They saw that animate beings like plants withered away and turned into dust...

They saw that animate beings like plants withered away and turned into dust, but they were rejuvenated. They neglected the fact that One Who basically created the world in the beginning shall be Omnipotent to recreate the world of existence, but they persisted in the denial of Resurrection. Surah al-Waqi‘a - Verses 48-50 أوَ آبَاؤُنَا الْأوَّلُونَ قُلْ إِنَّ الْأوَّلِينَ وَالْآخِرِينَ لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَی مِيقَاتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ 48. "And also our forefathers?" 49.

Say: "Indeed, those of old, and those of later times, 50. "All shall certainly be gathered together on an appointed Day. Addressed to the Noble Prophet of Islam (S), the blessed Verses in question say unto him that the former and the later generations of them from amongst their forefathers to their last generation see the light in this world and they shall all get together on an appointed Day when shall meet one another and the records of their deeds shall be investigated.

The Arabic word miqat ("meeting place") is cognate with waqt denoting a certain time appointed for carrying out something and it herein connotes the appointed time for Resurrection, in which all mankind shall meet so that their records of deeds be investigated. The word miqat is also applied to a certain place appointed for carrying out something, like those of pilgrimage to Mecca where pilgrims put on their pilgrimage garbs (ihram).

The blessed Verses in question clearly reflect that all mankind shall be resurrected on the same day and the same is also attested in other Qur’anic Verses. It goes without saying that the appointed time of Resurrection is only known by God Almighty and others, even His Messengers (as) and archangels nearest unto Him, are unaware of it. Surah al-Waqi‘a - Verse 51-53 ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أيُّهَا الضَّالُّونَ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ لَآكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ فَمَالِؤُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ 51.

"Then moreover, indeed you the erring deniers! 52. "You indeed shall eat of the tree of Zaqqum. 53. "Then you shall fill your bellies therewith. Proceeding with the enumeration of the chastisements of the people on the Left Hand, the blessed Verses 51-53 address them saying: "Then, O erring deniers!

You shall eat of the tree of Zaqqum filling your bellies by it." The preceding Verses just treated of the dwelling place of the people on the Left Hand in Hell, but the blessed Verses in question deal with their food.

✦ ✦ ✦