in this world. In the following discussion, I shall show that this gathering will take place in this world, as indicated by the authentic texts.
- This Gathering Takes Place in This World:
The gathering mentioned in the hadiths will take place in this world. It does not refer to the gathering of mankind after their resurrection from the graves. Al-Qurtubī stated: “Gathering means bringing together, and it takes four forms: two gatherings in this world and two in the Hereafter.
“As for the two gatherings in this world, the first was the expulsion of Banū al-Nadīr to the Levant. The second is the gathering of mankind in the Levant before the Hour, driven by the fire mentioned here in the hadiths.” (1)
That this gathering will take place in this world is the view upon which the majority of scholars agreed, as stated by al-Qurtubī, Ibn Kathīr, and Ibn Hajar. It is also the view indicated by the texts, as explained at length above.
Some scholars, however, such as al-Ghazālī (2) and al-Halīmī (3), held that this gathering