Thursday, January 14, 2016

Meeting the Lord in Person

 Update 2023: 

A humble attempt to understand the descriptions of Allah ﷻ in The Quran, … https://signsandscience.blogspot.com/p/allah.html 

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Below exchange is from 2016. 

J asked: do you believe meeting the Lord in person hereafter? 

Belief in the meeting with God is the cornerstone of our faith. 

Every time we stand up to pray, we reiterate our belief that the Most Compassionate Lord is: 
[Quran 1:4] (The) Master (of the) Day (of the) Judgment [http://islamawakened.com/quran/1/4/] 

Chapter 2 begins with the definition of the person for whom Quran is guidance: 
[Quran 2:4] And those who believe in what (is) sent down to you and what was sent down from before you and in the Hereafter they firmly believe. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/2/4/] 

Surah al-Kahf mentions it thus: 
[Quran 18:1,2] All Praise (is) for Allah the One Who (has) revealed to His slave the Book, and not (has) made in it any crookedness. Straight, to warn (of) a punishment severe, from near Him, and give glad tidings (to) the believers, those who do righteous deeds, that for them (is) a good reward.  [http://islamawakened.com/quran/18/1/ ; http://islamawakened.com/quran/18/2/] 

[Quran 18:47,48] And the Day We will cause (to) move the mountains and you will see the earth (as) a leveled plain and We will gather them and not We will leave behind from them anyone. And they will be presented before your Lord (in) rows, "Certainly, you have come Us as We created you the first time. Nay, you claimed that not We made for you an appointment." 

[Quran 18:103-106] Say, "Shall We inform you of the greatest losers (as to their) deeds? Those - is lost their effort in the life (of) the world, while they think that they (were) acquiring good (in) work." Those (are) the ones who disbelieve in the Verses (of) their Lord, and the meeting (with) Him. So (are) vain their deeds, so not We will assign for them (on) the Day (of) the Resurrection any weight. That (is) their recompense - Hell - because they disbelieved, and took My Verses and My Messengers (in) ridicule. 

Faith in accountability determines not only the quantity of our actions but also the quality and intention of our actions. In Surah Saad, Prophet David is being told: 
[Quran 38:26] "O Dawood! Indeed, We [We] have made you a vicegerent in the earth, so judge between [the] men in truth and (do) not follow the desire, for it will lead you astray from (the) way (of) Allah. Indeed, those who go astray from (the) way (of) Allah, for them (is) a punishment severe because they forgot (the) Day (of) Account." [http://islamawakened.com/quran/38/26/]  

Surah Ghafir informs us that it is God who forgives and mentions the Day of Meeting thus: 
[Quran 40:2,3] (The) revelation (of) the Book (is) from Allah the All-Mighty, the All-Knower. (The) Forgiver (of) the sin, and (the) Acceptor (of) [the] repentance, severe (in) the punishment, Owner (of) the abundance. (There is) no god except Him; to Him, (is) the final return. 

[Quran 40:15,16,17] Possessor of the Highest Ranks, Owner (of) the Throne; He places the inspiration of His Command upon whom He wills of His slaves, to warn (of the) Day (of) the Meeting. (The) Day they come forth, not is hidden from Allah about them anything. For whom (is) the Dominion this Day? For Allah the One, the Irresistible.  This Day will be recompensed every soul for what it earned. No injustice today! Indeed, Allah (is) Swift (in) Account.  [http://islamawakened.com/quran/40/15/ ; http://islamawakened.com/quran/40/16/ ; http://islamawakened.com/quran/40/17/] 

The promised appointment with God is an appointment that will indeed be kept! 
[Quran 84:6] O mankind! Indeed, you (are) laboring to your Lord (with) exertion and you (will) meet Him.  [http://islamawakened.com/quran/84/6/]  

You can look up verses in the Quran which mention the meeting with the Lord. The following link is a search of the triliteral root [lam-qaf-ya] for the word meet:http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=lqy  

Belief in the Hereafter is a matter of faith. As I believe the Arabic text of the Quran to be the exact text as revealed and arranged, therefore all verses of the Quran which inform me of the meeting are reason enough for me to believe. 
There are also verses which speak of the purpose of this world. They further confirm the assertion that the Day of Judgement will indeed be established. 

J asks: So why you think meeting the Lord is not metaphorical and allegorical, why it must be in person. God in person is great deviation from concept of Tauheed.

Answer: I do not understand how belief in the Appointment with God is a deviation from Tauheed. 
We are being cautioned well in advance to prepare for the meeting, when God will judge our faith and actions, and decide whether we are trustworthy of the Gardens (Jannaat) and grant us a safe passage there, or if we have failed to prove our trustworthiness and are rejected and thrown in the Fire. 
Of course, if we shift our focus from the caution, and instead try to imagine the details about God, there is great danger of misunderstanding or being diverted from our purpose and led astray. 
Quran 112:4 informs us that there is nothing like God, so any imagining or discussion about what we cannot comprehend would be futile! 

J commented on another email thread: But Literal meaning does not say Lord will present Himself in persoan 

Verses 67-69 and 75 of Surah Zumar give an idea of the Day of Judgement. However, it would be better to study the whole chapter. Pasted below are some verses. 

Surah Az-Zumar (Quran Chapter 39): 
1 The revelation of this Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Power, full of Wisdom.
2 Verily it is We Who have revealed the Book to thee in Truth: so serve Allah, offering Him sincere devotion.
3 Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say): "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful.
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7 If ye reject (Allah), Truly Allah hath no need of you; but He liketh not ingratitude from His servants: if ye are grateful, He is pleased with you. No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. In the end, to your Lord is your Return, when He will tell you the truth of all that ye did (in this life). for He knoweth well all that is in (men's) hearts.
8 When some trouble toucheth man, he crieth unto his Lord, turning to Him in repentance: but when He bestoweth a favour upon him as from Himself, (man) doth forget what he cried and prayed for before, and he doth set up rivals unto Allah, thus misleading others from Allah's Path. Say, "Enjoy thy blasphemy for a little while: verily thou art (one) of the Companions of the Fire!"
9 Is one who worships devoutly during the hour of the night prostrating himself or standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope in the Mercy of his Lord - (like one who does not)? Say: "Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.
10 Say: "O ye my servants who believe! Fear your Lord, good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is Allah's earth! those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!" 
11 Say: "Verily, I am commanded to serve Allah with sincere devotion;
12 "And I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah in Islam."
13 Say: "I would, if I disobeyed my Lord, indeed have fear of the Penalty of a Mighty Day."
14 Say: "It is Allah I serve, with my sincere (and exclusive) devotion:  
15 "Serve ye what ye will besides him." Say: "Truly, those in loss are those who lose their own souls and their People on the Day of Judgment: Ah! that is indeed the (real and) evident Loss!
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43 What! Do they take for intercessors others besides Allah? Say: "Even if they have no power whatever and no intelligence?"
44 Say: "To Allah belongs exclusively (the right to grant) intercession: to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: In the End, it is to Him that ye shall be brought back."
45 When Allah, the One and Only, is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with disgust and horror; but when (gods) other than He are mentioned, behold, they are filled with joy!
46 Say: "O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of all that is hidden and open! it is Thou that wilt judge between Thy Servants in those matters about which they have differed."
47 Even if the wrong-doers had all that there is on earth, and as much more, (in vain) would they offer it for ransom from the pain of the Penalty on the Day of Judgment: but something will confront them from Allah, which they could never have counted upon!
48 For the evils of their Deeds will confront them, and they will be (completely) encircled by that which they used to mock at!
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62 Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs.
63 To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth: and those who reject the Signs of Allah,- it is they who will be in loss.
64 Say: "Is it some one other than Allah that ye order me to worship, O ye ignorant ones?"
65 But it has already been revealed to thee,- as it was to those before thee,- "If thou wert to join (gods with Allah), truly fruitless will be thy work (in life), and thou wilt surely be in the ranks of those who lose (all spiritual good)".
66 Nay, but worship Allah, and be of those who give thanks.
67 No just estimate have they made of Allah, such as is due to Him: On the Day of Judgment the whole of the earth will be but His handful, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand: Glory to Him! High is He above the Partners they attribute to Him!
68 The Trumpet will (just) be sounded, when all that are in the heavens and on earth will swoon, except such as it will please Allah (to exempt). Then will a second one be sounded, when, behold, they will be standing and looking on!
69 And the Earth will shine with the Glory of its Lord: the Record (of Deeds) will be placed (open); the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward and a just decision pronounced between them; and they will not be wronged (in the least).
70 And to every soul will be paid in full (the fruit) of its Deeds; and (Allah) knoweth best all that they do.
71 The Unbelievers will be led to Hell in crowd: until, when they arrive, there, its gates will be opened. And its keepers will say, "Did not messengers come to you from among yourselves, rehearsing to you the Signs of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of This Day of yours?" The answer will be: "True: but the Decree of Punishment has been proved true against the Unbelievers!"
72 (To them) will be said: "Enter ye the gates of Hell, to dwell therein: and evil is (this) Abode of the Arrogant!"
73 And those who feared their Lord will be led to the Garden in crowds: until behold, they arrive there; its gates will be opened; and its keepers will say: "Peace be upon you! well have ye done! enter ye here, to dwell therein."
74 They will say: "Praise be to Allah, Who has truly fulfilled His Promise to us, and has given us (this) land in heritage: We can dwell in the Garden as we will: how excellent a reward for those who work (righteousness)!" 
75 And thou wilt see the angels surrounding the Throne (Divine) on all sides, singing Glory and Praise to their Lord. The Decision between them (at Judgment) will be in (perfect) justice, and the cry (on all sides) will be, "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!"


J emails: I am still waiting for ur response re meeting God is person or metaphorical.
You quoted bunch of verses about Judgment Day and declared all verses and connotations  should be taken in literal meanings.
The only literal about Judgment Day is news of Judgment Day, the nature of Al-Qayama is allegorical and beyond human comprehension, parables are given t give us some idea abt Qayama.
Theres one extreme the pervezi fitna, they take whole Quran as allegorical, now perhaps ur presenting another extreme here.

If everything is literal in Quran then how you will take "Nehno" , We for Allah...how many of theem you think.

Answer: I've answered the question as per my knowledge of it. Perhaps you need to discuss the Meeting with God with someone else then. 

As for the plural term 'nahno' used in the Quran, I had responded to it in an earlier email on this list. Perhaps you were not on this list then or missed it. You can read my response at: http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2016/01/shiftng-pronouns-in-quran.html  

J responded: You have not answered my question except quoting bundle of verses on Judgment Day about meeting the Lord.
My question was not abt meeting the God....it was abt meeting in person i.e. God with a Body...you avoid this question feigning not to understand real contention of my question.
Now I rephrase...Will u be meeting the Lord in person on Judgment Day.
You did not once said that God with Body or not.....
Apparently you are confused yourself how to answer what is your faith in God with Body.
Tauheed is basic tenet of faith, you have no clarity in what should be foundation of your faith.
Pondering and understanding single verse is far better than Quoting bundle of verses without an iota of understanding. 
Reading ur other post re "Nehno" is not necessary, thats not the moot point what you understand by "Nehno".
My question is...do you take this word also in literal meanings or this one is exception. 

 I responded several weeks later: 
Earlier, you were asking a question but were not convinced by my answers. I just came across the following verse, perhaps this will help answer your question: 

كَلَّا إِنَّهُمْ عَن رَّبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّمَحْجُوبُونَ
Nay! Indeed, they from their Lord that Day surely will be partitioned.
For Multiple English translations, please see: http://islamawakened.com/quran/83/15/ 

To read in context, you can either go to http://islamawakened.com/quran/83/1/ and read by clicking on the next verse icon, or read the entire surah in one page (with lesser number of translations) at http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=83 

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