Effects of belief in the Hereafter on Human Life
Belief in the Hereafter and in the events that will take place after Iife occupies an important place in the fundamentals of Musl im belief. Islam asserts that the present Iife is a minute part of the totality of existence. Human being was created by the Power and Will of Allah and he will die after Iiving in this world for a while and his soul that forms the essence and the real existence of man will continue to live.
Allah, who created man out of nothing, will re-create his body again on the Day of Judgment, will send his soul back to him again, will take account of man for what he did in the world and He either punishes or rewards him depend ing on his actions here. Allah says: "On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) and inform them of what they did. Allah has kept account of it, while they have forgotten it. And Allah is Witness overall things." (Q58[Mujaadalah] :6)
Reap What You Sow
Therefore, man needs to believe in the Iife in the hereafter and work for his happiness there just as he believes in this world Iy Iife and tries to be happy here. In fact, this world is a place of trial, a he believes in this worldly life and tries to be happy here. In fact, this world is a place of trial, a center of examination and the area of cultivation for the hereafter. Whatever you sow here, you will reap in the hereafter.
Therefore, the life in the hereafter is the purpose of the life in this world. Man should work for the life in the hereafter and for his happiness there just as he works for this world or even more. Allah says: "Verily, Al-Abrar (the pious who fear Allah and avoid evil) will be in delight (Paradise).On thrones, looking (at all things). You will recognise in their faces the brightness of delight. They will be given to drink pure sealed wine. The last thereof (that wine) will be the smell of musk, and for this let (all) those strive who want to strive." (Q83[Mutaffifeen1:22-26)
Man can do it only by believing in the hereafter, obeying the orders of AIIah, refraining from His prohibitions, doing good deeds, thus, attaining the consent of Allah, that is, by leading a complete Islamic life. Belief in the hereafter makes itself felt in each phase of human life, in childhood, in youth, and at old age; and in the lives of the family, community, nation and state; its effects stretch from the smallest institution to the largest. When It is said to a small child whose brother has died: "Your brother has gone to the paradise. He rejoices there flying everywhere like birds."How perfectly he would be comforted; there is no doubt. The most effective obstruction deterring the youth from indulging in illegal pleasures and unrestrained behavior is the belief in the hereafter and fear of the hell.
The only source of consolation that saves the aged who have drawn near to the grave from despair and from sufferings that stem from the lost pleasures of their youth and the thing that links them to life is their faith in the eternal youth and bliss that await them beyond the grave. The real consolation and source of patience for terminally ill and the handicapped is their belief in the favours and rewards they will receive in the hereafter.
The only thing that can console someone dying is belief in the hereafter. Narrated Ata bin Abi Rabah: Ibn Abbas (RA) said to me, "Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise?"I said, Yes.He said, "This black lady came to the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) and said, I get attacks of epilepsy and my body becomes uncovered; please invoke Allah for me.The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said (to her), If you wish, be patient and you will have (enter) Paradise; and if you wish I will invoke Allah to cure you. She said, I will remain patient, and added, but I become uncovered, so please invoke Allah for me that I may not become uncovered. So he invoked Allah for her." (Bukhari).
What unites the members of a family, friends, and relatives together more closely is belief in the eternal continuance of this unity in the hereafter. The sole source of consolation for the sorrow and longing felt for deceased relatives and friends is the belief in the eternal life. Allah says: "And those who believe and whose offspring follow them in Faith, to them shall We join their offspring, and We shall not decrease the reward of their deeds in anything." (Q52 [Tur]:21).
The most important means that encourages the human being to perform good deeds, to be generous and helpful and that deters him from bad habits and behaviors is belief in the hereafter. Allahs Messenger (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "I guarantee a house in the surroundings of Paradise for a man who avoids quarrelling even if he were in the right a house in the middle of Paradise for a man who avoids lying even if he were joking. and a house in the upper part of Paradise for a man who made his character good." (Abu Dawud)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited