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Akhirat:
Literal Meaning:
Literal meanings of 'Akhirat' are "the things happening later". The word in contrast to Akhirat is 'dunyia' and it means "a thing nearer".
Explanatory meanings:
The explanatory meaning of the word akhirat is that a man does not perish forever after death but his soul still exists. More, a time will come, when Allah will transfer his soul to the body and make him live again. Then, human beings will be given real reward or punishment of their good or bad deeds. Good people will enter in paradise and bad people in hell.
Allah says:
اِنَّ الْاَبْرَارَ لَفِي نَعِيمِ وَ إِنَّ الْفُجَارَ لَفِي جَمِيمِ (الانفطار 14,13)
Translation: "Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure. And indeed, the wicked will be in Hell fire".
i. The Summary of Quranic Teachings about Akhirah:
The summary of Quranic teachings about akhirah is as follows:
The wordly life of humans is the essence of his life after death. The life of this world is temporary but Akhirat is eternal. The full result of men's all deeds is not declared in this world. Instead, what is sown today, the real results of those deeds will be evident in the life hereafter.
As, every thing of this world has its separate age and when its age is over that thing dies. Likewise, there is an age limit of universal system too. When this will be over, then another system will take over this system.
When the system of world will be destroyed and another system will be established. Then human beings will get again Physical life. There will be a tremendous court set up on that day and man will be accountable for all his deed in that court. He will be rewarded for his good deeds and punished for his bad actions.
ii. The objections of disbelievers of Akhirat:
While explaining faith in Akhirah in Quran, the objections of disbelievers have been answered beautifully. The infidels of Makkah refuted belief in life after death. Their objections were following in that concern.
وَقَالُوا إِذَا ضَلَلْنَا فِي الأَرْضِ عَنَا لَفِي خَلْقٍ جَدِيدة (الجد : 10)
Translation: And they say, "When we are cost within the earth, shall we indeed be (recreated) in a new creation".
Translation: Who will give life to bones while they are disintegrated?
وَقَالُوا لِن هِي الاحياتُنَا الدُّنْيَا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَبْعُوثِينَ (الانعام (29)
Translation: And they say,"There is none, but our worldly life, and we will not be resurrected".
iii. Quranic answers to disbelievers of faith in Akhirat:
Allah said while removing their doubts about life hereafter that you didn't exist previously, Allah made you existing. The sovereign Lord who made you existing before is surely powerful enough to give you life after your death.
وَهُوَ الذي يبدوا الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُةُ (الروم: 27)
Translation: And it is He who begins creation, then He repeats it.
قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِي أَنشَاهَا أَوَلَ مَرَّةٍ (بين: 79)
Translation: "He will give them life who produced them the first time".
كيف تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكم تم مُنتَكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ) ( القره 28
(البقرة:
Translation: "When you were lifeless and he brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you (back) life, then to Him you will be returned".
iv. Akhirah and human wisdom:
The right thinking of a person demands to believe in life after death. Every person confesses that good deed has a good reward and bad deed has a bad return, so the results of man's all actions come forth in this worldly life. It doesn't happen, even sometimes as person who passes his whole life in doing sins is saved against punishment in this world. On the other hand, some pious people who performed good deeds through out their lives didn't get full reward but even they were martyred.
It is thinkable that will criminals ever get punishment for their crimes? Will pious people be deprived of their good rewards, will the justice system of God ever be silent for them, was the crown of creature human being created purposeless and is there no value of his or her deeds?
Allah says:
الْحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَكُمْ عَبَنَا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لا تُرْجَعُونَ (المومنون : 115)
Translation: "Then did you think that we created you uselessly and that to us, you would not be returned".
When reason thinks about this aspect, then it is convinced that life of Akhirah is true in which all people will get reward or punishment according to their deeds. The righteous people will get very satisfying reward for their good deeds and criminals will get severe punishment, except those people whom Allah will forgive.
