Who are those whom Allah has excepted in His saying: "And all who are in the heavens and all who are in the earth will swoon (fall unconscious), save those whom Allah wills"? And do the martyrs stand with the people in the gathering place (of the Day of Judgment) and are fear-stricken, or does their presence in Paradise spare them from that? And how will the Great Terror not grieve them when they are in the gathering place?

The Almighty Allah's saying: "And the Trumpet will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead, except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown a second time, and suddenly they will be standing, looking on," has been interpreted in several ways, among them that the exception refers to the martyrs. For the martyrs are alive with their Lord and will not be struck with terror at the blast of swooning that occurs at the end of the world. However, on the Day of Gathering (Mahshar), the martyrs will be included among the general populace whom Allah gathers on that Day, just like the prophets, as people will be afflicted with deep sorrow and distress when the sun draws near and when Hell is brought forth.