:: Al Fajr ::

Archived under Heart-Melters , My Writings .

It was late in the afternoon - the year was 2002 during the first semester of my first year at University and the place was an empty prayer whos only occupants were Aslam and myself.

We sat with a copy of the Qur`aan, reciting to one another. At the time I was struggling to memorise Surah Al-Fajr (89), so I requested thast she translate each ayah for me [as she can speak Arabic] as I recited.
When we reached ayah number 21 and the aayaat proceeding it, I was in tears. they read:

"Nay! When the earth is ground to powder.
And you Lord comes with the angels in rows.
And Hell will be brought near that Day. On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance avail him?
He will say: Alas! Would that I had sent forth (good deeds) for (this) my life!
So on that Day none will punish as He will Punish.
And none will bind as He will Bind..."

It is here that I asked her to stop, as I was already in tears up to this stage. This was the first time I'd actually feared the Day of Judgement - for me the images portrayed in this surah were ever so vivid. However, this is just a drop in an ocean of the trials that will take place on that Day. Yet, are we really prepared? We must be honest with ourselves and turn back to the way of Allaah because we do not know when that Day will come.

May Allaah protect us from the trials of that Day and make us amongst those who ponder upon His Words.