Islam for Muslims
- THE FAITH OF MUSLIMS
- GOOD DEEDS IN PERSONAL LIFE
- GOOD DEEDS IN SOCIAL LIFE
Various Stages of Life after Death
Introduction: The Muslims are obligated to believe in various sequential stages after death namely the interim stage between death and resurrection, the Dooms Day, the Judgment Day, and finally the placement in the Paradise (for the righteous) or the Hell (for the sinners). If you “do not believe in the Afterlife”, "a grievous penalty” will follow as a consequence (17:10). It is an undeniable reality that “this (earthly) life is a place of temporary stay and a place of departure (or transit)” to the next life (6:98).
The life after death is full of unspeakable sufferings for the sinners. The arrogance of being disobedient to God cannot go beyond the earthly life. After death you come into the dark grave under total control of God. There you come to Him “bare and alone as (He) created you for the first time. You leave behind all (the favors) (He) bestowed on you (on earth)" (6:94). As a living being, you have no possible way to know what will happen to you in the Afterlife. Even if you were able to know, you would have no preventives on hand.
The life after death is, therefore, indescribably risky and fearful for the mankind. Though the reality of the Afterlife may be questioned by some people in present life, it will be impossible to deny or doubt it when you become residents of that life by crossing the threshold of death. Then that life will appear before you as clear as daylight. Now various stages of the Afterlife are briefed below:
(1) Interim Period: With death begins the first stage of the posthumous life called Barzakh (limbo). During this period, the departed souls stay in an undisclosed location until the Dooms Day. At this stage, the virtuous souls enjoy some makeshift provisions of comfort. The sinners, on the other hand, suffer interim punishments comparable to pre-trial custody of an offender.
(2) Dooms Day: Though the death opens the gateway to the Afterlife on an individual basis, the universal posthumous life begins after the Dooms Day. This Day will dawn through “blowing of the (first) trumpet” by Angel Israfil, with “deafening sound” and “(terrible) convulsion” (39:68; 80:33; 22:1). On this Day, total death and destruction will sweep across the universe including the earth.
The catastrophic nature of this Day can be guessed from some alarming hints of the Quran. "It is a Day when men will be scattered about like moths, mom will forget her suckling-babe, wild beasts will be herded together, the earth will be shaken to its depths as it gets ready to split asunder and throw away everything in order to be empty, the skies will torn into pieces and emit visible smoke, when the stars fall and become dim, moon becomes dark and joins with sun, when the mountains are scattered to the winds like dust, when the oceans will boil over with a swell" (101:4; 22:2; 81:5; 56:4; 84:4; 25:25; 44:10; 81:2; 75:8/9; 77:10; 81:6). On this day "everything on the earth will perish, but the Face of your Lord will last (for ever)" (55:26; 55:27). However, it is God’s design to “keep hidden” the date of Dooms Day (20:15). He however discloses some signs for the final hours of this Universe such as the Second Coming of Jesus “as a source of knowledge of the Hour” (43:61) of Judgment Day, descent of mysterious people named “Gog and Magog” from unknown “hilly” area etc. (21:96).
(3) Judgment Day: After the death of everyone on the Dooms Day, the period of Judgment will open. With blowing of another trumpet, “all the dead will be raised up” from the grave, all “gathered together” on the “Day of Assembly” (6:36; 18:47; 42:7), ready for trial by God on the Great Ground of Judgment. There are no words on the exact duration of the Judgment or the size of the Ground. It is only mentioned "His will be the domain on the day the trumpet will be blown. The present earth will be changed into a different earth, like a level stretch, with mountains removed. The earth will shine with the Glory of Lord, the Master of the Day." (6:73; 14:48; 18:47; 39:69; 1:4).
The Sinners: The judgment period lasting for “thousand years of your count” will be a “Day of (unspeakable) Distress” (32:5; 74:9) with experience of unbearable hardships particularly for the sinners. Scared about uncertain results of judgment, they will be “blear-eyed with terror" (20:102). Amidst boundless mental stress, they would be bathed in their own sweats and will not be able to recognize even their nearest relatives. On this day "no mediation shall be accepted, no compensation be taken and none shall be helped; no father can help his son nor a son can help his father" (2:48; 31:33).
The Believers: During such hard times for the sinners, the Judgment period will reserve some special concessions for the righteous. They will be “secure from terror that Day” (27:89). In difficult days of darkness, they will have “Light that runs forward before them and by their right hands” (57:12). Sheltered under cool “shades” (77:41) along with “overhead Light of Beauty and a (blissful) joy”, you will please yourselves with super tasty drinks from the fountain 'Kauthar' (77:41; 76:11; 108:1). Moreover, there will be recommendation for salvation from “(God’s) permitted” dignitaries like prophets (19:87).
Judgment Sentencing: The Great Judgment will be conducted fairly based on your “record (of earthly deeds) placed (open)” (39:69). At this hour, you will not be allowed to deny your past actions. With "mouths sealed" (36:65), your various participating organs like “hands”, “feet”, “ear”, “eye”, “heart”, “skins (penis)” etc. will bear witness to what you did (41:20; 17:36). On the “scales of justice”, the sinful actions of people will be measured against good deeds so that “no soul is treated unjustly in the least” (21:47). If you have “heavier balance” of good deeds, you will get your report card for performance (amalnama) “in the right hand” as a qualifying sign for the Paradise (101:6; 17:71) If, otherwise, you get it “in the left hand, from behind the back” consequent upon the greater weight of sinful acts, unfortunately Hell will be your destined place (69:25; 84:10). This is how on that Day “people shall be divided (in two groups): the companions of Fire and the companions of the Garden” (30:43; 59:20).
(4) Hell: Based on God’s judgment, the placement of the righteous ones in the Paradise and that of the sinners in the Hell marks the beginning of immortal life for both the “men and Jinns” (7:179). The punishment of the Hell is so severe and intolerable that the mind shudders even to think about it. Suffice it to say that such punishment is not to be found anywhere else. Glimpses of the Hell will make the sinners “shudder with terror, but there will be no escape and they will be seized from a nearby position” (34:51). With “the yokes round their necks and enchained, they shall be dragged along”, "with faces down, blind, dumb and deaf”, “Every time they will wish to get away, they will be forced in” (40:71; 17:97; 32:20).
Horrors of Punishment: After being forced into the Hell with “seven Gates” (15:44) classified according to graveness of sins, they will suffer various forms of punishment. Some of these are briefly but horrifyingly described in the Quran. They will be “given ‘pus’ of wound and smelly boiling water for drink. Verily the tree of Zaqqum (a poisonous tree) will be the food of the sinners. The shoots of its fruit stalks are like the heads of devils. It will boil in their (intestines) like molten brass. Over their heads will be poured out boiling water. For them will be cut out a garment of fire. The fire will burn their faces with lips displaced. In addition there will be maces of iron (to hit) them. I shall soon cast them into fire as often as their skins are roasted through, I shall change them for fresh skins.(Their faces like) the darkness of night” (69:36; 14:16; 44:43; 44:44; 37:65; 44:45; 22:19; 23:104; 22:21, 4:56; 10:27).
Impacts of Punishment: Given such terrible punishments, their sufferings will be so unbearable that can hardly be put in words, except what the Quran states briefly but significantly "It (Hell) neither permits to endure nor does it leave (them) alone. It is all the same to you if you bear it with patience or not. (For them there will be nothing but) “the heaving of sighs and sobs. Soon he will cry for eternal death. (He) will say 'woe to me! I wish I were a dust (without any feeling)!" (74:28; 52:16; 11:106; 84:11; 78:40). In sum, the severity of punishment will leave them in a borderline between life and death where they will "neither die nor live" (20:74). The sinners, repentant of their past wrongdoings, will then say "Now send us back. We will work good as we (now) indeed believe" (32:12). But they crossed the point of no return to the earth.
(5) Paradise: The Paradise, on the other hand, will be the “supreme achievement” with best ever possible arrangement of pleasure and enjoyment through “eternal life” if you left behind a decent record of “righteousness” in the earthly life (4:13; 50:34; 3:133). There they will have most “generous reward” as they will “enter the Garden (of bliss)” with “immeasurable abundance” (33:44; 40:40). Based on your “degrees (or ranks) of (your) deeds” (6:132), the Paradise will be classified into the ranks of eight, the top one being the ‘Gardens of Paradise’ or “Jannat ul Ferdous for (your highest) entertainment” (18:107). Prepared for the righteous, there will be a Garden with “width is equal to the (entire) heavens (sky) and the earth”, as one indicator of their magnificent lifestyle (3:133).
The Paradise will be superb “hospitable homes” where you will be treated like a band of “(honorable) guests” (32:19; 19:85), enjoying boundless physical comfort and mental happiness that you never and nowhere saw before. You will get there all that you “desire” or “ask for”, all that “the eyes could delight in” (41:31; 43:71). There will be for them “all that they wish and more besides in my (God’s) Presence" (50:35). The comfort and happiness in the Paradise are described below:
(i) Safety from Sufferings: In the Paradise, you will not “hear the slightest sound of hell” (21:102). Over there you will be off-limits to any type of “sorrow” or “mental pain” (35:34; 15:47) or any sufferings commonly found in the earthly life. "There they will see neither excessive solar heat nor excessive cold. There will not be any toil or any sense of weariness” that links to prayer, faith, household chores and various obligations of earthly life (76:13; 35:35). Unknown to you will be problems like “fear or grief” (7:49), “shame (or disgrace)” (10:26), “grudge filling heart” or despair (15:47), disease, poverty, greed, panic, fatigue, stress, anxiety, depression, muscle spasm, tingling, (foul) smelling, bloating, farting, vomiting, bleeding, itching, hiccup, burping, sneezing, wheezing, choking, sweating, mucus, saliva, urinating, excreting, (hair) shaving etc. Free from aging problem, you will always be in your evergreen youth and lovely appearance. You will never be “asked to leave” the Paradise (15:48) and there will be death to your death.
(ii) Physical Enjoyment:
Housing: The Paradise will be the “best ever dwelling” place like nowhere available on earth (25:24). There will be “lofty mansions, one above other” built for your luxurious living (39:20). These magnificent palaces will be built with dazzling precious metals like marble, gem, gold etc. and decorated with beautiful “gardens and (water) fountains” and “flowing rivers” underneath (15:45; 9:72).
Living: You will “enter the Gardens of perpetual bliss” amidst “salutations of the angels entering from every gate” (13:23/24). You will enjoy there happy reunion with your “righteous (relatives like) your parents, spouses and children” etc. and you will “recognize each other” (13:23; 10:45).You will be seated and reclining on high “Thrones decorated (with gold and other precious stones)”, “in groves of (cool) shade” “(joyfully) facing each other like brothers” (56:15; 36:56; 15:47). You will comfortably relax, "reclining upon green cushions and rich beautiful carpets" (55:76). You will be surrounded by “chaste (female) companions, restraining their glances with beautiful big and lustrous eyes, beloved by nature, equal in age, virgin-pure like closely-guarded eggs and well-guarded pearls" (37:48; 44:54; 56:37; 56:36; 37:49; 56:23). A band of “(handsome) youths like well-guarded pearls will (always) be around (you) to do (devoted) services” for you (52:24).
Eating: You will “eat and drink to your heart’s content” from “rivers of milk”, “rivers of wine”, “rivers of honey” and other kinds of most delicious food and drink that you may wish for or “ask for” (77:43; 47:15; 36:57). The Quran specifies “fruits of every kind” will “hang low in bunches”, “any flesh of fowls that they may desire”, “crystal-white”, super delicious wine that does not cause “intoxication” (55:52; 76:14; 56:21; 37:46; 37:47). You will be taking food and drink from dishes made of gold, silver, crystal etc. (43:71; 76:15).
Clothing: You will have for wearing “green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade" (76:21) among other elegant varieties. Ornaments for you will be made of priceless “gold, pearl, silver” etc. (22:23; 76:21).
Amusement: You will amuse yourself with all sorts of entertainments including song, music, wine etc. many of which are among the prohibitions of earthly life. All these accounts of heavenly blessings like gold, silk, milk, honey etc are, however, symbolic and these are far more superior in quality and quantity than their counterparts in this earth. To sum up, “no person knows what delights of the eyes are kept hidden (in reserve) for them as a reward for good deeds” (32:17).
(iii) Mental Happiness: Of more importance than physical comforts will be unlimited mental peace and happiness that links to your most cherished glimpse of our beloved God. During your direct visit, His greeting with word of “peace (salutation)” and His “friendly” treatment will be an endless source of spiritual joy and “the best of rewards" for you (36:58; 6:127; 3:195). Your “face will be (lit up with) white” that day and will be “beaming (in brightness and beauty)” while you “look toward (your) Lord” (3:106; 75:22/23). There will also be other sources of your mental peace in the Paradise. Over there you will hear no cursive words or “vain talks” but only “salutations of peace”; even “the angels will meet” you for greetings (19:62; 21:103). Amidst abundance of mutual love, respect, fellow feeling, honest thinking and the like, you will have “joy in all that (you) do”, constantly “laughing, rejoicing” and so on (36:55; 80:39).
Conclusion: It follows from above that in your best interest you should maximize your good deeds and minimize your sins as valuable investment for your Afterlife salvation.