Muslim Teachings on Life After Death (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)

The Nature of Judgement. Paradise & Hell

What is Akhirah?

• Akhirah or the afterlife, is a key belief in Islam

• Muslims believe that human life has a purpose and that each person is responsible for their actions on this earth

• After death, there will be a resurrection and a next life, known as Akhirah

• When a person dies, they are taken by Iz’rail (the angel of death) to Barzakh

  • This is the stage between a person’s death and when they face judgement

The Stages of Akhirah

AWAITING IMAGE

Muslims believe that life is a test and that there is life after death, a belief known as Akhirah

The Nature of Judgement, Paradise, and Hell

• All Muslims believe that on Tawm ad-Din, the Day of Judgement, everyone (not just Muslims) will be judged by Allah on how they have lived their lives

• Each person is responsible for their actions and these are recorded by angels known as kiraman katibin, and then judged by Allah

• Those who have had faith and have done good deeds will be rewarded by Allah and will enter Paradise or Jannah

  • Jannah is described as a beautiful place in the Qur’an

‘What a blessed reward! What a pleasant resting place!’ (Qur’an, Surah 18:31)

• Those who have not lived a good life will be punished and may be put in jahannum or hell

  • This is a place of pain and suffering, described in the Qur’an in stark language:

How do Muslim Teachings About Judgement, Paradise and Hell Affect the Life of a Muslim Today?

• All Muslims believe in the Day of Judgement 

  • It is one of the six Beliefs of Islam and the Five Roots of ‘Usul ad-Din and therefore something that all Muslims must accept

• This affects how Muslims live and treat each other because:

  • They know they will be judged, so they must try and live a good Muslim life by:

    • Reading the Qur’an

    • Going to the mosque

    • Helping others

  • They will be aware that Allah is always watching them and that his angels are recording their good and bad deeds

  • They will realise the importance of asking for forgiveness if they do wrong

  • They will view every action as a way of worshipping Allah

  • They will live in the hope of an afterlife in paradise as a reward for their good deeds

Divergent Teachings about Life After Death

• Although all Muslims believe in Akhirah, there are differing views about some elements of this belief

• One of these differences is about the nature of resurrection

  • Some Muslims consider the resurrection described on the Day of Judgement to be physical. Therefore, when Muslims die, they are buried, not cremated

  • Others think it is more of a spiritual resurrection and that the soul will have a new body in the afterlife

• Another difference is in the interpretation of paradise and hell

  • Some Muslims consider that the descriptions of paradise and hell are the literal truth of what will occur

  • Others think that the language used in the Qur’an is symbolic and that hell is described in extreme terms to make people think seriously about the consequences of committing sins

• The permanence of what happens after death and judgement

  • Some Muslims believe that when they go to paradise or hell, this state will be permanent

  • Others think that hell is only temporary because Allah is merciful and forgiving, so would not condemn souls forever

    • They would support their answer with the teaching in the Qur’an: ‘Do not despair of God’s mercy. God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most forgiving, the Most merciful’ (Qur’an, Surah 39:53)

    • The Hadith describes a future state when hell is left empty of souls: ‘A time will come in Jahannum when not a single man would be left in it. Its doors and windows will rattle to the blowing wind’ (Hadith – Kanzul Ummal)