and called them to account, His act of creating them would have been purposeless; and Allah is far exalted above doing anything in vain: “Did you imagine that We created you without purpose and that you would not be returned to Us? Exalted be Allah, the True Sovereign” (Qur’an 23:115–116).

Could it be, then, that a person who wears himself out with worship and obedience in this world should die and never be raised again? And that a disbeliever who wreaks havoc on earth, committing every indecency, should likewise die and never be raised? Such a notion is incompatible with the wisdom of Allah. He says, “Do those who commit evil deeds think We will make them equal to those who believe and do righteous deeds—equal in their life and in their death? Evil indeed is the judgment they make” (45:21). The Almighty also says, “Shall We treat the Muslims like the criminals? What is wrong with you—how do you judge?” (68:35–36); and, “We did not create the heavens, the earth, and everything between them in vain—that is the assumption of the disbelievers. So woe to the disbelievers because of the Fire! Shall We treat those who believe and do righteous works like those who spread corruption on earth, or shall We treat the God-fearing like the wicked?” (38:27–28).

A believer may find little comfort in this life, living in hardship and distress, and yet he would receive no recompense for his deeds? While the disbeliever lives in luxury, tyrannises, and corrupts the land but never meets his due punishment? Such a claim does not befit the wisdom of Allah.

Resurrection therefore means rising from the graves—“the Day when mankind shall stand before the Lord of all worlds” (83:6)—and receiving the requital of deeds. As already noted, the doers of good and the evildoers do not obtain their full reward in this world; that will come in the Abode of the Hereafter.