On the Day of reckoning, the most precious valuables one possesses are the righteous deeds purely done to earn the good pleasure of Allah. However, disbelievers have never striven for this treasure, which would bring them eternal salvation. Not a single good deed or blessing they have to present to Allah on that day. Having no faith in Allah, all their righteous efforts will have been wasted. Allah (swt) sates this fact as follows: “Say, shall I inform you of the greatest losers in their actions? People whose efforts in the life of the world are misguided while they suppose that they are doing good. Those are the people who reject their Lord’s signs and the meeting with Him. Their actions will come to nothing and, on the Day of Rising, We will not assign them any weight.” (Al-Kahf: 103-105)

Those who denied the religion (deen) and harbored doubts about the existence the Day of Judgment did not feel the necessity to get prepared for this approaching day. For a lifetime, they occupied themselves with amassing wealth and following their vain desires. Now they confront a regret they will never be free of. Allah states this in the Qur’an in this way: “They will say, ‘Alas for us! This is the Day of Reckoning!’ This is the Day of Decision you used to deny.” (As-Saffat: 20-21)

Furthermore, disbelievers will find all the unscrupulous, ungrateful and evil deeds that they committed in the world discovered in the presence of Allah. They will personally bear witness to the sins they committed. Allah describes this in the Qur’an as follows:” They will be paraded before your Lord in ranks. You have come to Us just as We created you at first. Yes indeed! Even though you claimed that We would not fix a time with you. The Book will be set in place and you will see the evildoers fearful of what is in it. They will say, ‘Alas for us! What is this Book which does not pass over any action, small or great, without recording it?’ They will find there everything they did and your Lord will not wrong anyone at all.” (Al-Kahf: 48-49).

That Day people will emerge segregated to see the results of their actions. Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. Whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it (Al-Zilzalah: 6-8) 

As Allah relates in the Qur’an, then comes the time for disbelievers to see their records.

Believers receive their records from their right side, while disbelievers from left. From the moment the angels of death took their souls, disbelievers were subjected to an unending suffering. The moment they receive their records is another suffering. They avoid looking at the crimes they perpetrated against Allah and wish to vanish.

Allah (swt) describes this in the verses as follows: “But as for him who is given his Book in his left hand, he will say, ‘If only I had not been given my Book and had not known about my reckoning! If only death had already been the end! My wealth has been of no use to me. My power has vanished.’” (Al-Haqqah: 25-29). In another Surah, Allah (swt) also says: “On the Day when a man will see what he has done, and the believer will say, ‘Oh, if only I were dust.’” (An-Naba’: 40)

But as for him who is given his Book behind his back, he will cry out for destruction but will be roasted in a searing blaze. He used to be joyful in his family. He thought that he was never going to return. But, in fact, his Lord was always watching him. (See Surah Al-Inshiqaq: 10-15)

Witnessing these scenes, disbelievers understand the opportunity that has missed in the world and feel a most severe regret. Adding to their regret, they see and observe the blissful life of believers in Paradise. Because previously, they were invited to truth by believers by they arrogantly refused and turned a deaf ear to them.

But now a “just balance” is set. People are led to Hell or Paradise, based on their records. On the Day of Judgment, disbelievers see where they are heading for. Upon this, fear overtakes them. Allah (swt) says: “You will see the wrongdoers afraid of what they have earned, when it is about to land right on top of them.” (Ash-Shura: 22)

The justice of Allah prevails and it entails the fairest rewarding and punishment. Allah says: “We will set up the just balance on the Day of Rising and no self will be wronged in any way. Even if it is no more than the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, We will produce it. We are sufficient as a Reckoner.” (Al-Anbiya’: 47)

These are important to grasp the intensity of the regret disbelievers would experience on the Day of Judgment. The Day of Judgment is too late for one to feel regret. If one fully understands what is being told here and loses no time in engaging in good deeds, then he may hope for a “heavy balance of good deeds.” Only such an endeavor will save one from great regret.

(Ends)

by Harun Yahya