‘Serat’ in the grammatical sense means a way or a road, and it’s meaning according to the Shari’ah is a pidge or a road which passes from the top of hell. In a tradition from Ma’soom (A.S.)
it is stated that ‘Poole Serat’ is a pidge thinner than a hair, sharper than a sword, and hotter than fire (of this world). The true believers (mo’meneen) will pass over it speedily like
lightening. Some will find some difficulty over it, bu will later find relief. While there will be some who will slip and fall down in the pit of hell. The likeness of ‘Poole Serat’ is of ‘The
Righat Path’ (Seratal Mustaqeem) of this world, the path of Ali (A.S.) and Aimmah (A.S.)’s obedience.
The person who in this world turned away frome the ‘Seratal Mustaqeem’ (The path of Ahlulbait) in word and deed, and was attracted towards falsehood, on the day of Qayamat he will slip over
the Poole Serat and fall into hell. In Surah-al-Hamd, ‘Seratal Mustaqeem’ refers to both these paths (The path of Ahlulbait and Poole Serat).
Allamah Majlisi in his book ‘Haqqul Yaqeen’ quotes from Shaikh Sadooq that: Our belief concerning Qayamat is that the Passes (Aqabaat) have each a specific name, some are called Farz
(compulsory Acts), others Amr (Commands), yet others Nahy (Prohibitions). So when a man will reach the Pass of Farz, and he had neglected it (in his life), he will be stopped there and imprisoned
for a thousand years, and the dues of Allah will be demanded of him. Now if he goes out of it by means of some good act performed by him in the world, or by the Mercy of Allah, then he escapes
from it and goes on to another Pass. He will not cease to be sent from one Pass to another, and be stopped and questioned regarding his shortcomings in respest of each stage.
If he escapes safely from all the Passes, he will arrive at the abode of Permanence (Darul Baqa). Here he comes upon everlasting life, and perpetual, without any affliction whatsoever. He
will reside in the neighbourhood of Allah, with the Prophets (A.S.), and the Imam (A.S.), the vercaious ones, the Martyres (Shohada), and the righteous ones from among His slaves. And if he is
stopped at a Pass, and is questioned about a certain due in respect of which he is found wanting, and neither a good action on his part nor the Mercy of Allah reaches him, his step will stumbel
and he will be hurled down in the fire of hell. (E’teqadatul Imamiyah).
Imam Mohammad-al-Baqir (A.S.) says, that when the verse (Ayah) “And hell is made to appear on that day” (Surah-al-Fajr: 23) was revealed, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) was asked regarding
it’s interpretation. He replied, “Jipa’eel has informed me that when Allah will have gathered everyone from the beginning to the end on the day of Qayamat, one thouesand Angels will ping the hell
pulling it with a thousand ropes with great difficulty. Hell will be roaring and raging with anger and the voice of peaking (of bones) will be heard from it. At that moment a ferocious voice will
erput from it, which Allah has reserved to take the account of people, and every one will perish (with fear). Men, Angels, and the Prophet will be wailing with fright. Man will cry out, “Our
Lord! save me, save me”, while the Prophets will cry out, “O Lord! save my people (ummat)”. So each Prophet will take account from Their people (ummat) and walk over the Poole Serat. No one will
have any escape from walking over it. Allah says in the Qur’an: “And there is not one of you but shall come to it, this is an unavoidable decree of your Lord. And we will deliver those who
guarded (against evil), and we will leave the unjust therein on their knees”. (Surah-al-Maryam: 71-72)”.
Then the Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said, “This pidge contains seven Passes (Aqabat), and each Pass has got a station equal to seventy farsakh, and seventy thousand Angels have be pogted on each
station. All the people will have to cross these Passes”.
1 st. Pass: kindness (Sile Raham), Trust (Amanah), Love of Ahlulbait (A.S.) (Walayah)
The first station here is of kindness (Sile Rahm). The person who in this world is not merciful towards his parents will have a short life. He will not prosper (in wealth), and in the
Hereafter will be stopped on the first station on poole Serat, and no mercy will be shown towards him. The Holy Qur’an admonishes us in the following words: “And be careful of (your duty to)
Allah, by whom you demand one of another (your rights), and to the ties of relationship”. (Surah- an- Nisa: 1)
So when one of your relativet is sick visit him, if he is indigent help him and fulfil his wants, and visit them (your relatives) on important days (of Idd etc.).
The second station is of Trust (Amanah). Trust does not only include welth, but also if someone confides in you and tells a secret requesting you not to reveal it to anyone, this too is
included in trust. If you disclose it to another, you have committed peach of trust. If you disgrace someone, you have committed peach. And also if someone keeps some wealth with you as a trust
and even after promising to return it, you refuse to do so, you are said to have committed peach (of trust). The same rule applies for hire. If you borrowed something from someone for a fixed
period, after the period having expired you do not return it, it will be deemed as being a violation of trust.
Shaikh Husain bin Sa’eed al Ahwazi relates from Imam Mohammad –al- Baqir (A.S.) that one day someone gave the good news to Abu zarr that his sons had pought a huge stock of cattle, and that
his Property had increased. To which Abu zarr replied, “The increasment of property will not make me happy, nor do I consider it to be a prosperity for I believe in being moderate and little is
sufficient for me. The guarding of this property would have made me busy and being negligent (of my duty towards Allah). I have heard the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.S.) as saying that, on the day
of Qayamat when a person who is trustworthy and kind passes over the upoole Serat’, kindness and trust will be on both the sides to support him.
It is also related that the person who has committed peach of trust or severed relations with his kith a kin, on the day of Qayamat when he will walk over the poole Serat, none of his deeds
will be of any help to him, and he will fall flat into the pit of hell.
The third station is of Love of Ahlulbait (A.S.) (Walayah). Regarding the love of Ahlulbait (A.S.) many traditions have been quoted in the Shi’ah as well as Sunni books, that Walayah means
the Love of Imam Ali (A.S.). In Tafseere Sa’labi it is writren regarding the verse : “And stop them, for they shall be questioned”. (Surah- al-Saffat : 24). It is said that people will be Stopped
and asked if they accepted the walayah’ of Imam Ali (A.S.) in the world and asid, “Aliyyun Waliyullah”, while believing in it.
Allamah Huwainee and Tabari both great scholars of the Ahle Sunnat quote the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) as saying that, “o Ali ! Whoever denies your love will be stopped (from going further)
over the poole Serat”.
In Sawaeqe Muhriqa it is written that whoever has got the passport of the Love of Ali (A.S.) will pass easily over the Serat. Many other traditions aquoted which cannot be written here due
to lack of space.
2nd . pass- Namaz. (Salat)
On this pass a person will be stopped and questioned regarding the five daily prayers, the prayer of Signs (Namaze Ayaat), and elapsed prayers (Namaze Qaza), about which it has been
discussed in the chapter of “Accounting”.
Imam Ja’far- as-Sadiq (A.S.) in his last will said, “Whoever consideng Namaz to be unimportant (or lowly) will not receive our Intercession (in Qayamat)”.
Allah says in the Qur’an, “Woe to the praying ones, who are unmindful of their prayers”. (Surah- al-Ma’oon : 4- 5).
The person who does not offer Namaz dies thirsty, and will also arise thirsty from his grave. People should themselves recite Namaz and advice others to do so. We should adapt our children
to offer Namaz before they reach puberty, because parents of a child reciting Namaz too get a share in their rewards. Parents who advise their children (while they are still young) to do good
deeds and their childern in turn follow them, such parents receive the reward thereof. And after a child reaches puberty the good deeds are recorded in his own scrolls.
Once a Prophet was passing from near a grave with his companions, when suddenly he told them to pass away quickly for the person in the grave was being chastised by Allah’s wrath. One year
later when he passed by that same grave, he sensed that the wrath of Allah had been lifted up from the grave. He was astonished and asked Allah the reason for it. Allah relied, “This person had
left behind him a child who was sent to school, his teacher taught him to recite “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem”.Thus when his child addressed Me as being a Beneficent and Merciful Lord, I forgave
his parents, for they have been a medium for his birth. I felt ashamed that inspite of their child addressing me thus, I should punish them”.
“O you who believe ! save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fule is men and stones”. (Surah- at- Tahreem: 6)
Then we should warn our relatives and friends (from the wrath of Allah) by enjoining good (Amr bil Ma’roof) and forbidding evil (Nahy anil Munkar).
3rd. Pass- zakat
If a person in his life has ont paid Uzakat or ukhums due on him (even equal to a dirham) to the deseeving persons will be stopped at this pass. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) says, that on
the day of Qayamat, the non-payer of uzakat’ will be in a state that a python (called Aqra) will be wound around his neck. (Aqra is the name of a python, the hairs of whose body have fallen off
due to intense poison in it). In another tradition it is stated that if a person does not pay ukhums’ due on his agricultural field, on his neck will be placed a chain of the seven worlds on the
day of Qayamat. It is also related that when Imam- al- Mahdi (A.T.F.S.) reappeares, He shall put to death those who do not pay zakat due on them. The person hoards large provisions of gold a
silver (will zakat due on them), on the day of Qayamat these dirhams and dinars will be made red hot in fire and will be placed on their foreheads and their sides.
As said in the Qur’an, “on the day when it shall be heated in the fire of hell, then their foreheads and their sides and their backs shall be panded with it, this is what you hoarded up for
yourselves, therefore taste what you hoarded”. (Surah- al – Bara’at : 35) There is on difference between the uzakat of wealth and the uzakat of boody (Fitrah).
Many harsh woads have been used regarding the non-payment of ukhums’, and many traditions are found regarding it. One tradition needs to be quoted here from UAl kafi’ that Imam Ja’far-
as-Sadiq (A.S.) saya, that on the day of Qayamat the most difficult time will be when the deserving person of khums will catch hold of the end of the shirt of the one who did not pay it They will
ask for their right from them on this pass, and will not allow him to move further until he gives them their due rights. But the situation will become even worse when the Interceders (Ahlulbait)
themselves will ask for Their Rights (khums) from people.
4tn. Pass- Fasting (Saum)
On the fourth pass people will be questioned regarding fasting. It a person has been fasting in this world, only then shall he be permitted to pass over it easily, otherwise he shall be
stopped there. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) has said, “Fasts act as a shield against the flames of the fire of hell”. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) has said, “For the one who fasts there are two
good tidings for him, one at the time of peaking the fast (Iftaar), while the second when he shall meet his Lord. He will then pass over the poole Serat easily and enter the presence of his
Almighty.
5th. Pass- pilgrimage (Haj)
It the perfomance of Haj becomes obligatory (wajib) on a person in his life- time, and he does not perform it, then he shall be stopped at this pass. It is stated that during death it will
be said unto him “You have died the death of a jew or a christian. You are not associated with Islam”. It is said in the Qur’an, “And pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon men for the sake of
Allah, (upon) everyone who is able to undertake the journey to it, and whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is Self-sufficient, above any need of the world”. (Surah-al-Aale Imraan :
96)
6th.pass- Cleanliness (Taharah)
According to Ibne Abbas purification (Taharah) is of three types : Ablution (Wuzu’), Bath (Ghusl), and Tayammum, while others consider it to be absolute purification (of the body as well as
the soul). If a person does not take care of cleanliness (or purification), specially those men and women who do not perform the ceremonial bath (Ghusle Janabat) correctly or on it s prescribed
time, shall be stopped at this pass. Women should also take care about the performance of other baths (viz. Qhusle Haiz, Nifaas, Iztahaza etc.), and not be negligent about it as is the custom
amoungst, ignorant people. It is related that a person who does not keep himself away from impurities, he will safe the squeeze in the grave (as has been discussed in the chapter of
“Grave”).
7th.pass- Rights (Mazalim)
UMazalim is sometimes interpreted as justice while sometimes it refers to the rights of oyhers. The Holy Qur’an says about this pass: “Most surely your Lord is watching”. (Surah-al-Fajr :
14) In interpretation of this verse Lord is said that some people will be passing over the poole Serat in a manner that they will be clasping it by their hands. Others will be walking in manner
that one leg of their’s will be slipping and they will be taking help of their second leg, while the Angels will be standing on both sides. People will be falling into the fire of hell like bats
(falling on the ground). The person who is fortunate to get the Mercy and Blessings of Allah will pass over the poole Serat easily and will say, “All praise be to Allah, for verily He has
completed my good deeds with His Mercy and Blessings abd increased my reward. I thank Him that He with His Beneficence and kindness gave me freedom, when I had lost all hope”.
Without doubt Allah is the forgiver of sins of His servants and the rewarder of their good deeds. If a person has troubled someone with no fault of his, he will be imprisoned for five
hundred years on this pass so much so that his bones will peak. If a person has usurped someone’s wealth, he will be imprisoned for forty years on this pass and then he shall be thrown into the
fire of hell. In traditions it is narrated that in exchange for one (usurped) dirham, seven thousand (accepted) prayers of the usurper will be given to the person whose dirham he acquired. (It
has already been discussed in detail in the chapter of Accounting).
Incident
Allamah Bahauddin Sayyed Ali bin Abdul karim Neeli Najafi (whatever praise of his is done will be quite less, who was the student of Shaikh Shaheed), in his book UAnwarul Maziyyah (written
in praise of Imam Ali) narrates an incident from his father who says that : In Neela (a village in Abaee) there lived a person who was the superintendent of the Mosque. One day he did not come
out of his house, when people called him he excused himself. People inquired about it and they found out that his entire body was charred except his thighs, and he was groaning with pain and
sorrow. When people asked him how he burnt himsef he replied that, “I dreamt that Qayamat has dawned, and people are in anguish because majority of them are been thrown into hell, while a small
minority was going towards paradise. I was among those who were going towards paradise. Suddenly I reached a large and lenghty pidge which was referred to as upoole Serat’.
I started walking on it, and as much as I walked its peadth became narrow and it’s length increased until I reached a place where it turned sharper than a sword. Beneath was a large valley
full of black and roaring fire whose flames were spurting out like large mountain peaks. Some people walked away easily while some slipped and fell down. And I was so much scared that I had no
other wish except to cross the pidge rapidly. Suddenly I reached that place where I could no longer control myself and I fell head- long into the pit of the blazing fire. It’s pit had no end and
the fire pulled me down. I could not even scream and my mind went blank, and I reached down equal to the distance of seventy years. Suddenly I was inspired and I called out
“o Ali ibne Abi Talib! O Amiral Mo’meneen! help me my Lord”.
At that moment I saw a person standing on the edge of the valley. I recognised him to be no other than my Master Ali (A.S.). I called out to Him and He commanded me to extend my hand. I did
so and He pulled me out of the blazing fire. Then He (A.S.) started extinguishing the fire from my thighs with His blessed hands. I suddenly woke up from my dream and found that my whole body was
burnt, except my thighs where my Mmaster had laid His hands”. This person treated his wounds for three months and was cured.
Now whenever I relate this incident to anyone, he develops fever (due to fear), while only some remain uneffected.
Those A’mal which Prove helpful to pass over the poole serat easily.
(1) Sayyed ibne Tawoos in his book UIqbal relates that whoever recites twenty units (Rak’at) of prayers after Namaze Maghrib on the night of the first of Rajab, such that in each Rak’at
after Surah-al –Hamd recites once Surah-al-Tawheed, then he and his family will be saved from the punishment in the grave, and will cross the poole Serat like lightening without any
accounting
(2) It is related that whoever fasts for six days in the month of Rajab will find peace in Qayamat, and will walk over the poole serat easily without been accounted.
(3) It is related that a person who recites ten units of Namaz on the night of twenty ninth Sha’ban, such that in each unit after Surah-al-Hamd recites ten times Surah-at-Takasur,
Surah-an-Naas, Surah-al-Falaq, Surah-al-kaferoon, and Surah-at-Tawheed each, Allah will give him reward equal to theologians, and will increase his good deeds, will ease his accounting, and he
will cross the poole Serat like lightening.
As discussed in the earlier chapter, that whoever goes for pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Ali-ar-Reza (A.S.), Imam (A.S.) Himself comes for his resque (in Qayamat) at three different
places and saves him from the terrors of that day one of which is the Upidge of Serat’
