Before we find out if there is Life after death, let us understand if we need a life after death.
Do we need life after death?
Irrespective of our country, religion, race, we as humans, desire justice. That is why, every country has a system to establish justice. Example: police force, army, courts etc.
Can justice be fully established in this world? Let’s think about it.
Hitler killed six million innocent people during his reign of terror. Even if the police had arrested him, what punishment could the human law give Hitler? The most they can do is give him death penalty. That will only be punishment for the killing of one innocent person. What about the remaining five million, nine hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine people?
How do we punish a suicide bomber who kills himself and also kills hundreds of innocent people? We will NOT be able to punish him as he is already dead.
We have even heard of judges writing multiple life imprisonments which can go up to 100 years for the convicted criminals. This is because the criminal deserves so many years of punishment. Will the convict complete his term of punishment if it is 100 years?
True and perfect justice would mean that the people who were victims are also taken care of. What compensation can we give to those innocent people who were killed by people like Hitler and suicide bombers? We will NOT be able to compensate them because they are already dead.
Several righteous people were tortured and some even killed. Don’t you think those righteous people should be rewarded for their righteousness?
Rational thinking will lead us to conclude that there is definitely a need for an eternal life after death to compensate people for what they did in this world.
Islamic concept of Life after death
Islam teaches that the whole world will come to an end one day. All the human beings, from the first man to the last will be brought back to life (Resurrection) on the Day of Judgement and will be questioned for their deeds. People who have done good deeds and lived a life in accordance with what God had commanded will receive a reward and people who have disobeyed God will be punished. The reward will be Heaven and the punishment will be Hell. The life in Heaven and Hell will be eternal and never-ending.
Since the life in Heaven and Hell is eternal and never ending, God can punish Hitler and the suicide bombers six million times or even more in the hellfire. Similarly, God can reward and compensate the righteous and the innocent people who were killed, by giving them as much as He wants.
Is resurrection possible after we die?
God says in the Quran in Chapter 36: Verse 79:
Say, “He will give them life who produced them the first time; and He is, of all creation, Knowing.”
We all know that creating something for the first time will be difficult. Repeating the same creation again will not be as difficult as the first time. God did not have any difficulty in creating us the first time, why will He find it difficult to give us life after we die? God who created us for the first time will give us life the second time after we die. Bringing us back alive after we die is indeed very easy for God.
Aspects of Justice in Islamic concept of Hereafter:
God says in the Quran in Chapter 18: Verse 49
And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, “Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?” And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.
Comment: So each criminal knows what he did and for what he is going to be punished.
God says in the Quran in Chapter 3: Verse 185
Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.
Comment: Victims need not despair or lose hope as the full compensation for them will be given on the day of judgement.
God says in the Quran in Chapter 99: Verses 7 and 8
So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.
God says in the Quran in Chapter 3: Verse 30
The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present [before it] and what it has done of evil, it will wish that between itself and that [evil] was a great distance. And God warns you of Himself, and God is Kind to [His] servants.
Comment: None can escape being questioned and rewarded or punished for every deed they did.
God says in the Quran in Chapter 4: Verse 40
Indeed, GOd does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom’s weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.
Comment: No injustice is done and people are compensated multiple times for their good deeds which encourages every human being to do as many good deeds as possible.
Explanation for handicapped children, early deaths etc:
The Quran teaches that this whole life is a test and is a temporary place of existence for all human beings.
God says in the Quran in Chapter 67: Verse 2:
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving
People are tested in various ways. It can be through wealth, health, longevity etc.
For example: On the day of judgement, a wealthy man will be questioned about how he spent his wealth. On the other hand, a poor man will get full marks for the question on wealth, as he had to suffer poverty.
On the day of judgement, we will be questioned how we used our eyes on this earth. On the other hand, a blind person will get full marks for the question on usage of eyes by default.
On the day of judgement, we will be questioned how we used our limbs. On the other hand, a handicapped person will get full marks for the question on usage of limbs by default.
You can see how things will get even on the day of judgement.
No injustice to any human
God says in the Quran in Chapter 4: Verse 40
Indeed, God does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom’s weight:
Quran Chapter 4 Verse 40
Are humans reborn? Do we have rebirths?
Many believe that humans are reborn multiple times based on their actions on earth (Karma). The concept of rebirths of human beings deserves a detailed response and therefore, a separate article is dedicated for it. You can read the article on rebirths here.
