Question (Q-25):
On the Day of Resurrection, will people rise from their graves wearing clothes and will they be circumcised or not?
Answer:
Human beings will rise from their graves bare footed, naked and uncircumcised. This is mentioned by Al Imām Muslim (رحمة الله تعالى عليه) in his Sahīh, in a Narration of Sayyidatunā Ā’ishah As Siddīqah (رضى الله عنها). It is mentioned in the Hadīth that it was said, “O Messenger of Allah (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ)! Will men and women be together, and will they be able to see each other?” The Holy Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ) replied, “O Aishah! That day will be so horrifying that it will not be a situation in which they will look at each other.”
Al Imām At Tirmidhī (رحمة الله تعالى عليه) has reported a Hadīth from Sayyidunā Ibn ‘Abbās (رضى الله عنهما) which mentions, “Will they see each other’s private areas?” The Noble Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ) recited this Verse of the Holy Qur’ān,
لکل امرئ منهم يومئذٍ شأن يغنيه
“On that day, each one has just one issue, which is enough for him.” (Sūrah ‘Abasa, 80:37)
وأخرج نحوه الطبراني و ابن مردويه والبيهقي والحاکم و صححه هکذا في تفسير روح المعاني والقرطبي وغيره
At Tabarānī, Ibn Mardawaih, Al Baihaqī and Al Hākim narrated similar Narrations. Narrations like the above Narration have been classed to be authentic in Rūh ul Ma’ānī and Al Jāmi’ li Ahkām il Qur’ān of Al Qurtubī etc.
It is stated in Kanz ul ‘Ummāl, Volume 7, Pages 207-208, on the authority of Sayyidunā Ibn ‘Abbās (رضى الله عنهما), that our Benevolent and Holy Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ) said, “O people! You will be raised to Allah (تعالى) bare footed, naked and uncircumcised.”
کما بدأنا أول خلق نعيده،الخ
“We shall make him similar to Our making him the first time.” (Sūrah Al Ambiyā, 21:104)
The first person to be dressed will be Sayyidunā Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام).
It is narrated by Sayyidunā Abū Dhar (رضي الله عنه) that the Holy Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ) said, “On the Day of Resurrection, people will be raised in three groups. One group will be riding on horseback, dressed in clothes…” (An Nasa’ī/Mishkāt ul Masābīh, Page 484)
The Great Leader of the Scholars, Sayyidunā Mullā ‘Alī Al Qārī (رحمة الله تعالى عليه) said that our Noble Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ) will rise on the Day of Judgement in the same shroud he was buried in. Mullā ‘Alī Al Qārī went on to say,
و عندي واللّٰه تعاليٰ أعلم أن الأنبياء بل الأولياء يقومون من قبورهم حفاة عراة لکن يلبسون اکفانهم بحيث لا ينکشف عوراتهم علي أحد ولا علي أنفسهم الخ
(Mirqāt ul Mafātīh, Volume 9, Page 473)
“In my opinion (and Allah تعالى Knows Best), all the Prophets (عليهم السلام) and Saints (رحمهم الله) will rise from their graves bare footed and naked but wearing their shrouds in such a way that their private areas will be covered from themselves and others.”
In light of the above, the meaning of Sayyidunā Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) being the first to wear clothes is that he will be adorned in Special Heavenly Clothing. In terms of the meaning of Sayyidunā Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) being the first, this either refers to him actually being the first, or him being amongst the first people to be clothed. This is because there are two interpretations of ‘first’,
- Al Awwaliyyah Al Haqīqiyyah (Actual first)
- Al Awwaliyyah Al Idhāfiyyah (First in another sense i.e. amongst the first)
Both are valid interpretations.
If the word “naked” (in the previous Narrations) refers to the whole body excluding the private parts, then there is no contradiction between their being naked and yet their private areas being covered. The other possible interpretation is that some people will be in one state while others will be in a different state.
Interpreting the word “naked” to be in its literal sense is not condemnable as is apparent in the details provided above.
Allah (تعالى) is Most Knowing.
Written by Muftī Shamsulhudā Khān Misbāhī (Allah preserve him)
