The Day of Judgement (Youm Al-Qiyama) is a profound reality foretold in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Belief in the last day is one of the fundamental six pillars of Iman (faith). In every prayer, when we recite “Malik Yawm Ad-deen” (Master of the Day of Judgement), we ask Allah to guide us on the straight path. This path signifies not only a righteous life in this world but also alludes to the Sirat, the narrow bridge that every soul must cross as part of what will happen on Judgement Day. It is a day when the universe, as we know it, will cease, and every soul will stand before Allah for accountability.

As we explore what will happen on Judgement Day, which spans the length of fifty thousand years, it is crucial to emphasise that all information here is derived from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, presented in an easy-to-understand manner.

The Day of Judgement is Near

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“I was sent (as a prophet) and the Hour (of Judgement) are like these two.” He held up his index and middle fingers.

In another narration, reported by Al-Tirmidhi:

“I was sent in the same breath as the Hour; it followed me just as these two (fingers) do.”

Additionally, another narration states:

“The example of me and the Hour is like that of a man whom his people sent ahead as a scout. When he feared that he would be ahead of them, he called out: ‘You are coming, you are coming!’ Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘I am that (man).‘”

These hadiths clearly demonstrate the proximity of the Day of Judgement and remind us of the urgent need to prepare for that inevitable moment. The events and what will happen on Judgement Day are highlighted below in chronological order.

The Sequence of Events on Judgement Day

Scholars have agreed that the events of Judgement Day will unfold in a specific order:

1. Resurrection (بعث): Allah will bring everyone back to life from their graves.
2. Spreading (نشور): People will scatter and gather for judgement.
3. Gathering (حشر): All will be brought together on a vast plain.
4. Presenting (العرض) and accounting (حساب): This includes the distribution of records and weighing of deeds.
5. Sirat (صراط): Crossing the narrow bridge over the vast Hellfire (Jahannam).
6. Al-Qantara/Bridge of Justice (قنطرة المظالم) believers reconcile and settle grievances or injustices they committed against one another before entering Paradise.

Debates exist among scholars regarding when and where Al-Hawdh (the Pool) fits into these events but it is mostly thought to happen before crossing the Sirat.

The Sound of the Trumpet (Al-Soor)

The Day of Judgement begins when Angel Israfil blows the trumpet, commanded by Allah. Everything alive will perish.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“And the trumpet will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead, except whom Allah wills” (Surah Az-Zumar: 68).

This sound will signal the end of life as we know it. On that day, even the living will be caught off guard, with one person almost bringing food to their mouth but unable to eat it!

“When the earth is shaken with its [final] earthquake (1), and the earth discharges its burdens (2), and man says, ‘What is with it?’ (3) That Day, it will report its news (4) because your Lord has commanded it.” (Surah Az-Zalzalah: 1-5)

Israfil will then blow the trumpet again, and all souls will rise from their graves, marking the start of the resurrection.

The Day of Judgement will occur on a Friday. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned:

“Indeed, the Day of Judgement will occur on a Friday, and every creature listens attentively, fearing the trumpet’s sound.” (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Resurrection and the Gathering

Allah will bring every soul back to life for accountability. He will send rain to allow bodies to sprout from the earth, just like plants grow after rain. People will rise from their graves and gather on a vast, white plain known as the land of gathering. Everyone will stand barefoot and unclothed, awaiting judgement. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“People will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement barefoot, naked, and uncircumcised” (Sahih al-Bukhari).

The Horrors that happen on Judgement Day

Astonishing events will happen on Judgement day that will shake the heavens and the earth. The skies will shift, and the earth will change form as everything is laid bare.

“On the Day the earth will be changed to another earth, and so will the heavens…” (Surah Ibrahim, verse 48).

Mountains will crumble like wool, and the sun will lose its light.

The gathering will occur on a plain of pure white land. The Prophet ﷺ described it as:

“People will be gathered on a white plain, like a disk of pure white.” (Sahih Muslim).

Everyone will stand there, barefoot and unclothed, filled with anxiety and thirst.

Shafa’a – The Great Intercession on Judgement Day

When the wait becomes unbearable, people will seek intercession (shafa’a) from prophets. Here is a simplified version of a famous narration of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

On the Day of Judgement, people will face immense distress. They will approach Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and plead, “You are the father of humanity. Please intercede for us before Allah!” But Adam will reply, “I disobeyed my Lord by eating from the forbidden tree. Today, I am only concerned about myself (Nafsi, nafsi! = Myself, myself!). Go to Prophet Nuh (Noah).”

They will then go to Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) and request his Shafa’a. He will respond, “I made a supplication against my people, and I am concerned for myself. Go to Prophet Ibrahim.”

The pattern continues as people seek intercession from Prophet Ibrahim, then Prophet Musa, and then Prophet Issa. Each will decline, mentioning reasons for their own concerns. Finally, they will come to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who will say, “I am for this task.” He will prostrate beneath Allah’s throne and praise Him in ways revealed only at that moment. Then, Allah will permit him to intercede, saying, “Raise your head, ask and you will be granted, intercede and your intercession (Shafa’a) will be accepted.”

The Accounting can proceed

“Enough! When the earth is entirely crushed over and over * And your Lord comes ˹to judge˺ with angels, rank upon rank * And Hell is brought forth on that Day—this is when every ˹disbelieving˺ person will remember ˹their own sins˺. But what is the use of remembering then? * They will cry, “I wish I had sent forth ˹something good˺ for my ˹true˺ life.” (Surah Al-Fajr 89: 21-24)

Allah also says:

“On that Day, you will be presented, and nothing will be hidden from you.” (Surah Al-Haaqqa: 18).

Allah will then say to His creation:

“Read your book; sufficient is yourself against you this Day as an accountant” (Surah Al-Israa: 14).

Everyone will be handed their record of deeds. The righteous will receive their books in their right hands, while the wrongdoers and hypocrites will take theirs in their left hands or behind their backs. Each deed, big or small, will be weighed on the divine scale.

The Qur’an states, referring to the disbelievers:

“On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their skins will testify against them…” (Surah Al-Noor, verse 24).

Believers will rejoice as they see their good deeds, while disbelievers will despair.

The Weighing of Deeds

The weighing of deeds will determine one’s eternal fate. The deeds of every individual will be measured. Good deeds will weigh heavily, while evil deeds will lighten the scale.

Allah says in the Quran:

“Then those whose scales are heavy with good deeds will be successful. But those whose scales are light are the ones who have lost their souls, abiding in Hell” (Surah Al-Mu’minun: 102-103).

The one who tips the scales with good deeds will enter Jannah, while the one who weighs lighter will face consequences.

“We will set up the scales of justice on the Day of Resurrection.” (Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 47).

The Pond (Al-Hawd)

As part of what will happen on Judgement Day, The Messenger of Allah ﷺ will be granted a blessed Pond (Al-Hawd) on Judgement Day, from which his followers will drink. Whoever drinks from it will never feel thirst again. Hadith sahih affirms that every prophet will have a pond for their followers. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Every prophet will have a pond, and they will boast about who has the most visitors. I hope that I will have the most visitors.” (At-Tirmidhi, authenticated by Al-Albani).

When the waiting becomes prolonged, Allah will first raise the Prophet’s blessed Pond (Al-Hawd).

Whoever adheres to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, without altering, innovating, or deviating, will arrive at the Pond and drink from it. This will serve as reassurance for those deserving to drink from the Prophet’s ﷺ Pond. Subsequently, every prophet’s pond will be raised, and the righteous from their nations will drink from it.

Crossing the Sirat

In both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, it is narrated that the bridge (Al-Sirat) will be set up over Jahannam, and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

“I and my Ummah will be the first to cross it, and on that day, none will speak except the messengers. The supplication of the messengers on that day will be, ‘O Allah, grant safety, grant safety.’“

The believers will pass quickly and safely, guided by their light, while the sinful will stumble, and many will fall into the Hellfire. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“Some will pass like the blink of an eye, some like lightning, some like the wind…” (Sahih al-Bukhari).

This is where the true test of faith occurs. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will support his followers as they traverse this narrow path.

What happens next on Judgement Day: Qantara (Qantaret Al-Madhalim)

Crossing the Sirat does not mark the end of Judgement day, survivors will still need to settle disputes among themselves.

Believers will need to reconcile among each other on the Bridge of Justice (Qantarah) for any wrongs they committed against one another. As narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari, Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

“When the believers are saved from the Fire, they will be stopped at a bridge between Paradise and Hellfire, where they will settle the injustices that occurred between them in the world. When they are purified and refined, they will be granted permission to enter Paradise. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, each of them will recognize their dwelling in Paradise better than they recognized their home in the world.”

The Gardens of Jannah and the Depths of Jahannam

When the judgement is complete, what will happen on judgement day next is that people will be sent to their eternal destinations. The righteous will enter Jannah, a reward beyond imagination, while the wrongdoers will face Jahannam, a place of immense torment. Allah’s mercy, however, will encompass many on that day.

“Ordain for us what is good in this life and the next. Indeed, we have turned to You ˹in repentance˺.” Allah replied, “I will inflict My torment on whoever I will. But My mercy encompasses everything. I will ordain mercy for those who shun evil, pay alms-tax, and believe in Our revelations.” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:156)

“So Allah will deliver them from the horror of that Day, and grant them radiance and joy.” (Surah Al-Insan 76:11).

What will happen on Judgement Day: Summary

This overview of what will happen on judgement day is based on the Qur’an and authentic Hadiths. The events of the Day of Judgement remind us to take this into account in our every action. Reflect on these events, increase your good deeds while you can, and turn to the way of Allah.

The major and minor signs of Judgement Day are unfolding, reminding us that the Day of Judgement is near. The minor signs including events like the widespread neglect of prayer, disobedience to parents, and the rise of corruption will be discussed in future posts. The major signs are extraordinary, such as the appearance of the Dajjal (the False Messiah), the return of Prophet Isa (عليه السلام), the sun rising from the west, and the emergence of Ya’juj and Ma’juj (Gog and Magog).

As believers, we look forward to the mercy of Allah and hope to be among those who will enter His Jannah, free from the horrors of Jahannam and the day of judgement.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said (referring to the believers):

“On the Day of Judgement, it will be equivalent to the duration between the noon (Dhuhr) and the afternoon (Asr) prayers.”

May we all prepare for this day with faith and good deeds, as the fate of our eternal souls depends on it until the moment Allah says to us “Enter My Paradise”

In future posts, we will delve deeper into the minor and major signs of Judgement Day, exploring what they mean for us today and how they shape our belief in the afterlife.

Don’t Meet Your Lord as a Stranger to His Words

The descriptions of the Sirat, the Scale, and the standing before Allah can (and should) fill us with a sense of urgency. We read these Ayat and hadiths and think, “What more can I do now to prepare for then?”

By far, one of the most powerful answers is to build a direct, unbreakable connection to the Quran. Because on that Day, it will be an intercessor for those who recited and lived by it. But how can we truly live by it if we don’t understand its language?

The greatest barrier isn’t a lack of faith, but a lack of understanding. You don’t need years of complex study. In just 28 days, you can build the foundation that will allow you to grasp the core meaning of your recitation, turning your daily prayers into a source of deeper Iman and preparation for the Akhirah.

Don’t let the language barrier stand between you and the Quran on the Day you’ll need it most.