Author: Abu Ayesha
Resurrection after Death (part 18)
Ruling on Those Who Deny the Resurrection
Undoubtedly, denying life after death contradicts faith, even though its forms and examples may vary [1]. Whoever denies resurrection is rejecting numerous Qur’anic verses that clearly affirm it and disregards them. Belief in life after death is an essential part of the religion, and one who denies it exits the fold of Islam [2].
To examine the issue further, several Qur’anic verses illustrate that those who deny life after death are disbelievers and their abode is Hell:
The Ruling of Denying Resurrection in Light of the Holy Qur’an
A careful review of the Qur’an shows that those who deny resurrection are, according to the Qur’an, clearly disbelievers. Allah Almighty says: «وَإِنْ تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ أَإِذَا كُنَّا تُرَابًا أَإِنَّا لَفِي خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَأُولَئِكَ الْأَغْلَالُ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ وَأُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ» [3] Translation: “And if you are amazed, [it is] amazing for their statement: ‘When we are dust, shall we indeed be [brought] into a new creation?’ Those are the ones who disbelieved in their Lord, and those are the shackles upon their necks, and they are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein.”
In Al-Lubab fi ‘Ulum al-Kitab, it is stated regarding this verse: “It is understood from this verse that those who deny resurrection and the Day of Judgment are disbelievers. Denying resurrection leads to denying divine power, knowledge, and truthfulness. [4]
Other verses describe a disbeliever’s dialogue: «وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً وَلَئِنْ رُدِدْتُ إِلَى رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِنْهَا مُنْقَلَبًا قَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَكَفَرْتَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَكَ مِنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوَّاكَ رَجُلًا» [5] Translation: “I do not think the Hour will occur, and if I am returned to my Lord, I will find a better outcome than it. His companion said to him while debating: ‘Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then proportioned you as a man?’
And Allah (SWT) says: «وَنَحْشُرُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ عُمْيًا وَبُكْمًا وَصُمًّا مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ كُلَّمَا خَبَتْ زِدْنَاهُمْ سَعِيرًا ذَلِكَ جَزَاؤُهُمْ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَقَالُوا أَإِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا وَرُفَاتًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا» [6] Translation: “And We will gather them on the Day of Judgment upon their faces, blind, mute, and deaf; their abode is Hell. Whenever it subsides, We will increase for them the blazing fire. That is their recompense for that they disbelieved in Our signs and said: ‘When we have become bones and fragments, shall we indeed be resurrected as a new creation?’
The Ruling in Light of the Prophetic Hadiths
From the hadiths of the Prophet (PBUH) it is apparent that those who deny resurrection are essentially rejecting Allah Himself.
A marfu‘ hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) states: “Son of Adam has denied Me, which is not befitting. Son of Adam has cursed Me, which is not befitting. But denial is when he says: ‘I cannot be resurrected,’ while My first creation of him was not harder than his resurrection. And cursing is when he says: ‘God has a child,’ while I am free of need, have not begotten, nor been begotten, and have no partner.” [7]
The Ruling According to the Consensus and Scholars
Belief in life after death is a matter of consensus, and scholars unanimously agree that those who deny it are disbelievers. Some notable opinions:
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Qadi Iyad: Anyone who denies resurrection or the reckoning after death… is, by consensus, a disbeliever, because there is a clear text, and the Ummah has agreed upon its authenticity. [8]
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Allamah Safarini: “By resurrection is meant bodily return, as this is the apparent meaning, and one who denies it becomes a disbeliever.” [9]
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Imam Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr: “Muslims unanimously agree that one who denies resurrection has no faith, and his testimony is not accepted. The evidence is sufficient for all, and the Qur’an emphasizes belief in resurrection without any room for denial.” [10]
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Bahuti: “Whoever denies resurrection is a disbeliever, for he has denied the Book of Allah (SWT) the Sunnah of the Messenger (PBUH) and the consensus of the Ummah.” [11]
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Ibn Hazm: “All Qiblah-facing people, despite different sects, agree upon resurrection and the disbelief of one who denies it.” [12, 13]
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Imam Shawkani: “Resurrection is a matter agreed upon by all Shariah laws; all the Books of Allah affirm it, and the Prophets have agreed upon it from the first to the last. No one has ever denied it, and all followers of the Prophets have been unanimous.” [14]
Resurrection after death is a fundamental principle of faith. Belief in it is essential, and denying it renders one a disbeliever according to the consensus of all Muslims [15].
It must be understood that life after death is an undeniable truth. Denial of it is impossible, as Allah has placed numerous signs around humans in this world, leaving no alternative but recognition and acknowledgment. Denial is a rejection of a truth that divine wisdom and justice demand for the recompense of the Hereafter [16].
Continues…
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References:
[1]. Abdul-Latif, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Muhammad, Nawaqid al-Iman al-Qawliyyah wal-‘Amaliyya, 1427 AH, p. 222.
[2]. ‘Awaji, Dr. Ghalib bin Ali, Al-Hayat al-Akhirah ma Bayn al-Ba‘th ila Dukhul al-Jannah aw al-Nar, 1421 AH / 2000 CE, Vol. 1, p. 73.
[3]. Qur’an, Surah Ar-Ra‘d, 13:5.
[4]. Dimashqi, Abu Hafs ‘Umar bin Ali, Al-Lubab fi ‘Ulum al-Kitab, ed. Ahmed ‘Abd al-Mawjud & Ali Muhammad Mu‘awwad, 1419 AH / 1998 CE, Vol. 11, p. 252.
[5]. Qur’an, Surah Al-Kahf, 18:36-37.
[6]. Qur’an, Surah Al-Isra, 17:97-98.
[7]. Bukhari, Muhammad bin Isma‘il, Sahih al-Bukhari, ed. Muhammad Zuhayr bin Nasir, Vol. 6, p. 180, 1422 AH.
[8]. Abdul-Latif, op. cit., p. 227.
[9]. ‘Awaji, op. cit., Vol. 1, p. 61.
[10]. Abdul-Latif, op. cit., p. 227.
[11]. Ibid., p. 229.
[12]. Andalusi, Ibn Hazm, Al-Fasl fi al-Milal wal-Ahwa’ wal-Nihal, Vol. 4, p. 66.
[13]. Ibn Hazm, Al-Durra fi ma Yajibu I‘tiqaduhu, ed. Abdul-Haq al-Turkmani, 1430 AH / 2009 CE, p. 315.
[14]. Abdul-Latif, op. cit., p. 228.
[15]. Al-Rajhi, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, Sharh Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 104, p. 2.
[16]. Al-Dhaib, Najat bint Musa, Al-‘Aql Makanatuh wa Dalalatuh al-Shar‘iyyah ‘ala al-Usul al-I‘tiqadiyyah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, p. 48.
