Core Curriculum
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Topic 1.1 - God, Allah and Religion
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Topic 1.2 - What is “Religion” and What’s the Point of it Anyways?
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Topic 1.3 - Introduction to Islam
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Topic 1.4 - A Brief Introduction to the Prophet Muhammad (s), the Prophet of Islam
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Topic 2.1 - Satan, Jinns and Angels: Their Influence in the World
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Topic 2.2 - The Islamic Concept of the Nafs: Battling the Human Ego
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Topic 2.3 - The Sharīʿa: Purpose and Practice
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Topic 2.4 - Nubuwwa: The Purpose of Prophethood in Islam
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Topic 2.5 - Tawhīd: The Unity and Oneness of God in Islam
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Topic 2.6 - The Usūl al-Dīn: The Fundamental Beliefs of Islam
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Topic 2.7 - Adala: Divine Justice in Islam
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Topic 2.8 - Entering Islam: The Shahada
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Topic 2.9 - Maʿād: The Day of Judgment in Islam
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Topic 2.10 - Imāmah or divinely guided leadership in Islam after the Prophet Muhammad.
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Topic 3.1 - Accepting Islam: Putting Faith into Action
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Topic 3.2 - The Furūʿ al-Dīn: The Fundamental Practices of Islam
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Topic 3.3 - Salāt: Obligatory Ritual Prayers in Islam
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Topic 3.4 - Fasting in Islam, its Purpose, Dos and Don’ts
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Topic 3.5 - The Hajj Pilgrimage
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Topic 3.6 - The Purpose of Zakat and Khums in Islamic Law
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Topic 3.7 - Jihād in Islamic Law and Spirituality
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Topic 3.8 - Commanding the Good and Forbidding Evil in Islam
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Topic 3.9 - Tawalla and Tabarra, its Basics and Purpose
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Topic 3.10 - The Five Categories of Islamic Law
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Topic 3.11 - Niyya: Religious Intention as the Foundation of Islamic Practice
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Topic 3.12 - Ritual Purity in Islamic Law: Understanding Tahāra and Najāsa
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Topic 3.13 - Other Obligatory and Forbidden Acts in Islam
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Topic 4.1 - A Brief Biography of the Prophet Muhammad (s): The Prophet’s Childhood (PART I of III)
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Topic 4.2 - Bio: The Prophet Muhammad as a Prophet of God (PART II of III)
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Topic 4.3 - A Brief Biography of the Prophet Muhammad (s): The Prophet’s Character (PART III of III)
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Topic 4.4 - The Prophet Muhammad (s) as Messenger and Teacher
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Topic 4.5 - The Prophet and his Relationships
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Topic 4.6 - The Prophet’s Sunnah and Hadith
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Topic 4.7 - Ghadīr and Arafah: The Two Last Sermons of the Prophet
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Topic 4.8 - Jesus and Mary in Islam
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Topic 5.1 - Islam and Other Religions
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Topic 5.2 - What is the Qur’an? A Short Introduction to Islam’s Holy Book
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Topic 5.3 - The Structure of the Holy Qur’an
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Topic 5.4 - The Quran and Islamic law
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Topic 5.5 - The Qur’an, Allah and Humankind
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Topic 5.6 - Hadith and Sunnah, difference and variations
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Topic 5.7 - The Reliability of Hadiths
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Topic 5.8 - A Reflection on Verses of the Holy Qur’an
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Topic 5.9 - Hadith al-Thaqalayn
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Topic 5.10 - Imam Ali (as) and Nahj al-Balagha.
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Topic 5.11 - Taqlid and Tawḍih Al Masail Genre of Literature
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Topic 6.1 - Guidance According to Islam
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Topic 6.2 - Life and Death in Islam
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Topic 6.3 - Heaven and Hell in Islam
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Topic 6.4 - The Effects of Our Actions in this World
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Topic 6.5 - The Gray Areas of Islamic Law and Morality
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Topic 6.6 - Benefits of Islamic Law in this World
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Topic 6.7 - Good and Bad Deeds: The Spiritual Consequences of our Choices
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Topic 6.8 - The Effect of Culture and Environment in Shaping our Religious Choices
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Topic 6.9 - Fate and the Consequences of our Choices in Islam
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Topic 6.10 - Trivializing the Harām
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Topic 6.11 - Sinning Against Others and their Delayed Punishment
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Topic 6.12 - The Three Kinds of Rights in Islam
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Topic 6.13 - Major Sins in Islam
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Topic 6.14 - Repentance and Forgiveness of Sins in Islam
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Topic 6.15 - Kufr in Islam
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Topic 6.16 - Why Allah Allows People to Sin
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Topic 7.1 - Islam and Knowledge: the Importance of Islamic Education
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Topic 7.2 - The Ahl al-Kisa
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Topic 7.3 - Imamah in the Qur’an
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Topic 7.4 - Fatima al-Zahrah (as)
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Topic 7.5 - A Brief Look at the Lives of the Imams (Imam al-Hasan until Imam Muhammad al-Baqir)
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Topic 7.6 - A Brief Look at the Lives of the Imams (Imam Jafar al-Sadiq until Imam Hasan al-Askari)
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Topic 7.7 - A Brief Look at the Life and Importance of Imam al-Mahdi (aj)
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Topic 7.8 - Salawat and Atonement in Islam
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Topic 7.9 - The Companions (Sahaba) of the Prophet According to the Qur’an
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Topic 7.10 - Clerical Hierarchies in Muslim Communities
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Topic 7.11 - Mosques in Islam
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Topic 7.12 - The Philosophy of Karbala and Majalis
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Topic 7.13 - A Brief Biography of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as)
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Topic 7.14 - The Battle of Karbala: A Brief History
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Topic 8.1 - Islam and Rights
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Topic 8.2 - Islam and Religious Conflicts
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Topic 8.3 - Major Sects of Islam
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Topic 8.4 - Sunnism and Shi’ism, beginnings and historical developments.
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Topic 8.5 - Misconceptions about Shi’ism
Special Topics
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Topic 9.1 - Muslim Converts – Welcome to Islam!
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Topic 9.2 - Basic Dos and Don’ts of Being a Muslim
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Topic 9.3 - Halal Food and Zabiha
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Topic 9.4 - Modesty in Islam
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Topic 9.5 - Family, Parents and Marriage in Islam
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Topic 9.6 - Marriage in Islam
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Topic 9.7 - Islam and Sex
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Topic 9.8 - Women’s Menstruation in Islam
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Topic 9.9 - Music, Alcohol, Drugs and Pork in Islam
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Topic 9.10 - Islam and Science
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Topic 9.11 - A Reading List of Islamic Knowledge
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Topic 9.12 - Islam and Sufism
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Topic 9.13 - Ritual Prayers and Supplications in Islam
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Topic 9.14 - Death & Burial Rituals in Islam
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Topic 9.15 - The Battle of Armageddon: An Islamic View
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Topic 9.16 - The Muslim Calendar
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Topic 9.17 - Muslims and non-Muslims in the Shariah
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Topic 9.18 - A Timeline of Major Events in Islamic History
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Topic 9.19 - Introducing the Qur’an: Why it is the way it is
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Topic 9.20 - The School of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq
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Topic 9.21 - Major Fields in Islamic Studies
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Topic 9.22 - The Caliphate in Sunni and Shia Islam
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Topic 9.23 - The Spread of Islam: After the Prophet until the Ottoman Empire
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Topic 9.24 - Islam, Racism and Anti-Semitism
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Topic 10.1 - Modern Fallacies about God: where Theists and Atheists Agree
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Topic 10.2 - Tawhīd: The Muslim God according to the Prophet Muhammad and the Ahl al-Bayt (as)
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Topic 10.3 - God’s Existence: The Argument From Being (Wujūd)
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Topic 10.4 - God’s Existence: The Kalam Cosmological Argument
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Topic 10.5 - God’s Existence: The Argument From Design
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Topic 10.6 - The Problem of Evil, Suffering and Pain
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Topic 10.7 - Why did God Create Us? The Purpose of our Creation
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Topic 10.8 - Why Humans Need Religion according to Islam
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Topic 10.9 - Jahl and Spiritual Ignorance in Islam
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Topic 10.10 - Faith in Islam: Belief without Evidence?
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Topic 10.11 - Do Non-Muslims Go to Hell?
Life and Death in Islam
Abstract
Life in this world is the farming field of the Hereafter. This world is a test and death marks the end of this test. Belief in the Hereafter gives meaning to people and helps them lead the proper moral life whereas unbelief inevitably leads to nihilism.
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INTRODUCTION
Bismillāhir Rahmānir Rahīm, As-salāmu ʿAlaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh. Peace be upon you brothers and sisters.
Welcome back to our channel!
In this lesson, we will be looking at the concept of life and death in Islam and how it is directly connected to the idea of guidance in Islam.
BODY OF TEXT
But those who disbelieve say, “The Hour (i.e. the Day of Judgment) will not come to us.” Say, “Yes, by my Lord, it will surely come to you. [God is] the Knower of the unseen.” Not absent from Him is an atom’s weight within the heavens or within the earth or [what is] smaller than that or greater, except that it is in a clear register - That He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. Those will have forgiveness and noble provision. But those who strive against Our verses [seeking] to cause failure (i.e. to undermine their credibility) - for them will be a painful punishment of foul nature. (Chapter 34, verses 3-5 of the Holy Qur’an)
Muslims believe that this life is a trial and test in preparation for the Hereafter. Allah says the following in the Qur’an:
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (Chapter 51, verse 56 of the Holy Qur’an)
The purpose of our creation is not simply belief in Allah. If belief in Allah is all that counts, then there is no reason for Iblīs or the Devil to be cursed by God. The purpose of human existence, and the ultimate preparation for the Hereafter is to establish a healthy and good relationship with God. By purifying our souls and having a good relationship with Allah, we find salvation.
This world therefore acts as a nurturing ground for our souls to be saved in the next life. As the Prophet Muhammad (s) once said, “this world is the farming field of the Hereafter”
In this world, we learn from our mistakes, we face problems and learn to overcome them. By learning to tame our desires and our egos, we purify our souls and open them up to the Light of God. The purified soul or heart is the only thing that counts in the next life.
Allah says in the Qur’an says:
The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart." (Chapter 26, verse 88-89 of the Holy Qur’an)
Without belief in life after death, one cannot purify the heart. Denial of the after life results in nihilism. Nihilism is a world view where there is no ultimate purpose or meaning to anything. Without belief in the Hereafter, morality becomes totally subjective and spiritual progress becomes completely meaningless.
If there is no Hereafter, all of morality becomes inconsequential. Spiritual progress also becomes meaningless for it leads to no where. The spirit only has value if it it can live beyond the lifespan of the body.
As life is a test, death is the end of the test. It is when people need to put their pencils down and hand back their exams to the invigilator. Death, according to Islam, is not a tragedy in the strictest sense. Some people complain that death is evil. How can God allow the death of a young person? Should not the person have the chance to live a longer life?
If life stopped in this world only, that statement might have been true. But true life, that is, eternal life, begins after the death of our bodies. Death in this world is not evil, it is merely the end of a test and the beginning of eternity. As the Hereafter is eternal, it is all the more important that we take advantage of our short time here to lead the best possible life in the next.
The accumulation of good deeds and closeness to God is what makes us pass this test and find success in the next life. The Qur’an says:
[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back that I might do righteousness in that which I left behind (i.e. in that which I neglected).” No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected. So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another.
And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] - it is they who are the successful. But those whose scales are light - those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally. The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have taut smiles (i.e. their lips having been contracted by scorching until the teeth are exposed). (Chapter 32, verses 99-104 of the Holy Qur’an)
Historically speaking, many of the Prophet's companions became moral people after they learnt about the Hereafter. This demonstrates that often enough, the lack of belief in the Hereafter leads to an immoral life. As Dostoevsky once remarked, if God does not exist, everything is permitted.
Here is a question that people often ask. We know how belief in life after death benefits us in the next life but how does it benefit us in this world?
Genuine belief in the Hereafter brings peace and happiness in this world. Think about it, if you know that you will only live a few years in this life (half of which is spent in sleep) and that eternity awaits you in the next, few things can sadden you in this world.
This is because you know that in the long wrong, your short lived suffering is nothing compared to the eternal bliss that awaits you. It is like waiting in line and being uncomfortable, but being mentally at ease for you know that in a few minutes you will be out of the line and on the way to where you want to go!
In fact, even thinking about hell is a therapy for humans for it belittles any tragedy that this world has to offer.
Although in our minds we know that one day we will die, our hearts are often not convinced. We suffer much as we subtly believe that we’re going to live forever in this world and by extension, suffer forever. Understanding and really grasping the impermanence of this world and the reality of death is freedom from the temporary suffering of this world.
Until Next Time, Thank you for watching. As-salāmu ʿAlaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh
Muslims believe that this life is a trial and test in preparation for the Hereafter. Allah says the following in the Qur’an:
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (Chapter 51, verse 56 of the Holy Qur’an)
The purpose of our creation is not simply belief in Allah. If belief in Allah is all that counts, then there is no reason for Iblīs or the Devil to be cursed by God. The purpose of human existence, and the ultimate preparation for the Hereafter is to establish a healthy and good relationship with God. By purifying our souls and having a good relationship with Allah, we find salvation.
This world therefore acts as a nurturing ground for our souls to be saved in the next life. As the Prophet Muhammad (s) once said, “this world is the farming field of the Hereafter”
In this world, we learn from our mistakes, we face problems and learn to overcome them. By learning to tame our desires and our egos, we purify our souls and open them up to the Light of God. The purified soul or heart is the only thing that counts in the next life.
Nihilism
Worldview that nothing has ultimate meaning or purpose
Subjective or relative morality
morality that is produced by the human mind and is limited to human experience in this world only.
What is the meaning of life in Islam?
Life is a test for the Hereafter
What is the meaning of death in Islam?
Death means the end of the test in this world, and beginning of eternal life in the Hereafter
What is the purpose of human life in this world?
It is to establish a good relationship and friendship with God.
Is belief in God and performing rituals enough in order to pass the test of this life?
No, one must also lead a proper moral life?
What are the consequences of not believing in life after death?
It leads to nihilism where nothing has ultimate objective purpose or meaning. The absence of ultimate meaning and purpose is the strict definition of nihilism.
Muslim
God
Allah
Hereafter
Religion
Salvation
Soul
moral character
guidance
Prophet Muhammad
life and death in Islam
life after death in Islam
relationship with God
reality of death
Death by Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi
Eternal life by Murtada Muttahari
Journey to Unseen World by Najafi Quchani