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Life After Death The average life span of human beings is about 60 to 70 years. We have been sent to this world for a limited period of time, but have failed to grasp this most important reality. (For instance, if you ask a person who is in his 50's to tell you the story of his life, he can finish it within a couple of minutes). Even a person who is hospitalized, and on his deathbed, also wants to go on living. We are indeed so addicted to this world that we remain oblivious of the hard reality that our stay in this world is of a temporary nature. Hence we do not lay foundations for the Hereafter, having failed to recognize it as our permanent abode. "When I am dead, will I then be raised up again?" This question may arise in a vague way in the minds of even those who do not have any strong belief in life after death. But it has to be conceded that very few people give their attention to this question. The very fact that tomorrow's life is not the subject of eager and willing inquiry is surely a sign that people have consciously or sub-consciously doubts as to its existence. If, however, we give serious thought to this reality, it ceases to be difficult to understand. The Almighty Allaah, wishing to put us to the test, has not told us the secrets of life after death. But He has scattered His signs throughout the world, and it is then for us to mark them, think earnestly about them, and in this way find a true picture of essence of all the things. It is well known that human beings pass from a prior state to their present state. Man takes shape from a substance, which, itself formless grows inside the mother's womb until a fully-fledged human being develops; ready to enter the outside world. This process of change, which turns an invisible, unfeeling, valueless substance into a six foot tall human being, is an everyday event, so why should there be any difficulty in understanding how the tiny particles of our bodies, after being scattered in the ground, will once again take on a human form? Every individual that one sees walking around is, in fact, an accumulation of countless atoms. These atoms, brought together to form one meaningful, sensate pattern, took the shape of a human being capable of thought, feeling and movement. The same process will be repeated in reverse order when we die. The particles which had made up our body will be diffused in the earth, the water, the air, and later, at The Almighty Allaah's command, they will be reassembled and again take the shape of a human being. |
What is so extraordinary about a happening, which so constantly repeats itself? Even in the world of matter, there are clear signs of the revival of life. Every year, in the rainy season, vegetation flourishes and greenery spreads in all directions. But when this season is over, the sun dries everything up. It is as if it had passed the death sentence on all seasonally growing things. A plain where flowers had formerly bloomed now seems a barren waste. But when the rains come again, that very same vegetation will be revived by water pouring down from the Heavens, and the dried up plain will again become a meadow. In this very same way, man will be brought back to life after his death. Let's look at the matter from another angle. If doubts occur concerning life after death, it is because what we imagine is based on what happens in our present physical existence. We consider the solid, moving body that we can see to be the essential human being, and wonder how something, which takes this shape, can be re-made and raised up again once it has decomposed and mingled with the earth. We observe that when death strikes, the once mobile human being comes to a standstill. In fact, all his faculties cease to function. Shortly afterwards, he is buried, cremated or thrown into a river depending upon the customs of the people concerned. A few days later, the body is reduced to tiny particles and mingles with the earth or water in such a way as to be no longer detectable by normal human vision. We witness this process so often, yet find it hard to understand how once-alive human beings, who now have no physical substance to them, can be revived in any manner whatsoever. Scientists are the first to admit that the creation of a live human being in a laboratory is a sheer impossibility, although the body's chemical formula and atomic structure are well known. Its carbon is the same as in charcoal, its oxygen and hydrogen are the same as in water and its nitrogen is the same as in the atmosphere. It has never been true to say that a live human being is just a specific collection of ordinary atoms, which have been arranged in an extraordinary way. Man may be made up of certain known material particles, but we are still not in a position to create life by just combining those particles in a particular way. The body of a live human being is not just a collection of lifeless atoms. It is something more than this. It is a combination of atoms plus life. After death, this collection of atoms does not disappear from view. It is still there for everyone to see. It is life itself, which departs for another world. Think for a moment what this other world must be like. The Almighty Allaah's Prophet has made it known to mankind that Heaven and Hell both exist there, and that everyone who dies must eventually find his eternal abode in one or the other. Those who are obedient to Allaah in this world, always behaving in a virtuous fashion, will be rewarded with a place in paradise, while those who are evil and rebellious in their attitude towards The Almighty Allaah will be cast into Hell fire to be tormented forever and ever. Everyone, no matter from which walk of life he hails from, will be required to stand before his Maker on that fateful day, and lay bare his entire life before Him. If all this has been kept hidden from him in this world, it is because it is The Almighty Allaah's intention to put man to the test. It is in the Hereafter that man will face the full consequences of his deeds, depending upon how right or wrong they were. Every action has certain consequences for the doer, every situation that he creates causes a favourable or unfavourable reaction. In deciding upon the course he takes, for good or for evil, he himself forges his own destiny. The Almighty Allaah will resurrect us and will ask us five questions. To which everybody shall have to reply --- 1. Where did we spend our whole life? Have we spent our lives in accordance to the commands of The Almighty Allaah or have we wasted it in the fulfillment of our own desires. If we follow The Almighty Allaah’s commands, and devote our lives for His cause, surely our lives would not be wasted. But on the other hand, if we have been busy in the affairs of this world and in the fulfillment of our desires only then the consequences thereof will be disastrous. Where did we spend our youth? The best phase of our life is our youth. It is the most crucial stage because one tends to get misguided or drawn in by the false promises of this temporary world. Because of ignorance and lack of the fear of The Almighty Allaah it is being wasted in unlawful practices ; like useless fun, entertainment, drinking and many others things. Whoever does so will have to reply The Almighty Allaah on the Day of Judgment. But whosoever fears Allaah will be rewarded accordingly. How did you earn? If a person earns lawfully, and in the way allowed by Islam, then he will have no fear on the Day of Judgment. But if anyone earns in an unlawful way and resorts to cheating, bribing, lying and deceiving, then he will have to pay the consequences of his actions. There is no escape from it. Take for instance a bank cashier whose salary is Rs. 5000. One day he decided to take his salary of Rs. 5000 from the cash without informing anyone .He took the money and went home. When the cash was counted a deficit of rupees 5000 was found. By enquiring, it was found that the cashier had stolen 5000 rupees. What will happen to him? Would not the Bank take any action against him? He has to reply why he had taken it in a wrong manner. Similarly, whatever The Almighty Allaah has decided in our fate, we will get it at the appropriate time and in a proper way. If anybody earns in an improper manner, he has to reply to The Almighty Allaah on the Day of Judgment. On what did we spend our earnings? We have to remember that our life on this earth is like a test. We are accountable for all our actions and we have to pay the consequences for it accordingly. So if we have spent our earnings only to fulfill our happiness without giving a thought for the sufferings of the people around us, while the poor are dying for food, shivering with cold without clothes, dying in the street without medicine, sleeping on the road without shelter. What will we reply to The Almighty Allaah on that Day? That we have just lived for our own desires? What knowledge have we gained and what deeds have we done accordingly? Remember that this knowledge is not related to the material world. This is the knowledge of The Almighty Allaah, His commands, His Prophet’s way of life and the Hereafter. For instance, by reading this book, you have become aware of The Almighty Allaah, His Commands, Prophets teachings and his way of life or any other relevant knowledge regarding The Almighty Allaah. Suppose if anyone denies this and follow his own mind, thoughts and intelligence he will have to face serious consequences. If deeds are in accordance to the proper knowledge then the person will be safe from the fire of Hell and able to enter to Heaven. “Keep one step away from your desires and the next step will be in Heaven”There was once a man who had ten million dollars. He wanted to construct a palatial house, but due to the fear and love of The Almighty Allaah, he decided to spend only a million on himself and spent the rest on helping the poor and the needy. Surely The Almighty Allaah will reward this man for his concern towards the needy. Similarly, if we deduce some of the money we spend on our clothes alone, to cloth the poor; would it not make a difference to the unclothed? By helping the poor, we are actually helping ourselves. Each selfless action we take is like taking a step towards Heaven. By helping others, we earn blessings for ourselves. The Holy Quran says in the 56th Surah: They shall recline face to face on couches encrusted with gold and precious stones, and there shall wait on them youths of perpetual freshness, with goblets and shining beakers, and cups filled out of clear, flowing fountains. No after-ache will they receive there from, nor will they suffer intoxication: and with fruits of their own choice, and the flesh of fowls that they relish. And there will be Companions with beautiful, big, lustrous eyes, chaste as hidden pearls: a reward for the deeds of their past life. No frivolity will they hear there in , nor any mischief, but only the greeting: " Peace! Peace!" The Companions of the right hand, -- happy shall they be! They shall recline on couches raised on high among lote trees without thorns, among tall trees with flowers or fruits piled one above another, in shade long extended, by water flowing constantly, and with fruit in abundance, whose season is not limited, nor their supply forbidden. We created the houris and made them virgins, equal in age, pure and undefiled, and full of love for the Companions of the right hand: a multitude from the men of old, and a multitude from the later generations. As for the Companions of the left hand (wretched shall be those on the left hand!) they shall be in the midst of a fierce blast of fire and in boiling water, and in the shade of pitch black smoke, neither cool nor refreshing. For they have lived in comfort and persisted in the heinous sin, saying: "When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be raised up again? And our forefathers too?" Say: "Those of old and of present times will certainly be gathered together on an appointed day. As for you sinners who deny the truth, you shall eat the fruit of the Zaqqum tree and fill your bellies with it. Then you shall drink scalding water on top of it: yet you shall drink it, as the thirsty camels drink! Such shall be their fare on the Day of Judgement! It is We Who have created you: Why will you not admit the truth? Behold the human seed that you emit. Is it you who created it, or are We the Creators? We have decreed death to be your common lot, and We are not to be frustrated from changing your forms and creating you again in forms of which you know nothing. And you surely know of the First Creation. Why then do you not take heed? Consider the seeds you grow. Is it you who cause them to grow, or are we the Cause? Was it our will, we could turn your harvest into chaff, so that filled with wonderment, you would exclaim: "We are indeed left with debts for nothing. Indeed, we are deprived.'' This reminds me of a pertinent anecdote. Once a fisherman baited the hook of his fishing rod and cast it into the river. A small fish got excited at the sight of the bait. A big fish came and said: “Little fish, don't eat that thing, because if you do so, you will be caught and chopped to pieces, cooked in oil, and eaten by humans and your bones will be chewed by cats and dogs”. But the small fish replied; “I think you must be joking, because I have never seen or heard such things like human, cats, and dogs”. It did not want to listen to the advice of the big fish, so it went ahead and did it. Similarly, in the same way, The Almighty Allaah has sent many Prophets to warn mankind of the doom, which will befall us if we don’t listen to them. But most of us refuse to listen, and the same fate, which befell the small fish, will befall us too. A man who was very rich in this life will not escape Hell if he has committed many misdeeds. The Almighty Allaah will say to him: "You were very rich in the world. If I sent you back to the world again, would you spend something for My cause?" (i.e. life and wealth). He will reply: "Send me back, Lord, and I will spend everything for Your cause." The Almighty Allaah will say, "That is not possible. I could have asked much less of you, but you were reluctant and remained a disbeliever there, ignoring Me and My book (the Holy Quran) and My Prophet, so face the consequences in the hereafter for ever." Here is a simple example of The Almighty Allaah's omnipotence: He has created stars, which are millions and trillions times bigger than this world, and they exist far away from it. Then how big is The Almighty Allaah? So would it have been difficult for Him to create Hell and Heaven? This world cannot be enough for all the rewards and punishments that are to be meted out to human beings. For instance, if someone wants to fulfill all his desires in this world, he cannot do so. Can anyone be young forever? Can anyone survive in this world forever? No. So the present world cannot fulfill all our desires. This world can only meet our needs. The Almighty Allaah has made our desires in such a way that the world cannot satisfy them. Only Heaven can do that. In paradise, there will be no ageing, no death. So beg earnestly for enlightenment. He will give this one-day, but it might take years. Without enlightenment, one cannot understand The Almighty Allaah. The Holy "Quran" contains the commands of The Almighty Allaah and how to fulfill these commands, but we also need to read the life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), which is dealt with in the holy book called "Hadees". The entire teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were intended to lead human beings to success in the life hereafter. Whatever we see in this world, we shall reap in the hereafter. Once I was travelling to Bangalore in the month of August. At that time the temperature in Delhi was 44 degrees centigrade. I was advised to carry woolens, for the temperature there was much lower. But I did not pay any heed to this advice. When I reached Bangalore, it was raining and I felt cold. Only then did I repent of not having paid attention to good counsel. Similarly, if today we do not listen to earnest appeals to prepare for the hereafter, we shall have cause to repent in the after life. But at that time our regrets will be of no avail. There are many people who think that they are going to suffer the consequences of their deeds only in this world, and that there will be no divine retribution in the hereafter. But they are totally mistaken. I would like to narrate here an incident to illustrate my point. Once two angels were talking about The Almighty Allaah's justice. They said that one pious man who had spent his entire life in obedience to The Almighty Allaah, at the approach of death, felt very thirsty and wanted to drink water from a pot, which was under his bed. But the moment he tried to take water from that pot, The Almighty Allaah asked his angels to break the pot. So they broke it and after that the person died. Another man who had been a disbeliever throughout his life, at the point of death felt a desire to eat a fish, which was not available anywhere in the world. So The Almighty Allaah especially created that fish in the sea and brought it to the market, took the man to the market, where he bought it and ate it. His desire was thus fulfilled. The reason for this was that the pious man had forgotten to acknowledge The Almighty Allaah's forgiveness for one of his sins. So The Almighty Allaah in His ultimate justice sent a small affliction to him, so that he might be excused for his sins. A believer is rewarded for all his sufferings. Thus The Almighty Allaah in his mercy forgave him and sent him to Heaven to live there happily ever after. Whereas the disbeliever's wishes are being fulfilled meant that he was not going to have his share of the good things in the hereafter. Now we can understand why the Companions of the Prophet used to cry if worldly fortunes fell to their lot. They used to be afraid that if they received all the good things in this world, they might be denied them in the hereafter. Knowing that the fortunes of this world are temporary and short-lived, they concentrated on the permanent rewards in Heaven. Hazrat Ali (with whom Allaah is pleased) the son in law of Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be upon him) passes by a grave: Hazrat Kumail (with whom Allaah is pleased) says; “I was with Ali ( with whom Allaah is pleased) once on a journey , when he reached an uninhabited place ; he approached a grave and said; ‘’ O you dwellers of the graves ! O you who live amongst ruin! O you who live in the wilderness and solitude! How fare you in the other world? How has it gone with you there?” He continued: “The news from our side is that all you did leave of the wealth and riches here, has long been distributed; your children are orphans; your widows have long since remarried. Now let us hear about you.” He then turned to me ‘O Kamail! If they could speak, they would have informed us that the best provision for the Hereafter is Taqwa (Fear)’. Tears welled out of his eyes, as he added: ‘O Kamail! The grave is a container of the deeds; but one realizes it only after death.’ |
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