and Majestic, just as He brought them into being at their first creation. That is, just as they emerged from their mothers’ wombs, they will emerge from the earth. You came from your mother’s womb barefoot, naked, and uncircumcised—although some people may be born circumcised; most people, however, emerge from their mothers’ wombs uncircumcised. Likewise, on the Day of Resurrection you will emerge from the earth barefoot, wearing no sandals; naked, wearing no clothing; and uncircumcised. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke of this, Aisha asked, “O Messenger of Allah, will the men and women all be together, looking at one another?” He replied, “O Aisha, the matter will be too grave for them to look at one another” (1).
The matter will be grave, and everyone will be preoccupied with himself: “On that Day, each one of them will have enough concern of his own” [Abasa: 37]. If a person merely imagines people in that situation, he becomes terrified and afraid. If he is rational and a believer, he will prepare for that Day.
“And obeys its Lord, as it must.” “Obeys” means that it listens to and obeys its Lord, as it must. Thus, after having been round, with elevations and depressions, it will become like a hide stretched out into one continuous expanse.
Then He, Glorified and Exalted, said: “O human being, you are laboring toward your Lord with great exertion.” One who labors is someone who strives earnestly and with a degree of hardship. His words, “toward your Lord,” mean that you labor in a way that will bring you to your Lord. In other words, regardless of who you are, the end of your labor is Allah, for we shall die, and when we die, we shall return to Allah, Glorified and Exalted. Whatever you do, therefore, the final destination is Allah, Glorified and Exalted: “And surely to your Lord is the final destination” [Al-Najm: 42]. Hence He said, “laboring toward your Lord with great exertion.” Even the sinner is laboring—a labor whose ultimate destination is Allah, Glorified and Exalted: “Indeed, to Us is their return. Then indeed, upon Us is their reckoning” [Al-Ghashiyah: 25, 26]. The difference between the obedient and the disobedient is that the obedient person performs deeds that please Allah and thereby attains Allah’s pleasure on the Day of Resurrection, whereas the disobedient person—