Death and the Hereafter in Islam

“Every soul shall taste death.” Surah Al-Ankaboot 29:57

Death is near

Death is the reality from which none can escape. It draws nearer every day, every hour, and every minute. According to the CIA’s The World Factbook 2007, almost two people die each second. That’s a staggering 57.9 million people each year! Every single being will reach this inescapable fate, regardless of their age, health, background, social status, and piety.

Where are the past kings, the billionaires, and the powerful? Where are the once beautiful, the famous, and the intellect elite?

“Whosoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high”Surah An-Nisaa 4:78

The reality of death

Death is not a disaster but simply a passing from this world onto the next. It should make us reflect and ponder about the purpose of life and what will become of us after death.

Allah (God) has informed us in the Quran that He has created us with the purpose of worshipping Him alone and that He made this life a test to see who will fulfill that purpose:

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship me” Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:56

God have also informed us the purpose behind the creation of death and life:

“Allah is He who created death and life to test you as to which is best in deed” Surah Al-Mulk 67:2

One does not prepare for death by pre-praying funeral services or selecting a coffin in advance. It is fulfilling one’s purpose in life – to worship Him alone, to live according to his commandments, and perform good deeds. The concept of worship in Islam is all encompassing and is not merely restricted to praying. In fact, any action that is pleasing to Allah is considered an act of worship, and a person will be rewarded for it.

The moment of death

Every day we see examples of death. We perceive a peaceful death as one with neither pain nor violence. However, this is not necessarily the case. When a person dies, the soul leaves the body, and so the physical appearance of the body may not reflect the situation of the soul. The peacefulness or unease of the soul will be a direct result of how well a person fulfilled his purpose in this life and has little to do with the cause of death.

Consider an example of two people who have a one-way ticket to a destination they have never been to before. The first takes the time to learn about the language, culture, and practices relating to the destination. He acquires the right currencies and vaccinations, and when it comes time to travel, he arrives without any surprises. He is safe and content because he has taken the time to prepare.

In contrast, the second person is careless in his preparations and simply lives for the moment until the time comes to depart. He arrives at the unknown destination scared and confused. His unpreparedness causes him to end up with a dreadful fate, as well as all the things he has brought with him are of no use. Describing such a heedless person, Allah says in the Quran:

“When death comes to one of them, he says, ‘My Lord send me back! So that I can do good in the things I neglected; By no means! It is a mere word that he speaks” Surah Al-Muminoon 23:99-100

Also consider the response of those people consigned to Hell, when they are questioned regarding what put them there:

“They will say, ‘we were not of those who prayed, nor did we feed the poor. And we use to enter into vain discourse with those who engaged in it, and we use to deny the Day of recompense (the Day of Judgement) until there came to us the death that is certain.’” Surah Al-Mudaaththir

We all have an appointed time with death, and we will all travel to this unfamiliar destination. Ask yourself – have you prepared for it?

The purpose of life

“Did you think that we God created you in play (without purpose), and that you will not be brought back to us (God)?” Surah Al_Muminoon 23:115

Life is a test that ends in death, but it does not mark the end of one’s existence. Once death arrives, the opportunity to do good ceases. It will be too late to repent and our fate will be solely by our belief and deeds that we do in our current life. Man’s life is divided into two parts: a brief stay in this world and an eternal life in the next. Any sane mind will conclude that eternal bliss is far more beneficial than short-lived pleasures on earth.

Allah created mankind and made us responsible for our actions by granting us freedom of choice and intelligence to discern right and wrong. If there were no afterlife in which the good is rewarded and the bad is punished, that would contradict the perfect justice of Allah.

Hence, it is an absolute demand of justice that there be a Day of Judgement on which every soul is brought to account.

“Shall we then treat the people of Faith like the people of sin? What is the matter with you? How do you judge?” Surah Al-Qalam 63:35-36

The day of judgement

Everyone’s deeds in this life are meticulously recorded and preserved, as Allah says:

“And the book (of deeds) will be placed open, and you will see the sinful in great terror because of what is recorded therein. There will say, “Ah! Woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great but takes account thereof! “They will find all that they did placed before them. And your Lord does injustice to no one.” Surah Al-Khaf 18:49

“Death, from which you are running away from, will certainly catch up with you. Then you will be returned to the knower of the unseen and the visible (i.e. Allah) and He will inform you about what you did.” Surah Al-Jumu’a 62:8

We will be amazed by the accuracy of such a record of all our actions, as we will be reminded of what was long forgotten. Allah says, “Allah has kept account of it, while they have forgotten.” Surah Al-Mujaadila 58:6

Thinking deeply on this should make us ashamed of committing any sin while knowing that it will be recorded against us and exposed on the Day of Judgement in front of Allah.

For those who doubt Allah’s abilities to resurrect and judge them, Allah quotes the disbelievers as saying, “Who will give life to these bones once they have rotted away and become dust? Say (O Muhammad), ‘He will give life to them for the first time! And He is All-Knower of every of creation!’” Surah Yaseen 36:78-79

paradise and hell

“Verily the dwellers of paradise, that Day, will be busy in joyful things. They and their wives will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones. They will have therein fruits (of all kinds) and all that they ask for.” Surah Yaseen 36:55-57

Those who believe in Allah as the only God worthy of being worshipped and perform good deeds will be rewarded with paradise.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “I have prepared for my righteous slaves such excellent things as no eye has ever seen, nor ear has ever heard, nor a human heart can ever think of.”

This is in sharp contrast to the people who deny the Oneness of Allah, who will be told, “This is the Hell which you were promised! Burn therein this day, for that which used to disbelieve.” Surah Yaseen 36:63-64

For the disbeliever is the worst of punishments:

“Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait for the transgressors, a place of return, in which they will remain for ages [unending]. They will not taste therein any coolness or drink except scalding water and dirty wound discharges—an appropriate recompense [according to their evil acts]! Indeed, they were not expecting an account and denied our verses with emphatic denial. But all things we have recorded in a book. ‘So taste the penalty, and never will (God) increase you except in torment.’” Surah An-Naba 78:21-30

Conclusion

“O man! What has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Most Generous? Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion. In whatever form He willed, He put you together. No! But you deny the recompense (reward for good deeds and punishment for evil deeds on the Day of Judgement).” Surah Al-Infitaar 82:6-9

Death is inevitable. Our purpose in life is to worship Allah alone, perform acts of righteousness and to avoid all that is forbidden. Our fate is being decided on the basis of our present actions, so we can either make use of our opportunities on Earth to ensure an eternal place for ourselves in paradise, or we can waste them and condemn ourselves to eternal punishment in Hell.

“Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure, and indeed the wicked will be in Hellfire.” Surah Al-Infitaar 82:13-14

Credit: Islamic Information Centre

Hotline: +971562042045

SPONSORED

SPONSORED

SPONSORED

SPONSORED