How Shall People Come Out of Their Graves
Answered by: The Permanent Committee
Question
How shall people come out of their graves on the day of Resurrection? And who will be the first to be dressed?
Answer
Allah, Glorious is He, will resurrect man on the day of Resurrection by reconstructing him from his tail bone. People will grow as perfect creatures just as plants grow from seeds, and palm trees from date stones. They will emerge from their graves barefooted, naked, and uncircumcised. They will rush forth like spread out locusts, or dispersed butterflies, and will not miss the way to the Assembly Land. In fact they will know their way to it better than a wild pigeon knows its way to its nest, as they are racing to a target.
The first upon whom the Earth will crack open is our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He will be the first to regain consciousness. As for the first to be dressed after Resurrection is Khalilur-Rahman (the beloved one of the Merciful) may Allah exalt his mention, and render him safe from evil. Horror will overtake mankind to the point even Prophets will say on that day: “Myself, myself”. He who reads the Ayaht that deal with Resurrection in the Surahs Al-Qamar, Al-Ma’arij, and Al-Qari`ah, and the like will have more information about that great event.
It is authentically reported in both Bukhari and Muslim, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: You shall be summoned barefooted, naked, and uncircumcised.
Then he read and said:
As We began the first creation, so shall we repeat it, a promise binding upon Us. We shall certainly fulfill it. (Al-Anbiya 21:104)
The first to be dressed the Day of Resurrection is Ibrahim. Well a group of my Ummah will be snatched away to the left side, he would call out: “My followers!” it will be said: ” “They are pasta sized after you left them.” And I then will say as the good worshiper (`Isa) said: – Al-Bukhari no. 3349 and Muslim no. 2860.
And I was a witness over them as long as I remained with them, but when You collected me, You were the Watcher over them, and You are the witness over everything. If You punish them, they are Your worshipers; and if You forgive them, You are the Mighty, the Wise. (Al-Ma’idah 5:117-118).
It is also authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Mankind will be shocked to swoon on the Day of Resurrection, and I will be the first upon whom the grave will crack open. Al-Bukhari no.2412
It is also authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
I will be the first to regain consciousness. -Al-Bukhari no.4638
You may get further details about the above two traditions from the book Al-Aqidah At-Tahawiyah when Imam At-Tahawi talks about the conditions of the people on the Day of Resurrection.
From the Noble Scholars:
Shaykh `Abdul-`Aziz bin `Abdullah bin Baz
Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Al-`Uthaimin
Shaykh `Abdullah bin `Abdur-Rahman Al-Jibreen
Along with: The Permanent Committee and the decisions of the Fiqh Council
Collected by Muhammad bin `Abdul-`Aziz al-Musnad