. J (cont.)

The correct wording is the second wording stated in the text above, "Nothing can outweigh the name of Allah." See al-Arnaoot's footnotes to ibn Abu al-Izz, vol. 2, f.· 6 1 0. These words occur in the hadith of al-Tirmidhi and al-Haakim. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi brought but in Allah's sight his weight will be less than the wing of a mosquito. If you like you may recall the verse, 'We shall not give them any weight on the Day of Judgment' (al­ Kahf 105)."1 Imam Ahmad has recorded a hadith wherein it states that one day Ibn Masud was trying to pluck a small branch of an Arak tree in order to brush his teeth. His shanks, which were very thin, were exposed by the wind, and some people burst into laughter at them. The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) asked, "Why are you laughing?" They said, "O Prophet of Allah, we are laughing at how thin lbn Masud's shanks are." He retorted, "By Allah, they will be heavier than Mount Uhud in the Balance."2 Actions themselves will be weighed in the Balance. Muslim has recorded a hadith reported by Abu Malik al-Ashari that the Prophet (peace be on him) said, "Cleanliness is half of faith, and the words, al-hamdu Li-Allah (all praise is for Allah) will fill the Balance."3 The last hadith in al-Bukhari's Sahih is, "Two sentences are light on the tongue, but they are very dear to Allah and heavy on the scales: Subhan Allah wa bi hamd-i­ hi (glory to Allah and praise to Him) and Subhan Allah a/­ Azim (Glory be to Allah, the Majestic)."4 . • • In view of these hadith, the objection of an obstinate denier, who says that actions are accidents not bodies and therefore they cannot be objects to be weighed, has no significance. Allah can change the accidents into bodies and put them on the scale, as was shown earlier. This is also suggested in a hadith which Imam Ahmad has recorded from Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet (peace be on him) said, "Death will be brought in the form of a ram covered with dust and placed between Paradise and Hell. A call will be given to the people of Paradise, who will raise their heads and look. A call will also be given to the people of hell, who will raise their heads and look. They will think that perhaps the time of relief has arrived. The ram will be killed and the announcement will be made, 'Life is forever; there will be no more death. "'5 Al-Bukhari has also recorded this hadith with some difference in wording. All this proves that the deeds, doers and the records of deeds will all be 'Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. 2Recorded by Ahmad, and al-Tabaraani. According to al-Arnaoot, its chain is hasan. Ibo Abi Shaibah and al-Haakim have something similar. See al-Arnaoot's footnotes to ibn Abu al-Izz, vol. 2, p. 6 1 1 . 3Recorded by Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasaai, Ibo Maajah and Ahmad. 4Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. 5 Recorded by Ahmad, al-Daarimi and al-Nasaai in al-Kubra. According to al-Arnaoot, its chain is sahih. See al-Arnaoot's footnotes to ibn Abu al-Izz, vol. 2, p. 613. Hadith #23: "Purification is Half of Faith . . . " weighed, and that the Balance will have two scales. Further details of how these things only Allah knows. Our duty is to believe in what the Prophet (peace be on him) has said about the Unseen without adding or deducting anything. Woe to those who deny the setting of the balances on the Day of Judgment of which the Prophet has spoken. They fail to see the reason behind it and therefore deny it. They say that balances are required for weighing groceries. I am afraid that these people will be given no weight on the Day of Judgment. Balances will be set up in order to demonstrate Allah's justice to all the people, although no one more readily accepts excuses than Allah. This is also the reason why He sends messengers to give good tidings and to issue warnings to the people. There may be other reasons, too, that we do not know. You may see the point if you reflect upon what transpired between the angels and Allah when He told them, "I shall create on the earth a vicegerent. They (the angels) said, 'Will you place therein who will make mischief therein and shed blood, whilst we do celebrate Your prayers and glorify Your holy name?' Allah said, 'I know what you know not"' (2:30). At another place He has said: "Of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you" (al-Isra 85). In the earlier discussion [in Abu al-Izz's book] on the Fountain (al-Hawd), we have quoted al-Qurtubi saying that the Fountain will come before the Balance and the Balance will come before the Bridge. In the two Sahihs, it states, "When the Believers cross the Sirat they will be detained at an arched bridge ( qantarah) between Paradise and Hell.