By: Islam Web

The Glorious Quran has a lot of verses that open the doors of hope for winning Allah’s mercy, pardon, and satisfaction before people. It similarly includes verses that highlight great, sublime meanings that help Taqwa (piety) and fearing of Allah’s Punishment be entrenched into the hearts of the true believers, a matter that greatly contributes to protecting them from acts of disobedience and keeping them away from wrongdoing. In truth, when the person truly fears Allah, the Almighty, he will be elevated to the ranks of the true believers who would win the highest degrees of delight.

Exegetes of the Quran and scholars of the Sciences of the Quran have examined the scariest verses in the Quran (Ayat At-Tarheeb) and the most hopeful verses in the Quran (Ayat Ar-Rajaa’). As far as Ayat Ar-Rajaa’ is concerned, they offer examples for this verse, as follows: - the Saying of Allah, the Exalted, "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills" [The Quran, 4:48] or the Saying of Allah, "Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." [The Quran, 24:22]. Other scholars yet believe that the most hopeful verse in the Quran is the Saying of Allah, the Exalted, to His Prophet Muhammad (), "And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied." [The Quran, 93:5]. A fourth group of scholars yet holds different opinions.

As for Ayat At-Tarheeb, a group of scholars believes that the scariest verse in the Quran is the Saying of Allah, the Exalted, "Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allah a protector or a helper" [The Quran, 4:123] or the Saying of Allah, "And fear the Fire, which has been prepared for the disbelievers." [The Quran, 3:131]. Another group of scholars yet opines that this very verse is the Saying of Allah, the Almighty, "And there is none of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed." [The Quran, 19:71]. The list of Ayat At-Tarheeb furthermore includes the Saying of Allah, the Exalted, "And Allah warns you of Himself …" [The Quran, 3:28], the Saying of Allah, the Almighty, "We will attend to you, O prominent beings" [The Quran, 55:31], the Saying of Allah, the Exalted, "So where are you going?" [The Quran, 81:26] and the Saying of Allah, the Exalted, "Indeed, the vengeance of your Lord is severe". [The Quran, 85:12]

And there will appear to them from Allah that which they had not taken into account:

One of the verses included under the title of the scariest verses in the Quran is the Saying of Allah, the Exalted, "And there will appear to them from Allah that which they had not taken into account." [The Quran, 39:47]. It is actually a great verse that we should carefully examine.

In his biography of the great well-established, righteous and aesthetic Imam Muhammad ibn Al-Munkadir, Adh-Dhahabi in his Siyar Aʿalam An-Nubalaa’ said, "While Muhammad ibn Al-Munkadir was observing prayer one night, he heavily wept that the members of his family feared that he might have been afflicted with harm. When they asked him about the reason behind his weeping, he could not explain to them and his weeping intensified. That is why they sent to Abu Hazim to come to him. When Abu Hazim arrived, he insistently asked him to stop weeping until Ibn Al-Munkadir did. Then Abu Hazim asked him about the reasons of his weeping, whereupon Ibn Al-Munakdir replied, 'I recited the Saying of Allah, 'And there will appear to them from Allah that which they had not taken into account" [The Quran, 39:47] after which Abu Hazim himself started heavily weeping and so did Ibn Al-Munkadir. The family of Ibn Al-Munkadir then said, 'We called upon you to silence him, but you made him weep more heavily."

ʿAfeef ibn Salim narrated on the authority of ʿIkrimah ibn Ibrahim from Ibn Al-Munkadir that he was overtaken by great fear in the agony of death. When he was asked about the reason behind his great fear, he replied, "I fear a verse in the Book of Allah, the Almighty, 'And there will appear to them from Allah that which they had not taken into account." [The Quran, 39:47]. So, I am afraid that there will appear to me from Allah that which I had not taken into account."

In truth, this verse deserves to be carefully examined by Muslims and that they weep heavily upon hearing it. The severe situations in which the person might face that which he had not taken into account are many, including the death agony, the grave, the afflictions of the Day of Resurrection, standing for accountability before Allah, the Almighty, al-Mizan (the Scale with which deeds will be weighed), as-Sirat (the Bridge over Hell), etc.  

Allah, the Exalted, writes down man’s deeds and sayings in his record – a fact recorded in the Saying of Allah, the Exalted, "And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein (16) When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left. (17) Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record]" [The Quran, 50:16-18], the Saying of Allah, the Exalted, "Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private conversations? Yes, [We do], and Our messengers are with them recording" [The Quran, 43:80] and the Saying of Allah, the Exalted, "This, Our record, speaks about you in truth. Indeed, We were having transcribed whatever you used to do." [The Quran, 45:29]

And there will appear to them from Allah that which they had not taken into account at death, the terror of the place whence one looks down at what will befall him after death – how difficult this Day is! On that Day, man will wait to hear one of two results: either to be given the glad tidings of the angel who will say to him: “O close friend of Allah, have glad tidings of rest and provision and the pleasure of your Lord Who is not angry with you”, or rather the evil tidings of the angel who will say to him: “O enemy of Allah, have evil tidings of humiliation, abasement, torture and Fire…” It is at that time that there will appear to them from Allah that which they had not taken into account.

{ And there will appear to them from Allah that which they had not taken into account in the grave when the two angels ask him, "Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet?" Will Allah, the Almighty, keep him firm to give the correct answer, saying, "My Lord is Allah; my religion is Islam, and Muhammad () is my Prophet?" – a point at which a caller will say, "My servant has spoken the truth, so write the record of My slave in ‘Illiyyin (a register inscribed which is witnessed by those who are brought near to Allah), expand his grave for him as far as his eye can see, provide him with dress form the Paradise.”, and it would be said to him: “Sleep like a bridegroom whom no one will wake but his most beloved.” and he will say: “My Lord, establish the Hour. My Lord, establish the Hour.” Or will his deeds make him fail the test and thus would appear to him that which he would not take into account when he replies, saying "Oh, oh; I do not know!" – a point at which it would be said to him, "You neither knew nor did you follow those who knew (the believers)", and he would then be beaten with a sledgehammer and it would be said to him, "He has lied; write his record in Sijjin (in the lowest earth); open for him a door from the Fire; prepare for him a bed from the Fire.”, and his grave will be constricted for him till his ribs interlock. He then will say: "My Lord! Don’t bring the Hour, don’t bring the Hour!"?

As for the Day of Resurrection, it will be full of great affliction, severe situation and excessive fear. On that Day, surprises would make people’s minds and hearts in utter confusion, especially when people’s records of deeds will be flying in the air (and then be brought to everyone) – a point at which there would appear to people that which they did not take into account, especially when man knows the result and reality of his deeds. At that point, man would be overtaken by deep fear: "Would he take his good record with his right hand or rather take his evil one with his left hand from behind his back?" O man! This is the book you filled with your deeds; have you ever thought of the content you filled it with since you became Mukallaf (an accountable person who is obligated to work according to Shariah rulings) up till now? On that, Allah, the Exalted, says, "And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open. (13) [It will be said], "Read your record. Sufficient is yourself against you this Day as accountant" [The Quran, 17:13-14]. He, the Almighty, also said, "And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one." [The Quran, 18:49]

A person would also be overtaken with great fear when he is called to stand for accountability before Allah, the Almighty – a situation recorded in the Saying of Allah, "But for he who has feared the position of his Lord are two gardens." [The Quran, 55:46]. On that situation, the Prophet () is reported to have said, "Every one of you will speak to his Lord without an interpreter between them. He will look to his right side and will see only the deeds he had previously done; he will look to his left and will see only the deeds he had previously done, and he will look in front of him and will see nothing but Fire (of Hell) before his face. So protect yourselves from Fire (of Hell), even by giving half a date-fruit (in charity)". [Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Musim]

So, would you be among those whom Allah would envelop in His mercy and shelter with His screen, and judge them with easy account? Would you be among those to whom Allah would say, "Do you remember (doing) this sin? Do you remember this sin?" whereupon you would reply, "Yes, my Lord" and Allah, the Exalted, would then say to you, "I covered it up for you in the life of the world and I forgive it for you today" after which He, the Almighty, would give you the record of your good deeds with your right hand? Or would He, the Almighty, ask you about your sins in detail, make you confess them and establish the evidence upon you – a point at which you would be admitted into Fire?

One of the situations in which there might appear to the person that which he did not take into account is at Al-Mizan (the Scale with which deeds will be weighed); it is a terrible situation as clearly shown in the Saying of Allah, the Exalted, "And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant." [The Quran, 21:47]

All your deeds would be weighed by this Scale of Justice – a point at which your hidden sins, acts of disobedience, secrets, and real intentions would be unveiled and there would appear to some people that which they did not take into account.

When Al-Mizan is established, a person’s deeds including his righteous ones: night prayer, Zakah, charity, recitation of the Quran, righteousness, observance of ties of kinship and rights of neighborhood, etc. would be brought to be weighed, but Allah, the Exalted, suddenly would turn all of these deeds into dispersed dust … Why? What happened? The reward of these deeds was not recorded since they were nothing but acts of showing-off. On that, Thawbaan (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah () said, "I certainly know people of my Ummah (nation) who will come on the Day of Resurrection with good deeds like the mountains of Tihamah, but Allah will make them like scattered dust.” Thawban said: “O Messenger of Allah, describe them to us and tell us more, so that we will not become of them unknowingly.” He said: “They are your brothers and from your race, worshipping at night as you do, but they will be people who, when they are alone, transgress the sacred limits of Allah." [Sahih Ibn Majah]

Unlawful looks, smiles, scorns, words, whispers, and whims: small and trivial are indeed these deeds in the sight of many people, yet they are increasing in sins; what is this? People used not to pay attention to these minor sins; however, they are recorded in their records of deeds to become many and heavy. On that, Ibn Masʿood (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah () said, "Beware of minor sins (that are regarded as insignificant) for they accumulate until they doom a man." [Sahih Al-Jamiʿ]  

On the other side, though this verse might instill fear in the heart of the listeners and readers, exactly as indicated from its context, some people understand the verse "And there will appear to them from Allah that which they had not taken into account" [The Quran, 39:47] as referring to good aspects.

The servant might think that he would deservingly get punished by Allah, the Almighty, but He, the Exalted, granted him that which he did not take into account, to the extent that he would be engulfed in the Divine gifts to find the good which he did not expect.

The Prophetic Hadith on the owner of the card is a case in point; the Prophet () said, "A man from my Ummah (nation) will be called before all of creation on the Day of Resurrection, and ninety-nine scrolls will be spread out for him, each one extending as far as the eye could see. Then Allah will say: “Do you deny anything of this?” He will say: “No, O Lord.” He will say: “Have My recording scribes been unfair to you?” Then He will say: “Apart from that, do you have any good deeds?” The man will be terrified and will say: “No.”  He (Allah) will say: “Indeed, you have a good deed with Us, and you will not be treated unjustly this Day.” Then a card will be brought out on which is written Ash-hadu alla ilaha illallah wa anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu (I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger). He will say: “O Lord, what is this card compared with these scrolls?” He (Allah) will say: “You will not be treated unjustly.” Then the scrolls will be placed in one side of the Scale and the card in the other. The scrolls will go up (i.e., become light) and the card will go down (i.e., will weigh heavily)." [Sahih (sound)]

The Hadith on the man who did so many sins may serve as another case in point; the Prophet () said, "A man sinned greatly against himself, and when death came to him he charged his sons, saying: When I have died, burn me, then crush me and scatter me [my ashes] into the sea, for, by Allah, if my Lord takes possession of me, He will punish me in a manner in which He has punished no one [else]. So they did that to him. Then He (Allah, the Almighty) said to the earth: ‘Produce what you have taken’ and there he (the man) was standing! And He (Allah) said to him: What induced you to do what you did? He said: Being afraid of You, O my Lord (or he said: Being frightened of You) and because of that He forgave him." [Sahih Ibn Majah]

Another Hadith on the man who used to lend money to people may furthermore serve as a case in point; it is reported that the Messenger of Allah () said, "There was a man who never did any good deed, but he used to lend to people and he would say to his messenger (boy-servant): ‘Take what can be paid easily and leave what is difficult, let them off, and perhaps Allah will let us off.’ After he died, Allah said to him: 'Did you ever do any good deed?’ He said: ‘No, but I had a boy-servant and I used to lend to people. When I sent him to collect the debts I said to him: Take what can he paid easily and leave what is difficult; let them off, and perhaps Allah will let us off.’ Allah, the Most High, said: 'I have let you off."' (Its original meaning is in Sahih Al-Bukhari)

In the same vein, the servant might give out a small charity like a date for which he believes that Allah won’t give big reward. However, when it is the Day of Resurrection, he will find its reward as big as the mountain of Uhud - and there will appear to them from Allah that which they had not taken into account. Imam Muslim narrated in his Sahih that the Messenger of Allah () said, "If anyone gives as Sadaqah (charity) the equivalent of a date from something lawfully earned, for Allah accepts only what is lawful, Allah will accept it with His Right Hand, then foster it for the one who gave it as one of you fosters his young colt, till it becomes like a mountain.”

Similarly, so many deeds will have a great reward … a charity given out at night, a tear shed in privacy and secrecy, a verse you taught for the Sake of Allah, a mosque you built for the Sake of Allah, a well you dug for the Sake of Allah, a truthful testimony you said for the Sake of Allah, an answered supplication you made to Allah, a widow/an orphan you cared about, a copy of the Quran you granted to someone, knowledge you imparted to others, happiness you caused to reach a Muslim’s heart, a tree you removed from the way of people, and an animal you showed mercy to … Thus, so many deeds are done by people but on the Day of Resurrection they will find from their rewards and mercy what they had not taken into account.