Judgment Day - The Motive of Life in Islam

In today’s world, everyone is so engrossed in making life more and more comfortable, setting higher standards of living to achieve and studying hard so that a better job is secured. Minting money to satisfy the never-ending greed for material wishes seems to be the motive of life today. Suddenly when you hear about the death of a beloved does this make you ponder as to the direction you have chosen is it the right one? Does putting someone to the final place of rest in the graveyard make you realize that you will also have the same fate? Allah sent us to Earth to live our lives in accordance with the principles of Islam. He has given us the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to follow and seek guidance from. The lifetime given to any individual is the period in which he will be tested with trials and blessed with blessings. Whoever remained steadfast on the religion of Islam shall be among the righteous men of Allah on Judgment Day.

Death-Inevitable Reality

The Holy Quran says: -  “To God we belong and to Him we shall return” (Quran 2:156) Every soul that Allah has created shall have the taste of death. Death is inevitable and indispensable. According to Islam, Muslims must lead their lives to keep the biggest reality of death in mind. This life is short and temporary. It is just a sowing bed for what you will earn for yourself on the Day of Judgment; either Allah’s gratification or his wrath. Allah says in the Holy Quran: -  Did you then think that We had created you in jest (without any purpose), and that you would not be returned to us (in the Hereafter)?  So, God is exalted, the True King.  None has the right to be worshipped but Him...  (Quran, 23:115-116)

The Day of Judgment

Belief in the Day of Judgment is a crucial part of the Islamic faith. Ever since Allah created the world, he sent prophets and messengers from time to time to remind people about the day on which they will be held accountable for their deeds. All the Prophets warned people about this day when they will be given punishment for their wrongdoings. Likewise, there were glad tidings for those who were on the guided path. Allah says in the Holy Quran: - “On that day, people will come forward in separate groups to be shown their deeds: whoever has done an atom’s weight of good will see it, but whoever has done an atom’s weight of evil will see that” (99:6-8).

Life After Death

It is an integral part of a Muslim’s faith, to believe in life after death. This life is very small compared to that never-ending eternal life. Allah says in the Holy Quran about this life: - He (God) will say, “How many years did you stay on the earth?”  They will say: “We stayed a day or part of a day....” (Quran, 23:112-113) There are glad tidings at many places in the Holy Quran for those who lived their lives according to the teachings of Islam of a blissful life in the paradise. This life shall be eternal and free from any sort of pain and agony. On the other hand, those who did wrong deeds or did not believe in Allah shall be punished in the fire of Hell. Hell has been described in the Holy Quran as extremely scorching and blistering never-ending fire whose suffering is unimaginable.

Conclusion

Allah loves his creatures beyond limits. He wants everyone to be saved from the fire of Hell. That is why he sent the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for our guidance. Having said that, he gave free will to humans to choose between the right and wrong path. So it is in the best interest of Muslims to keep the Day of Judgment in mind and perform good deeds to earn the pleasure of Allah on Judgment Day.