Questioning on the Day of Judgement

Questioning on the Day of Judgement

There seem to be two contradictory statements about this issue.

1.     One set of Ayat approves the questioning as follows:

(Surah Al-A’raf 7:6)

Then We will surely question those to whom [a message] was sent, and We will surely question the messengers.

(Surah Al-Hijr 15:92)

So by your Lord, We will surely question them all

(Surah Al-Imran 3:106)

On the Day [some] faces will turn white and [some] faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black, [to them it will be said], "Did you disbelieve after your belief? Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject."

(Surah As-Saffat 37:24)

And stop them; indeed, they are to be questioned."

2.     The other set of Ayat which negate the questioning:

(Surah Al-Rahman 55:39)

Then on that Day none will be asked about his sin among men or jinn.

(Surah Al-Qasas 28:78)

He said, "I was only given it because of knowledge I have." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked.

The negation is of a questioning of the nature of finding the facts and knowing something which is not known. As Allah Al-Mighty knows  

everything, He is in no need of asking. He has already encompassed everything.

(Surah al-Mujadilah 58:6)

On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all and inform them of what they did. Allah had enumerated it, while they forgot it; and Allah is, over all things, Witness.

The first sets of verses which speak about questioning are that of the nature of scolding someone and holding him blameworthy.

Doesn’t a father address his son in front of the whole family who was caught committing an evil act: “Ask him, what he has done?”

Similarly, this question is addressed to that baby who was buried alive:

(Surah At-Takwir)

For what sin she was killed

Here the scolding is not directed to her, but to the person who committed that heinous act. Similr to this is the questioning of the Messenger of Allah in the verse of Surah Al-A’raf:

(Surah Al-A’raf 7:6)

Then We will surely question those to whom [a message] was sent, and We will surely question the messengers.

Here the scolding is directed to those who rejected the call of the Messengers.

In the verse of Surah Al-Rahman, the matter is further clarified. Why should they be questioned? They are already known by their marks

(Surah Al-Rahman 55:41)

The criminals will be known by their marks, and they will be seized by the forelocks and the feet.