Life afterdeathcomplete

TOPIC:
DIFFERENT RELIGIONS VIEWS
ON
LIFE AFTER DEATH
SUBMITTED TO:
Dr. AZIZ- UR- REHMAN SAIFEE
SUBMITTED BY:
ABDUL QAYUM------------S381.06
SAEED AHMED-------------S393.06
GULAM JEELANI-----------S382.06
ATIF KAMRAN--------------S350.06
WASEEM SADIQ-----------S404.06
DATE:
29, APRIL, 2008
23 RABI-UL-SANI
1429

Table of contents
pg no
Chapter------ (1) 1
Islamic Views on life after Death and Rebirth
• How Do Muslims View Death? 1
• Prepare for Death! 4
• Prepare for Death and Die a Muslim! 5
• No Escape from Death! 5
• THE LIFE IN THE GRAVE: BARZAKH 6
• QIYAMAH: DOOMSDAY 7
• A UNIQUE DIFFERENCE 7
• Events of the Day of Judgment 8
• Description of Paradise in the Qur'an: 9
• Who is eligible for entry into Paradise? 11
• . Hell – Jahannam 12
Chapter------ (2) 13
Hinduism Views on life after Death and Rebirth
• What is Hinduism? When was Hinduism founded? 13

• How has Hinduism survived for so long? 13
• Basic principles of Hinduism 13
• The founder of Hinduism 14
• Books of Hinduism 15
• Hinduism concept of life after death and concept of Heaven
and Hell:
15
• Hindu concept of creation:
16
• Reincarnation
16

• Concept of Heaven and Hell in Hinduism
17
Chapter------ (3) 20
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ISLAM AND HINDUISM
• Concept of rebirth in Hinduism – Reincarnation or
Transmigration of the Souls 20
• Karma – The law of Cause a Dharma
21
• Moksha – Liberation from the Cycle of Rebirth:
21

• Punarjanam does not mean cycle of rebirth but
means Life after Death
21
• Life after Death in the Vedas
22
• The concept of fate and destiny in Islam and in
Hinduism 28
•
Chapter------ (4)
34

Christianity Views on life after Death
and Rebirth
• Biblical passages on life after death 35
• Christian views
38
• Early Christian Thought
39
• Medieval Christian Thought
40
• The Protestant Reformation
40
• Current Popular Christian Views
40
• African-American Ancestors: 41
• A Unique Christian Concept of Life after Death 41
Chapter------ (5)
45
• Buddhism Views on life after Death and Rebirth
Death and the impermanence of life
45

• Grieving
45
• Karma
46
• Preparing for death and Buddhist rituals associated with dying
47
• Rebirth
48
• Nirvana
48
• 7- Heaven
48
• 8- Human life.
48
• 9- Asura
49
• 10- Hungry Ghost
49
• 11- Animals.
49
• 12- Hell.
49

Chapter------ (6)
50
• Jewish View on Death and Rebirth
• Life
50
• Death
50
• Care for the Dead
51
• Mourning
52
• Kaddish
53

• Conclusion
61
• Bibliography
62
Preface
First of all we are thankful to our beloved teacher and scholar Dr Aziz Ur Rehman
Saifi who has taught us with a great devotion and so we have been able today to give
an informative and interesting research report on the concept of life after death
according to different religions.
The reason behind selecting this topic is to clarify the concept that how different
religions deal with this concept. As most of us do not know even about our own
religion, so after studying this report you can be able to know that what is life, rebirth
and life after death.?
We are also thankful to our Director Dr Zubair Sheikh who by his personal interest has
arranged such a nice teacher for our religious subject.
We can not forget to be thankful to our institute FAST-NU which is doing its best not
only in the professional fields like computer sciences and telecommunication but also
in the fields of Islam and Humanities which is a great thing for an institute to be of
a higher standard
WE are also thankful to our Library Staff, who helped us much in our work by
providing us useful and important books
As for as topic is concerned that what will this report describe? Basically it is a
comparative report among main religions like Islam, Hinduism, Jewish, Christianity
and Buddhism.
As it is a wide topic so it is impossible to describe its all aspects in such a short
booklet. But still we made our best to make it an interesting and informative report.
And we have succeeded in our aim to some extent.

The importance of this report is as cleared by its name so there is no need to explain it
more but if you closely have a look at this , you will see and judge different religions
and your concepts. What you think and what these different religions teach? In the end
you would be able to choose the path which your mind can accept.
Chapter------ (1)
***********************************************************
**
Islamic Views on life after Death and Rebirth
***********************************************************
**
How Do Muslims View Death?
Muslims believe that the present life is a trial in preparation for the next realm of
existence. When a Muslim dies, he or she is washed and wrapped in a clean, white
cloth (usually by a family member) and buried after a special prayer, preferably the
same day. Muslims consider this a final service that they can do for their relatives and
an opportunity to remember that their own existence here on earth is brief.
The question of whether there is life after death does not fall under the jurisdiction
of science, as science is concerned only with classification and analysis of sense data.
Moreover, man has been busy with scientific inquiries and research, in the modern
sense of the term, only for the last few centuries, while he has been familiar with the
concept of life after death since time immemorial.
All the Prophets of God called their people to worship God and to believe in life after
death. They laid so much emphasis on the belief in life after death that even a slight
doubt in it meant denying God and made all other beliefs meaningless.
The very fact that all the Prophets of God have dealt with this metaphysical
question of life after death so confidently and so uniformly - the gap between their
ages in some cases, being thousands of years - goes to prove that the source of their

knowledge of life after death as proclaimed by them all, was the same, i.e. Divine
revelation.
We also know that these Prophets of God were greatly opposed by their people,
mainly on the issue of life after death, as their people thought it impossible. But in
spite of opposition, the Prophets won many sincere followers.
The question arises: what made those followers forsake the established beliefs,
traditions and customs of their forefathers, notwithstanding the risk of being totally
alienated from their own community? The simple answer is: they made use of their
faculties of mind and heart and realized the truth.
Did they realize the truth through perceptual consciousness? They couldn’t, as
perceptual experience of life after death is impossible. God has given man besides
perceptual consciousness, rational, aesthetic and moral consciousness too. It is this
consciousness that guides man regarding realities that cannot be verified through
sensory data. That is why all the Prophets of God while calling people to believe in
God and life after death, appeal to the aesthetic, moral and rational consciousness of
man.
For example, when the idolaters of Makkah denied even the possibility of life after
death, the Quran exposed the weakness of their stand by advancing very logical and
rational arguments in support of it:
And he (i.e. man) presents for us an example (i.e. attempting to
establish the finality of death) and forgets his [own] creation. He says,
“Who will give life to bones while they are disintegrated?” Say, “He
will give them life who produced them the first time; and He is, of all
creation, Knowing.” [It is] He who made for you from the green tree,
fire, and then from it you ignite. Is not He who created the heavens
and the earth Able to create the likes of them? Yes, [it is so]; and He is
the Knowing Creator. 1
On another occasion, the Quran very clearly says that the disbelievers have no
sound basis for their denial of life after death. It is based on pure conjecture:
And they say, “There is not but our worldly life; we die and live (i.e.
some people die and others live, replacing them) and nothing destroys
us except time.” And they have of that no knowledge; they are only
assuming. And when Our verses are recited to them as clear
evidences, their argument is only that they say, “Bring [back] our
1
Quran, 36:78-81

forefathers, if you should be truthful.” Say, “God causes you to live,
then causes you to die; then He will assemble you for the Day of
Resurrection, about which there is no doubt,” but most of the people
do not know. 2
Surely God will raise all the dead. But God has His own plan of things. A day will
come when the whole universe will be destroyed and then the dead will be resurrected
to stand before God. That day will be the beginning of a life that will never end, and on
that day every person will be rewarded by God according to his or her good or evil
deeds.
The explanation that the Quran gives about the necessity of life after death is what
the moral consciousness of man demands. Actually, if there is no life after death, the
very belief in God becomes meaningless or even if one believes in God, it would be n
unjust and indifferent God, having once created man and now not being concerned
with his fate.
Surely, God is just. He will punish the tyrants, whose crimes are beyond count -
having tortured and killed hundreds or thousands of innocent people, created great
corruption in society, enslaved numerous persons to serve their whims, etc., because
man has a very short life span in this world and because numerous individuals are
affected by one’s actions, adequate punishments and rewards are not possible in this
life. The Quran very emphatically states that the Day of Judgment must come and that
God will decide the fate of each soul according to his or her record of deeds:
But those who disbelieve say, “The Hour (i.e. the Day of Judgment)
will not come to us.” Say, “Yes, by my Lord, it will surely come to you.
[God is] the Knower of the unseen.” Not absent from Him is an
atom’s weight within the heavens or within the earth or [what is]
smaller than that or greater, except that it is in a clear register - That
He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. Those will
have forgiveness and noble provision. But those who strive against
Our verses [seeking] to cause failure (i.e. to undermine their
credibility) - for them will be a painful punishment of foul nature. 3
The Day of Resurrection will be the Day when God’s attributes of Justice and
Mercy will be in full manifestation. God will shower His mercy on those who suffered
for His sake in the worldly life, believing that an eternal bliss was awaiting them. But
those who abused the bounties of God, caring nothing for the life to come, will be in
the most miserable state. Drawing a comparison between them, the Quran says:
2
Quran, 45:24;26
3
Quran, 34:3-5

Then is he whom we have promised a good promise which he will
meet [i.e. obtain] like he for whom We provided enjoyment of worldly
life [but] then he is, on the Day of Resurrection, among those
presented [for punishment in Hell]? 4
The Quran also states that this worldly life is a preparation for the eternal life after
death. But those who deny it become slaves of their passions and desires, making fun
of virtuous and God-conscious persons.
Such persons realize their folly only at the time of their death and wish to be given a
further chance in the world but in vain. Their miserable state at the time of death and
the horror of the Day of Judgment, and the eternal bliss guaranteed to the sincere
believers are very clearly and beautifully mentioned in the following verses of the
Quran:
[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to
one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back that I might do
righteousness in that which I left behind (i.e. in that which I
neglected).” No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a
barrier until the Day they are resurrected. So when the Horn is
blown, no relationship wills there be among them that Day, nor will
they ask about one another. And those whose scales are heavy [with
good deeds] - it is they who are the successful. But those whose scales
are light - those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell,
abiding eternally. The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will
have taut smiles (i.e. their lips having been contracted by scorching
until the teeth are exposed). 5
The belief in life after death not only guarantees success in the Hereafter but also
makes this world full of peace and happiness by making individuals most responsible
and dutiful in their activities.
Think of the people of Arabia before the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad .
Gambling, wine, tribal feuds, plundering and murdering were their main traits when
they had no belief in life after death. But as soon as they accepted the belief in the One
God and life after death they became the most disciplined nation of the world. They
gave up their vices, helped each other in hours of need, and settled all their disputes on
the basis of justice and equality. Similarly the denial of life after death has its
consequences not only in the Hereafter but also in this world. When a nation as a
4
Quran, 28:61
5
Quran, 23:99-104

whole denies it, all kinds of evils and corruption become rampant in that society and
ultimately it is destroyed.
The Quran mentions the terrible end of Aad, Thamud and the Pharaoh in some
detail:
[The tribes of] Thamud and Aad denied the Striking Calamity [i.e.
the Resurrection]. So as for Thamud, they were destroyed by the
overpowering [blast]. And as for Aad, they were destroyed by a
screaming, violent wind which He [i.e. God] imposed upon them for
seven nights and eight days in succession, so you would see the people
therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees. Then do you
see of them any remains? And there came Pharaoh and those before
him and the overturned cities (i.e. those to which Lot was sent) with
sin. And they disobeyed the messenger of their Lord, so He seized
them with a seizure exceeding [in severity]. Indeed, when the water
overflowed, We carried you [i.e. your ancestors] in the sailing ship (i.e.
which was constructed by Noah). That We might make it for you a
reminder and [that] a conscious ear would be conscious of
it. 6
Prepare for Death!
Intelligent students always prepare for exams. It is also a matter of intelligence to
prepare for the account to be given after death. The Holy Prophet Sallallahu alaihe
wasallam has mentioned in a Hadith, "Clever is the one who prepares for life after
death." The Holy Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam has also said, "Take importance
of life before death."
(Riyaadh-us-Salhiheen)
Once, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam came to the Masjid for salaah,
when he noticed some people laughing and giggling. He remarked, "If you
remembered death, I would not see you like this. Think of your death often. Not a
single day passes when the grave does not call out: ‘I am a wilderness, I am a place of
dust, I am a place of worms.’ When a believer is placed in the grave, it says;
‘Welcome, it is good of you to have come to me. Of all the people walking on the
Earth, I liked you the best. Now you have come in to me, you will see how I entertain
you.’ It then expands as far as the occupant can see. A door from is paradise opened
for him in the grave and through this door he gets fresh and fragrant air of Paradise.
However, when a evil man is laid in the grave it says; ‘You are not welcome here.
Your coming into me is very bad for you. Of all the people walking on the Earth, I
6
Quran, 69:4-12

disliked you the most. Now that you have been put into me, you will see how I treat
you!’ It then closes upon him so much that his ribs of one side penetrate into the ribs
of the other. As many as seventy serpents are then set upon him, to keep biting him
until the day of resurrection. These serpents are so venomous that if one of them
happened to spurt its venom upon the earth, not a single blade of grass would ever
grow."
Prepare for Death and Die a Muslim!
It is stated in a Hadith that a person will be raised in the state he dies.
Hazrat Yusuf alaihis salaam who had been given the Leadership of Egypt, prayed to
Allah that He gives him death in the state of a Muslim and be raised amongst the
righteous. Although being a Prophet of Allah, yet Hazrat Rufus alaihis salaam feared
that Allah would raise him amongst the leaders, as he was the Leader of Egypt. What
extreme humblenessYusuf alaihis salaam expressed!
How lucky are those souls who after finding out about the signs of their death, turn
towards Allah, ask His repentance for any previous sins and prepare for it by doing
good deeds. Such people are the ones who are truly gifted with the kalimah or a good
outcome before departing from this world. This tends to be the sign of their being
fortunate and people witness a sign of their salvation from the punishment of the
Hereafter.
No Escape from Death!
There is no doubt that there is a cure for every disease. If anyone is infected with a
disease then it may be cured through medicine. His life may prolong to some extent but
one day the same person will experience something with no cure at all. That is death.
Allah states, "Wherever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in
fortresses built up strong and high."
The Holy Prophet Sallallahu alaihe wasallam said, "When Allah decides for a
person to pass away at a certain place, he makes a need for that person at that
place."
(Tirmidhi)
It is in another tradition narrated on the authority of Kuthaima radiyallahu anhu that
once the angel of death (Hazrat Izraeel alaihis salaam) appeared in the form of a
human being in the court of Hazrat Suleman alaihis salaam and gazed
continuously at a person present there for some time. That person asked Hazrat
Sulaiman alaihis salaam, "Who was that person?" He told him that, that was the
angel of death. He remarked: The angel of death had gazed at me in such a

manner as if he had determined to take my life." Hazrat Sulaiman alaihis salaam
asked him, "What do you want?" He requested him to take him to India. He
commanded the cloud to pick him up and drop him in India. Consequently the
cloud carried him to India. The angel of death came to Hazrat Sulaiman alaihis
salaam. He asked him, "Why did you fix your gaze at that person?" He said, "I
wondered that the Almighty Allah had commanded me to take the life of this
person in India whereas he was sitting hear in your presence."
THE LIFE IN THE GRAVE: BARZAKH
The Holy Prophet is reported to have said that when the corpse is put in the bier
and the people carry the dead body to the graveyard, if the deceased is a pious person,
he/she requests them to carry him/her as fast as they can and if the deceased is a
wrong-doer, he/she curses the wretchedness in store for him/her and asks where he/she
is being led to. The Holy Prophet is also reported to have said that except human
beings everything else hears the cries of the dead body. If a person were to hear the
cries of the dead body, they would faint. The interval between death and the Day of
Resurrection is called Barzakh.
WHERE NEXT?
Although such descriptions as ultimate destruction of the material worlds are
mentioned in the Holy Quran, yet there is also a separate chapter on the Day of
Resurrection, which is named by the same. These are short verses, full of eloquence,
admirably unfolding the true picture of the Day of Judgment.
QIYAMAH: DOOMSDAY
On the Day of Qiyamah, the feet of the human being will not be able to move till
he/she is questioned about five matters (and gives a reasonable account):
1. on what they spent their life,
2. In what pursuits they passed their youth,
3. From where did they earn wealth,
4 on what they spent it,
5. How much they acted upon the knowledge they required.
Almighty Allah states in the Holy Qur’aan:
I swear by the Day of Resurrection; and I swear by the self reproaching person (a
believer. does man (a disbeliever) think that We shall not assemble his bones? Yes,
we are able to put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers. Nay! Man denies
resurrection and Reckoning. So he desires to continue committing sins. He asks:
"When will be this Day of Resurrection? So, when the sight is dazed, and the moon
will be eclipsed, and sun and moon are united(by going one into the other or folded

up or deprived of their light etc). On that day man will cry: Where (is the refuge) to
flee!" No! There is no refuge! Unto your Lord alone will be the place of rest that
Day. On that day man will be informed of what he sent forward (of his evil or good
deeds), and what he left behind (of his good or evil traditions). Nay! Man will be a
witness against himself [as his body parts (skin, hands, legs etc.) will speak about his
deeds] though he may put forth his excuses (to cover his evil deeds)7
IN FAVOUR OF THE DAY OF QIYAMAH
The Holy Qur'aan has put forward excellent topics in favour of the Day of
Resurrection. It states that the creation of the universe and the world we live in
becomes meaningless if there is no conception of the final responsibility and if there is
no difference between the rewards of those who lead a chaste life and those who do
otherwise in this world.
Almighty Allah states in the holy Qur'aan:
"So do you think that We created you but, for naught, and that ye would not be
returned unto Us (for account)?"8
A UNIQUE DIFFERENCE
The Holy Quraan states clearly relating belief that Allah is just and His justice
demands that there must be difference between the rewards of those who do good
deeds and that punishment must be emended to those who live an evil life. Since it is
not always necessary that good deeds are attended by good results in this life, it is
necessary that somehow and somewhere man should get full reward for his good deeds
and should be punished for his evil deeds.
Almighty Allah says:
"Shall We treat those who believe and do good deeds of righteousness, the same as
those who spread corruption (do mischief) on earth? Shall We treat those who guard
against evil (pious), the same as those who turn aside from the right (wicked)?9
Another simile stated in the Holy Quraan is that of the dried land which comes to life
after a few showers. It stands to reason that Lord Almighty who has created the entire
universe can certainly recreate it if He so desires.
7
Surah Al-Qiyamah:1-15
8
Surah Al-Mominoon: 115
9
Surah Saad: 28

Events of the Day of Judgment
God states in the Quran about the events of the Day of Judgment:
Then when the Horn is blown with one blast, and the earth and the
mountains are lifted and leveled with one blow [i.e. stroke] - Then on
that Day, the Occurrence [i.e. Resurrection] will occur, And the
heaven will split [open], for that Day it is infirm (i.e. weak, enfeebled
and unstable). And the angels are at its edges. And there will bear the
Throne of your Lord above them, that Day, eight [of them]. That Day,
you will be exhibited [for judgment]; not hidden among you is
anything concealed (i.e. any person or any secret you might attempt to
conceal). So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will
say, “Here, read my record! Indeed, I was certain that I would be
meeting my account.” So he will be in a pleasant life - In an elevated
Garden, Its [fruit] to be picked hanging near. [They will be told], “Eat
and drink in satisfaction for what you put forth (i.e. literally,
advanced in anticipation of reward in the Hereafter) in the days
past.” But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will
say, “Oh, I wish I had not been given my record, and had not known
what is my account. I wish it [i.e. my death] had been the decisive one
(i.e. ending life rather than being the gateway to eternal life). My
wealth has not availed me. Gone from me is my authority.” [God will
say], “Seize him and shackle him. Then into Hellfire drive him. Then
into a chain whose length is seventy cubits insert him.” Indeed, he did
not used to believe in God, the Most Great. 10
The Prophet Muhammad taught that three things continue to benefit a
[believing] person even after death - charity which he had given (which continues to
benefit others), beneficial knowledge which he had left behind (i.e. authored or taught),
and supplication on his behalf by a righteous child (Narrated by Saheeh Muslim).
Thus, there are very convincing reasons to believe in life after death:
1) All the Prophets of God have called their people to believe in it.
2) Whenever a human society is built on the basis of this belief, it has been the
most ideal and peaceful society, free of social and moral evils.
10
Quran, 69:13-33

3) History bears witness that whenever this belief is rejected collectively by a
group of people in spite of the repeated warning of the Prophet, the group as
a whole has been punished by God even in this world.
4) Moral, aesthetic and rational faculties of man endorse the possibility of the
life after death.
5) God’s attributes of Justice and Mercy have no meaning if there is no life
after death.
Description of Paradise in the Qur'an:
Janna (Paradise, Heaven) is called by eight names in the Qur'an: Jannatu al-
Khuld, Darul as-Salam, Darul al-Qarar, Jannatu al-Àdn, Jannatu al-Ma`wa,
Jannatu an-Naìm, Ìlliyin, and Jannatu al-Firdaus. Janna is the Arabic word
for "garden." They have been translated into English as: paradise, a garden
on high, a home that will last, garden of eternity, garden of everlasting bliss,
gardens of delight, home of peace, home of the righteous, etc.
The Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying that everyone will see God on
the Day of Resurrection, as easily as one can see the sun when there are no
clouds.
There will be no sickness, pain, sadness or death there. The Prophet
Muhammad said that there are things in Paradise "which no eye has seen no
ear has heard and no human mind has thought of."
Descriptions of Paradise in the Qur'an:
Sura (chapter) 2:82: "But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are
companions of the Garden: Therein shall they abide (For ever)."
3:133: "Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose
width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous."
3:185: "Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall
you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted
to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but
goods and chattels of deception."
3:185: "Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall
you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted

to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but
goods and chattels of deception."
39:73: "And those who feared their Lord will be led to the Garden in crowds: until
behold, they arrive there; its gates will be opened; and its keepers will say: 'Peace be
upon you! Well have ye done! Enter ye here, to dwell therein'."
"They will say: 'Praise be to God, Who has truly fulfilled His Promise to us, and has
given us (this) land in heritage: We can dwell in the Garden as we will: how excellent
a reward for those who work (righteousness)!' "
“(Here is) a Parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised: in it are rivers of
water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine, a
joy to those who drink; and rivers of honey pure and clear. In it there are for them all
kinds of fruits; and Grace from their Lord...."
Sura 56:1-40 of the Qur'an deals in depth with the Day of Judgment and the rewards
that await persons who have led a good life.
"[They will sit] on gold-encrusted thrones of happiness, reclining upon them, facing
one another in [love]. Immortal youths will wait upon them with goblets, and ewers,
and cups filled with water from unsullied springs by which their minds will not be
clouded and which will not make them drunk; and with fruit of any kind that they
choose, and with flesh of any fowl that they may desire."
"And [accompanying them will be their] companions pure, most beautiful of eye, like
unto pearls hidden in their shells. [This will be] a reward for what they did [during
life]. No empty talk will they hear there, nor any call to sin, but only the tiding of inner
soundness and peace."
"Now as for those who have attained to righteousness- what of those who have
attained to righteousness? [They too will find themselves] admist fruit-laden lote-trees,
and acacias flower-clad, and shade extended, and waters gushing, and fruit abounding,
never-failing and never out of reach."
"And [with them will be their] spouses, raised high; for behold, We shall have brought
them into being in a life renewed, having resurrected them as virgins, full of love, well
matched to those who have attained to righteousness"
Surah 55 discusses the presence of "húr." They have most commonly been considered
to be Houris -- beautiful virgins:
"In them will be fair [Maidens], good, beautiful."
"Maidens restrained [as to their glances], in [goodly] pavilions."

"Whom no man or Jinn before them has touched."
Others have interpreted the "húr" to be "the fruits of the good deeds" that a person has
performed while alive. They are unique to Paradise and not like anything experienced
on Earth. 6
In his commentary , Ibn Kathir stated: "The Prophet Muhammad was heard saying:
'The smallest reward for the people of paradise is an abode where there are 80,000
servants and 72 wives, over which stands a dome decorated with pearls, aquamarine,
and ruby, as wide as the distance from Al-Jabiyyah [a Damascus suburb] to Sana'a
[Yemen]'."11
Who is eligible for entry into Paradise?
Entry to Paradise is limited to those who believe in God and his messengers, and who
have led a good life on earth. In the Qur'an:
: "And give good news [O Muhammad] to those who believe and do good deeds, that
they will have gardens [Paradise] in which rivers flow...."12
: "But those who believe and do good deeds, We will admit them to gardens (Paradise)
in which rivers flow, lasting in them forever...."13
: "Race one with another for forgiveness from your Lord and for Paradise, whose width
is as the width of the heavens and the earth, which has been prepared for those who
believe in God and His messengers...."14
4. Paradise – Al Jannat
Paradise is described in several verses of the Qur’an including:
Paradise is described in several verses of the Qur’an including:
1.Surah Ale Imran Chapter 3 verse 15
2.Surah Ale Imran Chapter 3 verse 198
11
Surah 55:72
12
Surah 2:25
13
Surah 4:57
14
Surah 57:21

3.Surah Al-Nisa Chapter 4 verse 57
4.Surah Al Maidah Chapter 5 verse 119
5.Surah At-Taubah Chapter 9 verse 72
6.Surah Al-Hajr Chapter 15 verses 45-48
7.Surah Al-Kahf Chapter 18 verse 31
8.Surah Al-Hajj Chapter 22 verse 23
9.Surah Al-Fatir Chapter 35 verses 33-35
10.Surah Yasin Chapter 36 verses 55-58
11.Surah Al-Saffat Chapter 37 verses 41-49
12.Surah Al-Zukhruf Chapter 43 verses 68-73
13.Surah Al-Dukhan Chapter 44 verses 51-57
14.Surah Muhammad Chapter 47 verse 15
15.Surah Al-Tur Chapter 52 verses 17-24
16.Surah Al-Rahman Chapter 55 verses 46-77
17.Surah Al-Waqiah Chapter 56 verses 11-38
5. Hell – Jahannam
Hell is a place of torment where evil-doers undergo the most terrible pain and suffering
caused by being burnt by hellfire, a fire whose fuel is men and stones. Further, the
Qur’an states that as many times as their skins are burnt, the residents of hell shall be
given fresh skin so that they feel the pain. Hell is described in several verses of the
Qur’an including:
Surah Al-Baqarah Chapter 2 Verse 24
Surah Al-Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 56
Surah Ibrahim Chapter 14 Verses 16,17
Surah Al-Hajj Chapter 22 Verses 19-22
Surah Al-Fatir Chapter 35 Verses 36,37
Chapter------ (2)
***********************************************************
**

Hinduism Views on life after Death and Rebirth
***********************************************************
**
What is Hinduism? When was Hinduism
founded?
The name 'Hinduism' is of a much recent origin, coined by the Greeks and Arabians to
refer to the religion of the people living around and to the East of the river Indus. The
earliest records of this religion are in the Rig Veda, the oldest known human literature.
Some portions of the Rig Veda have been dated to before 6000 BC. This implies that
the religion was in vogue at least a few centuries earlier than that. Hinduism has been
gaining increasing popularity due to its high philosophy, broad outlook and non-
dogmatic approach. Hinduism is different from many other religions in that it does not
have a founder and does not claim exclusivity. It explicitly accepts all religions as
valid.
How has Hinduism survived for so long?
Hinduism has stood the test of time much more effectively than any other
religion of the world. This is mainly because of its clear separation of the
essentials from the non-essentials. Every religion has a few principles,
which are independent of the cultural context of the followers, and a few
practices which need to vary with time, place and cultural background.
Hinduism has clearly separated these two rights since its known history.
The principles are presented in texts classified as 'Sruthis', which
primarily comprise the part of the Vedas called Upanishads. The
changeable texts are classified as 'Smritis', which include various texts
on etiquette, moral and ethical codes of conduct, law and justice. The
former form the universal principles and the latter form their culture-
dependant implementation. The essential principles of Hinduism are the
same as they were conceived of by the sages who lived during the
Vedic period. Even the Vedas have come down to the present day
unaltered. The Vedas are being chanted even today with the same
melody and rhythm as they were chanted during the Vedic age. The
social customs and values have change.

Basic principles of Hinduism:
The basic principles of Hinduism are in the Upanishads. They have been
collected, organized and explained in various other texts, but the root source is
the Upanishads. Hinduism has three basic principles.
It is God who has become this Universe and everything in it.
Whatever is seen, dreamed or imagined is nothing but manifestations of God.
God is beyond space, time, causation and all distinctions like gender, race, species,
living/non-living and form/formless. Since He is beyond space, He is omnipresent.
Since He is beyond time, He is eternal. Since He is beyond the concept of form, He is
with form, without form, both and neither. Every form is His and yet He is formless
and beyond the concept of form. Similarly with all attributes concievable by the mind.
The aim of life is to 'know' God.
God cannot be 'known' in the usual sense of the word. God is the Knower of
everything. We call it 'realizing' God. This is beyond the mind. It is a direct experience
of God. This is the ultimate goal of life. Till we reach this goal, we will have to live
again and again. Till we reach this goal, we have to undergo birth, death and again
birth and so on. Every time we are born, we continue our journey towards the goal
from where we left. So nothing is lost by death on this journey. When the goal is
reached, there is no need for anymore death or birth. The person is said to have
attained Immortality. Actually the person goes beyond all limitations. Even the basic
limitations imposed by the concept of individuality and personality vanish.
There are intermediate milestones and targets set by Hinduism. They are Dharma -
righteousness, Artha - wealth acquired by righteous means and Kama - quenching of
desires within the limits of Dharma and Artha. As there is a scope for lot of
misconception about these intermediate targets, there are several texts explaining them.
These are intermediate targets and not end. The ultimate aim is Moksha - freedom
from limitations by God realization. Dharma, Artha and Kama should be stepping
stones and thus means to the end, which is Moksha. But this does not mean that Artha
and Kama are forbidden by Hinduism. According to Hinduism, if people pursue and
enjoy Artha and Kama within the boundaries of Dharma, they will naturally develop
the maturity to enquire and aspire after Moksha in due course of time.

As many people, so many ways to God.
Every religion is a way to God. No way to God is superior to the other. However,
depending on the mental temperament and cultural background of a person, one way
might be better suited to him than another. This is difference arises due to the
difference in the temperament of the person and cannot be used to judge the general
efficacy of a path. "All paths are true. Your path for you. My path for me." This is the
principle of Hinduism.
The founder of Hinduism:
Hinduism does not have a founder. It has been there from prehistoric times.
It is based on the spiritual concepts discovered by numerous people.
These concepts are impersonal like other concepts in science. These
concepts have been validated by innumerable people. Hinduism invites
everyone, irrespective of the cultural background, to validate the truth of
the spiritual concepts for themselves.
Books of Hinduism:
There is no single book for Hinduism. If you are looking for a source where all the
principles are given, then there are three texts. They are called "Prasthana Traya" - the
principal three. They all present the same truth.
The first is the Upanisads. These are parts of the Vedas. There are innumerable
Upanisads. Ten of them were chosen by Sri Sankara, a great saint and philosopher, as
to contain the ideas in all the Upanisads put together. This forms the first principal text.
These are unadultered, raw, first-hand observations of spiritual phenomenon. They do
not try to propose a model to fit the observations. The observers have not imposed their
ideas or even tried to classify the observations.
The second is the Brahma Sutras. This was authored by Veda Vyasa, who
masterminded the current organization of the Vedas and the same person who authored
other great works like Mahabharata and Bhagavata. Brahma Sutras present the concept
in the Upanishads in a logical and highly technical manner. It is a scholarly work
which establishes the concepts in the Upanishads on a strong logical foundation.
The third is the Bhagavad Gita. This is a record of the conversation between Sri
Krishna and Arjuna. This text talks about the practical application of the concepts in
the Upanisads to everyday life.

Thus these three texts present the Hindu philosophy and religion in a scientific and
practical manner as - observation, modelling and application.
Hinduism concept of life after death and concept of
Heaven and Hell:
Hinduism believes in the law of cause and effect applied to all spheres of
phenomenal existence. Since different people are born to different people
in different environments (which is an observed effect), a previous cause
has to be assumed. The only logical explanation possible is a previous life
very similar to this. And by the same argument, since different people are
involved in different thoughts and activities till death, the effects of these
must occur in an after-life very similar to this. Hinduism says that everyone
is responsible for his life. There are no extraneous causes for one's
condition in life. If a person is facing hardship in life it has to be due to his
earlier thoughts and actions.
. Hindu concept of creation:
Hinduism considers that the world is a manifestation of God. There is no concept of
Creation and a Creator. The world came from God, exists in God and will return back
to God, just like waves arise from the ocean, exist in the ocean and subside back into
the ocean. And this happens in cycles, again and again.
As there is no concept of creation in the literal sense, there can be no concept of
destruction also. There is a concept of unmanifestation. God withdraws Himself and
creation vanishes. Manifestion is instantaneous, if the word can be used, because even
time is a part of manifestation only. Similarly unmanifestation is also instantaneous. It
is like a dream. How was the world in your dream created? The dream world,
including its own timeline was created instantly. When you wake up, the world just
vanishes. Same is the case with this world too.
There are graphic and poetic descriptions about God creating the world, maintaining it
and then destroying it. These are only figurative to explain the above concept. They
should not be taken literally.
Reincarnation Heaven and Hell:
Reincarnation:

Reincarnation is the rebirth in new bodies or forms of life after death... a belief that
the souls of the dead successively return to earth in new bodies or forms... it is called
"sansara", the transmigration of souls... as many as 3000 some claim, 3000 lives!.
There is an increasing interest in this topic today, sustained especially by books and
magazines, TV broadcasts, movies and conferences. Most of them are related to the
world of esoterically wisdom and occult phenomena.
Most Oriental religions accept reincarnation guided by their Holy Scriptures, like
Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism...
On the other hand, reincarnation is a way of rejecting the Christian teaching of the
soul’s final judgment by a holy God, with the possible result of being condemned to
suffer in eternal hell,, as accepted by some gnostics, atheists and materialists...
Reincarnation is not a thrill for a Hindu, nor even a good happening to expect, it is
the worse imaginable "curse"!... the greatest fear for a Hindu is not to die, but to
reincarnate... all the ascetic sacrifices, all the hard yoga and puja practices, is to
avoid reincarnation... to live nude or without food of a Jainist is to avoid the next
reincarnation... the great sacrifices of a Buddhist in a monastery for life, is to obtain
enlightenment, thus avoiding reincarnation...
The present life for a Hindu is a horror, it is the wheel of existence that rolls
relentlessly on, in indefinite reincarnations, and with each turning of the wheel you
become more deeply involved in this senseless merry-go-around from which there is
no escape; even "suicide" is not a solution, because now you will reincarnate as a
dog or or an insect, or even a rock... and the only thing left for the devote Hindu is to
become a "yogi", to die to all your desires while you are alive, in the hope that you will
not be reincarnated...
And the final aim of life, the ultimate dream of a Hindu, is "moska", the final union
of his soul with Brahman, with no more reincarnations, the liberation of the curse of
reincarnation....and that is the only hope of a Hindu... "Without self"... the total non-
existence as a person... because there is no Heaven for a Hindu, just the final hope of
"inhalation"... like a drop of water in the ocean.
Fundamental to Hinduism, to all branches and sects, is that all creatures go through a
cycle of rebirth or reincarnations, which can only be broken by spiritual self-
realization, the enlightenment, after which liberation, or moksha, is attained.
This enlightenment can be achieved by the hard and long exercises of Yoga, to stop
going through cycles of birth, life and death. One's progress towards enlightenment is
measured by his karma. This is the accumulation of all one's good and bad deeds and
this determines the person's next reincarnation. Selfless acts and thoughts as well as

devotion to God help one to be reborn at a higher level. Bad acts and thoughts will
cause one to be born at a lower level, as a person or even an animal or a rock.
And the main problem of Hinduism, what makes me cry, is that after so many
sacrifices and yoga, this final union with Brahman is like a drop of water falling into
the ocean, there is no more identity of any individual, there is no more "person", it is
the nihilism, to become nothingness, unrecognizable by anybody, not even by himself,
because there is no more "self", no more consciousness of being... not heaven, not
paradise... "Nothingness", "to disappear as a person", likes a speck in the universe...
What a surprise if, after death, there is eternal heaven or eternal hell.
On top of it, Reincarnation is one of the main reasons for the infamous "caste
system" in India.
Hindus, Buddhist, Jainists, Taoists, and most Oriental religions, do not believe in
Heaven nor Hell… what a surprise after death, when they find each one of them either
in eternal Heaven or in eternal Hell… no reincarnation!… with God and the angels and
the company of the good persons forever, or with Satan and the demons and all
criminals for ever!… believe it or not, like it or not!… it is a fact revealed by God
Himself both in the Bible and the Koran., no matter if you admit it or not… and God
revealed us it is a fact for each human being… God Himself!, not just a theory, or a
novel, or a myth, or a legend…
And in Heaven or in Hell as a person!… just like you are now, with the same soul
and body you have now, well recognized by any of your relatives or friends.
But there is Heaven for a Hindu... The reincarnation is a non-proven "theory"... it is
called a "fact" in India, but it has never been proven.
There is Heaven for a Hindu, and without reincarnations!... Jesus Christ died for
every Hindu, every Jew, every Buddhist, every Muslim and every Christian, born
before or after Christ... "all the prophets born before Christ are in Heaven", says Jesus
in Mat.8.... and all the good Hindus who died yesterday or 3,000 years ago may be now
in Heaven, saved by the Blood of Jesus... even if they do not know it!... Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob never met Jesus, and they are in Heaven!. 15
And they are in a Heaven, for all eternity, in union with the Absolute, as "persons",
with the same body and soul they had on Earth; a transformed body, but the same one
they had on Earth recognizable by anyone. See And "Hell" also exists, even if you
do not believe in it!.. Everybody after death goes to Hell if he or she died with bad
deeds, with bad karma not cleansed with the blood of Christ... "There is no partiality
for God, who will repay everyone according to his works". God, after death, will not
15
Mat.8, Luc. 13

ask if you were a Hindu or a Christian or a Chinese... he will say to each one of us:
"You did good on Earth, come to Heaven; you did bad on Earth, go to Hell" (Mat.25,
Rom.2:6-11)...and to Hell as a "person", with the same body and soul you had on
Earth, recognizable by anyone... and for all eternity...
To cleanse your bad karma, all your sins, is easy: Just have faith in Jesus, he is God,
that can and want to clean, or pardon, all your bad deeds; repent, and just trust in Jesus,
the Christ, the only one real God, who made heavens and earth, and your hands and
heart, and loves you as much as any artist loves is good work of art... but he made you
"free", you have to decide... if you don't want it, not even God can force you, because
when he created you "free", he committed himself to respect your freedom.
There is also a small "heaven" and a "hell" after death in the Puranas sacred
writings: Heaven points skyward to Mount Meru, where the gods dwell;
while hell descends into the bowels of the earth; but it is like the
Catholic Purgatory, the soul remains in hell only until the evils of karma
are burned away... however, in both cases, all elements of the human
personality are lost after death, whereas in Christianity the human
personality remains intact.
For a Christian the solution is very clear and easy: God Himself became man to
redeem us, to save us, so we can live and die in harmony with the Absolute, with God:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into
the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes
in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already
because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son".16
And you can do it now, just believe in Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!…
right now!…. and it is not just a matter of choice, it is essential for your life on
earth and after death, because he who does not believe in Jesus Christ stands
condemned and remains in the wrath of God, for "Whoever believes in the Son
has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath
remains on him.".17
16
John3:16-18
17
John 3:36

Chapter------ (3)
***********************************************************
**
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ISLAM AND HINDUISM
***********************************************************
**
THE CONCEPT OF LIFE AFTER DEATH IN HINDUISM
AND IN ISLAM
LIFE AFTER DEATH IN HINDUISM:
1. Concept of rebirth in Hinduism – Reincarnation or
Transmigration of the Souls

Most of the Hindus believe in the cycle of birth, death and rebirth, which is called
‘Samara’.
‘Samara’ or the doctrine of rebirth is also known as the theory of reincarnation or
of transmigration of the soul. This doctrine is considered to be a basic tenet of
Hinduism. According to doctrine of rebirth, differences between individuals, even
at the time of their birth are due to their past karma i.e. actions done in the past
birth. For example if one child is born healthy while another is handicapped or
blind, the differences are attributed to their deeds in their previous lives. Those
who believe in this theory reason that since all actions may not bear fruit in this
life, there has to be another life for facing or reaping the consequences of one’s
actions.
a) It is mentioned in the Bhagvad Gita
“As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts
new material bodies, giving up the old and useless.”18
b) The Doctrine of Re-birth is also described in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:
“As a Caterpillar which has wriggled to the top of a blade of grass draws itself
over to a new blade, so does the soul, after it has put aside its body draws itself
over to a new existence.19
2. Karma – The law of Cause and Effect:
Karma means act, deed, action or activity and refers not only to action undertaken
by the body but also to those undertaken by the mind. Karma is actually action
and reaction or the law of cause and effect. It is explained by the saying, “As we
sow, so shall we reap”. A farmer cannot sow wheat and expect rice to grow.
Similarly, every good thought, word or deed begets a similar reaction which
affects our next life and every unkind thought, harsh word and evil deed comes
back to harm us in this life or in the next life.
3. Dharma – Righteous Duties:
Dharma means what are right or righteous duties. This includes what is right for
the individual, family, the class or caste and also for the universe itself. In order to
achieve good karma, life should be lived according to Dharma; otherwise it will
result in bad karma. Dharma affects both, the present life and the future as well.
18
Bhagvad Gita 2:22
19
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4:4:3

4. Moksha – Liberation from the Cycle of Rebirth:
Moksha means liberation from the cycle of rebirth or of ‘Samara’. The
ultimate aim of every Hindu is that one day the cycle of rebirth will be over
and he will not have to be reborn again. This can only happen if there is no
karma to cause an individual to be reborn i.e. it looses its good and bad
karma.
The important point worth noting is that the doctrine of rebirth is not postulated,
propounded nor even mentioned anywhere in what are considered to be the most
authentic Hindu scriptures i.e. the Vedas. The Vedas make no mention of the
entire concept of transmigration of souls.
6. Punarjanam does not mean cycle of rebirth but means Life after
Death:
The Common word used for the doctrine of rebirth is ‘Punarjanam’. In Sanskrit
‘Punar’ or ‘Puna’, means, ’next time' or ‘again’ and ‘Janam’ means ‘life’.
Therefore ‘Punarjanam’ means ‘next life’ or ‘the life hereafter’. It does not mean
coming to life on earth again and again as a living creature.
If one reads many of the references to Punarjanam in Hindu Scriptures besides the
Vedas, keeping the life in the hereafter in mind, one gets the concept of the next
life but not of rebirths or of life again and again. This is true for several quotations
of the Bhagvad Gita and Upanishad which speak of Punarjanam.
This concept of repeated births or of cycle of rebirth was developed after the
Vedic period. This doctrine was included by humans in subsequent Hindu
scriptures including the Upanishad, Bhagvad Gita and the Puranas in a conscious
attempt to rationalize and explain the differences between different individuals at
birth and the different circumstances in which people find themselves in, with the
concept that Almighty God is not unjust. So to say that since God is not unjust the
inequalities and differences between people are due to their deeds in their past
lives.
Islam has a rational answer to this which we shall discuss later InshaAllah.
7. Life after Death in the Vedas:

There is reference to life after death in the Vedas. It is mentioned in:
A. Rigved Book no. 10, Hymn no. 16 verse no. 4
“The unborn portion, burn that, AGNI, with thy heat; let thy flame, thy
splendors, consume it; with those glorious members which thou hast given him,
JATAVEDAS, bear him to the world (of the virtuous)” 20
The Sanskrit word ‘Sukritam u Lokam’ means ‘the word of the virtuous or region of
the pious, referring to the hereafter. The next verse i.e.
b. Rigveda Book 10 hymn 16 verse 5 says:
“… Putting on (Celestial) life let the remains (of bodily like) depart: let him,
JATAVEDAS be associated with a body.”21
This verse too refers to a second life i.e. life after death.
8. Paradise – Swarga in the Vedas:
'Swarg’ i.e. Paradise, is described in several places in the Vedas including:
a. Atharva Veda Book 4 hymn 34 verse 6 (Devichand)
“May all these streams of butter, with their banks of honey, flowing with distilled
water, and milk and curds and water reach thee in domestic life enhancing thy
pleasure. May thou acquire completely these things strengthening the soul in diverse
ways.”22
20
Rigved 10:16:4
21
Rigveda 10:16:5
22
Atharva Veda 4:34:6

Atharva Veda Book 4 hymn 34 verse 6 (Ved Pra.)
“Having pools of clarified butter, stocks of sweet honey, and having exhilarating
drinks for water, full of milk and curds, may all these streams flow to us in the world
of happiness swelling sweetly. May our lakes full of lotuses be situated near us?”23
b.It is mentioned in Atharvaveda
“Bereft of physical bodies, pure, cleansed with the wind, brilliant, they go to a brilliant
world. The fire does not cause burning in their male organ. In the world of happiness
they get plenty of women.”24
c) It is mentioned in Atharvaveda:
May the realized ones, first of all, take the vital breath under their control from the
limbs in which it has been circulating? Go to heaven stay firm with all the parts of your
body. Attain the world of light and emancipation, following the path of the enlightened
ones (your predecessors)”.25
d) It is mentioned in Atharavaveda
“O both of you, start to accomplish it, make determined effort to accomplish it. Those
having unflinching faith attain this abode of happiness. Whatever ripe offerings you
have made in fire of sacrifice, may both, the husband and wife, stand united to guard
them with care.”26
23
Atharva Veda 4:34:6
24
Atharva Veda 4:34:2
25
Atharva Veda 2:34:5
26
Atharva Veda 6:122:5

e) It is mentioned in the Rigveda:
“O Aila, the loud-sounding clouds, these divines say to you, since you are indeed
subject to death, let your progeny propitiate your revered cosmic forces with oblations,
then alone you shall rejoice (with me) in heaven”27
9. Hell – ‘Nark’ in the Vedas
‘Nark’ or ‘Hell’ is also described in the Vedas and the Sanskrit word used is
‘Narakasthanam’.
It is also mentioned in Rigveda:
“May the bounteous fire divine, consume them with his fiercely glowing sharp jaws
like flames, who disregard the commandments and steadfast laws of most venerable
and sagacious Lord.”28
LIFE AFTER DEATH IN ISLAM
1. Live once in this world and then be resurrected in the Hereafter
It is mentioned in the Qur’an
How can ye reject the faith in Allah?
27
Rigveda 10:95:18
28
Rigveda 4:5:4

Seeing that ye were without life,
And He gave you life; Then will He cause you to die,
And will He again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return.”29
Islam states that a human being comes into this world only once, and after he dies, he
is again resurrected on the day of judgement. Depending on his deeds he will either
dwell in heaven i.e. Paradise or he will dwell in hell.
2. This Life is a test for the hereafter
He who created Death and Life,
That He may try which of you is best in deed;
And He is the exalted in Might, oft-forgiving30
This life that we lead in this world is a test for the hereafter. If we follow the
commandments of the Almighty Creator and we pass the test, we shall enter Paradise
i.e., which is Eternal Bliss. If we do not follow the commandments of our creator and
fail the test then we shall be put into hell.
3. Full Recompense on the Day of Judgment:
29
Al Qur’an 2:28
30
Al Qur’an 67:2

Every soul shall have a test of death.
And only on the Day of Judgment shall
You be paid your full recompense.
Only he who is saved far from the fire and admitted to the Garden
Will have attained the object (of life).
For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.
4. Paradise – Al Jannah
a. Al-Jannah i.e. paradise is a place of perpetual bliss. In Arabic, ‘jannat’ literally
means ‘the Garden’. The Qur’an describes paradise in great detail, such as gardens
underneath which rivers run. It contains rivers of milk unchanging in flavour and rivers
of purified honey. In paradise is fruit of every kind. No fatigue shall be felt in paradise
neither shall there be any idle talk. There shall be no cause of sin, difficulty, anxiety,
trouble or hardship. Paradise shall thus have peace and bliss.
b. Paradise is described in several verses of the Qur’an including:
Surah Ale Imran Chapter 3 verse 15
Surah Ale Imran Chapter 3 verse 198
Surah Al-Nisa Chapter 4 verse 57
Surah Al Maidah Chapter 5 verse 119
Surah At-Taubah Chapter 9 verse 72
Surah Al-Hajr Chapter 15 verses 45-48
Surah Al-Kahf Chapter 18 verse 31

Surah Al-Hajj Chapter 22 verse 23
Surah Al-Fatir Chapter 35 verses 33-35
Surah Yasin Chapter 36 verses 55-58
Surah Al-Saffat Chapter 37 verses 41-49
Surah Al-Zukhruf Chapter 43 verses 68-73
Surah Al-Dukhan Chapter 44 verses 51-57
Surah Muhammad Chapter 47 verse 15
Surah Al-Tur Chapter 52 verses 17-24
Surah Al-Rahman Chapter 55 verses 46-77
Surah Al-Waqiah Chapter 56 verses 11-38
5. Hell – Jahannam
Hell is a place of torment where evil-doers undergo the most terrible pain and suffering
caused by being burnt by hellfire, a fire whose fuel is men and stones. Further, the
Qur’an states that as many times as their skins are burnt, the residents of hell shall be
given fresh skin so that they feel the pain. Hell is described in several verses of the
Qur’an including:

Surah Al-Baqarah Chapter 2 Verse 24
Surah Al-Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 56
Surah Ibrahim Chapter 14 Verses 16,17
Surah Al-Hajj Chapter 22 Verses 19-22
Surah Al-Fatir Chapter 35 Verses 36,37
6. Logical Concepts for differences in different Individuals
A. In Hinduism, the differences in two individuals at birth is explained by stating
past karma i.e. actions of the previous life, as the cause of the differences. There is no
scientific or logical proof or evidence of the cycle of rebirths. How does Islam explain
these differences? The Islamic explanation for these differences in different individual
is given in Surah Mulk:
‘He who created death and life,
He who created death and life,
That He may try which of you is best in Deed;
And He is the Exalted in Might; oft-forgiving.31
This life that we live are the test for the hereafter.
THE CONCEPT OF FATE & DESTINY IN HINDUISM & IN ISLAM
31
Al Qur’an 67:2

DESTINY
1. Concept of Destiny – Qadr in Islam
‘Qadr’ is the concept of Destiny. Certain aspects of human life are predestined by our
Creator Almighty Allah. For example, where and when will a person are born, the
surroundings and conditions in which he will be born, how long will he live and where
and when he will die. These are predetermined by the Creator.
2. Concept of Destiny in Hinduism
Concept of Destiny in Hinduism is somewhat similar to that of Islam
3. Present Conditions are a test
There are several verses in the Qur’an which clearly specify that our Creator Almighty
Allah tests us in several different ways
It is mentioned in the Qur’an:
“Do men think that they will be
Left alone on saying, “we believe”,
And that they will not be tested?”32
“Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss)
Without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you?
32
Al Qur’an 29:2

They encountered suffering and adversity, and were shaken in spirit that
Even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried:
“When (will come) the help of Allah?”
Ah! Verily, the help Of Allah is (always) near!33
“Every soul shall have a taste of death
And we test you by evil and by good by way of trial -
To us must ye return?”34
“Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and
Hunger,
Some loss in goods or lives, or the fruits (of your toil),
But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.”35
And know ye that your possessions
And your progeny, are but a trial
And that it is Allah with whom lies
Your highest reward.
(Al Qur’an 8:28)
4. Judgement will be based on the facility provided
Each human being undergoes a test in this world. The test an individual undergoes
differs from person to person, depending upon the comforts and the conditions in
which Allah puts an individual. He passes His judgement accordingly. For example if a
teacher sets a difficult examination paper, the correction is usually lenient. On the
other hand if the teacher sets an easy examination paper, the correction is strict.
33
Al Qur’an 2:214
34
Al Qur’an 21:35
35
Al Qur’an 2:155

Similarly some human beings are born in rich families while some others are born in
poor families. Islam instructs every rich Muslim, who has a saving of more than the
Nissan level, i.e. 85 gms of Gold, to give 2.5% of his excess wealth in obligatory
charity every lunar year. This called the system of ‘Zakaah’ in Islam. Some rich
persons may be giving the minimum required charity; some may be giving less than
what is required while others may not be giving at all. Thus for a rich man, he may get
full marks in Zakat i.e. charity, some may get less, some may get nil. On the other
hand, a poor person who has a saving of less than 85 gms of gold gets full marks in
Zakat, because he does not have to give this compulsory charity. Any normal human
being would like to be rich and not poor. Some may appreciate the rich people and
sympathizes with the poor, not knowing that the same wealth may take that person to
hell if he does not give charity and due to this wealth falls prey to temptations of
character, while poverty for the poor man may be an easy path to paradise if he follows
the other commandments of Almighty God. The converse may be true. A wealthy man
may earn paradise by his philanthropy and humility, while a poor person who covets
luxuries and hence resorts to unfair means to get them may be in trouble on the Day of
Judgement.
5. Children born with congenital defects are a test for their parents
Some children are born healthy while others are born handicapped or with a congenital
defect. Irrespective of whether a child is born healthy or handicap, in Islam he is
Masoom i.e. sinless. There is no question of the child being handicapped due to a
carried forward baggage of past sins from ‘a previous life’. Such a belief will not
inculcate a charitable attitude in others. Others might say that the child deserves his
birth defects or the handicap since it is a result of his ‘bad karma’.
Islam states that such handicaps are a type of test for the parent whether they are yet
thankful towards their Creator or not. Do they retain their patience? Do they continue
to persevere?
There is a famous saying that a person was sad because he had no shoes to wear until
he saw a person who had no feet.
It is mentioned in the Qur’an:
And know ye that your possessions

And your progeny, are but a trial
And that it is Allah with whom lies
Your highest reward.36
Allah (swat) may be testing the parents whether they yet are thankful to their Creator
or not. May be the parents are righteous and pious and deserve Jannah. If Allah wants
to give them a higher place in Jannah, He will test them further, e.g. by giving a
handicap child. Yet if they are thankful to their Creator, they will deserve a higher
reward i.e. the Jannatul Firdous.
There is a general rule that the more difficult the test, higher the reward. To pass
graduation in Arts and Commerce is relatively easy and if you pass you are called as a
graduate without any special title but if you graduate in the field of medicine which is
comparatively a much more difficult examination, besides becoming a graduate you
are also called as a doctor and the title Dr. is put in front of your name.
In the same way Allah (swat) tests, different people in different ways, some with
health, some with disease, some with wealth, some with poverty, some with more
intelligence, some with less, and depending upon the facility He gives the individual,
He tests accordingly.
Thus the main reason for the differences in the human being is that this life is a test for
the hereafter. Life after death is mentioned in the Qur’an as well as the Vedas.
Individual differences are not due to transmigration of souls or ‘Samaras’, These
beliefs were added on in subsequent scriptures like the Upanishad, Bhagvad Gita and
the Puranas. The repetitive cycle of birth and death, birth and death, was unknown and
unheard of in the Vedic period.
English translation of verses of the Glorious Qur’an is taken from Abdullah Yusuf Ali
36
Al Qur’an 8:28

In the subsequent articles in the present series, we shall InshaAllah study the
similarities between the concept of worship and between other teachings in Islam and
in Hinduism.
And all praises are for the One and Only God and Creator Allah, who alone is worthy
of devotion, complete submission and worsh There is a general rule that the more
difficult the test, higher the reward. To pass graduation in Arts and Commerce is
relatively easy and if you pass you are called as a graduate without any special title but
if you graduate in the field of medicine which is comparatively a much more difficult
examination, besides becoming a graduate you are also called as a doctor and the title
Dr. is put in front of your name.
In the same way Allah (swat) tests, different people in different ways, some with
health, some with disease, some with wealth, some with poverty, some with more
intelligence, some with less, and depending upon the facility He gives the individual,
He tests accordingly.
Thus the main reason for the differences in the human being is that this life is a test for
the hereafter. Life after death is mentioned in the Qur’an as well as the Vedas.
Individual differences are not due to transmigration of souls or ‘Samsara’, These
beliefs were added on in subsequent scriptures like the Upanishad, Bhagvad Gita and
the Puranas. The repetitive cycle of birth and death, birth and death, was unknown and
unheard of in the Vedic period. English translation of verses of the Glorious Qur’an is
taken from Abdullah Yusuf Ali In the subsequent articles in the present series, we
shall InshaAllah study the similarities between the concept of worship and
between other teachings in Islam and in Hinduism.And all praises are for the One
and Only God and Creator Allah, who alone is worthy of devotion, complete
submission and worship.
Chapter------ (4)
***********************************************************
**
Christianity Views on life after Death and Rebirth
***********************************************************
**

Christian view of life after death is that our souls are immortal (continuing forth into
eternity). Because our souls live on, what we do here on earth impacts what our souls
will experience in eternity. For the believing Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, our
souls experience eternal life.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:36 whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will
not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
Now the longer answer: While our souls are immortal, their "destination" if you will is
determined by what we did with Jesus during our time on earth.
If we had faith in Him, His blood sacrifice of atonement on the Cross (i.e. His death)
satisfied the wrath of God and we enter eternal life--not because of how good we are---
but because of how good Jesus was and the sufficiency of His payment for our sins.
Our response during this life to the sacrifice of Jesus ought to be obedience to Him
and His commands to love one another, pursue unity in the Church, and to be a light to
those in need of God's presence in eternity.
For those who rejected God during this life, their souls will continue forth in rejection
but will begin to experience the total separation from God (commonly referred to as
Hell). His wrath-- poured out on Jesus-- is not available as covering for those who
rejected Jesus during their earthly lives because He alone had a worthy sacrifice. Hell
will, for them, be very real and painful. The separation from God (something we have
never experienced on earth) will become their dark reality for eternity. It's a terrible
price to pay for not believing...which is what spurs evangelical Christians to
communicate the Gospel...the good news that we are saved by God's gift of grace
through faith in Christ.
Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the
heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the
incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For
it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is
the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
While we are not saved by works, godly behavior is expected from those who profess
to follow Jesus Christ. Whether we have this behavior is the outward fruit of our inner
attitude toward faith. If we believe, we will follow Him. If we have not believed, we
will persist in ungodly behavior and demonstrate that we were not among the
redeemed.

Hebrews 10: 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the
knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of
judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who
rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three
witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished
who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the
blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
Therefore, the Christian's view of eternal life motivates us to respond with obedient
service to a loving God who made our deliverance His mission. Luke 9:23 Then he
said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me.
Biblical passages on life after death
The Last Judgment - Fresco in the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.
Most Christian traditions teach belief in life after death as a central and indispensable
tenet of their faith. "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did
not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a
distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth" (Heb 11:13).
It is charged by some that this belief in an afterlife is an innovation of Christianity,
perhaps by admixture with Greek philosophy; however, it is apparent that such a belief
was already prevalent in Jewish thinking amongst the Pharisees and Essenes, and that

this particular aspect was brought to the fore as a result of the teachings of Jesus, his
resurrection, and the proclamation of the gospel message.
Christian churches such as the Catholic Church that accept the deuterocanonical books
as part of the Old Testament point to the second book of Maccabees as Old Testament
justification for the belief in an afterlife. Second Maccabees 7 relates the martyrdom of
a mother and her seven sons:
Second Maccabees 7:7–11 "After the first brother had died in this way, they
brought forward the second for their sport. [...] And when he was at his last
breath, he said, 'You accursed wretch, you dismiss us from this present life, but
the King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life,
because we have died for his laws.' After him, the third was the victim of their
sport. When it was demanded, he quickly put out his tongue and courageously
stretched forth his hands, and said nobly, 'I got these from Heaven, and because
of his laws I disdain them, and from him I hope to get them back again.'"
(NRSV)
Within the accepted Protestant canon, it is only in the book of Daniel that a "modern"
understanding of an afterlife appears. From a prophetic Christian view, this
aforementioned proposed denial of the possibility of afterlife may be interpreted in a
different manner: One might see it as a distinction between the "dead" and the
"resurrected dead" rather than a denial of the afterlife. The "dead" would represent
those who have died outside of God's grace, who by choice do or did not follow God,
and thus are dead (spiritually and bodily). The ones who go to be with God, by their
choice of faith or actions depending on the religion, would be the "resurrected dead,"
"living dead" or, simply, "living."
When the Sadducees were testing him, Jesus explained this difference by pointing out
that God is the God of the living, not of the dead, yet saying that God is the God of
Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, three apparently dead people.
In Matthew 22:31–32, Jesus says, "But about the resurrection of the dead—have you
not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." (NIV)
Looking at the above "contradictory to the afterlife" scriptures in this light, one might
suggest the quotes from Isaiah, Psalms, and Ecclesiastes to mean that those who have
chosen not to praise God are "dead," but those who have chosen to praise God have
been given eternal life and thus are "living" or "resurrected dead." This interpretation
however conflicts with ancient Israelite religion. According to Professor James Tabor,
Chairman of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina
at Charlotte:

The ancient Hebrews had no idea of an immortal soul living a full and vital life
beyond death, nor of any resurrection or return from death. Human beings, like
the beasts of the field, are made of "dust of the earth," and at death they return
to that dust (Gen. 2:7; 3:19). The Hebrew word nephesh, traditionally translated
"living soul" but more properly understood as "living creature," is the same
word used for all breathing creatures and refers to nothing immortal.
Christian tradition however still interprets the Hebrew Bible's passages by explaining
that rather than saying there is not an afterlife, the author is simply saying in each case
that those who do not have "eternal life" will not or cannot praise God (perhaps
because their choice to not praise God in life is permanent in the afterlife).
Furthermore, the words in Job are a metaphor. The construction suggests that the idea
is being used as a metaphor and is not so much a fact as a generality. "Consider that
my life is but wind; I shall never see happiness again . . . As a cloud fades away, so
whoever goes down into Sheol does not come up." In other words, in general, whoever
goes down into Sheol does not come up. But also, the whole selection of text is,
Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see
happiness again. 8 The eye that now sees me will see me no longer; you will
look for me, but I will be no more. 9 As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he
who goes down to the grave [Sheol] does not return. 10 He will never come to
his house again; his place will know him no more.
Job does not say whoever goes to Sheol lives no more; he says a person who goes to
Sheol does not return. Reading further in the passage, one finds he is speaking about
returning "to his house again." In other words, a person does not come back to regular,
physical life. This does not bar resurrection in the spirit (or even in the body) to an
afterlife. Christians believe that Job was wrong about never seeing happiness again
(again, he was exaggerating using standard literary technique, but he certainly saw
happiness later. See Job 42). What does that say about his comments on Sheol? In
actual fact Job certainly believed in a life after death. "And after my skin has been
destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I,
and not another" (Job 19:26–27). Christian tradition believes Job implies that a
continuity of existence is necessary for any reward or punishment to be just; in his
opinion, then, though he should die, he never would at any point cease to exist nor
would he at any point be unreachable ("dead") to God. This Christian interpretation
conflicts with the objective approach taken by most scholars, Job's interpretation of the
afterlife is more clearly evident in Job 14:10-12.
But man dies, and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he? As waters fail
from a lake, and a river wastes away and dries up, so man lies down and rises not
again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake, or be aroused out of his sleep.
(Job 14:10-12)

Professor Tabor reveals that the passage is often "misunderstood as offering some hope
of life after death or resurrection from the dead. The context makes clear that the
answer to Job's question, "If a man die, shall he live again?" is no. That is precisely
Job's point."
All the dead go down to Sheol, and there they lie in sleep together–whether
good or evil, rich or poor, slave or free (Job 3:11-19). It is described as a region
"dark and deep," "the Pit," and "the land of forgetfulness," cut off from both
God and human life above (Pss. 6:5; 88:3-12). Though in some texts Yahweh's
power can reach down to Sheol (Ps. 139:8), the dominant idea is that the dead
are abandoned forever. This idea of Sheol is negative in contrast to the world of
life and light above, but there is no idea of judgment or of reward and
punishment. If one faces extreme circumstances of suffering in the realm of the
living above, as did Job, it can even be seen as a welcome relief from pain–see
the third chapter of Job. But basically it is a kind of "nothingness," an existence
that is barely existence at all, in which a "shadow" or "shade" of the former self
survives (Ps. 88:10)...This rather bleak (or comforting, depending on your point
of view) understanding of the future (or non-future) of the individual at death is
one that prevails throughout most of the Hebrew Bible. It is found throughout
the Pentateuch (the Books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy), and it runs through the books of history, poetry, and prophecy.
Christian views
Most traditions believe that the grave does not interrupt consciousness; rather, the
immaterial soul experiences a particular judgment after death while separate from the
body. The particular judgment is followed by placement either in the presence of God
in Heaven or away from God's presence in Hell, where the soul is consciously subject
either to happiness or torment. Additionally, the Roman Catholic tradition further
compartmentalizes existence after death, and includes belief in Purgatory. Some
Catholic theologians have also argued for the existence of Limbo, but there has never
been a definitive Church teaching about the matter binding on the faithful. Eastern
Orthodoxy and Protestantism do not require belief in Purgatory. However, these differ
from one another in their respective degrees of opposition to the teaching. Orthodoxy
does allow that the disembodied soul may have a course to pass through on the way to
an ultimate destination; theosis may continue after death (or it might not). John Calvin
included this belief among those things not worth arguing about. Later Protestants tend
to be less vague in their opinion, and definitely reject any idea of intervening
experience for the soul after death, prior to being in the presence of God.
However, an issue on which Catholic and Orthodox faiths are united against
Protestantism is that the souls of at least some of the saints in heaven are aware of
those who call upon them in request of their intercession. In stark contrast it is

antithetical to most traditions of Protestantism to believe that the souls of those who
have died either should or even can be called upon for help or intercession with God.
Prayers directed toward those who have died, or rituals or masses dedicated to assisting
the dead in their salvation, are often dogmatically taught by Protestants to be contrary
to Scripture. Protestants typically deny that the souls of men adopt omniscience
omnipresence, or ubiquity after death, or that they are troubled any longer with the
trials of life, or that their exceeding virtue in life remains as a deposit of grace in the
Church that can benefit the living.
Catholic and Orthodox Christians do not claim that departed saints gain omniscience or
omnipresence, however. An essential consequence of Jesus' own death and resurrection
is the defeat of death itself. Because of this death neither puts a person beyond God's
help nor prevents the Christian from praying. The livings are not deprived of the
prayers of a Christian simply because the Christian dies; otherwise death would still
claim victory. Neither does a person's death make it impossible for God to save or
sanctify them; otherwise death would limit what God could do. The Orthodox Church
carefully avoids defining exactly how departed saints are aware of requests for their
intercession, or exactly how the departed may be helped by prayers made on their
behalf. It just continues to pray as it always has, with faith in God for the results.
Not all Christian sects believe in existence apart from the body, which they regard to
be a purely extra-biblical notion borrowed from the non-Christian philosophies and
religions (see Annihilationism). The Mille rites, or Adventist tradition, for example,
typically deny that consciousness is possible apart from the body. Most do not deny the
resurrection, however. A similar belief can be found represented by a minority in other
Protestant groups, among whom it is not necessarily considered a heretical belief.
Early Christian Thought
Jesus and the New Testament writers of the Bible books mention notions of an
afterlife and resurrection that involve ideas like heaven and hell. The author of
Luke recounts the story of Lazarus and the rich man, which shows people in
Hades awaiting the resurrection either in comfort or torment. The author of the
Book of Revelation writes about God and the angels versus Satan and demons
in an epic battle at the end of times when all souls are judged. There is
mention of ghostly bodies of past prophets, and the transfiguration.
The non-canonical Acts of Paul and Thecla speak of the efficacy of prayer for
the dead, so that they might be "translated to a state of happiness." Hippolytus
of Rome pictures Hades as a place where the righteous dead, awaiting in the
bosom of Abraham their resurrection, rejoice at their future prospect, while the
unrighteous are tormented at the sight of the "lake of unquenchable fire" into

which they are destined to be cast. Saint Augustine counters Pelagius, arguing
that original sin means that the unbaptized go to hell, including infants, albeit
with less suffering than is experienced by those guilty of actual sins.
Medieval Christian Thought
Pope Gregory I repeat the concept, articulated over a century earlier by
Gregory of Nyssa that the saved suffer purification after death, in connection
with which he wrote of "purgatorial flames". The noun "purgatorium" from the
Latin: place of cleansing, is used for the first time to describe a state of painful
purification of the saved after death. The same word in adjectival form
(purgatorius -a -um, cleansing), which appears also in non-religious writing,
was already used by Christians such as Augustine of Hippo and Pope Gregory
I to refer to an after-death cleansing.
The Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther denounced the doctrine of particular judgment as contrary to the
Bible, professing instead the belief that the soul sleeps until Judgment Day.
John Calvin denounced Luther's doctrine, writing instead that the souls of the
elect rest in blessedness while awaiting the resurrection of the dead.
Current Popular Christian Views
Most Christians deny that entry into Heaven can be properly earned; rather it is
a gift that is solely God's to give through his unmerited grace. This belief
follows the theology of St. Paul: "For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works,
so that no one can boast." The Augustinian, Thomist, Lutheran, and Calvinist
theological traditions all emphasize the necessity of God's undeserved grace
for salvation, and reject so-called Pelagianism, which would make man earn
salvation through good works. Not all Christian sects accept this doctrine,
leading to many controversies and discussions over grace and free will, and
the idea of predestination. In particular, the belief that heaven is a reward for
good behavior is a common folk belief in Christian societies, even among
members of churches which reject that belief.

Christian theologians Thomas Aquinas and Jonathan Edwards wrote that the
saved in heaven will delight in the suffering of the damned. Hell, however,
doesn't fit modern, humanitarian concepts of punishment because it can't deter
the unbeliever nor rehabilitate the damned. Many Christian believers have
come to downplay the punishment of hell. Universalists teach that salvation is
for all. Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists, though they have
among the strictest rules on how to conduct their lives, teach that sinners are
destroyed rather than tortured forever.
In the informal folk beliefs of many Christians, the souls of virtuous people
ascend to Heaven and are converted into angels. More formal Christian
theology makes a sharp distinction between angels, who were created by God
before the creation of humanity, and saints, who are people who have received
immortality from the grace of God through faith in the Son of God Jesus.37
African-American Ancestors:
A Unique Christian Concept of Life after Death
Many people in the "United" States of America make the
assumption that the Christian beliefs that are often seen as the
foundations of this country are the same for all of those who have
adopted Christianity in this nation. From this perspective there is
little need to explore the diversity that has been brought to this
relatively new religion as a result of its convergence with so many
other cultures. As a American interested in the spiritual beliefs and
mythological stories and of the cultures all around me, I am
particularly intrigued by the mix that can be found in the Black
Christian church, where the old African customs can still be seen
behind the mask of this Eurocentric religion. While this spiritual
mélange has manifested itself in a number of different ways, some
of the most unique are the beliefs surrounding death and the
afterlife in African-American Christianity.
37
John 3:16

Raised with the belief systems of a German Lutheran mother and
Polish Catholic father, I was always taught that when I died, "if I was
good," I would go to heaven. As I was growing up, heaven was
always described to me as an ethereal realm filled with angelic
beings who supposedly spend endless peaceful days far away from
the earth's inhabitants. Since this always seemed like a complete
bore to me, I have never had a single desire to aspire towards it.
Feeling disconnected from this and many of the other religious
teachings of my forefathers, I have always been interested in
studying the religious beliefs of other cultures, especially those
surrounding death and the afterlife. Therefore, I became particularly
intrigued when I first started hearing various African-Americans refer
to the dying process as "crossing over" or "passing over" instead of
just the "end of life."
According to John Bolling, an African-American psychiatrist and
spiritual counselor, in Africa death is seen as "a rite of passage
wherein the soul passes into but another phase of continuous
existence. The soul leaves the material world and crosses over into
the spiritual world" (146). Seen as a rite of passage, rather than
something to be avoided as all costs, death can be prepared for,
experienced, and acknowledged after the fact, rather than just
ignored as it is all too often by modern-day American Christians of
European decent. The belief in the reincarnation of the soul is a carry
over from some of the old African beliefs that "still influence the
unconscious and conscious behavior of African Americans today"
(147). One of the most important of these ancient influences is the
African approach to death. "In many instances, the role of religion
and the church serves as the outer format in which death is handled,
but African spirituality is central to the inner format of the
death/dying experience" (148).
Another differentiating factor of African-American spirituality is
the belief in a unified world view. The body, mind, and soul are seen
as one and this concept of unity is seen throughout the community
as well, where every person is viewed as part of a larger whole.
According to Flora Wilson Bridges, author of Resurrection Song:
African-American Spirituality, Black Christians recognize "the human
family as 'one branch of the cosmological Tree of Life.' In such a
view, spirituality informs all understandings of self, reality, and
divinity" (6). This cultural world view has a direct affect on the

relationships between the human and the non-human, the visible
and invisible, and the living and the dead.
This unique world view allows for a unity to exist between the
dualistic realities that are often polarized in other cultures. "Day and
night, dead and living are viewed as having reciprocal and unifying
functions rather than dichotomous ones, which dynamically unite
them such that they create a whole, maintaining equilibrium by
adjusting each other." Because of this, death is not merely seen as
"the soul leaving the body." It "is not simply the opposite of life but
is inherently related to life; it is another dimension or phase of the
same phenomenon"
This unifying aspect can also be seen in the Afrocentric cyclical
concept of time, where the past and present are eternally linked
together. As John Mbiti writes, "Human life has another rhythm of
nature which nothing can destroy. On the level of the individual, this
rhythm includes birth, puberty, initiation, marriage, procreation, old
age, death, entry into the community of the departed and finally
entry into the community of spirits" (31). Therefore, the dead
ancestors are considered to be very much a part of the living
African-American community.
As a continuous part of the community, the ancestors are
available to the living for advice, they may enforce discipline on
those who are unruly, and they may even come to the aid of the
dying. As Martha Adams Sullivan, a specialist in the mental health of
elderly minorities’
points out, the ancestors in the African-American communities "are
often thought of as playing a role in easing this passing over. For
instance, a family member may be visited by an ancestor, often in a
dream, notifying the family of that the actual death is at hand and
thus preparing the living family." The ancestors also come to the
assistance of those who are dying. "It is commonly recognized that
dying family members sometimes begin to talk to people who have
died. This is experienced as both upsetting and comforting to the
family, for while it signals that the transition is at hand, it also
reassures them that their family is there awaiting them" (163).
Unlike many other contemporary cultures in America, where a
fear of dying alone is often expressed, death in Black Christian

culture is experienced as a "group event." "Family and community
experience a transition as a member 'passes over' to the other
world. Members often avoid using the term 'dying,' perhaps because
it is unidimensional and unidirectional. To 'pass on,' to 'make a
transition,' connotes movement, a change in form more than a
termination with no future" (Sullivan 162). In an effort to aid this
transition, members of the dying person's community often step in
to look after the person in ways that may seem relatively
unimportant to others outside the culture.
Since African-American sees the body and spirit as one, the
physical body is looked after as much as the spirit. "Family members
will oil their loved one's skin, groom his or her hair, and pay close
attention to body temperature" (Sullivan 164). How the person
appears at the time of death is not an issue of vanity, but an effort
to comfort both the dying person and those who attend him or her.
"Since the physical self is not merely physical but manifests the
spirit, attending to the body is a means of attending to the spirit.
Having successfully assisted the spirit in its transition, the family can
more easily reincorporate the deceased into the community as an
ancestral member".38
This ability to become an ancestral spirit is based on more than
just the events surrounding the person's death. The quality of the
person's existence after the transition is directly tied to their
thoughts and actions here on earth. "There is a strong belief that the
deceased may become an ancestral spirit provided that he or she
has lived a good earthly existence and that the proper funeral rites
have been observed by the children and next of kin" (Bridges 33).
By looking after a person as they are dying and performing the
proper rituals once they have gone, the community does everything
they can to assist a person in becoming an ancestor. A conscious
effort is made to reestablish the equilibrium that can be found with
the "reintegration of the deceased member into the community so
that the sense of wholeness of the community is regained; the circle
is mended".
A proper funeral is an important part of mending this circle.
"Traditional African religion incorporates the belief that at death the
person's spirit immediately leaves the body and hovers around
nearby (the house), waiting for the funeral rites that will enable the
38
Sullivan 164

spirit to go to the spirit-world" (Bridges 33). Here in the United
States, African-Americans are increasingly "referring to funeral rites
using such terms as 'home-going' services. The term reflects not
only the strong belief in an afterlife but also the reinclusion in the
community, since the community's 'home' extends beyond the
physical world". .
Each of us on this earth will eventually "cross over" into another
existence. As Howard Thurman writes, "The Human spirit is so
involved in the endless cycle of birth, of living and dying, that in
some sense each man is an authority, a key interpreter of the
meaning of the totality of the experience" (11). We must each
decide what we believe and every one of us must prepare for the
day when we will die. Having a clear picture of where we are going
and who we might find there when we arrive on the other side is an
essential part of the process. I often hear people in this modern
world talk about the lack of "community" that they feel as they go
about their busy lives, yet maybe its not the community of the living
that so many really crave. Maybe its time for some of us to take a
lesson from the African Americans in this country who still remember
the old ways of their culture, maybe its time for more of us to get in
touch with our own greater community of ancestors.

Chapter------ (5)
***********************************************************
**
Buddhism Views on life after Death and Rebirth
***********************************************************
**
Death and the impermanence of life
In the teaching of the Buddha, all of us will pass away eventually as a part in the
natural process of birth, old-age and death and that we should always keep in mind the
impermanence of life. The life that we all cherish and wish to hold on.
To Buddhism, however, death is not the end of life, it is merely the end of the body we
inhabit in this life, but our spirit will still remain and seek out through the need of
attachment, attachment to a new body and new life. Where they will be born is a result
of the past and the accumulation of positive and negative action, and the resultant
karma (cause and effect) is a result of ones past actions.
This would lead to the person to be reborn in one of 6 realms which are; heaven,
human beings, Asura, hungry ghost, animal and hell. Realms, according to the
severity of ones karmic actions, Buddhists believe however, none of these places are

Life afterdeathcomplete

Recomendados

Más contenido relacionado

La actualidad más candente

La actualidad más candente (14)

Destacado

Destacado (14)

Similar a Life afterdeathcomplete

Similar a Life afterdeathcomplete (20)

Último

Último (20)

Life afterdeathcomplete