and the scales of justice
Among the few things mentioned by name in the Traditions pertaining
to the Hereafter are the Pond of Kausar, the Bridge of Sirat and the
Scales of Justice.
Kausar, in some Traditions, is referred to as a Pond, and, in others,
as a River. Again, it appears from some Traditions that it is located
inside the Paradise while from others that its location is on the outer
side of it, and, before entering Heaven, the Believers will be admitted
to the august presence of the Holy Prophet and they will drink its extremely
pure, sweet and sparking water from his hand. Commentators, however,
are unanimously of the opinion that the well-spring of Kausar is situated
within Paradise and canals flowing from it are spread throughout its
length and breadth, and what is called the Pond of Kausar is a most
beautiful tank, hundreds of miles long and wide, which is located outside
Heaven but connected with the well-spring within it. Thus, the water
of the Pond will come through canals from the fountain of Paradise.
Another thing is that from the word ‘Pond’ one is often
led to think of the ponds that are generally found in the world, but
vastly different as the pond of Kausar will be in splendour and inner
significance from the ponds we see on the earth – in the same
way as everything belonging to Heaven should be -, the Traditions, further,
tell that it will be so extensive that it will take a traveler a month
to cover the distance between its tow banks. In a Tradition the distance
is reported to be the same as between Amman and Aden.
It is, indeed possible in this world to form a correct idea of the things
of the Hereafter even in the light of what is stated about them in the
Traditions. Their real shape will be known only when we shall see them
in future existence. The same should be kept in the mind in connection
with Sirat and the Scales as well.
(94) It is related by Anas that the Apostle of God said: “While
I was walking in Paradise I saw a [strange] river on either bank of
which there were domes made of concave pearls. ‘What is it?’
I inquired from Gabriel. ‘It is the Kausar the Lord has given
to you,’ Gabriel replied. I found that its soil was as fragrant
as musk.”
-Bukhari
Commentary.-The incident related in the above saying, probably, took
place on the Night of Ascension and in the reply of Gabriel that “it
is the Kausar the Lord has given to you” the allusion is to the
Quranic verse which reads: Lo! We have given thee Kausar. ‘Kausar’,
literally, means the Abundance of Good, and though all the treasure-houses
of goodness God has bestowed upon the Prophet, like the Quran and the
Shariat and the sublime spiritual qualities and the dignity and eminence
of position in both the worlds are included in it, it particularly denotes
the river of Paradise and the Pond connected with it which will be located
in the open field of concourse on the Day of Requital [and at which
people without number will drink]. In other words, the priceless blessings
conferred by God upon the Holy Prophet pertaining to Faith, and which
have reached, through, him to innumerable persons, will be made known
in the form of the River and Pond of Kausar in the Hereafter and countless
bondmen of God will quench their thirst at them.
(95) It is related by Abdullah bin ‘Amr that the Apostle of God
said: “The journey of my Pond is of one month [i.e., the Pond
of Kausar is so large that it takes a month to go from one side of it
to the other], and its angles [i.e., corners] are equal [which, apparently,
means that it is square, having four equal sides], and its water is
whiter than milk and more sweet-smelling than musk, and its drinking-vessels
are like the stars of the firmament [meaning, probably, that they are
as bright and innumerable as the stars]. Whoever drinks its water shall
never be thirsty.
-Bukhari
and Muslim
(96) It is related by Sahl bin Sa’ad that the Apostle of God said,
“I am your head-steward at the Pond of Kausar [i.e., I will go
there before you and arrange for the slaking of your thirst]. Whoever
will come to me will drink the water of Kausar and whoever will drink
the water of Kausar will never feel thirsty, and there will be some
people who will neither recognise me nor will I recognise them: they
will come towards me but a barrier will be set up between us. I will,
thereupon, say, ‘But these people are mine.’ The reply I
will receive will be, ‘Do you know what innovations they introduced
[and what difficulties they created]?’ I will, then say, ‘Let
destruction and separation be the lot of those who brought about dissension
in Faith after me and tampered with it’.”
-Bukhari
and Muslim
Commentary.-It is difficult to say who will be prevented from going
to the Prophet at the Pond of Kausar. Nor is it necessary. The chief
lesson the above saying imparts is that if we are desirous of joining
the Prophet at Kausar, we must remain steadfast in Faith and detest
from making changes and innovations.
(97) Sauban related to us; he relates from the Prophet that he said:
“The journey of my Pond [is as long as that] from Aden to Amman
el-Balqa, and its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey,
and its drinking-vessels are [as numerous] as the stars. [Its water
is such] that whoever drinks it shall never feel the pang of thirst
again. The first to reach me at the Pond will be the indigent emigrants
– the ruffled and untidy of hair and dirty and unkempt of attire
– who cannot marry wealthy and prosperous women and for whom no
doors open [i.e., who are not welcome anywhere].”
-Ahmad,
Tirmidhi and Ibn-i-Maja
Commentary.-It shows that the distance between one bank of the Pond
of Kausar and the other is as much as between Aden and Amman [which
is situated near Balqa]. It, in fact, is another way of saying that
the Pond will be spread over hundreds of miles.
It also tells that the first to reach the Pond and to drink from it
will be the poor emigrants who, due to indigence and detachment from
worldly interests, live in such a state that their hair is unclean and
disheveled and clothes torn and tattered. If they want to marry girls
belonging to well-to-do families they will not be given to them in marriage,
and if they go to anyone’s house they will be refused admission
on account of their miserable appearance.
The above Tradition emphasises that those who live in poverty and pay
little attention to their dress or appearance due to indifference to
earthy pleasures and anxiety for Futurity will be the first to obtain
the rewards of the Hereafter. Modern educated people who mistakenly
believe that such a conduct is a gross misconception of Faith and an
outcome of the cult of self-mortification should ponder upon sayings
like these.
Every age has its own maladies. At one time erroneous and un-Islamic
forms of monasticism and life-denial were regarded, in some circles,
as the essence of Islamic asceticism. Now perhaps as a reaction to it,
the inclination of some sections is to make the teachings of Islam conform
to modern materialistic trends and lustful propensities.
(98) It is related by Samura that the Apostle of God said: “In
the Hereafter every Prophet will have a pond and he will take pride
at the number of men who will come to drink at his pond. I hope the
largest number of men will come to me [and drink at my pond].”
-Tirmidhi
(99) Anas [personal attendant of the Prophet] narrates that [once] he
asked the Apostle of God if he would intercede on his behalf on the
Day of Judgement. “I will”, the Prophet replied. “So,
where should I look for you on the Judgement Day?” inquired Anas.
“When you need me, first of all look for me at Sirat (The Bridge),”
said the Prophet. “And if I do not find you there?” asked
Anas. “Look for me, then, at Mizan [the Scales],” replied
the Prophet. “Where may I seek you”, asked Anas, “If
you are not near Mizan as well?” “Then look for me at the
Hauz [Pond]. I will not go away from these three places at that time,”
the Prophet replied.
-Tirmidhi
Commentary.-It shows that intercession on the Last Day is one of the
things for which a request can be made to the Prophet and though the
Prophet has indicated to Anas the three places for meeting him, it is
meant for all the seekers of intercession.
(100) It is related by Mughaira bin Sh’oba that the Apostle of
God said: “The distinguishing mark of the Believers on the Bridge
will be the prayer: ‘O Lord! Keep us safe. Let us cross [it] with
safety.’”
-Tirmidhi