'd probably still be in University when it happens.All those dreams of mine half fulfilled or not fulfilled at all.

Dear Scared of the End of the World,


I know a lot of people have been talking about the end of the world lately and it really can be terrifying thinking of what's to come...especially, if....we haven't already started preparing for it or taking ourselves to account.

But the thing is, as Muslims, we know that this was never our home in the the first place. We're just passer byers here.

And that's why our primary goal should be pleasing Allah subhanoo wa' Tala.

That should be the goal that we dedicate our lives to....not 'getting a job'/'finishing university'/getting married. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have those as 'goals', but I'm saying that the goal we should be worried about unfulfilling/fulfilling should be primarily that one. I mean, think of it this way. What if you lived 100 years here...no, wait, make it 500 hundred years here..did everything you wanted to do but ended up not making it to paradise.


On the other hand, let's say a person lives here for only 28 years. But they end up going to paradise where eternal bliss lies. Who do you think would be in a better position?

You see, darling, whatever you want to do in paradise, you will get to do it....

And that's why, when we start to think of the end of the world as the end of our lives, then we've got a small problem. It's not actually the end of our lives. It's the end of life as we know it here, but the beginning of the real life. Allah subhanoo Wa' Tala says in the Quran:

And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter - that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew. (Surat Al Ankabut 64)

 Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion. (20) Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty. (21) (Surat Al Hadid)

Image from: here

And even, though, most of us claim that we know this…that this dunya is not our final abode, we lose sight of that fact, and find ourselves falling in love with the world here. We love it so much, that we don't want to leave!

You know, I'm reminded of this great analogy I heard once by a daee'. When we start clinging to this world, we're just like a little baby who gets too comfortable inside his/her mummy's tummy. He/she has no idea that outside of his/her mummy’s tummy is a whole world out there, waiting for him/her to explore. And so, this baby, a little scared, and unsure of where he/she is going, comes out crying from the mother's womb, right.

Can you imagine crying because you're leaving such a tiny, cramped place?

Come on! This world is a LOT cooler than our mom's tummies (isn't it? :P Sorry, mums :P)/.

But seriously, we sometimes get a little too comfortable here on this earth. We forget that there’s something better for us waiting for us. Something much bigger and much more wonderful..May Allah make us among the dwellers of the highest firdaus :) Ameen.

That said, I do want to say that you are correct about the end of times being very 'difficult' and they will be filled with much fitan or trials. People will wake up in the morning as believers and go to sleep at night as disbelievers. The scholars and knowledge will go away...etc. There will also be the 'greatest' fitna or trial for this Ummah which is the the Dajjal. We seek refuge in Allah from him. Ameen.

Huzaifah bin Al-Yaman said, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, " Islam will become worn out like clothes are, until there will be no-one who knows what fasting, prayer, charity and rituals are. The Qur’an will disappear in one night, and no Ayah (verse) will be left on Earth. Some groups of old people will be left who will say, "We heard our fathers saying La ilaha illa Allah, so we repeat it." Silah asked Huzaifah, "What will saying La ilaha illa Allah do for them when they do not know what prayer, fasting, ritual and charity are?" Huzaifah ignored him; then Silah repeated his question three times, and each time Huzaifah ignored him. Finally he answered,' O Silah, it will save them from Hell ' and said it three times." (Ibn Majah)

But, let me tell you something that will be, inshaAllah, a little more comforting.

Abdal Rahman ibn Shamasa al-Mahri said: 'I was in the company of Maslama bin Mukhallad and Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas (may Allah be pleased with them).' Abdullah said, 'The Hour shall come only when the worst type of people are left on the earth. They will be worse than the people of pre-Islamic days. They will get what ever they ask of Allah.' While we were sitting Uqba ibn Amir came, and Maslama said to him, 'Uqba, listen to what Abdullah says.' Uqba said, 'He knows, so far as I am concerned, I heard the Prophet (Peace be upon him) say: 

"A group of people from my nation will continue to fight in obedience to the Command of Allah, remaining victorious over their enemies. Those who oppose them shall not do them any harm. They will remain in this condition until the Hour overtakes them. Abdullah bin Amr ibn 'As said: Yes. Then, Allah will send a wind, which will be fragrant like musk and whose touch will be like the touch of silk, that will cause the death of all (faithful) persons, not leaving behind a single person with an iota of faith in his heart. Then only the worst of men will remain to be overwhelmed by the Hour (of Resurrection)." (Sahih Muslim)

SubhanAllah. How gentle our Lord is. Subhan al Lateef. To take the souls by a soft gentle wind/ or breeze (as described/translated) in other hadiths.

Let me tell you something else that Allah subhanoo Wa' Tala said:

I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him. [It was related by al-Bukhari.]

In another, long authentic hadith, the Prophet sallah Allahoo alyhaee wa salam said:

"When the believer is about to depart from this world and go forward
into the Next World, angels with faces as bright as the sun descend
from the heavens and sit around him in throngs stretching as far as
the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits at his head
and says, "Good soul, come out to forgiveness and pleasure from
Allah!" Then his soul emerges like a drop of water flows from a
water-skin and the angel takes hold of it. When he has grasped it,
the other angels do not leave it in his hand even for the twinkling
of an eye. They take it and place it in a perfumed shroud and
fragrance issues from it like the sweetest scent of musk found on the
face of the earth.'
"Then they bear it upwards and whenever they take it past a company
of angels, they ask, 'Who is this good soul?' and the angels with the
soul reply, 'So-and-so the son of so-and-so,' using the best names by
which people used to call him in this world. They bring him to the
lowest heaven and ask for the gate to be opened for him. It is
opened for him and angels who are near Allah from each of the heavens
accompany him to the subsequent heaven until he reaches to the heaven
where Allah the Great is. Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says,
'Register the book of My slave in 'Illiyun and take him back to
earth. I created them from it and I return them to it and I will
bring them forth from it again.'
"His soul is then returned to his body and two angels come to him.
They make him sit up and say to him, 'Who is your Lord?' He replies,
'My Lord is Allah.' They ask him, 'What is your religion?' He
replies, 'My religion is Islam.' They ask him, 'Who is this man who
was sent among you?' He replies, 'The Messenger of Allah.' They ask
him, 'How did you come to know these things?.' He replies, 'I read
the Book of Allah, believed it, and declared it to be true.' Then a
Voice from on high declares, 'My slave has spoken the truth, so
spread out carpets from the Garden for him and open a gate of the
Garden for him!' Taken from: http://abdurrahman.org/finaljourney/deathresurrectionuthaimeen.pdf

I hope this comforts you a little. And sis, remember, it's okay to be 'scared' of Judgment day coming-- it's only natural. We actually should be scared- we should feel a fear that motivates us to be better Muslimahs. We should always always want to be better....to reach for jannatul firdaus and to meet Allah with Him pleased with us :)

Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah " and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. (30) We [angels] were your allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish] (31) As accommodation from a [Lord who is] Forgiving and Merciful." (32)

Lots of love,

Little Auntie