What is the core belief about death in Islam?
We all know that death is inevitable, the one thing guaranteed for everyone irrespective of religion, race, gender. For Muslims, part of the belief of Islam is the belief in the hereafter. The world we live in is temporary and a journey to the next. Death only takes place by the will of Allah (swt). The different reasons as to how people die, like diseases, accidents and natural disasters, are all tools in the Hands of Allah (swt) to bring about death when it is decreed to take place.
Death in the Holy Quran
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا مُّؤَجَّلًا ۗ وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الْآخِرَةِ نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا ۚ وَسَنَجْزِي الشَّاكِرِينَ
No soul may die except by Allah’s leave, at an appointed time. Whoever desires the reward of this world, We will give him of it; and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter, We will give him of it; and soon We will reward the grateful. (3:145)
What happens when we die?
Death leads to the transition of the soul from the physical body to the next world. It does not mean the end of our existence. If our soul is beautiful from our actions, the experience of death is pleasant. If our soul is flawed, the experience of death will be painful on the soul.
Why is a belief in the Hereafter important?
It gives meaning to our current life in this world. We understand that this world is a test for us from Allah (swt) and that we have to use our short time in this world to prepare for our true life in the Hereafter. Every action we perform holds an outcome- the more good deeds we do in this world, the greater our reward shall be in the Hereafter whilst the more sins we commit, the greater our punishment will be.
Recommended reading: https://www.al-islam.org/last-journey-translation-manazil-al-akhirah-shaykh-abbas-qummi
