"You Were a Witness Over Them".... [Archive]

Shaolinmaster

11th September 2008, 01:34 PM

This short story was written and posted on another forum. A chilling reminder of the consequences of Shirk & Kufr

<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CEjaz%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsoht mlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="Edit-Time-Data" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CEjaz%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsoht mlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_editdata.mso"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CEjaz%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsoht mlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CEjaz%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsoht mlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><style>  </style> [I]You were a Witness over them......<o></o>
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He thought he was a good man..... <o></o>
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He was a tight lipped yet well mannered individual brought up in a household full of crucifixes and a firm conviction in what he believed to be the truth. His mother was a stern yet loving woman who did her level best to protect her son from the evils of the world and to guide him into the Kingdom of God as promised by Jesus Christ. He was the first to arrive in church every Sunday and held the institution in high regard, soaking in the words from the sermon. A young impressionable, yet highly astute and intelligent individual, he was different from “normal” young men of his age. He knew this and had little care for the pleasures of the world.<o>

</o> It was upon this path that he knew his life was ever set. He was to be a messenger, calling people to the worship of what he believed was the Lord, the indivisible entity that was the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As he ventured out into the world during his early adulthood and during his ecclesiastical studies he realised that indeed the world, its people and ideas were far more varied than he first believed. It was during these informative years that he met a foreign exchange student from Egypt who had just moved into his neighbourhood. The area was not entirely renowned for its ethnic diversity and so the arrival of this young man managed to raise more than a few eyebrows. His name was Ahmad, and they encountered each more than once. Having “studied” Islam during his priest training, he was somewhat familiar with precepts of this religion and it’s ‘flaws’, yet admittedly taken aback by some of the points Ahmad would make during their frequent conversations over the back yard fence. <o>

</o> Frequent mention would be made of a God who shared divinity with none but sent only messengers from among mankind to call people to His worship alone. He claimed that Jesus himself was one of these messenger, one of his most highest regarded messengers. In fact even his name “Ahmad” he claimed was the name Jesus had given of a forthcoming messenger among the Arabs, Muhammad whom the Muslims claimed to be the final messenger of God. Could it also be possible that Christ himself was nothing but a man as Ahmad claimed, who’s mission was to call to nothing except the ‘Oneness of the Father’ as he claimed? After all admittedly, the bible itself was a testament in many places apparently to the truth of the Islamic concepts. However he thought little more of the matter, being content with the love, hope and conviction he had in his heart of the man who died for his sins. No, surely Jesus Christ was more than just a man. The heart wavered many times between what seemed to be logical for him, and the influences of his upbringing. However by that time he had graduated and was soon to take up ecclesiastical duties, playing a pivotal role the Christian society he lived in.<o>

</o> In the many years that followed, long after Ahmad had returned back to his native soil, every so often he would feel pangs of doubt about the apparent lack of hard evidence of his beliefs. Yet his role, his environment and especially the pressure upon him being perceived as a pillar of the faith of the people around him forced him to carry on at the behest of his thoughts. Then the bombshell dropped......<o></o>
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It was in this same period of contemplation and upsurge in his faith in Christianity that doctors discovered the presence of a small yet rapidly growing malignant tumour deep inside his brain. The prognosis was grim and he was not given long to live. He was content, having lived what he perceived to be a morally upright life. Three months later at the mercy of an aggressive cancer, he happily died upon his faith that he held tightly since he was a little child. <o></o>
.................<o></o>
[I]
What have I done........<o></o>

After what seemed like an eternity, an experience inside the grave of pure pain, terror and regret, the error of his ways was made clear to him. From the moment he entered and responded to these strange yet terrifying creatures who asked him three questions, he felt content in his heart that these were trials sent from his Lord to test his faith in His son. The answers he gave were wrong.......<o>

</o> A trumpet sounded and the earth erupted. Thrown out of his fiery grave, his flesh renewed and bones reconstructed, he felt compelled to follow the voice of a caller. Barefoot and naked, the masses around him were doing the same, voices hushed and eyes humbled pointing down. All around him the scenes were unbelievable. Was he on the same earth? The sky was no more, ripped from the planet. The stars were literally falling from the sky, leaving an empty void. The mountains, the very earth itself had been pulverised and all that remained was a flat expanse. Terror gripped his heart. Indeed if the grave experience was anything to go by he didn’t think what would come after that would be any more favourable, but maybe his Lord was still testing him? After all didn’t Christ spend a period of time in the Fires of Hell for the sake of mankind? <o>

</o> The Fires of Hell! His heart dropped. What if he was to now taste the same thing! <o>

</o> The crowds stopped at a wide open expanse. All around him were countless naked men and women. They stretched out, covering every horizon. Not an inch of land there was except that it was covered with people. He finally realised, this was the Day of Judgment. <o>

</o> After an eternity of standing, the sun was somehow ‘brought near’ to the earth. Close enough to burn everything on it yet far enough to keep from evaporating the earth itself. The people were sweating, sweating profusely. It was an unbelievable sight as they were sweating more than anyone thought possible. The need for answers was almost killed by the sheer terror of this difficult day. Mankind in its entirety sweated so profusely that literally a sea of water surrounded them. Poor man, his nervousness and sudden realisation of his fate had put him neck deep in his own secretions. <o>

</o> Judgment began.....<o>

</o> As he moved from person to person he noticed how even his beloved family forsake him that day. Finally he laid eyes upon one man. A huge crowd had gathered around him, yet somehow he had been given the ability to recognise him straight away without ever having had laid eyes on him before. It was Christ himself. A tiny glimmer of hope it was, he rushed to him with all the strength he had remaining. As he got closer, a heavenly voice spoke out to Christ. A voice that he knew immediately could not be of any other than God Himself. ‘I am redeemed!’ he said to himself as he knew that the one whom he spent his life in service to would surely not forsake him now. For all that he had done wrong, the punishment for his sins would end now. The voice of God spoke to Christ, who stood there humbled in prostration[I]:<o>

</o>[I]“Oh Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to Mankind: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?'<o>

</o> Allah! This is how Ahmad referred to God! Christ replied:<o>

</o>"Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my innerself though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the All Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. "Never did I say to them aught except what You (Allah) did command me to say: 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things. "If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are the All Mighty, the All Wise." [5:116-118]<o>

</o> He was right. Ahmad was right. His own doubts and disbeliefs in his own scriptures were right. Here Jesus was, powerless to intercede for those who claimed to be his followers, instead of sharing in the divinity of the Majestic Being who spoke with such Divine Grace. Here he was, humbled on his face instead of with God, nay Allah’s right hand side as He Judged. Truly this man, who he could see held a high position in the Sight of Allah was nothing more than a messenger. <o>

</o> “My Lord! Bestow your grace upon me and cast me not into the Fires of Hell!”, he shouted. <o>

</o> Terror no longer fully describes the pain he felt inside. A hush fell over mankind and they looked up. A sickening, demonic celestial roar filled the heavens. What was that sound........

es them from a far place, they will hear its raging and roaring". (25:12)<o>

</o> The roar grew in intensity and as he listened closer.......it was calling out his name! What was this horrible beast that knew his name! <o></o>
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As he gazed in the direction of this roar, a faint mass appeared to move closer. They were none other than angels, recognised by their unbelievable physical stature and wings covering huge spans. There were hundreds, no thousands, approaching. They approached slowly and looked as if they were toiling hard. They had gathered around a huge object which looked like it was being dragged by the angels. The deafening roar and crackling from this object was enough to kill any mortal being, if it seemed such a thing were allowed to happen now. They pulled it closer and closer. By now it was clear that this beast of unimaginable size was nothing other than the Fire of Hell.<o>

</o>"Hell will be brought forth that Day by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be held by seventy thousand angels." (reported by Muslim from 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ud, 4/2184 no.2842)<o>

</o> No, no, no! This isn’t right, this isn’t true! Oh Muslims where were you when I was lost! Why did you not save from my own self! Oh Ahmad, why didn’t you grab me by my neck and shake me! Oh Ahmad! No, it can’t be, now I’ll burn forever! <o>

</o> He turned and desperately began to run, but where could he go. Millions of angels were present and of course the All-Powerful Creator, Allah watched and judged the proceedings. He ran desperately but to no avail. Swiftly he was grabbed by an angel and brought back to his people, many whom he recognised. <o>

</o> The Fire. Never had he laid eyes upon such a horrid entity. The perimeter of the pit contained spikes. It was guarded over by nineteen of the ugliest and among the largest angels he had seen since this woeful day began. <o>

</o>Over it are nineteen [angels as guardians and keepers of Hell]" (74:26-30)<o>

</o> They were the bosses of this evil resting place, the keepers and watchers of Hell. It was complete in every way, an impenetrable and inescapable prison. The guards were not able to be defeated; he knew that their job was nothing except to ensure all dwellers of the Fire receive what was due to them. <o>

</o>Ibn Rajab said, "What is known and well-established among the earlier and later generations (as-Salaf wal-Khalaf) is that the trial came about when the number of angels was mentioned and the kuffaar thought that it was possible to kill them. They thought that they would be able to fight and resist them. They did not know that humankind in its entireity would not be able to resist even ONE of them." (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.174)<o>

</o> They were unflinching, emotionless and expressionless. He pondered over his life but barely for a split second as the evil crowds who had been denied any judgment,<o>

</o>But the Mujrimun will not be questioned of their sins [28:78]<o>

</o> were suddenly pushed together by a violent pushing from behind! They were being driven to the very edge of Hell to meet their fate!<o>

</o>“The Day when they will be pushed down by force to the Fire of Hell, with a horrible, forceful pushing!” [52:13]<o>

</o> The weight of millions was on his back as the crowds surged forward under compulsion. Wave upon wave of humanity bundling towards a disastrous fate, some who had known of this day in their previous life and denied it, and others who simply decided to ignore it. Regardless of justification, he knew that none of this was unjust and the Majesty of the One he had just witnessed and spent his life disobeying, was not One who punished without reason. <o>

</o> The heat was immense. The masses had been brought to the edge and know were placed around it on their knees. They were made to kneel as if to say, “you refused to kneel in the life of the world, but now you will kneel to the punishment of your Lord”. Oh how he wished he was dust, how he wished he was nothing.

"So by your Rabb, without doubt, We shall gather them together, and the Evil Ones [with them], then We shall bring them forth on their knees round about Hell.....” [19:68-70]<o>

</o> The scorching winds blew against the frail bodies of the evildoers, borne of fiery explosions casting sparks as tall as castles. The heat was immeasurable making him wonder if this was fire at all. What a strange fire it was, in that it cast no light, barely remaining visible like water on glass. The flames were black! <o>

</o>Malik related to me from his paternal uncle, Abu Suhayl ibn Malik, from his father that Abu Hurayra said, "Do you think that it is red like this fire of yours? It is blacker than tar." [Muwatta Imam Malik]<o></o>

This was it, a creation signifying the epitomy of hopelessness. Pain and burning would be his lot, yet he would barely see the flames, only darkness as it would envelop his face!<o></o>

Their faces will be covered, as it were, with pieces from the darkness of night. They are Companions of the Fire, they will abide therein (10:27)<o></o>

This is intense blackness, as if the darkness of night had covered their faces [Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar’s “Al-Jannah Wan-Naar”]<o></o>

They were brought to kneel around the edge of the pit.........it was time. A deafening scream erupted from the throat of a woman as she was hurled in on her face. A split second she was followed by a man then another person and another and another until the edge of hell was enveloped in a human waterfall of living, screaming, kicking carcasses with flesh melting away like ice in an oven. He was jolted in, rolling down the steep slope of the pit. The pain was unfathomable, beyond comprehension. The eyes filled with tears of desperation, despair and sadness but to no avail as he rolled down the slopes with the millions of other wrongdoers.<o></o>

"Then they will be thrown headlong into the (Fire),- they and those straying in Evil [26:90] (Some of the mufassireen described the pronunciation of the word “kubkibu” in this ayah as a way of allowing the reader to visualise a person rolling down the slopes of Jahannam).<o></o>

The darkness enveloped everything; the fire was relentless burning flesh from bone and bone into nothingness. When this cycle completed the body was renewed again, continuing the torment. The cries of its inhabitants were deafening. To his right, men and women were drinking the pus of each other. To his left others were being punished by angels with iron rods. Others in their extreme thirst were drinking boiling water from a spring gushing forth from the bowels of hell.<o></o>

"And they will drink boiling water on top of it, drinking it like thirsty camels!” [56:54-55]<o></o>

For him however was a chosen, specific punishment. As he continued violently rolling down the slope, an angel grabbed him taking him to a far corner of this wretched world. The scorching flames melted away face and flesh to the bone during their journey. They travelled for what seemed an eternity until finally approaching a valley beset with a huge mountain. He was dropped at its base, landing on a rock breaking him in half. He wondered if the pain would ever subside, the ever increasing, searing unbearable pain. He gathered himself to his feet, flesh hanging from his ankles and intestines spilt on the floor. Craning his burning neck to allow his vision to encompass this mountain, he knew instinctively what was to come next. A violent shove came from the angel who brought him there, beckoning him to climb it. <o></o>

I shall oblige him to (climb a slippery mountain in the Hell-fire called As*******-Sa'ud!) [74:15]<o></o>

He had no choice and the pain from the aggressive push hurt as much as the flames of Hell itself. There was no need for a verbal order. This was to be his lot from here to eternity. Reaching the top and then falling to the bottom again. Every limb that touched the slope melted and then re-formed when raised. <o></o>

Abu Sa’eed (ra) related that, regarding the verse that mentions “As-Sa’ud”, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “It is a mountain in Hell. The disbeliever is charged with climbing it. When he places his hand on it, it melts. When he raises it, it returns. When he places his leg on it, it melts. When he raises it, it returns. (Related by Al-Bazzar, Ibn Jareer, Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Mirdawai. Narrated in Ibn Kathir’s “Al Bidayah Wan-Nihayah”) <o></o>

There is nothing else left to narrate. Such is his fate and the fate of countless others whom Allah will choose to fill the Fire with. They beseech the gatekeeper of Hell but to no avail.<o></o>

And they will cry: "O Malik! Let your Lord make an end of us." He will say: "Verily you shall abide forever." [43:77]<o></o>

Climbing As-Sa’ud for eternity.......<o></o>

He thought he was a good man<o></o>

Any of us may be compelled to climb As-Sa’ud. May Allah save us and make us from among those who use their intellects in this dunya, to avoid an inseparable punishment in the Hereafter. Ameen<o></o>
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Shall We treat those who believe and do righteous good deeds, like the Mufsidun on earth? Or shall We treat the Muttaqun like the Fujjar? [38:28]<o></o>

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