1. The blast of the Trumpet

This strange and wonderful universe in which we live, teeming with life and living things both visible and invisible, filled with constant motion that never stops or ceases, will remain like this until the Day comes on which Allah (swt) will destroy all living things except what He wills. Allah (swt) said: “Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish” (Qur’an 55: 26). He (swt) said: “And the trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heaven s and all who are on the earth will swoon away, except him whom Allah wills.” (Qur’an 39: 68)

This will be a huge and destructive blast which a man will hear and will not be able to make any bequest or return to his family and friends: “They await only but a single SHAYHAH (shout) which will seize them while they are disputing! Then they will not be able to make bequest, nor they will return to their family.” (Qur’an 36: 49-50)

According to the hadith: “Then the Trumpet will be blown, and no one will hear it but he will tilt his head. And he said, the first one to hear it will be a man who will be repairing a trough for his camel.” The Prophet (saw) said: “He will fall unconscious and the people will fall unconscious.” (Muslim)

The Messenger (saw) spoke of how quickly people will die when the Hour comes. He said: “The Hour will certainly come, whilst two men will be spreading out a garment between them, but they will not be able to sell it or fold it up; and the Hour will come when a man will milk his she-camel and will take the milk away, but he will not be able to drink it; and the Hour will come before a man who will repair his trough and will be able to bring his animals to drink from it; and the Hour will come when a man will raise a morsel of food to his mouth but he will not be able to eat it.” (Bukhari)

2. As-Soor – the Trumpet which will be blown

As-Soor in Arabic means a horn. The Messenger (saw) was asked about the Soor, he explained it in terms of the words that the Arabs know. In Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Sunan Abi Dawood, Sunan Ibn Hibban, Musnad Ahmad and Mustadrak Al-Haakim it is narrated that Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-Aas said: “A Bedouin came the Prophet (saw) and said, ‘What is As-Soor?’ He said, As-Soor is a horn which is blown into.’” (Silsilah al-Ahadeeth as-Saheehah)

3. The one who will blow the Trumpet.

Ibn Hajar Al-Asqallaani said: “It is well known that the one who will blow the Trumpet is Israafeel (as). Al-Haleemi narrated that there is scholarly consensus on this. It is clearly stated in the hadith of Wahb ibn Munabbih, the hadith of Abu Sa’eed narrated by Al-Bayhaqi, the hadith of Abu Hurayrah narrated by Ibn Mardawayh, and the lengthy hadith about the Trumpet.” (Fath al-Bari)

The Messenger (saw) has told us that the one who will blow the Trumpet is ever prepared to do so since the time Allah created him. In Mustadrak Al-Haakim it is narrated that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said that The Messenger (saw) said: “Since the time when the one who will blow the Trumpet was appointed, his eye are ever ready, looking towards the Throne, fearing lest the commands be issued before he blinks, as if his eyes are two brilliant stars.”

At this time, when the Hour has drawn so close, Israafeel (as) is more prepared and is ready to blow the Trumpet anytime. It is narrated by Ibn Al-Mubarak in Az-Zuhd, Tirmidhi in As-Sunan, Abu Na’eem in Al-Hilyah, Abu Ya’la in Al-Musnad, Ibn Hibban in As-Saheeh and Al-Haakim in Al-Mustadrak, that Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri stated that the Messenger (saw) said: “How could I relax when the bearer of the Trumpet has put the Trumpet to his lips and tilted his forehead, and is listening out, waiting for the command to blow the Trumpet?” The Muslims asked: “What should we say, O’ Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Say, HasbunAllah wa ni’mal wakeel, tawakkalna ‘alallahi Rabbina (Allah is Sufficient for us and He is the best Disposer of affairs; we put our trust in Allah, our Lord.”

4. The day when the Trumpet will be blown

The Hour will begin on a Friday. In Muslim it is narrated that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On this day Adam was created, he entered Paradise on Friday, this day he was expelled from Paradise, and the Hour will only come on a Friday.” (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh)

According to another hadith, the Messenger (saw) said the Hour will come on Friday, and on Friday the people will be resurrected too. It is narrated that Aws ibn Aws said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “The best of your days is Friday. Adam was created on Friday, and this day he died, the Trumpet will be blown and all of the creation will swoon on Friday. So send more prayers upon me on Fridays, for your prayers will be presented to me.” (Abu Dawood, An-Nasaa’i, Ibn Majah, Ad-Daarimi and Al-Bayhaqi)

Because of the Hour will come on this day, every Friday all creatures are filled with fear, apart from humans and jinn. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On this day Adam was created, on this day he came down from Paradise. It was Friday when his repentance was accepted and this day he died. The Hour will occur on Friday. There is no creature which is not waiting every Friday, from the moment the sun rises, fearing the Hour – apart from jinn and men.” (Mishkaat Al-Masaabeeh)

(To be continued)

by Dr. Umar S. Al-Ashqar