Definition
What is meant by the Reckoning and Requital is that Allah, The Most Exalted, will make His slaves (all people) stand before Him on the Day of Judgment, and He will remind them of the deeds that they did, the words that they said, the faith or disbelief that they followed in this world, whether they followed the Straight Path (Islam) or deviated from it, whether they were obedient or disobedient. He will tell them what rewards or punishments they deserve, and the slaves will be given their books (records of their deeds) in their right hands if they were righteous and in their left hands if they were evil.
The Reckoning includes what Allah will Say to His slaves, what they will say to Him, the proof and evidence that will be established against them, the testimony of the witnesses and the weighing of their deeds.
Some of the Reckoning will be difficult and some will be easy; some of it will involve honoring and some will involve rebuking; some will involve generosity and forgiveness, and the One Who is in charge of that is Allah, The Most Generous.
The Scene of the Reckoning
Our Lord has described for us the scene of the Reckoning and Requital on the Day of Reckoning in many Quranic verses, for instance Allah Says (what means): {And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the Prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged.} [Quran 39: 69]
Knowing that the Judge and Reckoner on that Day is The Most Wise and Most Just, The Sustainer of the heavens and the earth, is sufficient explanation of how great, majestic and frightening that scene will be. The shining referred to in the verse, the meaning of which is quoted above, will happen when the Majestic Sovereign (Allah) comes to pass judgment.
Allah Says (what means): {Do they then wait for anything other than that Allah should come to them in the covers of the clouds and the angels? [Then] the case would be already judged. And to Allah return all matters [for decision].} [Quran 2: 210]
Allah knows best the precise nature of this coming; we believe in it and know that it is true, and we do not take it for anything other than face value; we do not twist its meaning or reject it. The verse also states that the angels will come. This is a majestic scene in which the angels of the Most Merciful will bring the books of deeds in which are recorded all the deeds, actions and words of mankind, to be used as evidence against His Slaves. This is the book which leaves neither a small thing nor a big thing, but has recorded it with numbers. Allah Says (what means): {And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open] and you will see the criminals (polytheists, sinners) fearful of that within it, and they will say, “Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?” And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.} [Quran 18: 49]
The Messengers, may Allah exalt their mention, will be brought forth in the arena of judgment and reckoning, and will be asked about the matter with which Allah entrusted them; namely the conveying of the Revelation of Allah to those to whom they were sent. And they will testify against their people concerning what they know about them.
On that great Day, the witnesses will stand up and testify against the people, speaking of what they did. These witnesses are the angels who used to record everything that a person did. The Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, and scholars will also testify against people, as will the earth, the sky, nights and days, etc.
The people will be brought in rows before Allah to bring them to account, as Allah Says (what means): {And they will be set before your Lord in [lines as] rows...} [Quran 18: 48]
The sinners among them will be brought forth; among them are those who rejected the Messengers, may Allah exalt their mention, and rebelled against their Lord, and were arrogant in the earth. They will be bound in fetters, wearing garments of pitch, as in the verse (which means): {And you (O Muhammad) will see the criminals (disbelievers, polytheists] that Day bound together in fetters. Their garments will be of liquid pitch, and fire will cover their faces. That Allah may requite each person according to what he has earned. Truly, Allah is Swift at reckoning.} [Quran 14: 49-51]
Because of the intensity of the horrors, the nations will be brought to their knees when the people are called for the reckoning, due to the enormity of what they are witnessing and the state they are in. Allah Says (what means): {And you (O Muhammad) will see each nation humbled to their knees [kneeling], each nation will be called to its Record [of deeds]. This Day you shall be recompensed for what you used to do.} [Quran 45: 28]
This is a great and majestic scene indeed. We ask Allah to save us by His Grace, Bounty and Generosity.