“Among His signs, too, is the fact that the heavens

and the earth stand firm by His command. In the In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
end, you will all emerge when He calls you from
the earth. Everyone in the heavens and earth
belongs to Him, and all are obedient to Him. He is Death is one of the few indisputable facts of life. Regardless of faith, race, status or age, we
the One who originates creation and will do it will all die. While the certainty of death is universally accepted, the question of what
again – this is even easier for Him. He is above all
comparison in the heavens and earth; He is the happens afterwards has been debated throughout history. Islam teaches that one’s life
Almighty, the All Wise.” doesn’t end on earth; rather, it is followed by the eternal life of the hereafter. This pamphlet
(Quran 30:25-27) explains how this belief has a major impact on our earthly lives, while instilling hope for
healing in a perfect world where God’s ultimate justice will prevail.

Despite its inevitability, we get so absorbed in living BEYOND HERE

that we forget about death. Our daily routines, the What happens after death? Does a world exist beyond
comfort of our homes and our relationships keep us so this life? Is there such a place as heaven or hell? These
busy that we have little time left to ponder over the are common questions we ask from time to time.
fleeting nature of this world.
After all, the enigma of death stumps us. We’ve devised
Then, suddenly, we are forced to face the reality of our various ways of killing other humans. Yet, despite
Questions about Islam? existence when a loved one is afflicted with a innumerable technological and medical advances, we
Visit a mosque debilitating disease or we experience a shocking loss. still cannot prevent an individual from dying.
Helpless, we are jolted by the frailty of life, leading us
Correspond with our team Furthermore, unlike life which we experience daily, we
to question our priorities and reevaluate our lifestyles.
Order a complementary Quran really don’t have firsthand knowledge of life after death.
Aside from some near-death incidents, no one has come
According to Islam, when confronted with a calamity,
back from the dead to tell us what they encountered.
Call 1.877.WHY.ISLAM one should say, “To God we belong and to Him we shall
return” (Quran 2:156). This invocation is also recited Due to their faith in the One God who created this
visit www.whyislam.org
when someone dies. Reminding us of our origin and universe and sustains it, Muslims rely on divine
our ultimate destiny, it puts the purpose of our lives in guidance for glimpses of a reality invisible to human
Visit WHYISLAM on the following perspective. God clearly states in the Quran, the eyes. Divine guidance comprises prophetic examples
social media platforms: divinely revealed message from God to all humanity, and scriptural revelations. God sent prophets to guide
that He has created humankind to worship Him. Since humanity, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus
worship is a comprehensive concept in Islam, consisting and Muhammadp, the final prophet of God, peace be
of specific rituals as well as general actions that upon all of them. Moreover, He also revealed holy
P.O. Box 1054, Piscataway NJ 08855-1054
1.877.WHY.ISLAM promote good, it encourages people to conduct every books, including the Torah, the Gospel and the Quran.
www.whyislam.org aspect of their lives with God-consciousness.
LOCAL CONTACT:
In keeping with the universal message of God, every
Muslims believe they will return to God (Allah in prophet warned of the certainty of the afterlife and
Arabic) when they die. Therefore, instead of the end, each of the divine books speaks of the existence of the
AN ICNA PROJECT death becomes part of a continuum which stretches soul. In the Quran, God promises, “Every soul will taste
into eternity. death. Then to Us will you be returned” (Quran 29:57).
v3 Dec 2019
 “The life of this world is merely an amusement and a diversion; the true life is WHY BELIEVE? ignoring Him or worshiping others is ungratefulness
Believing in the soul and the afterlife is foremost about and a denial of His blessings.
in the Hereafter, if only they knew”
having faith in the unseen. Just as our souls are intangible If our man-made judicial systems punish people for
(Quran 29:64). beings giving life to our physical bodies, the world we see committing injustices against other people, it is even
around us is functioning based on an invisible system created more understandable that God would punish those who
by God who is Ever-Watchful and All-Aware. Muslims deny Him His rights and commit injustices against His
On the Day of Judgment, every individual will be who seek Him and reflect. At the same time, He has given us believe that God is also Just and He maintains a meticulous creation. God says in the Quran, “We shall set up scales of
record of our deeds. We will be recompensed for our earthly justice for the Day of Judgment, so that not a soul will be dealt
resurrected to account for their lives. God describes the choice to freely indulge in the world around us or to abide
lives in the hereafter where ultimate justice prevails. with unjustly in the least, and if there be (no more than) the
this event in the Quran, “On that Day, people will come by His laws. In the Quran, God declares, “Why should God
forward in separate groups to be shown their deeds: whoever make you suffer torment if you are thankful and believe in Him? God weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it (to account): and
Humans naturally seek justice in all aspects of their lives.
has done an atom’s weight of good will see it, but whoever has always rewar gratitude and He knows everything” (Quran 4:147). enough are We to take account” (Quran 21:47).
When a person works, they expect to receive an appropriate
done an atom’s weight of evil will see that” (Quran 99:6-8). salary. When an individual is harmed, they seek
compensation. When someone helps another, they anticipate
God will weigh everyone’s good and bad actions THE GREATER PLAN appreciation for their effort. Even though humans strive hard GOD’S MERCY
according to His Mercy and His Justice, forgiving to establish justice, the reality is that this world will never be As imperfect beings, we often make mistakes and
Belief in the soul and the afterlife gives a context to our
many sins and multiplying the reward for many noble perfectly just. Many criminals go unpunished while the commit wrong actions. While God does not expect
current existence. Those who focus only on this immediate
deeds. One who excels in goodness will be rewarded oppressed are denied basic rights. Do their lives simply perfection from us, He calls on us to strive to the
life miss out on the bigger picture. Indeed, they become
generously, but one whose evils and wrongs outweigh heedless of their purpose in life. God reminds humanity, “The dissolve without any accountability or fair dealing? utmost to worship Him and to live righteously. Out of
his virtues will be punished. life of this world is merely an amusement and a diversion; the true life His Mercy, God pardons whom He wills in the
is in the Hereafter, if only they knew” (Quran 29:64). God proclaims in the Quran, “Do those who commit evil deeds hereafter. God promises us in the Quran: “And those
Those who fulfilled their purpose in life and lived really think that We will deal with them in the same way as those who believe and do righteous deeds - We will surely remove
righteously will enter an eternal paradise of pure Islam teaches that this life is simply a test to determine our who believe and do righteous deeds, that they will be alike in their from them their misdeeds and will surely reward them
bliss. The people of heaven will reside in beautiful place in the eternal life after death. Those who understand living and their dying? How badly they judge!” (Quran 45:21). according to the best of what they used to do” (Quran 29:7).
mansions, no longer suffering from fatigue, disease the reality ahead of them are aware that their ultimate fate
and old age. God will remove animosity and pain after death is based on their actions in this life. Such In the afterlife, the evil doers will not be able to escape the Muslims seek salvation in the hereafter by living a
from people’s hearts, providing supreme healing in a individuals are thankful for all the blessings that God has grip of justice and victims of worldly suffering will be God-conscious and virtuous life in this world. The
world of abundance and luxury, of lush gardens and given them and humbly worship Him while promoting recompensed for their pain. People who spent their lives fear of accountability in the hereafter, along with
flowing rivers. goodness in all aspects of their lives. When a person responsibly, avoiding temptations to commit sins, will also hope in the promise of God’s ultimate justice,
embraces such a God-conscious way of life, their purpose be rewarded. As mentioned in the Quran, “God created the motivates them to orient their present lives around
In contrast, those who die in a state of transgression extends beyond merely enjoying worldly pleasures. heavens and the earth for a true purpose: to reward each soul the comprehensive worship of God, the true purpose
against God or oppress others will be led to Hellfire. according to its deeds. They will not be wronged” (Quran 45:22). of human existence. In this way, they endeavor in this
Despite all of God’s blessings, they neglected their Their life is one of submission to God and they seek to temporary life for eternal joy.
ultimate purpose of leading their lives in accordance positively contribute to the world around them. All of their According to Islam, one of the greatest injustices humans
transactions with people, even animals and the environment, can commit is to deny God’s existence, add partners to Him [To the righteous it will be said], “O reassured
with His Will and Guidance. The Quran describes
are rooted in this motivation. They are guided by the or worship worldly ideals or materialistic goals. Islam soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and
Hell as a place filled with immense suffering, with
certainty that they will one day return to their Creator and teaches that God is the Creator, Sustainer and Nourisher of pleasing [to Him], and enter among My
extreme temperatures, unquenchable thirst and
be held accountable for their deeds. Although they have the every being in the heavens and the earth. As His creation, it [righteous] servants, and enter My Paradise.”
blazing flames.
freedom to live according to their whims, they limit their is His right that we worship and obey Him. He showers us (Quran 89:27-30)
Truly, God wants each one of us to be salvaged in the attachment to this brief and imperfect life, seeking an eternal with His blessings every day out of His love and mercy.
Note: The superscript “p” next to Prophet Muhammadp
afterlife. He has sent guidance and left signs for those paradise in the hereafter. Worshiping Him is an expression of gratitude to God, and
represents the invocation Muslims say with his name:
May God’s peace and blessings be upon him.