QURANIC VERSES ABOUT THE MA'AD

[Taqavi]

Which verses of the Quran address the topic of the Ma'ad?

 

One of the fundamental principles in Islamic beliefs is faith in the Day of Judgment; the Holy Quran extensively and in detail addresses topics related to the Day of Judgment and clearly explains this principle of belief; In various verses of the Quran, multiple issues regarding the Day of Judgment have been discussed, each of which has special importance and contributes to a deeper understanding of this concept; These topics include the following:

Resurrection and revival: The Holy Quran emphasizes the revival of humans on the Day of Judgment; For example, in Surah Yaseen it is stated:

"وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلًا وَنَسِيَ خَلْقَهُ قَالَ مَنْ يُحْيِي الْعِظَامَ وَهِيَ رَمِيمٌ قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِي أَنْشَأَهَا أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ". And he set forth for Us a parable and forgot his own creation. He said: Who will give life to the bones when they are decayed? Say: He will give them life Who created them the first time, and He is Knower of every creation.[1]

This emphasis on revival in this blessed verse indicates the importance of the Day of Judgment and its role in motivating the performance of good deeds and abstinence from sins; The belief that after death we will be resurrected again and will be accountable before God has a profound impact on the behavior and morals of people and guides them towards performing righteous deeds and following divine commands.

Reckoning: One of the important topics in the Holy Quran is the accounting of people's deeds on the Day of Judgment; For example, in Surah Zilzal it is stated:

"فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ". Then whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it. [2]

Attention to the precise accounting of deeds on the Day of Judgment motivates people to always pay more attention to their actions and behavior and strive to create a brighter and better future for themselves in the hereafter by performing good deeds and avoiding sins; This belief that all our actions are recorded and will be calculated on the Day of Judgment leads us towards a more responsible and ethical life.

Reward and Punishment: The Holy Quran describes Heaven and Hell, and explains the reward of the righteous and the punishment of the evildoers; for example, in the blessed Surah Baqarah it is stated:

"وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِنْ ثَمَرَةٍ رِزْقًا قَالُوا هَذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَأُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُطَهَّرَةٌ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ". And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds, that they shall have gardens beneath which rivers flow; every time they are provided with a fruit therefrom, they will say: This is what we were provided with before, and they shall be provided with similar things; and they shall have therein pure spouses, and they shall abide therein forever. [3]

These descriptions show that on the Day of Judgment, each person will receive a reward or punishment based on their actions; belief in reward and punishment plays an essential role in guiding people towards doing good deeds and avoiding sins and provides a strong motivation for adherence to divine and ethical commands.

Intercession: The Holy Quran refers to the intercession of the prophets and imams on the Day of Judgment; for example, in the blessed Surah Anbiya it is stated:

"يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلَّا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَى وَهُمْ مِنْ خَشْيَتِهِ مُشْفِقُونَ". He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they shall not intercede except for whom He is pleased with, and they are fearful of His Majesty.[4]

In fact, intercession is one of the manifestations of God's mercy on the Day of Judgment, which provides another opportunity for sinful servants to be saved; this motivates believers in the hereafter to strive to benefit from the intercession of the prophets and imams and to take steps towards self-improvement; intercession not only means forgiveness of sins but also indicates the greatness and mercy of God on the Day of Judgment.

Divine Justice: One of the most important topics related to the Day of Judgment in the Quran is divine justice; God will act justly on the Day of Judgment; for example, in another part of the blessed Surah Anbiya, it is stated:

"وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا وَإِنْ كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا وَكَفَى بِنَا حَاسِبِينَ". And We will set up the scales of justice on the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be wronged in anything, even if it is the weight of a mustard seed; We are sufficient as reckoners. [5]

Divine justice on the Day of Judgment means that no one can escape the reckoning of their deeds, and everyone will be justly punished or rewarded based on their actions; this emphasis on divine justice assures believers that ultimately everyone will receive their due, and there will be no injustice in the Day of Judgment; this belief in divine justice guides people towards doing good deeds and avoiding evil, and encourages them to be responsible and committed to divine commandments.

Life After Death: Numerous verses refer to life after death and the experiences thereafter; for example, in the blessed Surah Mu'minun it is stated:

"لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا وَمِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ". Perhaps I may do righteous deeds for what I have left behind. (It will be said to him,) Never! That is a word that he himself will utter. And behind them is a barrier until the day they are resurrected. [6]

The emphasis on life after death clearly shows that people's actions in this world have a significant impact on their hereafter; this belief in life after death encourages people to open a path to a better destiny in the other world by doing good deeds and avoiding sins in their worldly life and to always remember that their life will continue in another world.

Stages of the Day of Judgment: The Holy Quran describes the different stages of the Day of Judgment; for example, in Surah Ta-Ha, it is stated:

"وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْجِبَالِ فَقُلْ يَنسِفُهَا رَبِّي نَسْفًا فَيَذَرُهَا قَاعًا صَفْصَفًا لَا تَرَى فِيهَا عِوَجًا وَلَا أَمْتًا". And they will ask you about the mountains, so say, My Lord will level them to dust, and He will leave it as a smooth plain, you will see no unevenness or mound in it. [7]

These descriptions show God's power and greatness in changing the world and establishing the Day of Judgment; the different stages of the Day of Judgment show that the world will return to its initial state and all-natural and geographical structures will undergo great changes; this belief in the occurrence of such transformations emphasizes the certainty and seriousness of the Day of Judgment and reminds people of the great day when everything will change under God's will and command.

Signs of the Day of Judgment: The Quran refers to the signs and portents of the Day of Judgment; for example, in Surah Al-Zalzalah, it is stated:

"إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا وَأَخْرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا". When the earth is shaken with its greatest shaking, and the earth brings forth its burdens. [8]

These kinds of earthquakes and great natural changes indicate the great and fundamental changes that will occur on the Day of Judgment; these signs remind us that the Day of Judgment is a certain and serious day and that people should prepare for it.

Divine Proofs: God has pointed to signs and proofs of the existence of resurrection in the Quran; for example, in Surah Ar-Rum, it is stated:

"يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَيُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَكَذَلِكَ تُخْرَجُونَ". He brings forth the living from the dead and brings forth the dead from the living, and He revives the earth after its death, and so will you be brought forth. [9]

These proofs remind us that just as God can create life from death and death from life, He is also capable of resurrecting humans after death. The revival of the earth after its dryness and lifelessness is presented as an example of divine power in restoring life, demonstrating God's ability to bring humans back to life after death.

Heavenly Blessings: The Quran describes the blessings of Paradise and the happiness of its inhabitants. For instance, in Surah Ar-Rahman, it is said:

"وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ذَوَاتَا أَفْنَانٍ". And for those who fear the standing (before the might and majesty) of their Lord, there will be two gardens of Paradise. (O jinn and mankind) which of the favors of your Lord will you deny? In those two gardens are various kinds of fruits and blessings. [10]

By describing these blessings, the Quran aims to guide humans toward a lofty and sublime goal, reminding them of God and His greatness so that they may heed Him and shape their lives according to divine commandments.

Conclusion: 

The Holy Quran, through its diverse and numerous discussions related to the Hereafter, clearly illustrates the importance and role of this fundamental belief. Emphasizing resurrection, the reckoning of deeds, reward and punishment, intercession, divine justice, and the descriptions of Paradise and Hell all highlight the special place of the Hereafter in Islamic teachings. These verses remind us that our actions and behavior in this world profoundly impact our fate in the afterlife. It is this belief in the Hereafter that creates a strong motivation for doing good and avoiding evil in our lives.

 

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[1] . Ya Sin: 78-79.

[2] . Az-Zalzalah: 7-8.

[3] . Al-Baqarah: 25.

[4] . Al-Anbiya: 28.

[5] . Al-Anbiya: 47.

[6] . Al-Mu’minun: 100.

[7] . Ta-Ha: 105-107.

[8] . Az-Zalzalah: 1-2.

[9] . Ar-Rum: 19.

[10] . Ar-Rahman: 46-48