The Last Day is the Day of Resurrection, so called because no day will follow it. A human being passes through four stages: a stage in his mother’s womb, a stage in this worldly life, a stage in the barzakh (the intermediate realm), and the stage of the Day of Resurrection—this final stage is therefore named the Last Day. On that day people will reside either in Paradise—we ask Allah to make us among them—or, Allah forbid, in the Fire; such is the destiny.

Belief in the Last Day, as Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) clarifies in his concise work al-ʿAqīdah al-Wāsiṭiyyah—one of his finest writings for its lucidity and economy—“includes faith in everything the Prophet ﷺ has informed us about concerning what occurs after death.”

Among those matters is the trial of the grave: when the deceased is buried, two angels come to him, seat him, and ask three questions: “Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your prophet?” Allah steadies those who believe with the firm word—may He grant that to me and to you. The believer replies, “My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam, and my prophet is Muhammad.” A caller then announces from the heavens: “My servant has spoken the truth—spread out bedding for him from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a gate to Paradise.” His grave is expanded as far as the eye can see; a breeze and fragrance from Paradise reach him; and he is shown the bliss that awaits him.