Why were we created and what happens after we die.
Philosophers have pondered the purpose of our lives for thousands of years. You, too, may have wondered why you were created and what the purpose of your life is. Another question that has plagued mankind since the dawn of humanity is what happens after death. Many have wondered if the end of life on Earth was the end of existence. Is this all there is?
Islam has some very clear answers on these important questions. Let's deal with them one at a time.
Why did Allah (God) create Man?
Allah created Man to worship Him. He gave man intelligence and the ability to choose to accept or reject His Message. Life in this world is a test. We either pass or fail depending on our beliefs and deeds. This leads us to the next question.
What Happens After Death?
Within your body you have a soul which does not die when your body dies. Once you die your physical body may decay, but your soul (rooh) lives on. Depending on the beliefs and deeds of the person he will now be punished or rest peacefully on the grave until the Day of Judgment (known in arabic as Yomul Qiyaamah)
Speaking of The Day Of Judgment in the Holy Quraan, Allah says
"When the sky is cut apart,
And when the stars are scattered,
And when the seas burst beyond their bounds,
And when graves are overturned -
Every human being will (at last) understand what he has
sent ahead and what he has held back (in this world)"
On the Day of Judgment the world as we know it will be destroyed and everything except Allah will die. Then after some time Allah will bring all the dead back to life. Every human being will have to account for his beliefs and deeds in this world. His good and bad deeds will be weighed and depending on which one is happier he will either enter Paradise or Hell.
Those who believed in Allah and tried their best to follow the teachings of the Prophets that Allah sent for the guidance of mankind will be admitted into Paradise. On the other hand, those who rejected the Oneness of Allah, who ascribed partners to him and who rejected his Prophets will be thrust into Hell. For those people who believed in the oneness of Allah and who accepted the message of His Prophets, but who committed many sins, they might either be forgiven by Allah or be punished in Hell for a time and then admitted into Paradise.
I came across a wonderful downloadable video that explains these concepts easily and logically. It's called The Purpose Of Life - Part 1 by Sheikh Khalid Yasin. Watch Free Trailer
What Everyone Should Know About Islam & Muslims is an excellent read for those who would like to know more about Islam. This book is particularly fascinating because it is written by a woman who was a devout Christian who later became a Muslim and is written with the Non-Muslim Westerner in mind. A wonderful read if you want to learn more about Islam.
