What is the first thing judged on the Day of Judgement?
The first of a person's deeds to be judged is their prayer (salah), and the first matter judged between people is bloodshed. The Prophet ﷺ taught both, and scholars explain there's no clash: one is about your duties to Allah, the other about wrongs done to other people.
Prayer comes first for your own deeds
The Prophet ﷺ said that the first thing a servant will be held to account for on the Day of Resurrection is the prayer. If it is sound, he has succeeded; if it is corrupt, he has failed. If something is missing from the obligatory prayers, Allah will say, "Look whether My servant has any voluntary prayers," and the shortfall will be made up from them, and then the rest of his deeds will be treated the same way (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 413).
That last part is a real mercy. Your extra sunnah prayers aren't just "bonus points"; they patch the gaps in your obligatory ones.
Bloodshed comes first between people
The Prophet ﷺ also said: "The first cases to be decided between people on the Day of Resurrection will be cases of blood" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6533). Scholars such as Ibn Hajar explain that prayer is the first of the rights of Allah to be examined, while killing and injury are the first of the rights of people. Taking a life is among the gravest wrongs, so it is settled first.
Everything is weighed fairly
After that, all deeds are brought out and weighed, with complete justice and nothing overlooked:
The same verse adds that even the weight of a mustard seed will be brought forward. For a full picture of that day, see What is the Day of Judgement in Islam?
What this means for a new Muslim
- Make prayer your priority. If you're still learning, keep going step by step. See Do I have to pray five times a day right after becoming Muslim?
- Add a few sunnah prayers. Even the two rak'ahs before Fajr help fill any gaps.
- Your past is a clean slate. Prayers you never knew about before Islam aren't counted against you. See Are all my sins forgiven when I become Muslim?
- Guard people's rights. Don't harm anyone, and settle wrongs with others now, while you can.
- Prayer is the first deed you'll be asked about (Tirmidhi 413).
- Bloodshed is the first matter judged between people (Bukhari 6533).
- Voluntary prayers make up for gaps in obligatory ones.
- Every deed is weighed with perfect justice (Quran 21:47).
People also ask
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No, in Islam the dead do not return to this world, apart from rare miracles by prophets like Isa. Everyone will be raised on the Day of Resurrection.
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