Islamic Psychology and Final Judgment

QUESTION: Islamic Psychology – Final Judgment

ANSWER:

The Islamic understanding of the Fall and the inherently good nature of humanity lead to an understanding of who will be saved and who will perish in the final judgment that also differs sharply from the Christian view. According to the following passages in the Qur’an, each person’s good deeds will be weighed in a balance to determine who goes to paradise and who goes to hell:

And the weighing on that day (Day of Resurrection) will be the true (weighing). So as for those whose scale (of good deeds) will be heavy, they will be the successful (by entering Paradise). And as for those whose scale will be light, they are those who will lose their own selves (by entering Hell) because they denied and rejected Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations). (Qur’an 7:8–9)

And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We to take account. (21:47)

Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy, they will attain salvation: But those whose balance is light, will be those who have lost their souls, in Hell will they abide. (23:102–103)

Islamic Psychology – The Balance of Righteous Deeds
Although these passages refer to the balance of righteous deeds (or lack thereof) determining a Muslim’s destiny, Muhammad is reported to have said, “None of you would get into Paradise because of his good deeds alone, and he would not be rescued from Fire, not even I, but because of the Mercy of Allah.”¹

Notes:

Rendered with permission from the book,Understanding the Times: The Collision of Today’s Competing Worldviews(Rev. 2^nd ed), David Noebel, Summit Press, 2006. Compliments of John Stonestreet, David Noebel, and the Christian Worldview Ministry at Summit Ministries. All rights reserved in the original.

¹ Sahih Muslim, book 39, no. 6769.