Life After Death
By World Assembly of Muslim Youth1
How Do Muslims View Death?
Muslims believe that the present life is a trial in preparation for the next realm of existence. When a Muslim dies, he or she is washed and wrapped in a clean, white cloth (usually by a family member) and buried after a special prayer, preferably the same day. Muslims consider this a final service that they can do for their relatives and an opportunity to remember that their own existence here on earth is brief.
The question of whether there is life after death does not fall under the jurisdiction of science, as science is concerned only with classification and analysis of sense data. Moreover, man has been busy with scientific inquiries and research, in the modern sense of the term, only for the last few centuries, while he has been familiar with the concept of life after death since time immemorial.
All the Prophets of God called their people to worship God and to believe in life after death. They laid so much emphasis on the belief in life after death that even a slight doubt in it meant denying God and made all other beliefs meaningless.
The very fact that all the Prophets of God have dealt with this metaphysical question of life after death so confidently and so uniformly - the gap between their ages in some cases, being thousands of years - goes to prove that the source of their knowledge of life after death as proclaimed by them all, was the same, i.e. Divine revelation.
We also know that these Prophets of God were greatly opposed by their people, mainly on the issue of life after death, as their people thought it impossible. But in spite of opposition, the Prophets won many sincere followers.
The question arises: what made those followers forsake the established beliefs, traditions and customs of their forefathers, notwithstanding the risk of being totally alienated from their own community? The simple answer is: they made use of their faculties of mind and heart and realized the truth.
Did they realize the truth through perceptual consciousness? They couldn't, as perceptual experience of life after death is impossible. God has given man besides perceptual consciousness, rational, aesthetic and moral consciousness too. It is this consciousness that guides man regarding realities that cannot be verified through sensory data. That is why all the Prophets of God while calling people to believe in God and life after death, appeal to the aesthetic, moral and rational consciousness of man.
For example, when the idolaters of Makkah denied even the possibility of life after death, the Quran exposed the weakness of their stand by advancing very logical and rational arguments in support of it:
| Quran wrote: |
| Sura 36 - Ya-Seen [Ya-Seen] Verse 78-81: 78. وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلا وَنَسِيَ خَلْقَهُ قَالَ مَنْ يُحْيِي الْعِظَامَ وَهِيَ رَمِيمٌ 79. قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِي أَنْشَأَهَا أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ 80. الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ الأخْضَرِ نَارًا فَإِذَا أَنْتُمْ مِنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ 81. أَوَلَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَى أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُمْ بَلَى وَهُوَ الْخَلاقُ الْعَلِيمُ |
| Quran translation wrote: |
| Sura 36 - Ya-Seen [Ya-Seen] Verse 78-81: 78. And he makes comparisons for Us, and forgets his own (origin and) Creation: He says, "Who can give life to (dry) bones and decomposed ones (at that)?" 79. Say, "He will give them life Who created them for the first time! for He is Well-versed in every kind of creation!- 80. "The same Who produces for you fire out of the green tree, when behold! ye kindle therewith (your own fires)! 81. "Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like thereof?" - Yea, indeed! for He is the Creator Supreme, of skill and knowledge (infinite)! |
36:78-81)
On another occasion, the Quran very clearly says that the disbelievers have no sound basis for their denial of life after death. It is based on pure conjecture:
45:24-26)
| Quran wrote: |
| Sura 45 - Al-Jathiya [Crouching] Verse 24-26: 24. وَقَالُوا مَا هِيَ إِلا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَا إِلا الدَّهْرُ وَمَا لَهُمْ بِذَلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ هُمْ إِلا يَظُنُّونَ 25. وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ مَا كَانَ حُجَّتَهُمْ إِلا أَنْ قَالُوا ائْتُوا بِآبَائِنَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ 26. قُلِ اللَّهُ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يَجْمَعُكُمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لا رَيْبَ فِيهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لا يَعْلَمُونَ |
| Quran translation wrote: |
| Sura 45 - Al-Jathiya [Crouching] Verse 24-26: 24. And they say: "What is there but our life in this world? We shall die and we live, and nothing but time can destroy us." But of that they have no knowledge: they merely conjecture: 25. And when Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them their argument is nothing but this: They say, "Bring (back) our forefathers, if what ye say is true!" 26. Say: "It is Allah Who gives you life, then gives you death; then He will gather you together for the Day of Judgment about which there is no doubt": But most men do not understand. |
Surely God will raise all the dead. But God has His own plan of things. A day will come when the whole universe will be destroyed and then the dead will be resurrected to stand before God. That day will be the beginning of a life that will never end, and on that day every person will be rewarded by God according to his or her good or evil deeds.
The explanation that the Quran gives about the necessity of life after death is what the moral consciousness of man demands. Actually, if there is no life after death, the very belief in God becomes meaningless or even if one believes in God, it would be n unjust and indifferent God, having once created man and now not being concerned with his fate.
Surely, God is just. He will punish the tyrants, whose crimes are beyond count - having tortured and killed hundreds or thousands of innocent people, created great corruption in society, enslaved numerous persons to serve their whims, etc., because man has a very short life span in this world and because numerous individuals are affected by one's actions, adequate punishments and rewards are not possible in this life. The Quran very emphatically states that the Day of Judgment must come and that God will decide the fate of each soul according to his or her record of deeds:
But those who disbelieve say, "The Hour (i.e. the Day of Judgment) will not come to us." Say, "Yes, by my Lord, it will surely come to you. [God is] the Knower of the unseen." Not absent from Him is an atom's weight within the heavens or within the earth or [what is] smaller than that or greater, except that it is in a clear register - That He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. Those will have forgiveness and noble provision. But those who strive against Our verses [seeking] to cause failure (i.e. to undermine their credibility) - for them will be a painful punishment of foul nature. (Quran, 34:3-5)
The Day of Resurrection will be the Day when God's attributes of Justice and Mercy will be in full manifestation. God will shower His mercy on those who suffered for His sake in the worldly life, believing that an eternal bliss was awaiting them. But those who abused the bounties of God, caring nothing for the life to come, will be in the most miserable state. Drawing a comparison between them, the Quran says:
28:61)
| Quran wrote: |
| Sura 26 - Ash-Shuara [The Poets] Verse 61-61: 61. فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَى الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَابُ مُوسَى إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ |
| Quran translation wrote: |
| Sura 26 - Ash-Shuara [The Poets] Verse 61-61: 61. And when the two bodies saw each other, the people of Moses said: "We are sure to be overtaken." |
The Quran also states that this worldly life is a preparation for the eternal life after death. But those who deny it become slaves of their passions and desires, making fun of virtuous and God-conscious persons.
Such persons realize their folly only at the time of their death and wish to be given a further chance in the world but in vain. Their miserable state at the time of death, and the horror of the Day of Judgment, and the eternal bliss guaranteed to the sincere believers are very clearly and beautifully mentioned in the following verses of the Quran:
| Quran wrote: |
| Sura 23 - Al-Mumenoon [The Believers] Verse 99-104: 99. حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ 100. لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلا إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا وَمِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ 101. فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَلا أَنْسَابَ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَلا يَتَسَاءَلُونَ 102. فَمَنْ ثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ 103. وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَازِينُهُ فَأُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ فِي جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدُونَ 104. تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَالِحُونَ |
| Quran translation wrote: |
| Sura 23 - Al-Mumenoon [The Believers] Verse 99-104: 99. (In Falsehood will they be) Until, when death comes to one of them, he says: "O my Lord! send me back (to life),- 100. "In order that I may work righteousness in the things I neglected." - "By no means! It is but a word he says."- Before them is a Partition till the Day they are raised up. 101. Then when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no more relationships between them that Day, nor will one ask after another! 102. Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy,- they will attain salvation: 103. But those whose balance is light, will be those who have lost their souls, in Hell will they abide. 104. The Fire will burn their faces, and they will therein grin, with their lips displaced. |
23:99-104)
The belief in life after death not only guarantees success in the Hereafter but also makes this world full of peace and happiness by making individuals most responsible and dutiful in their activities.
Think of the people of Arabia before the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad . Gambling, wine, tribal feuds, plundering and murdering were their main traits when they had no belief in life after death. But as soon as they accepted the belief in the One God and life after death they became the most disciplined nation of the world. They gave up their vices, helped each other in hours of need, and settled all their disputes on the basis of justice and equality. Similarly the denial of life after death has its consequences not only in the Hereafter but also in this world. When a nation as a whole denies it, all kinds of evils and corruption become rampant in that society and ultimately it is destroyed.
The Quran mentions the terrible end of Aad, Thamud and the Pharaoh in
69:4-12)
| Quran wrote: |
| Sura 69 - Al-Haaqqa [The Reality] Verse 4-12: 4. كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ وَعَادٌ بِالْقَارِعَةِ 5. فَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَأُهْلِكُوا بِالطَّاغِيَةِ 6. وَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَأُهْلِكُوا بِرِيحٍ صَرْصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ 7. سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَبْعَ لَيَالٍ وَثَمَانِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومًا فَتَرَى الْقَوْمَ فِيهَا صَرْعَى كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍ خَاوِيَةٍ 8. فَهَلْ تَرَى لَهُمْ مِنْ بَاقِيَةٍ 9. وَجَاءَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَنْ قَبْلَهُ وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَاتُ بِالْخَاطِئَةِ 10. فَعَصَوْا رَسُولَ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَهُمْ أَخْذَةً رَابِيَةً 11. إِنَّا لَمَّا طَغَى الْمَاءُ حَمَلْنَاكُمْ فِي الْجَارِيَةِ 12. لِنَجْعَلَهَا لَكُمْ تَذْكِرَةً وَتَعِيَهَا أُذُنٌ وَاعِيَةٌ |
| Quran translation wrote: |
| Sura 69 - Al-Haaqqa [The Reality] Verse 4-12: 4. The Thamud and the 'Ad People (branded) as false the Stunning Calamity! 5. But the Thamud,- they were destroyed by a terrible Storm of thunder and lightning! 6. And the 'Ad, they were destroyed by a furious Wind, exceedingly violent; 7. He made it rage against them seven nights and eight days in succession: so that thou couldst see the (whole) people lying prostrate in its (path), as they had been roots of hollow palm-trees tumbled down! 8. Then seest thou any of them left surviving? 9. And Pharaoh, and those before him, and the Cities Overthrown, committed habitual Sin. 10. And disobeyed (each) the messenger of their Lord; so He punished them with an abundant Penalty. 11. We, when the water (of Noah's Flood) overflowed beyond its limits, carried you (mankind), in the floating (Ark), 12. That We might make it a Message unto you, and that ears (that should hear the tale and) retain its memory should bear its (lessons) in remembrance. |
Events of the Day of Judgment
God states in the Quran about the events of the Day of Judgment:
69:13-33)
| Quran wrote: |
| Sura 69 - Al-Haaqqa [The Reality] Verse 13-33: 13. فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ نَفْخَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ 14. وَحُمِلَتِ الأرْضُ وَالْجِبَالُ فَدُكَّتَا دَكَّةً وَاحِدَةً 15. فَيَوْمَئِذٍ وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ 16. وَانْشَقَّتِ السَّمَاءُ فَهِيَ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاهِيَةٌ 17. وَالْمَلَكُ عَلَى أَرْجَائِهَا وَيَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ ثَمَانِيَةٌ 18. يَوْمَئِذٍ تُعْرَضُونَ لا تَخْفَى مِنْكُمْ خَافِيَةٌ 19. فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ فَيَقُولُ هَاؤُمُ اقْرَءُوا كِتَابِيَهْ 20. إِنِّي ظَنَنْتُ أَنِّي مُلاقٍ حِسَابِيَهْ 21. فَهُوَ فِي عِيشَةٍ رَاضِيَةٍ 22. فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ 23. قُطُوفُهَا دَانِيَةٌ 24. كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا هَنِيئًا بِمَا أَسْلَفْتُمْ فِي الأيَّامِ الْخَالِيَةِ 25. وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِشِمَالِهِ فَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُوتَ كِتَابِيَهْ 26. وَلَمْ أَدْرِ مَا حِسَابِيَهْ 27. يَا لَيْتَهَا كَانَتِ الْقَاضِيَةَ 28. مَا أَغْنَى عَنِّي مَالِيَهْ 29. هَلَكَ عَنِّي سُلْطَانِيَهْ 30. خُذُوهُ فَغُلُّوهُ 31. ثُمَّ الْجَحِيمَ صَلُّوهُ 32. ثُمَّ فِي سِلْسِلَةٍ ذَرْعُهَا سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعًا فَاسْلُكُوهُ 33. إِنَّهُ كَانَ لا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ |
| Quran translation wrote: |
| Sura 69 - Al-Haaqqa [The Reality] Verse 13-33: 13. Then, when one blast is sounded on the Trumpet, 14. And the earth is moved, and its mountains, and they are crushed to powder at one stroke,- 15. On that Day shall the (Great) Event come to pass. 16. And the sky will be rent asunder, for it will that Day be flimsy, 17. And the angels will be on its sides, and eight will, that Day, bear the Throne of thy Lord above them. 18. That Day shall ye be brought to Judgment: not an act of yours that ye hide will be hidden. 19. Then he that will be given his Record in his right hand will say: "Ah here! Read ye my Record! 20. "I did really understand that my Account would (One Day) reach me!" 21. And he will be in a life of Bliss, 22. In a Garden on high, 23. The Fruits whereof (will hang in bunches) low and near. 24. "Eat ye and drink ye, with full satisfaction; because of the (good) that ye sent before you, in the days that are gone!" 25. And he that will be given his Record in his left hand, will say: "Ah! Would that my Record had not been given to me! 26. "And that I had never realised how my account (stood)! 27. "Ah! Would that (Death) had made an end of me! 28. "Of no profit to me has been my wealth! 29. "My power has perished from me!"... 30. (The stern command will say): "Seize ye him, and bind ye him, 31. "And burn ye him in the Blazing Fire. 32. "Further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits! 33. "This was he that would not believe in Allah Most High. |
The Prophet Muhammad taught that three things continue to benefit a [believing] person even after death - charity which he had given (which continues to benefit others), beneficial knowledge which he had left behind (i.e. authored or taught), and supplication on his behalf by a righteous child (Narrated by Saheeh Muslim).
Thus, there are very convincing reasons to believe in life after death:
1) All the Prophets of God have called their people to believe in it.
2) Whenever a human society is built on the basis of this belief, it has been the most ideal and peaceful society, free of social and moral evils.
3) History bears witness that whenever this belief is rejected collectively by a group of people in spite of the repeated warning of the Prophet, the group as a whole has been punished by God even in this world.
4) Moral, aesthetic and rational faculties of man endorse the possibility of the life after death.
5) God's attributes of Justice and Mercy have no meaning if there is no life after death.
