Sermon's Title : By Your Lord, We Will Surely Question Them All
The First Sermon
All praise is due to Allah, who will gather all people for the Day of Reckoning, the Forgiver of sin, the Accepter of repentance, severe in punishment. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muḥammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger. May Allah send abundant peace and blessings upon him.
Fear Allah, servants of Allah, as He truly deserves to be feared, and remain mindful of Him in private and in secret. Allah says:
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
“O you who believe, fear Allah as He should truly be feared, and do not die except as Muslims.” [Sūrat Āl ʿImrān: 102]
Servant of Allah:
Do you know what the most dangerous form of forgetfulness is—one that threatens a person’s entire life? Here is the answer: The Prophet ﷺ said:
“A servant will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, and Allah will say to him: ‘O so-and-so, did I not honor you, give you status, give you a spouse, subject horses and camels to you, and allow you to hold leadership and enjoy prosperity?’
He will say, ‘Yes.’
Allah will say, ‘Did you think that you would meet Me?’
He will say, ‘No.’
Allah will say, ‘Then I will forget you just as you forgot Me.’” Narrated by Muslim.
It is forgetting the meeting with Allah—forgetting the reckoning. Allah instructed His Prophet Dāwūd (may peace be upon him) and said:
يَادَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا نَسُوا يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ
“O Dāwūd, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between people with truth and do not follow desire, lest it lead you away from the path of Allah. Indeed, those who stray from the path of Allah will have a severe punishment because they forgot the Day of Reckoning.” [Sūrat Ṣād: 26]
Servants of Allah:
By Allah, we will certainly be gathered for the appointed time of a tremendous Day, and then we will certainly be called to account. Allah has sworn:
فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسْأَلَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ٩٢ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
“So by your Lord, We will surely question them all about what they used to do.” [Sūrat al-Ḥijr: 92–93]
It is questioning from the Lord of Might directed to every one of His servants. He says:
احْشُرُوا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَأَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ ٢٢ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَاهْدُوهُمْ إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْجَحِيمِ ٢٣ وَقِفُوهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ مَسْئُولُونَ ٢٤
“Gather those who committed wrong, along with their companions and whatever they used to worship besides Allah, and lead them to the path of Hell. And stop them, for they are to be questioned.” [Sūrat al-Ṣāffāt: 22–24]
Allah will question the messengers and He will question the nations. He will question them although He already knows all things. He will ask the messengers whether they conveyed the message of their Lord to their people, and how the people responded to them. Have you not read the words of Allah, Exalted:
فَلَنَسْأَلَنَّ الَّذِينَ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَنَسْأَلَنَّ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ٦ فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ بِعِلْمٍ وَمَا كُنَّا غَائِبِينَ
“We will surely question those to whom messengers were sent, and We will surely question the messengers. Then We will recount to them with full knowledge, for We were never absent.” [Sūrat al-Aʿrāf: 6–7]
Have you not heard His words:
يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ اللَّهُ الرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَا أُجِبْتُمْ قَالُوا لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ
“On the Day when Allah gathers the messengers and says, ‘What response were you given?’ They will say, ‘We have no knowledge. Indeed, You alone are the Knower of all that is unseen.’” [Sūrat al-Māʾidah: 109]
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Nūḥ and his nation will come, and Allah, Exalted, will say, ‘Did you convey the message?’
He will say, ‘Yes, my Lord.’
Allah will then say to his nation, ‘Did he convey the message to you?’
They will say, ‘No prophet came to us.’
Allah will then say to Nūḥ, ‘Who will testify for you?’
He will say, ‘Muḥammad ﷺ and his Ummah.’
So we will testify that he conveyed the message. This is the meaning of His words, Majestic is His mention:
وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَالوَسَطُ العَدْلُ
‘And thus We have made you a balanced and just nation so that you may be witnesses over mankind.’
And wasaṭ means just.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī.
Here is ʿĪsā (may peace be upon him), who called people to the worship of Allah alone, and whose first declaration was that he was a servant of Allah.
Yet people deified him after Allah raised him to Himself and altered his religion and way. Allah will question him about this, although He already knows what happened. Allah says:
وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَاعِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنْتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ إِنْ كُنْتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ ١١٦ مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ وَكُنْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِي كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
“And when Allah says, ‘O ʿĪsā son of Maryam, did you say to the people, “Take me and my mother as two gods besides Allah”?’ He will say, ‘Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right to say. Had I said it, You would certainly have known it. You know what is within me, while I do not know what is within You. Indeed, You alone are the Knower of all that is unseen. I said nothing to them except what You commanded me: “Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them, but when You took me, You alone were the Watcher over them, and You are Witness over all things.’”
[Sūrat al-Māʾidah: 116–117]
Even our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, the intimate friend of al-Raḥmān, said concerning himself: “Indeed, my Lord will call me, and He will ask me: ‘Did you convey My message to My servants?’” Narrated by Aḥmad.
How tremendous is the Day of Reckoning! It is the Day of recompense, founded upon mercy and justice. No soul will be wronged in the least. It will be proclaimed:
الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ لَا ظُلْمَ الْيَوْمَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ
“Today every soul will be recompensed for what it earned. There is no injustice today. Indeed, Allah is swift in reckoning.” [Sūrat Ghāfir: 17]
Among Allah’s mercy on the Day of Reckoning is that some people will enter Paradise without reckoning and without punishment. Do you not hope to be among them?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Seventy thousand from my Ummah will enter Paradise without reckoning. They are those who do not ask others to perform ruqyah for them, do not believe in evil omens, do not use cauterization, and place their trust in their Lord.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
Perhaps you may say: The Companions and the most pious have already preceded us to this virtue. Then receive this glad tidings, O seeker of guidance. Our Prophet ﷺ said:
“My Lord promised me that He would admit seventy thousand from my Ummah into Paradise without reckoning and without punishment. With every thousand will be another seventy thousand, along with three handfuls from the handfuls of my Lord.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī.
So strive for it.
It is pure tawḥīd: the tawḥīd of a servant whose heart is attached to none but his Lord—with love, fear, hope, and reliance upon Him. Among Allah’s mercy on the Day of Reckoning is that He will give whomever He wills among His servants an easy reckoning. These are those whom Allah gives their records in their right hands. Allah says:
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ ٧ فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا ٨ وَيَنْقَلِبُ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ مَسْرُورًا ٩
“As for the one who is given his record in his right hand, he will receive an easy reckoning and return joyfully to his people.” [Sūrat al-Inshiqāq: 7–9]
Do you know what the easy reckoning is? One day, our Mother ʿĀʾishah, may Allah be pleased with her, heard the Prophet ﷺ say: “No one is subjected to a detailed reckoning except that he is ruined.”
She said: “O Messenger of Allah, may Allah make me your ransom, does Allah, Mighty and Majestic, not say:
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا
‘As for the one who is given his record in his right hand, he will receive an easy reckoning’ [Sūrat al-Inshiqāq: 7–8]?”
He said: “That refers only to the presentation of the deeds. They will simply be shown to him. Whoever is subjected to detailed questioning in the reckoning will be ruined.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
The meaning of this presentation is as the Prophet ﷺ said: “He looks through his record, and Allah overlooks his sins.” Narrated by Aḥmad.
He is the Generous Lord who does not scrutinize every detail against His believing servants. Rather, He makes them acknowledge some of their sins and then overlooks them through His mercy and generosity. They are the people of the right hand. May Allah make us and you among them.
Perhaps you now ask: What will Allah question us about on the Day of Resurrection?
The Prophet ﷺ answers you by saying: “You will meet your Lord, and He will question you about your deeds.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
Allah will ask us about our righteous deeds. Were we sincere in performing them for Him, or were they done for someone else? Indeed, Allah has no need whatsoever for partners. For this reason, among the first people with whom Hell will be kindled are three people who performed deeds for the sake of showing off.
Their deeds were outwardly great, but they were not performed for Allah. Allah will call them to account for those deeds, and they will falsely claim that they performed them for Him.
Their end will be as the Prophet ﷺ described: “Then an order will be given concerning him, and he will be dragged upon his face and thrown into the Fire.” Narrated by Muslim.
Allah will ask us about our righteous deeds: Did we perform them as He commanded? Were they complete or deficient? Were they correct, or were they contrary to the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The first deed for which people will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be the prayer. Our Lord, Mighty and Majestic, will say to His angels—although He knows best: ‘Look at the prayer of My servant. Did he complete it, or was it deficient?’ If it was complete, it will be recorded as complete.
If something was lacking from it, He will say: ‘Look and see whether My servant has any voluntary prayers.’
If he has voluntary prayers, He will say: ‘Complete the obligatory prayer of My servant from his voluntary prayers.’
Then the rest of his deeds will be dealt with in the same manner.” Narrated by Abū Dāwūd.
Allah will question us about the blessings He granted us—even cold water. Did we obtain those blessings through lawful means or unlawful ones? Did we spend them in ways that pleased Him? Did we fulfill the gratitude that was due for them? Have you not read His words, Exalted:
ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ
“Then, on that Day, you will surely be questioned about the blessings you enjoyed.” [Sūrat al-Takāthur: 8]
Have you not read His words, Glorified:
وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولَئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًا
“Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—each of these will be questioned.” [Sūrat al-Isrāʾ: 36]
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The feet of a servant will not move on the Day of Resurrection until he is questioned about his life and how he spent it, about his knowledge and what he did with it, about his wealth—how he earned it and how he spent it—and about his body and how he wore it out.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī.
The Prophet ﷺ also said: “The first thing a servant will be questioned about concerning the blessings he enjoyed on the Day of Resurrection will be that it will be said to him: ‘Did We not give you a healthy body and give you cold water to drink?’” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī.
On the Day of Resurrection, we will also be questioned about the trusts and responsibilities with which we were entrusted, and which Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, and people placed in our care.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The ruler over people is a shepherd and is responsible for them. A man is a shepherd over his household and is responsible for them. A woman is a shepherd over the home of her husband and his children and is responsible for them. A servant is a shepherd over the wealth of his master and is responsible for it. Indeed, every one of you is a shepherd, and every one of you is responsible for his flock.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
Every person will be asked: Did you preserve what was entrusted to you, or did you neglect it? Did you fulfill the trust, or did you betray it? Both the male guardian and the female guardian will be questioned. There will be no favoritism toward anyone.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, Allah will question every person entrusted with responsibility about those placed under his care: whether he preserved them or neglected them, until He even questions a man concerning the members of his household.” Narrated by al-Nasāʾī in al-Sunan al-Kubrā.
May Allah bless me and you through the Magnificent Qurʾān and benefit me and you through its verses and wise reminder. I seek Allah’s forgiveness for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
The Second Sermon
All praise is due to Allah. May peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his Companions, and all those who follow him.
To proceed:
A man asked the Prophet ﷺ: “O Messenger of Allah, which believers are the wisest?”
He replied: “Those who remember death most often and prepare best for what comes after it. They are the wise ones.” Narrated by Ibn Mājah.
The wise believer is the one who takes account of himself in this world before his Lord calls him to account.
He examines his righteous deeds: Were they performed for Allah or for someone else? Were they in accordance with the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ, or upon the paths of those who introduce religious innovations and bidʿah?
He takes account of himself for his shortcomings and repents to his Lord. He asks himself whether he showed gratitude for the blessings he received. He takes account of himself regarding what Allah entrusted to him:
Did he fulfill that trust, or did he neglect it? By doing this, his reckoning on the Day of Resurrection will be made easier.
O Allah, grant victory to Islam and honor the Muslims. Destroy the criminal disbelievers. O Allah, send tranquility into the hearts of those who strive in Your path, rescue Your oppressed servants, and raise high the banner of the religion, by Your strength, O Most Strong, O Most Firm.
O Allah, grant us security in our homelands, rectify our leaders and those entrusted with our affairs, and place authority over us in the hands of those who fear You, are mindful of You, and follow what pleases You.
Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
