Akhirah (the afterlife)

is the term used in Islam to describe the belief in everlasting life after death.

Muslims regard life on Earth as a test from Allah, to prepare them for eternal life. Importantly, though, Muslims believe that Allah will not test them beyond their limits. This encourages Muslims to take responsibility for their actions.

Day of Judgement

Most Muslims believe that there will come a day when the whole universe will be destroyed. On this day, called the or the ‘Last Day’, the dead will be for judgement by God. All people will receive God’s reward or punishment according to their beliefs and deeds. The good will be rewarded with eternal life in Paradise, or , while the bad will be punished by going to a Hell of fire and torment, called .

Muslims believe they can enter Paradise by living according to the teachings of the . Therefore, obeying the rules set by Allah is of ultimate importance for Muslims. Most Muslims believe that Allah will pardon those who are truly sorry for their sins if they have done some good in their lives. However, many Muslims believe that some sins, such as , are unforgivable.

Barzakh

After death, Muslims believe that the soul will enter . This is a state of waiting. God sends two angels to question the waiting soul.

Depiction of Islamic beliefs about the afterlife “Akhirah” - what happens to the soul after the body dies.

Jannah (Heaven) and Jahannam (Hell)

Jannah and Jahannam (Heaven and Hell) are understood by most Muslims as physical places of pleasure and delight (Jannah) or punishment and torment (Jahannam) after death, as the Qur’an explains them to be. Some Muslims, however, believe that these are descriptions that could refer to states of mind rather than physical places.

These beliefs give Muslims the motivation to follow the teachings in the Qur’an. They also give hope to those who suffer that there is something better to come in the future.

Jannah (Heaven)

Jannah is Paradise, where those who have been good go. It is described in the Qur’an as gardens of pleasure (Surah 31:8)

Muslims believe that there are multiple Heavens. The Qur’an mentions that there are seven, but some Muslims interpret this to mean ‘many’. Each of the Heavens is believed to be made of a different material and is the home of different prophets. The first Heaven, for instance, is made of silver and is where live. Ibrahim (Abraham) lives in the seventh Heaven, which is a place made of divine light.

Many Muslims believe that, on the Day of Judgement, those who have followed Allah’s teachings will be brought to a new life. The Qur’an teaches:

They say: ‘When we are turned to bones and particles of dust, shall we truly be raised up as a new creation?’ Tell them: ‘You will be raised afresh even if you turn to stone or iron…’ They will certainly ask: ‘Who will bring us back to life?’ Say: ‘He who created you in the first instance.’

— Surah 17:49–51

Martyrdom

Many Muslims believe that those who give up their lives while defending Islam or because they have refused to deny their faith become . Such people, it is believed, will go straight to Jannah.

Jahannam (Hell)

Jahannam is Hell, where those who have been bad go. The Qur’an describes Jahannam as a place of scorching fire pits and boiling water, where people experience physical and spiritual suffering. It uses vivid descriptions as a way to stop Muslims from participating in sin.

Muslims believe that they will be sent to Hell if they reject the teachings of the Qur’an or fail to take responsibility for their actions. Either of these would mean that they had failed Allah’s test.

Some Muslims believe that even the souls in Hell can eventually be sent to Paradise.

Question

How is Heaven described in the Qur’an?

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Authority in IslamAkhirah (the afterlife)