Are you on the list? Which group are you with? In this world, we chase after names on prestigious lists—job promotions, elite schools, exclusive memberships. But in the hereafter, only two lists matter: One leads to eternal joy, the other to unimaginable regret.
Some will be greeted with celebration, their names written in Illiyeen among the honored souls. Others will be absent from the gatherings of the righteous, their fate sealed in darkness.
The choices you make now determine your place in the next world. The prayers you pray, the good deeds you hold onto, the company you keep—they are all being recorded.
NOTE: All depictions of Barzakh are purely conceptual and only vocals were used in the making of the soundtrack.
Download discussion guides for “The Other Side”: https://yqn.io/2e7585
Captioning provided by Muhsen.
References:
- The Prophet ﷺ came out to the Companions with two books in his hands and asked, “Do you know what these two books are?” We replied, “No, Messenger of Allah ﷺ, unless you tell us.” Of the one in his right hand he ﷺ said, “This is a book from the Lord of the Worlds containing the names of those who will go to Paradise, as well as the names of their fathers and tribes. It is complete to the last human being, so there will never be any increase or decrease in their numbers.” Of the one in his left hand he ﷺ then said, “This is a book from the Lord of the Worlds containing the names of those who will go to Hell, as well as the names of their fathers and tribes. It is completed to the last man, so there will never be any increase or decrease in their numbers.” His Companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! What is the good of doing anything if the matter is already decided?” He ﷺ replied, “Follow a right course and keep as near to it as you can, for the last deed of one who is to go to Paradise will be a deed appropriate for those who go to paradise no matter what he may have done before; but the last deed of one who is to go to hell will be a deed appropriate for those who go to Hell no matter what he may have done.” The Prophet ﷺ then made a gesture with his hands throwing the books away and said, “Your Lord has decided everything about mankind; a section will be in paradise and a section in the blaze.” [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi #2141]
- Fatima bint Abdul-Malik, the wife of Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz (ra), said, “A group in Paradise and a group in Hell was the most terrifying part of the Qur’an to Umar. He would read it and panic.” [Ibn Abi ad-Dunya, ar-Riqqah wal-Buka’; Al-Isfahani, Hilyat al-Awliya’]
- Zayd ibn Wahb reported: A man from the hypocrites died, and Hudhayfah did not perform the funeral prayer for him. Umar ibn al-Khattab asked him, “Was he a hypocrite?” Hudhayfah replied, “Yes.” Umar then asked, “By Allah, am I among them?” Hudhayfah said, “No, and I will not disclose this about anyone after you.” [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah]
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “On Friday, the angels stand at the gate of the masjid and record the names of those who arrive first, then those who follow. The one who comes early is like one who offers a camel in sacrifice, then like one who offers a cow, then a ram, then a chicken, then an egg. When the imam comes out (to deliver the sermon), they fold up their records and listen to the remembrance.” [Sahih al-Bukhari #929; Sahih Muslim #850]
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever regularly prays at night reciting ten verses will not be recorded among the negligent; and if he recites a hundred verses, he will be recorded among the devout; and if he recites one thousand verses, he will be recorded among those who pile up good deeds.” [Sunan Abi Dawud #1398]
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever wakes up during the night and wakes his wife, and they pray two rak‘ahs together, they will be recorded among those men and women who remember Allah a lot.” [Sunan Abi Dawud #1451]
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “…Then they bring him to the souls of the believers, who rejoice over his arrival more than any of you would at the return of a long-absent loved one. They ask him, ‘What happened to so-and-so? What happened to so-and-so?’ But others will say, ‘Leave him, for he was just in the distress of the world.’ Then, if he asks, ‘Did they not come to you?’ they reply, ‘He was taken to al-Hawiyah (the Abyss).’” [Sunan an-Nasa’i #1833]
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “A window towards the Fire will be opened for [the righteous soul], and he will look at it, seeing how its parts consume each other. It will be said to him: ‘Look at what Allah has saved you from.’ Then, a window will be opened towards Paradise, and he will look at its beauty and what it contains. It will be said to him: ‘This is your place in it.’ It will be said: ‘You were upon certainty, you died upon it, and, if Allah wills, you will be resurrected upon it.’ As for the wicked man, he will be made to sit in his grave in fear and distress. It will be said to him: ‘In what state were you?’ He will say: ‘I don’t know.’ It will be said: ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ He will say: ‘I heard the people saying something, so I said the same.’ Then, a window will be opened for him towards Paradise, and he will see its beauty and what it contains. It will be said to him: ‘Look at what Allah has deprived you of.’ Then, a window will be opened for him towards the Fire, and he will look at it, seeing how its parts consume each other. It will be said to him: ‘This is your place in it. You were upon doubt, you died upon it, and, if Allah wills, you will be resurrected upon it.’ Then he will be punished.” [Sunan Ibn Majah #4268]
- Ibn Umar (ra) said: “I dreamt that two angels took me and went away with me towards the Fire which looked like a well with the inside walls built up, and had two side-walls like those of a well. There I saw some people in it whom I knew. I started saying, ‘I seek Refuge with Allah from the Fire, I seek Refuge with Allah from the Fire.’ Then another angel met the other two and said to me, ‘Do not be afraid.’” [Sahih al-Bukhari #3738; Sahih Muslim #2479]
