ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF CERTAINTY, THE EYE OF CERTAINTY, AND THE QUESTIONING ON THE DAY OF RECOMPENSE

Allâh says:

“No such thing! If you knew with certainty.” (Sûrah at-Takâthur, 102: 5)

In other words, if you knew about the resurrection with certainty, it would have diverted you from the greed for more and more, and from mutual boastfulness. You would have done those good deeds that would have benefited you, and you would have abandoned all that was of no benefit to you.

It is also said that had you known with certainty, as the Messengers know, that wealth and boasfulness will be of no benefit to you on the day of resurrection, you would not be boastful of wealth and large numbers.

Allâh then says:

“You are sure to see Hell.” (Sûrah at-Takâthur, 102: 6)

Allâh takes an oath that you will certainly see the Hell-fire and its severity on the day of resurrection with your very eyes.

“You will then certainly see it with the eye of certainty.” (Sûrah at-Takâthur, 102: 7)

In other words, you will certainly see the blazing fire. The seeing which is the actual certainty refers to witnessing and seeing in a manner in which there is no doubt whatsoever.

If the question is asked that “What is the difference between the knowledge of certainty (‘ilm al-yaqîn) and the eye of certainty ( ‘ayn al-yaqîn)?” the reply is that the knowledge of certainty was with the Prophets with regard to their prophet-hood, and the eye of certainty was with the angels because they see [with their eyes] Paradise, Hell, the Tablet (al-Lauh), the Throne (al-‘Arsh), and the Chair (al-Kursî). They therefore have the eye of certainty.

If you wish, you could say that the knowledge of certainty is the knowledge of death and graves that the living have. This is because they know that the dead are in the graves, but they do not know what their condition is. On the other hand, the eye of certainty is enjoyed by the dead because they visually saw the graves: either a garden from the gardens of Paradise or a pit from the pits of Hell.

If you wish, you could say that the knowledge of certainty is knowledge of the resurrection while the eye of certainty refers to visually witnessing the resurrection and its terrors.

If you wish, you could say that the knowledge of certainty is knowledge of Paradise and Hell while the eye of certainty refers to visually seeing [Paradise and Hell].

Allâh says:

“Then on that day you will certainly be asked about the reality of the bounties.” (Sûrah at-Takâthur, 102: 8)

In other words, you will certainly be asked about the bounties of the world, be they the well-being of the body, the ability to hear and look, your earnings, the pleasures of eating and drinking, etc. You will be asked whether you fulfilled your thanks to the Master of all these bounties, did you recognize Him through them, or were you ungrateful for all these bounties?

Ibn Abî Hâtim rahimahullâh and Ibn Mardawîyyah rahimahullâhnarrate from Zayd ibn Aslam rahimahullâh from his father who said: the Messenger of Allâh recited the following:

“The greed for more and more has kept you heedless.” (Sûrah at-Takâthur, 102: 1)

In other words, it has kept you heedless of the acts of obedience.

“Till you visit the graves.” (Sûrah at-Takâthur, 102: 2)

In other words, till death comes to you.

“No such thing! Soon shall you come to know.” (Sûrah at-Takâthur, 102: 3)

In other words, once you have entered your graves.

“Again. No such thing. Soon shall you come to know.” (Sûrah at-Takâthur, 102: 4)

In other words, when you come out of your graves and go to the field of resurrection.

“No such thing! If you knew with certainty.” (Sûrah at-Takâthur, 102: 5)

In other words, when you stand in front of your Sustainer with your deeds.

“You are sure to see Hell.” (Sûrah at-Takâthur, 102: 6)

That is because the Sirât will be placed in the middle of Hell. There will be those Muslims who will be saved and there will be those who will be torn to pieces, and those who would have earned the Hell-fire.

“Then on that day you will certainly be asked about the reality of the bounties.” (Sûrah at-Takâthur, 102: 8)

In other words, you will be asked about your filled bellies, cool drinking water, the shade of houses, a normal physical appearance, and the enjoyment of sleep.

‘Alî said that the “bounties” refers to well-being. Abû Qilâbah narrates that the Prophet said with regard to this verse: “There will be some people from my ummah who will combine butter and pure honey and eat it.”

‘Ikramah rahimahullâh narrates that when this verse was revealed, the Companions y asked: “O Messenger of Allâh! What bounties are we enjoying? We merely fill half our bellies with barley bread.” Allâh revealed to His Prophet saying: “Ask them: Don’t you wear sandals and drink cool water? These are from among the bounties.”

At-Tirmidhî rahimahullâh and others narrate that when Sûrah at-Takâthur was revealed, the Messenger of Allâh recited it from beginning till end. The Companions y asked: “O Messenger of Allâh! Which bounties will we be asked about? We merely have water and dates, our swords are hanging from our necks, and the enemy is present. So which bounties will we be asked about?” He said: “Listen! You will be asked about all that.”

Abû Hurayrah narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “The first thing of the bounties that a person will be asked about on the day of resurrection will be that he will be questioned thus: Did We not give you a healthy body and satiated your thirst with cool water?”

Imâm Muslim rahimahullâh and others narrate from Abû Hurayrah that the Prophet went out one day and met Abû Bakr and ‘Umar . He asked them: “What has caused you two to leave your homes at this hour?” They replied: “Hunger, O Messenger of Allâh!” He said: “I take an oath by that Being in whose control is my life, the very thing that caused you to leave your homes has caused me to leave my house as well. Come let’s go.” They went with him to the house of an Ansârî man. But he was not in his house. When the man’s wife saw the Prophet , she said: “Welcome.” The Prophet asked: “Where is your husband?” She replied: “He went out to bring sweet drinking water for us.” The Ansârî happened to return just then. When he saw the Prophet and his two companions, he said: “All praise is due to Allâh! There is no one who has more honourable guests than me today.” He went out again and returned with a branch containing ripe and unripe dates. He said to them: “Eat from this.” He then took a knife. The Messenger of Allâh said to him: “Do not slaughter a milk-providing animal.” He went out and slaughtered a sheep for them. They ate of the sheep and from the branch of dates, and drank the [sweet] water. When their hunger was satiated and their thirst quenched, the Messenger of Allâh said to Abû Bakr and ‘Umar : “I take an oath by that Being in whose control is my life, you will certainly be asked about these bounties on the day of resurrection.”