By Dr Zakir Naik
Belief in the Hereafter has been proved in the Glorious Qur’an with logical, conclusive, convincing proofs. The Hereafter represents the Absolute Divine Justice according to Islam.
Belief in the Hereafter is a basic and fundamental pillar of Islam. Without believing in this truth, a person could not be a Muslim. This doctrine has been eluciadated in the Glorious Qur’an and Sunnah in detail. We present here some refrences that clarify this reality:
1. Live Once in this World and then be Resurrected in the Hereafter
Almighty Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an:
How can you disbelieve in Allah? seeing that you were dead and He gave you life. Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection) and then unto Him you will return. (Al-Baqrah 2:28)
Islam states that a human being comes into this world only once, and after he dies, he is again resurrected on the day of judgement. Depending on his deeds, he will either dwell in heaven i.e. Paradise or he will dwell in hell.
2. This Life is a Test for the Hereafter
It is mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an:
Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving. (Al-Mulk 67:2)
This life that we lead in this world is a test for the Hereafter. If we follow the commandments of the Almighty Creator and we pass the test, we shall enter Paradise which is an eternal bliss. If we do not follow the commandments of our Creator and fail the test, we shall be put into hell.
Full Recompense on the Day of Judgment
It is mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an
Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing). (Aal `Imran 3:185)
4. Paradise
Al-Jannah i.e. Paradise is a place of perpetual bliss. In Arabic, ‘jannah’ literally means ‘the garden’. The Glorious Qur’an describes Paradise in great detail, such as gardens underneath which rivers run. It contains rivers of milk unchanging in flavor and rivers of purified honey. In Paradise there are fruits of every kind. No fatigue shall be felt in Paradise neither shall there be any idle talk. There shall be no cause of sin, difficulty, anxiety, trouble or hardship. Paradise shall thus have peace and bliss.
Paradise is described in several verses of the Qur’an including Aal `Imran 3:15, Aal `Imran 3:198, An-Nisaa’ 4:57, Al-Ma’idah 5:119, At-Tawbah 9:72, Al-Hijr 15:45-48, Al-Kahf 18:31, Al-Hajj 22:23, Al-Fatir 35:33-35, Yasin 36:55-58, Al-Saffat 37:41-49, Al-Zukhruf 43:68-73, Al-Dukhan 44:51-57, Muhammad 47:15, Al-Tur 52:17-24, Al-Rahman 55:46-77, Al-Waqi`ah 56:11-38.
5. Hell – Jahannam
Hell is a place of torment where evil-doers undergo the most terrible pain and suffering caused by being burnt by hellfire, a fire whose fuel is men and stones. Further, the Qur’an states that as many times as their skins are burnt, the residents of hell shall be given fresh skin so that they feel the pain. Hell is described in several verses of the Qur’an including Al-Baqarah 2:24, An-Nisaa’ 4:56, Ibrahim 14:16-17, Al-Hajj 22:19-22, Fatir 35:36-37.
6. Logical Concept for Differences in Different Individuals
In Hinduism, the differences between two individuals at birth is explained by stating past Karma i.e. actions of the previous life, as the cause of the differences. There is no scientific or logical proof or evidence of the cycle of rebirths.
How does Islam explain these differences? The Islamic explanation for these differences in different individual is given in Surah Al-Mulk, Almighty Allah says:
Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving. (Al-Mulk 67:2)
This life that we live is the test for the hereafter.
Furthermore, the sufferings of mankind in this world have been explained logically in an article entitled ‘Predestination and Sufferings of Mankind’ published on our website. For more information, please click here.
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Source: Taken from www.islamandhinduism.com with modifications.