THE HEREAFTER 1-The Moment of Death Every one of us loves life and no one wants to die. But this beautiful life has to end and the stages after it are extremely hard and painful. The first stage after life is death and every living being has to pass through this extremely painful stage. Allah says in Quran "Every soul shall taste death" (3 :185) Knowing exactly what happens while dying is impossible because no soul can return to narrate its experience. The only possible way is to get information from the most authentic sources i.e. the revelation of God & saying of Prophet Muhammad (saw). At that time we cannot return to this earth to improve our actions and or erase our regrets of good deeds undone. Our book of actions will close and the first phase of questioning about our actions on this earth will begin. 2- A Grave World When a believer is about to depart this world, angels with white faces come down from the heavens and say: "O peaceful soul, come out to forgiveness from God and His pleasure." The believer will look forward to meeting his Creator, as the Prophet "PBUH", explained: "...when the time of the death of a believer approaches, he receives the good news of God's pleasure with him and His blessings upon him, and so at that time nothing is dearer to him than what lies ahead of him. He therefore loves meeting God, and God loves meeting him." (Saheeh Al-Bukhari) The soul peacefully passes out of the body like a drop of water which emerges from a water-skin, and the angels take hold of it: The angels gently extract it, saying: "...Do not fear and do not grieve, but receive good tidings of the Paradise which you were promised. We were your allies in this worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter, and you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish], as a hospitality from the Forgiving and Merciful." (Quran 41:30-32) "A good soul has come from the earth, may God bless you and the body you used to dwell in." The soul then remains in a place of limbo in its grave, called the Barzakh, awaiting the Day of Judgment. The believer's grave is made roomy and spacious and filled with light. He is shown what would have been his abode in Hell - had he been a wicked sinner - before a portal is opened for him every morning and evening showing him his actual home in Paradise. 3-the day of judgement "That Day, a man shall flee from his brother; from his mother and his father; from his wife and his children. For on that Day, every man will have enough to make him indifferent to others." (Quran 80:34-37) The Hour of Resurrection will be a terrifying, overwhelming event. Yet, despite its trauma, the believer will be ecstatic, just as Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, related from his Lord: God says, "By My Glory and Majesty, I will not give My slave two securities and two terrors. If he feels secure from Me in the world, I will instil fear in him on the Day when I gather My slaves together; and if he fears Me in the world, I will make him feel safe on the Day when I gather My slaves together." "Unquestionably, for the allies of God there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve: those who believed and used to fear God (in this life); for them are good tidings in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. No change is there in the words of God. Indeed in that is the great success." (Quran 10:62-64) God will bring the believer close to Him, shelter him, cover him, and ask him about his sins. After acknowledging his sins he will believe he is doomed, but God will say: "I concealed it for you in the world, and I forgive it for you this Day." He will be rebuked for his shortcomings, but will then be handed his record of good deeds in his right hand. "Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will be judged with an easy account and return to his people in happiness." (Quran 84:7-8) Happy to look at his record, he will announce his joy: "So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, 'Here, read my record! Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting my account.' So he will be in a pleasant life -- in an elevated Garden, its [fruit] to be picked hanging near. [He will be told], 'Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you put forth in the days past.'" (Quran 69:19-24) The record of good deeds will then be weighed, literally, to determine whether it outweighs the person's record of bad deeds, and so that reward or punishment be meted out accordingly. "And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [any deed even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We to take account." (Quran 21:47) "So whoever worked even an atom's weight of good will see (the good fruits of his labor)." (Quran 99:7)

• published: 22 May 2012
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