Many of us wonder what happens after we die. Some believe that we cease to exist, while others believe in heaven and hell. We lived before we came to earth, and we will continue to live after we die. We know this because God has outlined His whole plan for us in the scriptures. Knowing this plan can provide comfort and peace about death. While we mourn for those loved ones we’ve lost, there is hope—death is not the end. Allah says:

لَهُمْ دَارُ السَّلاَمِ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمْ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ

“For them (will be) home (of) [the] peace with their Lord. And He (will be) their protecting Fri because (of what) they used to do.” (Surah Al-Anam 6:127)

Muslims believe that the present life is a trial in preparation for the next realm of existence. When a Muslim dies, he or she is washed and wrapped in a clean, white cloth (usually by a family member) and buried after a special prayer, preferably the same day. Muslims consider this a final service that they can do for their relatives and an opportunity to remember that their existence here on earth is brief. Allah says:

الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ ۙ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

“Those who take them in death the Angels (when they are) pure saying, “Peace (be) upon you. Enter Paradise for what you used (to) do.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:32)

In Islam, an individuals life after death or their Hereafter is very closely shaped by their present life. Life after death begins with the resurrection of man, after which there will come a moment when every human will be shaken as they are confronted with their intentions and deeds, good and bad, and even by their failure to do good in this life.

The Resurrection of eternal life (Life After Death):

1. God created the heavens and the earth for just ends
2. Belief in life after death teachings of the Prophets
3. Believes look upon all worldly gains and losses
4. God will weigh everyone good and bad deeds 
5. The idea of a good live-action may be limited
6. A believer would still have to answer to God
7. A believer would not fall prey to evil deeds 
8. God will see to His Mercy and His Justice
9. A believer should set up scales of justice
10. God will reward him in the eternal life 
11. A believer establish justice among all 
12. In Islam, an individuals life after death 
13. True justice believing in life after death
14. God created responsible for their actions
15. A good act for a believer will remain good
16. Believes live  in terms of worldly sacrifices
17. Islam emphasis on assurance of the Hereafter 
18. One who excels in goodness will be rewarded
19. Life after death begins with the resurrection of man
20. Belief in the next world do well and avoid the wrong

Islam teaches that a human being not only has a body but also has a ‘spirit’ given to him or her by God. The spirit is the seed from which a higher form of life grows within man, higher than physical life, just as the body has developed from a small ‘seed’. Just as in the world around us higher forms of life evolve from lower ones, similarly from the life of the individual in this world is evolved his higher ‘spiritual’ life. Allah says:

يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًا لِّيُرَوْا أَعْمَالَهُمْ

“That Day will proceed the mankind (in) scattered groups to be shown their deeds.” (Surah Az-Zalzalah 99:6)

Those who emerge successful in this judgment will go to paradise and the doors of eternal bliss will be opened to them. Those who are condemned and deserve punishment will be sent to Hell – the abode of fire and torture.

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

• “There is nothing but our present life; we die, and we live, and nothing but time destroys us.’ Of that they do not know; they merely conjecture. And when Our revelations are recited to them, their only argument is that they say, ‘Bring us our father, if you speak truly.” (Quran 45:24-25)
• “Is he, then, to whom we have promised a goodly promise the fulfilment of which he will meet, like the one whom We have provided with the good things of this life, and then on the Day of Resurrection he will be of those who will be brought arraigned before God?” (Quran 28:61)
• “What! Did you think that We had created you without purpose and that you would not be brought back to Us? Exalted be Allah, the True King….” (Quran 23:115-116)
• “Think not of those, who are martyred in the way of Allah, as dead. No, they are living with their Lord and provided with food.” (Quran 3:169)
• “The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: Full of blessing and guidance for all kinds of beings.” (Surah Al-Imran, 96)

Belief in life after death has always been part of the teachings of the Prophets and is an essential condition of being a Muslim. Whenever we are asked to do something, it is our very nature to think about its benefits and its costs. We regard a useless action as unnecessary and are not prepared to waste our time doing it. Similarly, we are not very eager to avoid a harmless thing. Allah says:

لَّقَدْ كُنتَ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَٰذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَاءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ

“Certainly you were in heedlessness of this. So We have removed from you your cover, so your sight today (is) sharp.” (Surah Qaf 50:22)

The deeper our conviction about the usefulness of something, the firmer our response to it will be. The more doubtful we are about its usefulness, the more wavering and shaky would be our attitude. After all, why does a child put his hand in the fire? Because he is not sure that fire burns.

Thus, there are very convincing reasons to believe in life after death:

1. All the Prophets of God have called their people to believe in it
2. God’s attributes of Justice and Mercy have no meaning if there is no life after death
3. Moral, aesthetic and rational faculties of man endorse the possibility of the life after death
4. Whenever a human society is built based on this belief, it has been the most ideal and peaceful society, free of social and moral evils
5. History bears witness that whenever this belief is rejected collectively by a group of people despite the repeated warning of the Prophet, the group as a whole has been punished by God even in this world

Allah Almighty has created every human being in this world with a purpose, and when that purpose gets fulfilled, every one of us will be called back to Allah, where we will have to answer how we did with fulfilling our purpose. Such things become the objectives of life and they may not deter one from pursuing cruel and unjust means in their achievement. Allah says:

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلًا إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا

“They shall forever dwell in the gardens of Paradise, desiring no change to befall them…” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:107-108)

God created people and made them responsible for their actions. In this world, we notice that the virtuous often live in a wretched state while the wicked often seem to have the good things in life. God is the Most Just; He will establish justice among all His creatures and no one can escape from God. Allah says:

وَاللَّهُ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ الرِّيَاحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًا فَسُقْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍ مَيِّتٍ فَأَحْيَيْنَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ النُّشُورُ

“God sends forth the winds which set the clouds in motion. We drive them on to some dead land and give fresh life to its barren soil. Such is the resurrection.” (Surah Fatir 35:9)

Islam, therefore, places great emphasis on having the absolute assurance of the Hereafter. This assurance should be similar to the certainty we have in death (which can overcome us at any time). Therefore, striving to earn the pleasure of God becomes the objective of life. Allah says:

يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ مُحْضَرًا وَمَا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ سُوءٍ

“The day will surely come when each soul will be confronted with whatever good or evil it has done. As for its evil deeds. it will wish they were a long way off.” (Surah Al Imran 3:30)

Paradise is for those who worshipped God alone, believed and followed their prophet, and lived moral lives according to the teachings of scripture. We must understand that Islam safeguards life in this world and teaches righteous morals that lead to eternal life in the Hereafter. Believers do not wish for death upon themselves or others. Martyrdom is only attained by righteous living and it is not necessarily dependent upon the way a Muslim dies.