Islamic Belief About The Afterlife Analysis

The article, Islamic Belief about the Afterlife, by Jason D. Gray, gives a brief description of what Islamic followers believe to be true of the afterlife. First, Gray breaks down the background of how Allah (God) created the afterlife. In the Qur’an (holy book), Allah created the world and seven heavens to accompany his creatures upon death. These seven heavens should not be thought of as seven distinct destinations for the dead. Rather the heavens are spatial-temporal regions distinct from earth (Gray). Gray proceeds to tell the story of the first humans (Adam and Eve) and the once angel Iblis (pronounced Iblees) to his transition into the role of Satan. Satan, Adam, and Eve are all expelled from paradise (Garden of Eden) but God granted only Adam and Eve’s descendants a chance for salvation. If their descendants lived a life of righteousness, they would be granted access to the Garden of Eden. According to the Qur’an or Islam, a human’s life span is determined by God. In fact, followers of Islam believe nothing happens unless Allah permits it. Upon death, each person must wait to face the day of judgement. On this day, a person will have to answer for all their thoughts and

The more I read about it, I find Islam to be more of a brother and not a distant cousin. They are very similar, and this holds true with their belief of the afterlife too. Islam may have differences with what they believe to be a righteous life, but the reward is the same. If you live a true and virtuous life, you will live out eternity in the paradise of the Garden of Eden. If you live an evil and wicked life, you will be sent to the bowels of Hell. Before reading this Article, I was fixated on the imagine of Islamic men meeting their virgin women upon death. In the mind of a Catholic, this is a very taboo way of thinking. Beliefs like this, is what made me separate Islam and Christianity so far