Allah, who is the Creator, the Ruler and the Lord of the universe, has created man and provided him with a temporary home in that part of His vast kingdom which is the earth. He has endowed man with the faculties of thinking and understanding and has given him the power to distinguish right from wrong. Man has also been invested with free will and the power to use the resources of the world however he likes. That is, man has a measure of autonomy while being at the same time Allah’s representative on earth. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ إِن كُنتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا
“O Prophet! Say to your wives, “If you desire the life (of) the world and its adornment, then come, I will provide for you and release you (with) a release good.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:28)
The Islamic way of life is thus based on a unique concept of man’s place in the universe. We can thus lead to fulfilling lives by bringing more Islam into our lives. A man has always been greedy by nature and has wished for more than it should own. No wonder why the world is constantly moving in the direction of increased acquisitiveness. The Religion of Peace greatly emphasizes the importance of adopting moderation in every matter of life. Allah says: Allah says:
إِنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا وَتَتَّقُوا يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْأَلْكُمْ أَمْوَالَكُمْ
“Only the life (of) the world (is) play and amusement. And if you believe you consciously revere (Allah) He will give you your rewards and not will ask you (for) your wealth.” (Surah Muhammad 47:36)
This world is one big attraction, making those who in reality are meagre and full of weakness look strong and mighty, making those who are ignorant seem intelligent, and portraying those who have been misguided and enslaved to their desires as being the most guided of people.
We all love the worldly life, the truth of the life of this world is as below:
- Islam is a way of life that transcends race and ethnicity
- Islam’s teaching shows that all innocent life is sacred
- Islam has no schisms between human beings
- Islam establish peace and justice in society
- Islam enjoins upon its believers in purifying
- Islam establish peace and justice in society
- Islam encourages people to be generous
- Islam commands love, mercy, and peace
- Islam has the dignity of all human being
- Islam has the dignity of all human being
- Islam considers all life forms as sacred
- Muslims must be in control of desires
- Fear Allah and always speak the truth
- Always be grateful that you have less
- Islam has infinite value for all
- Islam has the sanctity of human life
- God has put everything in mankind
- Our faith should be true and sincere
- Islam forbids hateful words and actions
- Prophet Muhammad was the Ultimate Example
- Never spread rumours and do not listen to them
- Sets a good example for those who succeed him
- God does not produce any defect on one’s morals
- Never let trivialities be the cause of your destruction
- Never lose heart by a lack of any other material thing
- Allah the Exalted created humanity to carry His trusts
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)
All souls are provided with limited free will to choose. There is no compulsion in Islam. All souls have to taste death. When the soul leaves the body, relatives, and friends cry. The soul of man will be extracted by the angel of death either gently or roughly when the time is ripe. When a soul is pulled out from the body man must remember his faith in Allah (that Allah is his Creator) otherwise he will be sent to hell. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا وَتَتَّقُوا يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْأَلْكُمْ أَمْوَالَكُمْ
“Only the life (of) the world (is) play and amusement. And if you believe you consciously revere (Allah) He will give you your rewards and not will ask you (for) your wealth.” (Surah Muhammad 47:36)
Islam is a religion that balances worldly life and the life to come. According to Islam, the worldly life is like a farm in which a Muslim sows the seeds of good deeds in all aspects of life to reap the rewards of his hard work both in this life and the hereafter. Allah says:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا
“Indeed, those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them will be Gardens (of) the Paradise (as) a lodging.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:107)
Every day man experiences temporary death at night when he sleeps and resurrects when he wakes up. Allah keeps his soul in a safe place during his sleep. Allah has appointed angels as guardians to the right and left the side and allowed Satan to disturb humans.
There are Seven Stages of Life in Islam:
- Stage: Life in Lau Ho Mahfuz
- Stage: Life in the mother’s womb
- Stage: Life in this world
- Stage: Death
- Stage: Resurrection on the Judgment day
- Stage: The end-stage for the disobedient soul is to enter Hellfire
- Stage: The end-stage for the obedient soul is peaceful to enter paradise
Heaven and hell are not actual places somewhere in the universe, but our inner conditions or the condition of the spirit resulting from our deeds. Heaven and hell begin in this life within a person’s heart. The feelings of bliss and contentment at doing good is heaven in one’s heart. Allah says:
وَمَا هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ ۚ وَإِنَّ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ لَهِيَ الْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
“This worldly life is nothing but diversion and amusement. Verily, the home of the Hereafter is the true-life if only they knew.” (Surah Al-Ankabut 29:64)
During his life, man’s deeds shape and mould his spirit, for better or worse, according to his deeds. When a person dies, the physical body is finished, but the spirit remains, as he or she had moulded it by their deeds when alive. That is life after death. Allah says:
وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَلَلدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
“And not (is) the life (of) the world except a play and amusement; but the home (of) the Hereafter (is) best for those who (are) God-conscious. Then, will you not reason?” (Surah Al-An`am 6:32)
In Islam, an individual’s 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.
All these facts are described in the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says:
- “Indeed successful are the believers.” (Quran 23:1)
- “And take provision, verily the best of provisions is at-taqwa.” (Quran 2:197)
- “Verily for the muttaqin (people of taqwa) is a success (i.e. Paradise).” (Quran 78:31)
- “These are the people who buy the life of this world at the price of the Hereafter: their penalty shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 86)
- “Those who desire the life of the present and its glitter,- to them, we shall pay (the price of) their deeds therein,- without diminution.” (Surah Hud, 15)
- “Verily those who believe and do righteous deeds will have the gardens of al-Firdaus (the loftiest form of paradise).” (Al-Quran18:107)
Muslims believe in the Quran and follow the Prophet’s saying an example of his way of life. Those who believe in one Allah, his prophets, his books, his angels, the last day of judgment, the next life, good or bad come from the predestined decree of Allah, the existence of hell and heaven, reward for good people and punishment of bad people are called Muslims. Allah says:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
“Our Lord, give us goodness in this life and goodness in the Hereafter and save us from the punishment of the Hellfire.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:201)
Islam, therefore, places great emphasis on having the absolute assurance of the Hereafter. A believer will be confident that God will reward him in eternal life and that would be the real success. Similarly, they would not fall prey to evil deeds merely for some worldly gain, for they would know that even if they escape punishment in this short worldly life, they would still have to answer to God. Allah says:
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ ۙ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“The angels will receive the souls of good men saying: Peace be with you. Enter Paradise, the reward of your labours.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:32)
On the Day of Judgment, the entire record of people from the age of puberty will be presented before God. God will weigh everyone’s good and bad deeds according to His Mercy and His Justice, forgiving many sins and multiplying many good deeds. May Allah makes us of those people who benefit from admonition and of those who when they are given are thankful when tested are patient, and when sin is repenting (as these are the keys to success in this Dunya and the Akhirah) – Ameen.
