Page 28 - The Day of Judgment

26 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

No matter how severe the tremor, people who are prepared for
such an event often find a means to survive. However, upon hearing
the trumpet sound, even they will realize that this is no ordinary
tremor and that there is no possibility of escape.
In the Qur'an Allah warns man of this event and of the tremors,
as follows:

Mankind, heed your Lord! The quaking of the Hour is a
terrible thing. (Surat al-Hajj, 1)
At that moment, nothing on Earth will have any meaning.
Everything that led people astray (e.g., luxurious cars, gigantic
skyscrapers, 5-star hotels, ambitiously accumulated life savings,
houses, decorations, palaces, bridges, all of the most famous
buildings, the Pyramids that have survived all natural disasters so
far, historic castles, and whole cities) all will crumble like sand
castles on the beach. The workplaces people pin their hopes upon,
luxurious places, in short all material wealth that people feel proud
to possess will be destroyed in an instant. The fame, honor,
prestige, and power people attained will become meaningless and
unimportant instantaneously, for:

No indeed! When Earth is crushed and ground to dust, and
your Lord arrives with the angels rank upon rank, and that Day
Hell is produced, that Day man will remember. But how will
the remembrance help him? (Surat al-Fajr, 21-23)
When the entire planet gives way, those who found all kinds of

excuses to deny Allah and who did not engage in any acts of
worship, despite knowing what was required, finally will realize
that there is refuge only in Allah. However, it now is too late for
them to make amends, and their remorse is of no use either.