In part one of this article, the definition of Reckoning and an introductory explanation of its scene were discussed. In this part, an important question is to be answered as regards whether or not the disbelievers will be questioned on the Day of Judgment.
Will the disbelievers be questioned and why?
The Muslim scholars differed as to whether the disbelievers will be brought to account and questioned on the Day of Judgment or that they will be ordered straight away to go to Hell without any questioning, because their deeds are all false and worthless, so there is no point in questioning them. If they are to be brought to account and questioned, what is the point of that reckoning and questioning?
Ibn Taymiyyah said: "This issue was a subject of disagreement among the later scholars and the scholars of the Hanbali School of jurisprudence [i.e. the School of Ahmad Ibn Hambal] and others . Among those who said that they (disbelievers) would not be brought to account were Abu Bakr ‘Abdul-‘Azeez, Abul-Hassan At-Tameemi, Al-Qaadhi Abu Ya’la and others . Among those who said that they would be brought to account were Abu Hafs Al-Barmaki among the scholars of the Hanbali School of jurisprudence and Abu-Sulaymaan Ad-Dimashqi and Abu Taalib ."
The correct view is that the disbelievers will be brought to account and questioned, and their deeds will be weighed in the Scales. This is indicated by many Quranic verses; for instance Allah Says (what means): #{And [warn of] the Day He will call them and say, "Where are My 'partners' which you used to claim?}## [Quran 28: 62]
Allah also Says (what means): #"And [mention] the Day He will call them and say, "What did you answer the Messengers?"## [Quran 28: 65]
There is no doubt that these verses are speaking of the disbelievers and the polytheists.
1 - With regard to why they will be brought to account and their deeds will be weighed in the Scales even though their deeds are worthless and will be rejected, then this is for a number of reasons:
A - To establish evidence against them, and to make manifest Allah's justice towards them. There is none to whom justification of actions is dearer than Allah. He is the One Who is absolutely Just. Hence He will question them and bring them to account, and will examine their records which contain their deeds. The Balance will demonstrate how great their bad deeds are and how evil their actions are. Allah, The Most Exalted, Says (what means): #{And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight — of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as Reckoners.}## [Quran 21: 47]
Al-Qurtubi said in At-Taareekh: "The Creator will question His Creatures in this world and in the Hereafter, in order to establish evidence and demonstrate His Wisdom."
B - Allah will bring them to account in order to rebuke them. Ibn Taymiyyah said: "The Reckoning may mean showing the disbelievers their deeds and rebuking them accordingly, or it may mean weighing their good deeds against their bad deeds. If the first meaning is intended, then undoubtedly they will be brought to account in this sense. If the second meaning is intended, implying that the disbelievers may have good deeds to their credit for which they may deserve Paradise, then this is obviously mistaken."
This rebuke is clearly mentioned in many texts, such as the verse (which means): #{If you could but see when they (disbelievers) will be made to stand before their Lord. He will say, 'Is this not the truth?' They will say, 'Yes, by our Lord.' He will [then] say, 'So taste the punishment because you used to disbelieve.}## [Quran 6: 30]
Ibn Katheer said: "As for the disbelievers, their deeds will be weighed even though they have no hasanaat (good deeds) which can benefit them and counterbalance their disbelief, in order to demonstrate that they are doomed and to expose them before all of creation."
C - The disbelievers are obliged to follow the basic principles of the Sharee'ah (Islamic Law) just as they are obliged to follow its minor issues. They will be questioned about their shortcomings and transgressions in that regard. Al-Qurtubi said: "In the Quran there is evidence that the minor issues of the Sharee'ah are addressed to them and they will be questioned about them, and be brought to account for that, and they will be punished for not doing that, because Allah Says (what means): #{… And woe to those who associate others with Allah —Those who do not give Zakah …}## [Quran 41: 6-7]
D - The disbelievers vary in the degree of their disbelief and sin, and they will be punished in Hell according to their degree of their sins. The Hellfire is composed of levels, one beneath another, just as Paradise is composed of degrees, one above another. The more intense a person's disbelief and misguidance were, the more severe will be his torment and the lowest their level will be.
2 - Because it is reported that the Messenger said: "Allah does not deal unjustly with the believer with regard to his good deeds. He gives him things in return for it in this world (according to one narration, he rewards him for it with provision in this world), and will reward him for it in the Hereafter. But as for the disbeliever, he will be granted provision by virtue of his good deeds that he did for the sake of Allah in this world, so that when he reaches the Hereafter he will have no record of good deeds for which he might be rewarded." [Muslim and Ahmad]