ayed Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Gracious Life after death The question of whether there is a life after death does not fall under the jurisdiction of science as science is concerned only with classification and analysis of sense and data.Moreover, man has been busy with scientific enquireis and research, in the modern sense of the term, only for the last few centuries , while he has been familiar with the concept of life after death since times immemorial .All the prophets of Allah called their people to worship Allah and to believe in life after death.They laid so much emphasis on the belief in life after death that even a slight doubt in it meant denying Allah and made all other beliefs meaningless. The very fact that all the prophets of Allah have dealt with this metaphysical question of life after death so confidently and so uniformly-the gap between their ages being thousnads of years-goes to prove that the source of their knowledge of life after death as proclaimed by them all, was the same,i.e., Divine revelation.We also know that these prophets of Allah were greatly opposed by their people, mainly on the issue of life after death as their people thought it impossible .But in spite of opposition , the prophets won so many sincere followers.The question arises ,what made those followers forsake the established beliefs , traditions and customs of their forefathers notwithstanding the risk of being totally alienated from their own community? The simple answer is :They made use of their faculties of mind and heart and realized the truth.Did they realize the truth through perceptual consciousness?Not so,as perceptual experience of life after death is impossible.Actually, Allah has given man ,besides perceptual consciousness ,rational , aesthetic and moral consciousness too.It is this consciousness that guides mand regarding realities that cannot be verified through sensory data.That is why all the prophets of Allah ,while calling people to believe in Allah and life after death, appeal to aesthetic, moral and rational consciousness of man.For example,when the idolators of Makkah denied even the possibility of life after death, the Qur’n exposed the weakness of their stand by advancing very logical and rationl argument in support of it: “And He has coined for us a similitude , and has forgotten the fact of His creation, saying:who will revive these bones when they have rotten way?Say:He will revive them Who produced them at the first, for He is the Knower of every creation,Who has appointed for you fire from the green tree, and behold!you kindle from it, is not He who created the heavens and the earth,able to create the like of them?Verily, and he is inDouche the supreme Creator , the All-knowing(36 : 78~81) At another occasion , the Holy Qur’an very clearly says that the disbelievers have no sound basis for their denial of life after death .It is based on pure conjectures: They say:”There is nothing but our present life; we die and we live and nothing but time destroys us”.Of that they have no knowkedge; they merely conjecture.And when our revelations are recited to them, their only argument is that they say,Bring us our fathers, if you speak truly”(45:24~25) Surely Allah will raise all the dead.But Allah has his own plan of things.A day will come when the whole universe will be destroyed and then again the dead will be resurrected to stand before Allah.That day will be the beginning of the life that will never end and that day every person will be rewarded by Allah according to his/her good or evil deed. The explanation that the Qur’an gives about the necessity of life after death is what moral consciousness of man demands.Actually, if there is no life after death, the very belief in Allah becomes irrelevant or even if one believes in Allah , that would be an unjust and indifferent Allah; having once created man not concerned with his fate.Surely, Allah is Just.He will punish the tyrants whose crimes are beyond count: having killed hundreds of innocent persons , created great corruption in the society,enslaved numerous persons to serve their whims …ect.Man having a very short span of life in this world and this physical world too being not eternal, punishments or rewards equal to the evil or noble deeds of persons are not possible here.The Qur’an very emphaticaly states the Day of Judgment must come and Allah will decide about the fate of each soul according to his/her record of deeds: “Those who disbelieve say:The hour will never come unto us.Say:Nay, by my Lord, but it is coming unto you surely.(He is) the Knower of the Unseen .Not an atom’s weight , or less than that or greater, escapes Him in the heavens or in the earth, but it is in clear Record.That He may reward those who believe and do good works.For them is pardon and a rich provision.But those who strive against our revelation, challenging(Us), theirs will be a painfull doom of wrath”(34:3~5) Thw Day of resurrection will be the Day when Allah’s attribute of Jutice and Mercy will be in full manifstation.Allah will show His mercy on those who suffered for His sake in the worldly life, believing that an eternal bliss was waiting for them.But those who abused the bounties of Allah, caring nothing for the life to come, will be in the most miserable state.Drawing a comparsion between them, the Qur’an says: “Is he, then, to whom we have promised a goodly promise the fulfilment of which he will meet, like the one whom we have provided with the good things of this life, and then on the day of Resurrection he will be of those who be brought arraigned before Allah?(28:61) The Qur’n also states that this worldy life is a preparation for the eternal life after death.But those who deny it become slaves of their passions and desires, make fun of virtuous and Allah-conscious persons.Such persons realize their folly only at the time of their death and wish to be given a further chance in the world but in vain.Their miserable state at the time of death and horror of the Day of Judgement ,and the eternal bliss guaranteed to the sincere believers are very beautufully mentioned in the following verses of the Holy Qur’an: “Until, when death comes into one of them , he says : my Lord send me back , that I may do right in that which I have left behind!But nay, It is but a word that he speaks ;and behind them is a barrier until the day when they are raised.And when the Trumpet is blown there will be no kinship among them that day, nor will they ask one another.Then those whose scales are heavy ,they are successful.And those whose scales are light are those who lose their souls, in Hell abiding the fire burns their faces and they are glum therein(23:99~104) The belief in life after death not only guarantees success in the Hereafter but also makes this world full of peace and happiness by making individuals most responsible and dutiful in their activities. Think of the people Arabia .Gambling , wine, tribal feuds, plundering and murdering were their main traits when they had no belief in life after death.But as soon as they accepted the belief in the One Allah and life after death, they became the most disciplined nation of the world.They gave up their vices, helped each other in hours of need and settled all their disputes on the basis of justice and equality. Similarly , the denial of life after death has its consequences not only in the Hereafter but also in this world.When a nation as a whole denies it,all kinds of evils and corruptions become rampant in that society and ultimately it is destroyed.The Qur’an mentions the terrible end of”Aad” , Thamud and the Pharaoh in some detail: “The tribes of Thamud and Aad disbelieved in the Judgement to come.As for Thamud , they were destroyed by the lightning and as for”Aad” , they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind, which He imposed on them for seven long nights and eights long days so that you might see the people laid prostrate in it as they were stumps of fallen down palm trees.Now, do you see remnant of them?Pharaoh likewise and those before him,and the subverted cities.They commited errors and they rebelled against the Messenger of their Lord, and He seized them with a surpassing grip.Verly!when the waters rose, We bore you in the running ship that We might make it a reminder for you and for heeding ears to hold.So when the Trumpet is blown with a single blast and the earth and the mountains are lifted up and crushed with a single blow , then on that day, the terror shall come to pass and the heaven shall be split for upon that day it shall be very frail.Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he shall say’ Here take and read my book!Certainlty I thought that I should encounter my reckoning’.So he shall be in a pleasing life in a lofty graden,its clusters nigh together ‘ Eat and drink with wholesome appetite for that you did long ago,in the days gone by’.But as for him who is given his book in his left hand , he shall say:’ Would that I had not been given my book and not known my reckoning!Would it have been the end!My wealth has not availed me,my authoriy is gone from me’(69:4~39) Thus.There ae very convicing reasons to believe in life after death: 1-All the prophets of Allah have called their people to believe in it 2-whenevera human society is built on the basis of this belief , it has been the most idealan peaceful society, free of social and moreevils. 3-History bears witness that whenever this belief is rejected collctively by a group of people in spite of the repeated warning of the prophet, the group as a whole has been punished by Allah even in this world. 4-Moral , aesthetic and rational faculties of man endorse the possibility of life after death. 5-Allah’s attributes of Justice and Mercy have no meanng if there is no life after death. Acept my regards Ayed Ayed4all@hotmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- from a booklet ”Islam in Concept” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetarplayer Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 ayed, Christians believe that life after death was most clearly defined when Jesus rose from the dead and opened the gates of Heaven for all. Is their any Islamic belief that states that life after death was most clearly defined at a certain point, or do Muslims believe that there always has been life after death? -Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foundsheep Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 ayed, Christians believe that life after death was most clearly defined when Jesus rose from the dead and opened the gates of Heaven for all. Is their any Islamic belief that states that life after death was most clearly defined at a certain point, or do Muslims believe that there always has been life after death? -Mark would purgatory count? Im just wondering.. :noidea: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetarplayer Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Good question. Do Muslims believe in purgatory? -Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayed Posted December 15, 2003 Author Share Posted December 15, 2003 Please bepatient with , men! Being busy , I just get embarrassed when you respond faster than me. Thumb up for you a weaving hand for visitors, back soon by Allah's will ayed4all@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetarplayer Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 :haha: Sorry, ayed! We are just eager to hear from you! -Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayed Posted December 16, 2003 Author Share Posted December 16, 2003 In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Gracious I hope you all be very well Please read carefully , my phatmass mates: Two years ago, on a rainy night, my elder brother was crossing a street near by our home.All of a sudden , a reckless driver was driving at the highest speed and knocked my darling down .I think my brother passed away in the air before he fell off on ground.He was rushed to the hospital and laid in the mortuary until the day following.Bore him over a wooden bier to the dead washing room , we put his corpse down and two morticians instantly and carefully lifted my dead brother up and they started washing him .Embalmed the corpse with some perfumes such as camphor ,the two morticians handed us our departed brother wrapped up in white and we rushed him to the main cemetry .Looked for a dug-out grave in the ground that could suit him, we found one and deposited dead brother into the grave burying him until the Doomsday. What will happen to the corpse?Tell you what ! Let me tell you : When corpse rottens away , Necrophages--bacteria and worm. engulf , eat and digest rotten tissues and coagulated blood .After some time or years , skeleton also decays away .The question is this: Is there any part of the body does not decay ? Yes, there is .It is the base of coccyx--tailbone, it does not decay .It stays as it is until the Resurrection .Prophet Muhammad(peace be uopn him) said: “After death the body of a human decays totally … except the base of the tailbone does NOT disintegrate.Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: " Then Allah will send down water from sky (on the day of Resurrection), and so they (people) will sprout just like the legumes do. And there is nothing in the human body but will disintigrate except for one bone: the base of the tailbone, and from it will people be reassembled on the day of Resurrection." Hadith by(Bukhari and Muslim) Some ,if not most, non believers or atheists burn in their relatives’ bodies to ashes and scatter them in the air or in the sea but ashes still contain the tiny seed of the tailbone untouched and unburnt and from where “antiresurrectionists” will be sprout again to be acounted of all their actions. In the Holy Qur’an : 1-“And the Trumpet will be blown (ie the second blowing) and behold! From the graves they will come out quickly to their Lord”(36:51) 2-“They will come forth, with humbled eyes from (their) graves as if they were locusts spread abroad,(54:7) 3-“The Day when they will come out of the graves quickly as racing to a goal(70:43) “And the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth will swoon away, except him whom Allâh will Then it will blown a second time and behold, they will be standing, looking on (waiting)>>>And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord (Allâh, when He will come to judge among men) and the Book will be placed (open) and the Prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward, and it will be judged between them with truth, and they will not be wronged>>> And each person will be paid in full of what he did; and He is Best Aware of what they do>>> And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till, when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened (suddenly like a prison at the arrival of the prisoners) And its keepers will say, "Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Verses of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say: "Yes, but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers!">>> It will be said (to them): "Enter you the gates of Hell, to abide therein And (inDouche) what an evil abode of the arrogant!">>> And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salâmun 'Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein">>> And they will say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allâh Who has fulfilled His Promise to us and has made us inherit (this) land We can dwell in Paradise where we will; how excellent a reward for the (pious good) workers!">>> And you will see the angels surrounding the Throne (of Allâh) from all round, glorifying the praises of their Lord (Allâh) And they (all the creatures) will be judged with truth, and it will be said All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists)"(39:68~75) Accept my regards Ayed4all@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foundsheep Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Can anyone tell me what the Catholic Church teaches on cremation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Can anyone tell me what the Catholic Church teaches on cremation? It's OK just so long as it's not meant as a denial of the final resurrection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayed Posted December 18, 2003 Author Share Posted December 18, 2003 Mr.Geetarplayer ,purgatory is a must .We believe in it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetarplayer Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 ayed, that tailbone explanation you mentioned is a very very interesting way to think about it. Thank you for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikkan_hanil Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 Wow, I've learned a lot here. ^_^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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