Islamic Beliefs of the Afterlife

Some of the most meaningful and beautiful speech comes from the Qu'ran. This book is filled with guidance, balance, wisdom, and morality. One of the most controversial and researched issues in the Qu'ran is the belief of Heaven and Hell. Many religions believe that there is an after-life. For example, Christians believe that when a person dies, their souls immediately go to Heaven or Hell. In Islam the belief is quite different. Muslims believe, based on guidance from the Qu'ran, when a person dies their soul is removed by Allah's angel (the Angel of Death). Muslims also believe that when the Angel of Death approaches the dying person and takes their souls, the angel either comes in a rage to force the soul out, if the person was evil; or the angel comes in a peaceful manner to give the person glad tidings of paradise.

For the person who lived an evil life, practiced the worship of idols or other gods besides Allah, or did not obey God's laws, the Angel of Death pulls their soul out violently and says "Come out to the wrath of Allah." Their soul is then yanked out feeling as if it is were wet ball of wool being torn out of a thorny plant. These are the ones who Muslims believe are destined to be of the people of the Hellfire, where they will burn in a violent fire for eternity.

As for the righteous and pious person, it is believed that when the Angel of Death approaches, their soul comes out as if it were a drop of water and the person is told to come out to the "Pleasure of Allah." This is described in the Qu'ran, "I swear by the angels who violently pull out the souls of the wicked, and by those who gently draw out the souls of the blessed." (Surah Naziat, ayats 1-2)

During this stage angels come with a coffin from either Paradise for the righteous or a coffin from Hellfire for the wicked. The coffin and soul of a righteous person is taken through the seven heavens and up to the throne of God in order to meet him. That is when God will say to the angels to return the body back to the earth until the day of resurrection. The wicked person and the coffin they are in will not be allowed to go past the gates of Heaven and a caller will cry out to throw that soul to the lowest earth.

The next stage the soul will go through is that of the grave. This is when it is believed that God sends two angels to question the person. The person will be asked, "Who is your Lord?" "What is your religion?" "Who is your messenger?" If the person answers these three questions correctly, "Allah is my Lord, Islam is my religion, and Muhammad is my prophet." The person will be able to see where they would have been in the Hellfire and then they will see where they are destined to live eternally in Paradise. Their good deeds will then come and sit with them in the form of a beautiful, lovely smelling person. If the evil person gets these questions wrong they will instantly be beat with a hammer until they smashed into dust by the two angels. They will then see where they could have lived in the Paradise and they will see where they are going in the Hellfire. This is when their evil deeds will appear in the form a horrible smelling ugly person to sit with them until the day of resurrection.

The day of resurrection will happen after Allah gives the commandment for an angel to blow the trumpet. This is when all of God's creation will wake up from the graves and they will be given account for their deeds. It is described in the verse of the Qu'ran, "On the day that He will gather you for the day of gathering, that is the day of loss and gain; and whoever believes in Allah and does good, He will remove from him his evil and cause him to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide therein forever; that is the great achievement. And (as for) those who disbelieve and reject Our communications, they are the inmates of the fire, to abide therein, and evil is the resort." Surah, (the Loss and Gain, (Taghabun), Ayats 9-10). Muslims believe that each person will have to stand in front of the Creator and account for their sins and good works. If a person's good deeds outweigh their bad deeds and by God's mercy they will be able to enter Paradise secure, however, if they disbelieved in His communications and their bad deeds outweigh their good deeds they will have to abide in the fire of Hell eternally.

The descriptions of these places are quite relevant in the Qu'ran. Throughout the entire book it is mentioned repeatedly about the torments of Hell and the pleasures of Paradise. Muslims base their faith on living a good pious life and doing good deeds so that by God's mercy they will be among the people of paradise. Muslims also believe that by staying away from sinful deeds (i.e. polytheism, disbelief, gambling, illegal sexual intercourse, prostitution, drug use, stealing, usury, alcohol, sinful talk, and other evil doings), they have a better chance of getting into paradise and staying away from the fire.

The second surah of the Qu'ran (The Cow, Baqarah), describes the first aspects of the Hellfire. There is a warning in Ayat 24 to the people who try to produce a chapter like the Qu'ran. Allah says, "But if you do (it) and never shall you do (it), then be on your guard against the fire of which men and stones are the fuel; it is prepared for the unbelievers." The threats of this vicious fire are intended to steer the believers away from doing evil deeds. God tells people that the fire is prepared for the people who set up gods with Him, who commit illegal acts and follow the ways of the Shaitan.

In order to fully understand the origins of the Hellfire, one must go back to the creation story of Adam, the first man. When God created Adam (the first man out of clay) He left Adam standing there as if he were a vase. God said to all of the angles "This is a man, when I am ready to blow life into him, I command all of you to bow down to him." God left Adam standing there, a clay figure for several years (some scholars believe it was 40 years).

The angels were afraid of Adam, so they would fly past him in fear, Iblis was the most afraid of God's creation, so every time he would go past the clay figure he would hit him, and say to him that he is created weak. Finally, God blew life into Adam and He commanded all of the angels to bow down to him. All of the angels bowed down, except Iblis because he was of the Jinn. God (Allah) said to Iblis, "Why didn't you bow down when I commanded you to?" Iblis replied, "I am better than him, I am made from fire and he is made out of clay." God said "Then get forth, you will be driven to Hell for disobeying me." Iblis said, "Well give me respite until the time they are raised (mankind), then who ever of them will follow me they will be driven to Hell with me, but whoever is of your righteous believing servants then they can be entered into Paradise." God (being merciful said) "Alright whoever of them will follow you then they will be driven to Hell with you and my believing servants will have Garden's underneath which rivers flow. (Paradise) They will have whatever they desire with their Lord.

Muslims believe that Adam and Eve were tempted to touch a tree in paradise by Iblis and when they did, God sent them to the earth until time that they will be raised for the Day of Judgment. This story is also repeated throughout the Qu'ran, for example in Surah (Elevated Places, Araf, Ayats 11-27), this story is described.

Scholars differ concerning the location of Hell. Some say that it is the lower earth, while others say that it is in the heavens. Some scholars refrain from discussing the location at all. Sheikh Shah Waliullah ad-Dahlawi says, in his "Aqeedah: "There is no clear text, which states their location (paradise and hell). They are wherever Allah, wishes them to be, and we cannot comprehend all the universes created by Allah." Many Muslims agree that since there is no hadeeth concerning the locations it is better not to innovate or conjure up ideas as to where their locations are.

"And surely, Hell is promised place for them all. It has seven gates, for each of these gates is a special class [of sinners] assigned." Surah (The Rock, Hijr, Ayats 43-44)

"And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till, when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened [suddenly like a prison at the arrival of prisoners]. And its keepers will say, "Did not the Messengers come to you 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 Word of torment has been justified against the unbelievers!" Surah (The Companies, Zumar, Ayat 71)

These verses make it clear that Hell has seven gates and that the evil disbelievers will be forced through these gates into the fire. "And those on the Left Hand - who will be those on the Left Hand? In fierce hot wind and boiling water, And shade of black smoke, [That shade] neither cool, nor honorable." Surah (The Great Event, Waquia, Ayats 41-44). This verse from the Qu'ran describes the undesirable hot wind and smoke affiliated with the fire.

"Soon will I cast him into Hellfire. And what will explain to you exactly what Hellfire is? Naught does it permit to endure, and naught does it leave alone! Darkening and changing the color of man! Over it are nineteen." Surah (The Clothed One, Muddassir, Ayats 26-30). This ayat explains how strong the Hellfire is and how God has placed nineteen angels over it.

The fire is believed to consume all, destroy everything, and leave nothing untouched. It burns the skin, reaching the bone, melting the contents of the stomach and organs. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: 'Fire as we know it is one-seventieth part of the Fire of Hell." Someone said, "O 'Messenger of Allah, it is enough as it is!" He (PBUH) said, "It (the Fire of Hell) is as if sixty-nine equal portions were added to fire as we know it." (Bukhari)

"When it [Hell] sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and roaring." Surah (The Criterion, Furqan, Ayat 12). This verse from the Qu'ran tells of how the Hell will be able to speak. In the hadeeth, Imam Ahmad and Tirmidhi report from Abu Salih from Abu Hurayrah (MABPH) and the Prophet (PBUH) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, a neck will stretch forth from Hell; it will have two eyes to see, two ears to hear, and a tongue to speak. It will say: 'I have been appointed to take care of three types of people; every arrogant tyrant, every person who called on some deity other than Allah, and those who made pictures.'" (Tirmidihi stated that this hadeeth is authentic (saheeh))

"Some faces that day will be humiliated, laboring weary with disgrace. They will enter the hot blazing fire, they will be given to drink from a boiling spring, no food will there be for them but a poisonous thorny plant which will neither nourish nor avail against hunger." Surah (The Overwhelming Day, Ghashiyah, Ayats 2-7)

"Verily the tree of Zaqqoom will be the food of the sinful, like molten brass, it will boil in their insides, like the boiling of scalding water." Surah (The Evident Smoke, Dukhan, Ayats 43-46). These two Surahs describe the horrible food of the Fire. This food will not satisfy the intense hunger the people will feel nor will it fatten them in the least. The people will be thirsty, however, the only drink will be hot boiling water, which they will drink from their uncontrollable thirst.

It is determined in the Qu'ran that the people of Hell will have a lasting torment, some say will last eternity. It is said that the people will be in Hell until a camel passes through the eye of the needle, which is virtually impossible. Muslims also believe that some Muslims will be in the fire also, however, since they believed in God (Allah) and His messenger (PBUH) they will eventually enter Paradise.

Paradise is the tremendous reward, which Allah has prepared for the believers because they obeyed His laws. According to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Allah says, "I have prepared for My righteous slaves that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and has never crossed the mind of any human being." This lets the believers know that their striving will soon be paid back to them in full and will never end.

Paradise is believed to be the ever abiding home of the righteous. There are beautiful palaces, flowing rivers or water, milk, wine, and honey, and there is an abundance of fresh fruit everywhere. The believing servants of God will receive thrones of dignity where they will face one another with fruit hanging over their heads. Muslims believe that in Paradise the people are never hungry nor thirsty and the only reason they eat is out of pure pleasure. In Paradise people do not [1]have to sleep because they are never tired, once again if they chose to sleep it is only out of pure pleasure.

The Sahabah (Companions) asked the Prophet (PBUH) about the buildings of Paradise. He (PBUH) replied with a wonderful description: "Bricks of gold and silver, and mortar of fragrant musk, pebbles of pearl and sapphire, and soil of saffron. Whoever enters it is filled with joy and will never feel miserable; he will live there forever and will never die; their clothes will never wear out and their youth will never fade."

Paradise has eight gates, and each one has a specific name. There is a gate for the people who fast, pray, pay charity, and fight jihad. There will be angels greeting the people as they enter through the gates. Allah describes the Palaces of Paradise in the Qu'ran, "But those who fear Allah and keep their duty to their Lord, for them are built lofty rooms, one above the other, under which rivers flow. [This is] the Promise of Allah, and Allah does not fail in [His] Promise. Surah (The Companies, Zumar, Ayat 20)

Not only do the people of Paradise get palaces, rivers, and more, they also have wonderful servants whose clothing is so colorful they are described as looking like scattered pearls. "And round about them will [serve] boys of everlasting youth. If you see them, you would think them scattered pearls." Surah (The Man, Insan or Dahr, Ayat 19).

Some of the most controversial issues regarding non-Muslims are the fact that men will have two virgin wives in Paradise. Many people find this hard to believe and they turn aside from the religion because of this. "They and their wives will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones." Surah (Ya Seen, Ayat 56). Many non-Muslim women become angry with this because they cannot understand how a man could have more than one wife in Heaven. They feel that this is a sexist remark and they become offended at these particular beliefs. However, people are quick to misjudge the religion by this certain aspect. However, the Prophet (PBUH) refrained from speaking about what the women will receive in Paradise, because he (PBUH) did not want to make their husbands jealous.

One of the most common issues arising in the media lately is the fact that people are committing suicide bombings claiming that they will be martyred and given 70 virgins in Heaven for doing this act. This is a widespread misconception of Islam and is often taken out of context. However, there are some Muslims who do believe that if they commit suicide bombings in order to kill the infidel then they will be rewarded with Paradise and the infidel with Hell. This is not the correct religion of Islam. This religion holds very strict rules on committing suicide. This action, itself, is believed to be only rewarded with the Hellfire. The realization, optimism, and belief of an after-life gives people hope that the struggles of this world are only provisional and that this life is only a temporary place where mankind can be judged.

[1] (PBUH) = Peace Be Upon Him & (MABPH) = May Allah be Pleased With Him