Ahirat (Hereafter)

Introduction and related Quranic references

Akhirat or Akhirah is a term used in Islam to describe the belief in everlasting life after death. According to
Islamic scripture, this world is not an eternal abode for man; however, he has been placed here to be tested in
terms of his obedience to the will of Allah. As Allah says in the Quran:

َ‫َّار ااۡل ٰ ِخ َرةَ لَ ِه َى ۡال َحـيَ َو ۘانُ‌ لَ ۡو كَانُ ۡوا يَ ۡعلَ ُم ۡون‬
َ ‫َو َما ٰه ِذ ِه ۡال َح ٰيوةُ الد ُّۡنيَ ۤا اِاَّل لَ ۡه ٌو َّولَ ِعبٌ‌ؕ َواِنَّ الد‬

“The present life is nothing but diversion and amusement. The true life is in the Abode of the Hereafter; if only
they knew.” (29:64)

‫ق ۡال َم ۡوتَ َو ۡال َح ٰيوةَ ِليَ ۡبلُ َو ُكمۡ اَيُّ ُكمۡ اَ ۡح َسنُ َع َماًل ؕ َوه َُو ۡال َع ِز ۡي ُز ۡال َغفُ ۡو ۙ ُر‬
َ َ‫ۨالَّ ِذ ۡى خَ ل‬

“He, Who created death and life to test you, which of you is better in deed.” (67:2)

There is another life/world that is eternal, and where a man has to return. In that world he will be judged on
his deeds and actions of this temporary world. Those with good deeds will be rewarded and those with evil
deeds will be punished. As Allah says in the Quran:

َ َ‫خَيرً ا ي ََّر ٗه• َو َم ۡن ي َّۡع َم ۡل ِم ۡثق‬

‫ال َذ َّر ٍة ش ًَّرا ي ََّر ٗه‬ َ َ‫فَ َم ۡن ي َّۡع َم ۡل ِم ۡثق‬
ۡ ‫ال َذ َّر ٍة‬

“So, whoever does an atom’s weight of good shall see it; and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil shall see
it.” (99:8)

Relationship between the two stages:

According to Islamic concept of life, the Here and the Hereafter are two necessary and mutually
complementary stages in the existential journey of human kind. Neither can be defined meaningfully without
appreciating the significance of the other. However, it has been repeatedly described in the Quran that the
present phase is just a prelude to the subsequent stage that is essential, permanent, and everlasting. Life here
is rendered worthless and may prove to be a curse if it is devoid of the sincere pursuit of the purpose assigned
by Almighty God. As Allah says in the Quran:

ِ َّ‫ث الد ُّۡنيَا نُ ۡؤتِ ٖه ِم ۡنهَا َو َما لَهٗ ِفى ااۡل ٰ ِخ َر ِة ِم ۡن ن‬

ٍ ‫ص ۡي‬
‫ب‬ َ ‫ث ااۡل ٰ ِخ َر ِة ن َِز ۡد لَهٗ فِ ۡى َح ۡرثِ ٖ ۚ‌ه َو َم ۡن َكانَ ي ُِر ۡي ُد َح ۡر‬
َ ‫َم ۡن َكانَ ي ُِر ۡي ُد َح ۡر‬

“Whosoever desires the harvest of the akhira, We will increase for him this harvest. And whoever desires the
harvest of the dunya, We will give it to him, but he will have no share in the hereafter” (42:20)

Importance of Akhirat in Hadith

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “The world is the prison of the believer and the paradise of the
disbeliever.” (Sahih Muslim)

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “The balance is brought on the Day of Resurrection, and if anyone’s
balance is heavy, he will be successful, but if anyone’s balance is light, then he will be in debt.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Impacts of the Akhirat:

On the individual

Encourages Morality: Belief in the Akhirat instills in individual a sense of responsibility and accountability. The
belief that every action and interaction of this life will be judged in the Hereafter makes a believer more
conscious about his deeds, and encourages him to act with righteousness, honesty and justice.

َ‫س َّما َك َسبَ ۡت َوهُمۡ اَل ي ُۡظلَ ُم ۡون‬ ٰ ‫هّٰللا‬

ٍ ‫َواتَّقُ ۡوا يَ ۡو ًما تُ ۡر َجع ُۡونَ فِ ۡي ِه اِلَى ِ ۖ ثُ َّم تُ َوفّى ُكلُّ ن َۡف‬
“And be afraid of the day when you shall return to Allah, then every soul shall be paid in full, what (good or
evil) he has earned and none shall be treated unjustly.” (2:281)

Gives Purpose to the Life: Belief in the Hereafter gives Purpose and meaning to the life. It provides an
understanding that this life is a test and preparation for the eternal life in the Hereafter. This understanding
motivates Muslim to fulfill Allah’s command which are to submit oneself to the will of Allah, and to perform
the acts of worship.

َ ‫ت ْال ِجنَّ َواِإْل‬

ِ ‫نس ِإاَّل ِليَ ْعبُد‬
‫ُون‬ ُ ‫َو َما خَ لَ ْق‬

Translation: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (51:56)

Promotes Patience: Muslims believe that the hardships and the trials in this life are a test and the opportunity
to earn reward in the Hereafter. This help believers remain steadfast and keep patience in difficult times.

‫ص ۡيبَةٌ  ۙ قَالُ ۡٓوا اِنَّا هّٰلِل ِ َواِنَّـٓا اِلَ ۡي ِه‬ َ َ‫الصّ بِ ِر ۡي ۙنَ الَّ ِذ ۡينَ اِ َذٓا ا‬
ِ ‫صابَ ۡتهُمۡ ُّم‬ ٰ ‫تؕ َوبَ ِّش ِر‬ ِ ُ‫ال َوااۡل َ ۡنف‬
ِ ‫س َوالثَّ َم ٰر‬ ِ ‫ص ِّمنَ ااۡل َمۡ َو‬ ۡ
ٍ ‫ع َونَق‬ ۡ ‫ف َو ۡالج‬
ِ ‫ُـو‬ ۡ ‫َولَـن َۡبلُ َونَّ ُكۡـم بِش َۡى ٍء ِّمنَ ۡال‬
ِ ‫خَـو‬
ؕ َ‫ر ِجع ُۡون‬ ٰ

“We will surely put you to trial by involving you in fear and hunger and by causing loss of property, life and
earnings. And give good tidings to those who remain steadfast in these trials: when a misfortune comes to
them, they say, “We are Allah’s and we shall certainly return to Him,”” (2:155-156)

Promotes self-reflection: Fear of accountability before Allah can lead to greater self-reflection and
introspection, as it serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences stems from our actions. Eventually, this
can lead to personal growth and development, and individuals may be more likely to strive towards self-
improvement and self-awareness.

َ‫ٰۤياَيُّهَا الَّ ِذ ۡينَ ٰا َمنُ ۡوا اتَّقُوا هّٰللا َ َو ۡلت َۡـنظُ ۡر ن َۡـفسٌ َّما قَ َّد َم ۡت لِ َغ ٍ‌د ۚ َواتَّقُوا هّٰللا َ‌ؕ اِنَّ هّٰللا َ خَ بِ ۡي ۢ ٌر بِ َما ت َۡع َملُ ۡون‬

“Believers, fear Allah and let every person look to what he sends forward for the morrow. Fear Allah; Allah is
well aware of all that you do.” (59:18)

Eliminate Despair and Provide Hope: Belief in the hereafter eliminate despair and provide hope and comfort to
the people who suffers greatly throughout their lives. They realize that this life is temporary so do the
sufferings of it, and that a better life awaits them in the Hereafter. Realizing so, even luxuries of this life make
no sense to them.

ُ ‫ار َواُ ۡد ِخ َل ۡال َجـنَّةَ فَقَ ۡد فَازَ ‌ؕ َو َما ۡال َح ٰيوةُ الد ُّۡنيَ ۤا اِاَّل َمتَا‬
‫ع ۡال ُغر ُۡو ِر‬ ۡ ِ ‫س َذٓاِئقَةُ ۡال َم ۡو‬
ِ َّ‫ت‌ؕ َواِنَّ َما تُ َوفَّ ۡونَ اُج ُۡو َر ُكمۡ يَ ۡو َم القِ ٰي َم ِة‌ؕ فَ َم ۡن ُز ۡح ِز َح ع َِن الن‬ ٍ ‫ُكلُّ ن َۡف‬
“Everyone is bound to taste death and you shall receive your full reward on the Day of Resurrection. Then,
whoever is spared from the Fire and is admitted to Paradise has indeed been successful. The life of this world
is merely an illusory enjoyment.” (3:185)

On Society

Formation of an Ideal Society: The faith In Akhirat leads to the formation of an ideal society, for It helps put
every individual of society on a right path. When every individual in society leads to a virtuous life, Ultimately
the mischief will disappear and an ideal society will emerge. It’s because society itself is nothing in new but a
collectivity of people.

The Spirit of Generosity: Believer knows that this world is temporary and so are the possessions of here;
therefore, he don’t value wealth and other worldly belongings to the extent that bar him from good deeds. He
knows that he will have to travel to the next world with empty-handed, and only the wealth of good deeds is
going to help him there. This understanding instills a great sense of he becomes generosity in him.
ٓ ُ ‫زَق ٰن ُكمۡ ِّم ۡن قَ ۡب ِل اَ ۡن ي َّۡا ِت َى اَ َح َد ُك ُم ۡال َم ۡو‬
ٰ َ‫ق َواَ ُك ۡن ِّمن‬
‫الصّ ِل ِح ۡين‬ ٍ ۙ ‫ت فَيَقُ ۡو َل َربِّ لَ ۡواَل ۤ اَ َّخ ۡرتَ ِن ۡۤى ِا ٰلى اَ َج ٍل قَ ِر ۡي‬
َّ َ ‫ب فَا‬
َ ‫ص َّد‬ ۡ ‫َواَ ۡن ِفقُ ۡوا ِم ۡن َّما َر‬
“And spend (in the way of Allah) from what We have provided you before death approaches any of you, and
he say, “O my Lord, if only you would delay for a brief term, so I would give charity and be among the
righteous” (63:10)

The Spirit of Social Work: The concept of accountability for one’s action in this life inspire individuals to engage
in social work and charity in order to earn rewards in the afterlife. This belief encourages individuals to
prioritize the needs of others and to be kind and compassionate towards them.
ۚ
‫ضرً ۖا َّو َما َع ِملَ ۡت ِم ۡن س ُۡٓو ٍء‬ ٍ ‫يَ ۡو َم ت َِج ُد ُكلُّ ن َۡف‬
ۡ ‫س َّما َع ِملَ ۡت ِم ۡن‬
َ ‫خَي ٍر ُّم ۡح‬

“The Day is approaching when every soul shall find itself confronted with whatever good it has done and
whatever evil it has wrought.” (3:30)

Promotes Social Justice: The belief in the Hereafter promotes social justice, as Muslims believe that Allah will
hold oppressors accountable for their actions and provide justice to the oppressed ones in the Hereafter. This
belief in accountability for one's action can serve as a powerful motivation for individuals to act justly towards
others, regardless of the social, economic, or political circumstances.
۟ ُ‫وا ُكون‬
ِ ‫وا قَ ٰ َّو ِمينَ ِب ْٱل ِقس‬
َ‫ْط ُشهَدَٓا َء هَّلِل ِ َولَوْ َعلَ ٰ ٓى َأنفُ ِس ُك ْم َأ ِو ْٱل ٰ َو ِل َدي ِْن َوٱَأْل ْق َر ِبين‬ ۟ ُ‫يَ ٰـَٓأيُّهَا ٱلَّ ِذينَ َءامن‬
َ
“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for the sake of Allāh, even if it be
against yourselves or parents and relatives.” (59:18)