Religious obligations on the Day of Judgment Fatwa No: 24791
- Fatwa Date:28-2-2011
What is the Sharee‘ah evidence for the absence of religious obligations and acts of worship after death?
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
The predominant opinion expressed by scholars is that the Hereafter is a place for recompense, not obligations or trial. However, this does not mean that acts of worship will end there. Rather, people of Paradise will be inspired to exalt and praise Allaah the Almighty. Jaabir narrated on the authority of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, that he said that the people of Paradise will be inspired to exalt and praise Allaah the Almighty, just as they continuously and easily breathe. [Muslim]
It was also narrated that believers will prostrate before Allaah the Almighty on the Day of Resurrection. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
There will be some obligations and tests after death. Imaam Ibn Katheer mentioned that the Hereafter, despite being an avenue for recompense, does not exclude religious obligations before a person is admitted into Paradise or Hell, as said by Shaykh Abu’l-Hasan Al-’Ash‘ari, pointing out the beliefs of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jamaa‘ah (the Sunni mainstream) in testing children on the Day of Judgment.
Allaah the Almighty Says (what means): {The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able.} [Quran 68:42] It is established in the books of authentic Prophetic narrations and others that believers will prostrate before Allaah the Almighty on the Day of Resurrection. A hypocrite will not be able to do so, and his back will be like a plate: whenever he attempts to prostate he will fall down.
Allaah Knows best.