Muslims are required to believe in six fundamental matters:
- Belief in Allah.
- Belief in the angels.
- Belief in the scriptures.
- Belief in the messengers.
- Belief in the Last Day.
- Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar).
"This world will one day be completely destroyed. After such destruction, human beings will be brought back to life and resurrected." "At that time, God will call everyone to account and grant Paradise to the righteous and Hell to the wicked"—this is one of those six fundamental beliefs.
Believing in this manner is what is meant by the phrase "belief in the Last Day." This belief serves as the very foundation of Islam. Every human being's conscience acknowledges the necessity of such a Day of Judgment.
Consider a person who lives a truly virtuous life in this world yet endures great hardship; we frequently observe that they do not receive the reward for their good deeds during their lifetime.
Conversely, consider a person immersed in every kind of wickedness and atrocity; yet, we see them living a life of luxury until the very end. We clearly witness that they do not suffer punishment in this world for the evil deeds they have committed.
Even if a person who has committed ten murders is sentenced to death, it is not a punishment commensurate with their crimes. We take their life in exchange for just one of the lives they took, but what of the other nine murders? No one in this world can administer the appropriate punishment for those.
Therefore, it is entirely impossible for such individuals to receive the fitting reward or punishment for their actions within this worldly life. Consequently, observing this, others too begin to engage in similar evil deeds.
A wrongdoer believes they can commit a crime without anyone seeing them. They also think that even if someone were to witness it, they could somehow manipulate or silence them. This mindset leads to an increase in criminal activity.
To change this situation and for humanity to lead a virtuous life, the only solution is to believe in the existence of a Day of Judgment.
This is precisely what Islam refers to as "belief in the Last Day." Islam warns that on that Day, one must inevitably face the consequences of one's actions.
That Day is close at hand.
Although God has not specified exactly when that Day will arrive, the Holy Quran mentions in various places that it will come soon.
We warn you of a punishment that is near. On that Day, man will see the deeds he has committed. The disbeliever will say, "Would that I had become dust!"(Holy Quran 78:40)
They see it as distant, but We see it as near.
(Holy Quran 70:6,7)
The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split.(Holy Quran 54:1)
How do you know? Perhaps the Hour is near.(Holy Quran 42:17)
(O Muhammad!) People ask you about the Hour. Say, "Knowledge of it rests only with Allah." How do you know? Perhaps the Hour is near.(Holy Quran 33:63)
The true promise has drawn near. At that time, the eyes of those who disbelieved will be fixed in horror. They will say, "Woe to us! We were heedless of this; indeed, we were wrongdoers."(Holy Quran 21:97)
The reckoning for mankind has drawn near, yet they turn away in heedlessness.
(Holy Quran 21:1)
They ask, "Who will recreate us?" Ask them, "Who created you the first time?" They will shake their heads at you and ask, "When will it happen?" Say, "It may well be soon." (Holy Quran 17:51)
Do they not observe the dominion of the heavens and the earth, the other things He has created, and the fact that their appointed time might be drawing near? In what message, then, will they believe after this?
(Holy Quran 7:185)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) joined his index finger and middle finger and said, "The Hour and I are like these two fingers placed side by side."Narrated by: Sahl (RA)
Source: Bukhari 4936, 5301, 6503
Some might wonder why that Day has not yet arrived, even though Allah announced 1,400 years ago that it would come very soon.
We need to understand this correctly.
Hundreds of thousands of years have passed since this world was created. Compared to the hundreds of thousands of years that have already elapsed, 1,400 years is a mere trifle. Even if the Day of Judgment were to occur after another thousand years, it would not contradict the declaration that "it is near."