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When Life Begins --------- ---------
193
When Life Begins ---------
The people of Hell were crying with thirst and hunger. When they
saw the people of Paradise being served with all kinds of fruits, platters
of meat and tasty drinks, they repeatedly asked them to pass on a small
amount of this gift from the Almighty to them as well. However, they
got the reply that the Almighty had forbidden these bounties for the
people of Hell.
We were standing on high ground and witnessing this scene. I felt
scared for some unknown reason, although the announcement of our
fates was a mere formality. I was praying and pleading to God for his
blessings and forgiveness. I was praying to the Almighty not to make me
one of the people of Hell, and to grant me the company of the people of
Paradise. Other people standing next to me were also praying for the
same.
However, that was my own state of mind. Some other Shuhada,
charged with emotions, moved forward and started to congratulate the
people of Paradise. They were showering them with blessings and
prayers. At this juncture, the prophets came forward and asked the
incredulous leaders of their respective nations who had knowingly
rejected the truth:
“Where is your rule today? Do you still take pride in the number of
your followers? What happened to your arrogance?”
They then pointed towards the people of Paradise and said:
“Are they not the same poor people you considered as worthless?
You believed that they did not deserve a share of the blessings of God,
and neither would they ever receive it. See for yourselves! They have
achieved such an exalted position today!”
Meanwhile, there was an announcement that the Books of Deeds
be handed over to the prophets and Shuhada. Against my expectations,
there was no accountability or cross-examination. Each one of us was in
turn called forward to a place where all the people of Paradise and Hell
could see us. Each person would move forward, escorted by his two
angels, who would then take him to the Throne with utmost decorum.
There, his accomplishments in the previous life were announced to
everyone and success in the Hereafter formally declared.
Whenever a person from this exalted group was presented to the
Throne, details of his struggles were narrated, like the times he lived in,
the background of the people he addressed and their response to his
invitation; in fact, everything surrounding his mission was narrated in
detail. The audience listened with rapt attention and showered each
person with generous praise. In the end, whenever a person’s success
and accomplishment was declared, the surroundings echoed with
shouts of ‘bravo’ and ‘glory be to God’. Dwellers of the Paradise
expressed their joy by clapping, shouting, whistling and even, dancing.
When my name was announced, the people standing close by
started to congratulate me. Along with Saleh and Imsáeel, I reached the
edge; from where I was standing, everyone in the plane could see me.
Imsáeel was carrying my Book of Deeds. Saleh was walking in front of
me. When we reached there, I bowed my head and stood in silence. The
Almighty said:
“Abdullah, the time to bow your head is over. Lift your head. People
want to see you.”
I lifted my head. Tears of gratitude flowed from my eyes with a
triumphant smile on my face. With the permission of the Almighty,
Saleh and Imsáeel started to narrate the details of my life.
I looked towards the plane and saw many familiar people waving to
me; they included my family, friends, the righteous people who had
supported me, the believers who had accepted my call and those men
and women who had rectified their ways in response to my preaching
about Oneness of God and the Hereafter. I also waved back.
However, my eyes were searching for Naimah. She was standing
amongst our children. I could see tears of joy on her smiling face. When
she realised that I was looking at her, she lowered her gaze shyly. Leila
was standing next to her. She was most excited, standing on a chair and
clapping passionately. Arifa, Aaliya, Anwar and Jamshaid were also
stood on their seats and waving their hands vigorously.
I glanced to my left. It was an entirely different scene there. The
people of Hell were engulfed in a never-ending darkness of various
negative emotions, including shame, disgrace, regret, apprehension,
humiliation, sorrow, disappointment, agony, hardships and self-blame.
If the sky had the ability to lament, it would have recited an elegy on
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