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Any knowledge of the Hereafter is beyond the pale of Science because it can deal only with what is observable and measurable and until the point of death or experiences soon thereafter. A belief in life after death or Al-Akhira is a required article of faith in Islam, because it is intended to establish justice.
In this world, the righteous suffer and are not fully rewarded for their deeds. Similarly, the evil individuals frequently escape punishment for their actions. God is just and intends everyone to receive justice, and this is meted out in the Hereafter.
"Do not these think that they shall be raised again, for a nighty day, the day on which men shall stand before the Lord of the worlds?" (Al Mutaffa fin 83: 4-6).
"Allah, there is no god but He -He will most certainly gather you together on the resurrection day, there is no doubt in it; and who is more true in word than Allah?" (Al Nisa 4: 87).
"Man says: What! when I am dead shall I be raised alive? Does not man call to mind that We created him before, out of nothing?" (Maryam 19: 66-67).
"It is He Who brings out the living from the dead, and brings out the dead from the living, and Who gives life to the earth after it is dead: and thus shall ye be brought out (from the dead).
Among His Signs in this, that He created you from dust; and then behold, you are men scattered (far and wide)! (Al Rum: 30:19).
The Day of Judgment is when the earthly life ends, the deceased are raised from their graves, and God conducts judgment by consigning humans for eternity to either the delights of Paradise or to the flames of Hell. "Every man´s fate We have fastened on his own neck: On the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll, which he will see spread open. It will be said to him: 'Read your own record: Sufficient is your soul this day to make out an account against thee.' Who receives guidance, receives it for his own benefit: who goes astray doth so to his own loss: No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent an messenger to give warning." (Al Isra 17: 13-15)
The greatest reward is receiving God's pleasure, which is saved for those who believe in God and strive to live in accordance with His guidance. "Say O Prophet, Shall I give you glad tidings of things far better than those? For the righteous are Gardens in nearness to their Lord, with rivers flowing beneath; therein is their eternal home; with companions pure. And the good pleasure of Allah. For in Allah´s sight are all His servants, those who say: 'Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us, then, our sins, and save us from the agony of the Fire.'"(Al Imran 3: 15-16).
"Allah will say: This is a day in which the truthful will profit from their truth. Theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath - their eternal home. Allah is well-pleased with them, and they with Allah. That is the great salvation." (Al Maidah 5: 119).
Some people live their lives pretending to be pious, and trustworthy. They will accept their hypocrisy in front of everyone, and suffer the consequences thereof. "And He will be told, 'Read this thy record. Sufficient is your own self today to make out your account." (Al Isra 17: 14).
The Qur'an frequently uses the metaphor of rain to describe how the resurrection of the dead. God can resurrect the dead the same way that dead soil becomes covered with vegetation after a rainstorm. The argument used in the Qur'an is that if He can recreate from dead soil, why it should be difficult for Him to recreate humans? Some prophets such as Abraham were shown how God resurrected the dead. The story of the companions of the cave is given as proof that people can be resurrected after approximately 300 years of sleep. Other places in the Qur'an the argument is that God is the Creator when he intends some into being says 'Be' and it becomes."
"And with God are the keys of the unseen, none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in or on the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record." (Al Anam 6:59)
Most of the account here is taken from Islam Religion written by Imam Kamil Mufti and Abdurrahman Maddi. Along with additions from other sources.
When the time of death of a believer approaches, he receives the good news of God's pleasure and His blessings upon him, so that nothing is dearer to him than what lies ahead. He loves meeting God and God loves meeting him (Authentic hadith Al-Bukhari). The angels gently extract his soul, saying "Do not fear and do not grieve, but receive good tiding of the Paradise which you were promised. We were your allies in this worldly life and (are so) in the Hereafter, and you will have therein whatever you desire, and you will have therein whatever you request, as a hospitality from the Forgiving and Merciful." (Fussilat 41: 30-32).
When the soul passes the test, a voice from from the heavens calls out; My slave has spoken the truth, supply him with furnishings from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open a gate for him to Paradise." The believer then will be shown what would have been his abode in Hell had he been a wicked sinner.
The above passage was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in response to the idolaters of his time. They held the belief that the afterlife was a nonissue and that man simply lived and died in this world and that was all.
They mocked the Prophet about his teachings about the next world, challenging him to bring back their ancestors from the dead, nor did he ever claim this. Only God is capable of resurrecting those who have passed away, as stressed in the following verses. "And he produces arguments against Us, and he forgets his own creation. He says, 'Who will revive the bones when they have decayed?' Say, 'He who initiated them in the first instance will revive them. He has knowledge of every creation. He who produced fuel for you from the green trees, with which you kindle a fire. Is not He who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like of them? Certainly, He is the Supreme All-Knowing Creator.'"(Ya Sin36: 78-81).
This passage is significant as it not not only confirms God's ability and intention to resurrect all human beings on the Day of Judgment, but also reaffirms His status as the creator of the universe, bringing us into existence and assures us of our resurrection. All human beings will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment to be judged for their deeds, and enter heaven or hell based on their deeds.
"He will ask 'them' (the unbelievers), how many years did you remain on earth?. They will reply, we remained 'only' a day or part of a day. But ask those who kept count. He will say, 'You only remained for a little while, if only you knew. Did you then think that We had created you without purpose, and that you will be never be returned to US?" (Al Mominun 23: 112-115).
"This worldly life is no more than play and amusement, but far better is the 'eternal' Home of the Hereafter for those mindful of Allah. Will you not then understand?' (Al Anam 6:32).
"The life of this world is just like rain We sent down from the sky , producing a mixture of plants which humans and animals consume. Then just as the earth looks its best, perfectly beautified, and its people think they have full control over it, there comes to it Our command by night or by day, so We mow it down as if it never never flourished yesterday! This is how We make the signs clear to people who reflect."(Yunus 10: 24).
"O my people! This worldly life is only 'a fleeting' enjoyment, whereas the Hereafter is truly the home of settlement." (Al Ghafir 40: 39).
"Know that this worldly is no more than play, amusement, luxury, mutual boasting, and competition in wealth and children. This is like rain that causes plants to grow to the delight of planters. But later the plants dry up and you see them wither, then they are reduced to chaff. And in the Hereafter there will be severe punishment or or forgiveness and pleasure of Allah, whereas the life of this world is no more than the delusion of enjoyment."(Al Hadid 57: 20)
"To the righteous (when) it is said, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?" they say, "All that is good." To those who do good, there is good in this world, and the Home of the Hereafter is even better and excellent indeed is the Home of the righteous,- Gardens of Eternity which they will enter: beneath them flow (pleasant) rivers. They will have therein all that they wish: thus doth Allah reward the righteous,- those whose lives the angels take in a state of purity, saying to them, 'Peace be on you; enter the Garden, because of the good which ye did in the world.' Do the (ungodly) wait until the angels come to them, or there comes the command of thy Lord for their doom? So did those who went before them. But Allah wronged them not: nay, they wronged their own souls. But the evil results of their deeds overtook them, and that very Wrath at which they had scoffed hemmed them in. The worshippers of false gods say: If Allah had so willed, we should not have worshipped aught but Him neither we nor our fathers, nor should we have prescribed prohibitions other than His. So did those who went before them." (Al Nahal 16" 30-32) .
The hour of resurrection will be a terrifying, overwhelming event. "That day, when a person will flee from his brother, his mother and his father, And his consort and his children. Every one of them, on that Day will have enough to preoccupy him."(Abasa 80:34-37).
God will enable even parts of our bodies as witnesses. "On this Day We will seal their mouths, their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify to what they used to commit." (Ya Sin 36: 65).
"On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their legs or feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.(An Nur 24: 24).
Despite its trauma, the believer will be ecstatic. As stated in the Qur'an: "Unquestionably, God's friends have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve. Those who believe and are aware, for them is good news in this life, and in the Hereafter. There is no alteration to the words of God. That is the supreme triumph." (Yunus 10: 62-64).
On the Day of Judgment all humans ever created will be gathered to stand naked and uncircumcised on a great plain under the ferocious scorching heat of the sun, while an elite group of pious men and women will be shaded under the Throne of God. The Prophet Muhammad foretold this in his sayings about the fortunate souls shaded when no other shade will avail as follows: A just ruler who did not abuse his power, but established divinely revealed justice among people; A young man who grew up worshipping his Lord and controlled his desires in order to remain chaste; Those whose hearts were attached to the Mosques, longing to return every time they left them; Those who loved one another for God's sake; Those who tempted by seductively beautiful women, but their fear of of God stopped them from sinning; The one who spent in charity sincerely for God's sake, keeping their charity secret; The one who wept out of God's fear in solitude.
Specific acts of worship will also keep people safe on that day. Such as efforts in this world to relieve the woes of the distressed, helping the needy, and those who overlook the mistakes of others will relieve peoples own distress on Judgment Day; Leniency shown to the indebted; The just who are fair to their families and matters entrusted to them; controlling anger; Whoever calls to prayer; Growing old while in a state of Islam; Performing ritual ablution (wudu ) regularly and properly; Those who fight alongside Jesus son of Mary against the Anti-Christ and his army. And those who died as martyrs.
According to a saying of the Prophet, "God will bring the believer close to Him, shelter him, cover him, and ask him about his sins. After acknowledging his sins the believer will think he is doomed, but God will say, 'I concealed it for you in the world, and I forgive it for you this Day.' The believer will be rebuked for his shortcomings, but will then be handed his record of good deeds in his right hand."(Sahih Al Bukhari).
The Quran states that the Righteous will be handed over the record of their deeds in the right hand: "As for him who is given his book in his right hand, he will have an easy settlement. And will return to his family delighted." (Inshiqaq 84: 7-8).
Happy to look at his record, the believer will announce his joy. "Then as for him who will be given his Record in his right hand will say: 'Take, read my Record! Surely, I did believe that I shall meet my Account. So he shall be in a life, well-pleasing.in a lofty Paradise, the fruits in bunches whereof will be low and near at hand. He will be told, 'Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!" (Al Haqqa 69: 19-24).
The record of good deeds will be literally weighed to determine it outweighs the person's record of bad deeds, and reward or punishment will be meted out accordingly. "We will set up the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so that no soul will suffer the least injustice. And even if it be the weight of a mustard-seed We will bring it up. Sufficient are We as Reckoners. (Al Anbiya 21: 47). "Whoever has done an atom's weight of good will see it. And whoever has done an atom's weight of evil will see it." (Al Zalzala 99: 7-8).
And the Hadith: "The heaviest thing that will be placed in a person's Balance on the Day of Resurrection (after the testimony of faith) is good manners, and God hates the obscene, immoral person." (Al-Tirmdhi).
The believers will quench their thirst from a special reservoir dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad. Whoever drinks from it shall never experience thirst again. Its beauty, and sweet, fine taste have been described in detail by the Prophet. The believers in Islam -both the sinful among them and the pious - as well as hypocrites will be left in the great plain after te unbelievers are driven to Hell. A long bridge traversing the Hellfire and engulfed in darkness will separate them from Paradise. The faithful will take strength and comfort in their swift crossing over the roaring fires of Hell and in the 'light' that God will place in front of them, guiding them to their eternal home: "On the Day when you see the believing men and believing women-their light radiating ahead of them and to their right: 'Good news for you today: gardens beneath which rivers flow, dwelling therein forever. That is the great triumph.' "( Al Hadid 57: 12).
Addressing the Prophet, the Quran stated, "Say, O Prophet 'Shall I inform you of what is better than all of this? 'Those mindful of Allah will have Gardens with their Lord under which rivers flow, to stay there forever, and pure spouses along with Allah's pleasure.' And Allah is All- Seeing of His servants." (Al Imran 3: 15).
"God will declare, 'This is the Day when 'only' the faithful will benefit from their faithfulness. Theirs are Gardens with their their Lord under which rivers flow, to stay there forever and ever. Allah is please with them and they are pleased with Him. That is the ultimate triumph.'" (Al Maida 5: 119).
Abbas a companion of the Prophet reported; "there are eight levels of Paradise. They vary greatly and the pious believing friends of God will be awarded according to their faith and piety." "See how We have favored some over others in this life, but the Hereafter is certainly far greater in rank and in favor." (Al Isra 17: 21).
"They will each be assigned ranks according to their deeds. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do." (Al Anam 6: 132).
The believers will be ushered into Paradise and receive joyous angelic reception. "But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until they reach it. Its gates will be opened and its keepers say, 'Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein." (Al Zumar 39:73).
"It will be said to the pious: "O you, the one in complete rest and satisfaction! Come back to your Lord, Well-pleased and well-pleasing unto Him! Enter you then among My honored slaves. Enter you My Paradise!" (Al Fajr 89:27-30)
The best of the Muslims will enter Paradise first. The most righteous of them will ascend to the highest levels. "But whoever comes to God as a believer who has done righteous good deeds; for such are the high ranks in the Hereafter." (Taha 20:75).
"And the foremost 'in faith' will be the foremost 'in Paradise'. They are the ones nearest 'to God', in the Gardens of Bliss." (Al Waqia 56:10-12).
Paradise is mentioned in the Qur'an as beautiful gardens filled with everything that eyes have never seen. Addressing the Prophet, it said, "Give good news O Prophet to those who believe and do good. They will have Gardens under which rivers flow. Whenever provided with fruit, they will say, 'This is what we were given before', for they will be served fruit that looks similar but tastes different. They will have pure spouses, and they will be there forever. (Al Baqarah 2: 25).
"And hasten towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those mindful of Allah." (Al Imran 3: 133).
"God promises the believers, men and women, gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever, and fine homes in the Gardens of Eden. But approval from God is even greater. That is the supreme achievement. (Al Tawbah 9: 72).
The believers will be reunited with their loved ones: "Gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring: and angels shall enter unto them from every gate (with the salutation):'Peace unto you for that ye persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final home!"'(Al Ra'd 13: 23-24).
Believers will be in the company of those that God blessed. "All who obey Allah and the messenger are in the company of those on who is the Grace of Allah, the prophets, the sincere lovers of Truth, the witnesses who testify, and the Righteous who do good. Ah! What a beautiful fellowship! Such is the bounty from Allah: And sufficient is it that Allah who knows all. (Al Nisa 4: 69-70).
The Islam Religion article gave the description of Paradise of what a fantastic place it is: An eternal home that will fulfill all our wholesome desires, seduce all our senses, grant us everything we could possibly want and much more. The earth of Paradise is made of fine musk powder, its soil of saffron, bricks of gold and silver, and pebbles of pearls and rubies. Beneath the gardens of Paradise are flowing rivers of sparkling water, sweet milk, clear honey, and non-intoxicating wine. The tents on their banks are domes of hollow pearls. The whole space is filled with sparkling light, sweet-smelling plants and fragrances that can be savored from afar. There are lofty palaces, huge mansions, grapevines, date palms, pomegranates, lotus and acacia and tree trunks made of gold. Ripe fruit like berries, citrus, drupes, grapes, melons, and pomes.. And anything the faithful could possibly desire!
Each believer will have a most beautiful, pious and pure spouse, described severally. Such as, "Relaxing on luxurious furnishings; and We will couple them with gorgeous spouses. Those who believed and their offspring followed them in faith-We will reunite them with their offspring, and We will not deprive them of any of their works. Every person is hostage to what he has earned." (Tur 56: 20-21).
"And there will be Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes,- Like unto Pearls well- guarded. As a Reward for the deeds of their past life.( Al Waqi'a 56: 22-24).
"Verily the Companions of the Garden shall that Day have joy in all that they do; They and their associates will be in groves of cool shade reclining on thrones of dignity; Every enjoyment will be there for them; they shall have whatever they call for; "Peace! A Word of salutation from Lord Most Merciful!" (Ya Sin 36:55-58).
"Faces that Day will be joyful, pleased with their striving in a Garden on high, where they shall hear no word of vanity. Therein will be a bubbling spring. Therein will be Thrones of dignity, raised on high, Goblets placed ready, and cushions set in rows. And rich carpets all spread out." (Al Ghashiyah 88:8-16).
Paradise will have all kinds of food and drinks one could wish for. "And give them good news 'O Prophet' to those who believe and do righteous deeds; that they will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with fruit therefrom as sustenance, they will say,
"This is what we were provided with before," and they will be given the like of it. And they will have pure spouses therein, and they will abide therein forever." (Al Baqarah 2: 25).
"The likeness of the Garden promised to the righteous: in it are rivers of pure water, and rivers of milk forever fresh, and rivers of wine delightful to the drinkers, and rivers of strained honey. And therein they will have of every fruit, and forgiveness from their Lord. Can they be like those who abiding in the Fire forever, and are given to drink boiling water, that cuts-up their bowels? (Mohammad 47: 15).
"And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do." (Al Sajdah 32:17)
Paradise will also give its residents a state of emotional and psychological bliss, as the Prophet said: "Whoever enters Paradise is blessed with a life of joy; he will never feel miserable, his clothes will never wear out, and his youth shall never fade away. The people will hear a divine call: 'I grant you that you will be healthy and never fall sick, you will live and never die, you will be young and never age, you will be joyful and never feel miserable.'" (Saheeh Muslim)
"And therein is whatever each soul desires and delights the eyes." (Al Zukhruf 43:71).
The Ultimate delight will be the Countenance of God Himself. For the true believer, to see this blessed vision of God is to have won the ultimate prize. "But only the desire To seek for the Countenance Of their Lord Most High ; And soon will they Attain (complete) satisfaction." (Al Layl 92: 20-21)
"Some faces that Day, will beam (in brightness and beauty) -- Looking towards their Lord" (Al Qiyamah 75: 22-23).
This is the Paradise, the eternal home and final destination for the righteous believer. May God, Most High, make us among those worthy of it.
They will be gathered as they were born, naked and uncircumcised upon a great plain. "We will gather them on the Day of Resurrection fallen on their faces -blind, dumb and deaf. Their refuge is Hell: Every time it subsides We increase them in blazing fire." (Taha 20:124).
Their hearts will be trembling, confused about what evil retribution lies in store for them. "And Faces on that Day will be covered with misery, overwhelmed by remorse. These are the faithless, the vicious." (Abasa 80: 40- 42).
"Do not ever think that God is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only defers them until a Day when the sights stare. Their necks outstretched, their heads upraised, their gaze unblinking, their hearts void. And warn mankind of the Day when the punishment will come upon them, and the wicked will say, 'Our Lord, defer us for a little while, and we will answer Your call and follow the messengers.' Did you not swear before that there will be no passing away for you?" (Ibrahim 14: 42-43).
In addition to his own sins, the disbeliever will also bear the sins of those he misled. "And the Unbelievers say to those who believe: "Follow our path, and we will bear (the consequences) of your faults." Never in the least will they bear their faults: in fact they are liars! They will bear their own burdens, and (other) burdens along with their own, and on the Day of Judgments they will be called to account for their falsehoods." (Al Ankabut 29: 12-13).
While the Prophet Muhammad will intercede on behalf of all believers, no intercessor the disbelievers will find. "Our Lord, and grant us what You promised us through Your messengers and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, You do not fail in Your promise." (Al Imran 3: 190).
Finally, the disbelievers will be made to enter the Hell: "And those who disbelieve will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, 'Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this day of yours?' They will say, Yes, but the decree of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers." (Al Zumar 39: 71).
At that point, the disbeliever will wish he could have turned into dust rather than reap the bitter fruits of his evil works. "Indeed, We have warned you of a near punishment on the Day when a man will observe what his hands have put forth and the disbeliever will say, 'Oh, I wish I were dust.'"(Al Naba 78: 40).
We pray to Allah SWT to forgive us and grant us the good of Dunya, where we live and the good of Al Akhira, where we will return and save us from the punishment in the Hellfire. Amen!
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