Akhirah (The Hereafter)

Meaning:

The word Akhirah is derived from Akhir which means last, ultimate, end and close. Its opposite is Awwal which means first and foremost. The two blessed names of Allah are Al-Awwal and al-Akhir. They indicate that Allah is eternal with no beginning and no end - as stated in the Book of Revelation: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God Almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come" (Revelation 1: 8).

Often al-Akhirah is used as the opposite of Dunya, meaning this world in which we live, Akhirah will come later hence it is called the Hereafter. Sometimes al-Akhirah is used in conjunction with al-ddr as al-Ddr al-Akhirah (the Last Abode).

AI-Akhirah: the stages

Many graphic words are used in the Qur'an to depict the horror and calamity of that Day. Some of these words are:

al-Qari 'ah                                    the Calamity

al-Zalzalah                                    the Earthquake

al-Sa'iqah                                      the Blast

Yawman Thaqila                          the Hard Day

Al-Yawm al-Muhit                       the Encompassing Day

Yawm al-Fasl                                 the Day of Separation

al-Tammah al-Kubra                    the Great Disaster

al-Haqqah                                      the Reality

Yawm al-Din                                  the Day of Judgement

Yawm al-Haqq                              the True (inevitable) Day

Yawm al-Hisab                              the Day of Reckoning

Yawm al-Khuruj                            the Day of Exodus (from the graves)

Al-Akhirah is a composite term which includes the following stages:

• Al-Sa’ah which means the Hour, that is, the Hour of Resurrection.

"They ask you about the Hour - 'When will be its appointed time?"  (Surah al-Nazi’aat, 79: 42), The Qur'an provides the answer: "With Him is the knowledge of the Hour.” (Surah al-Zukhruf, 43: 85). Surah al-Qamar states that it is very near: "The Hour is the time promised to them and the Hour will be most grievous and most bitter." (Surah al-Qamar 54: 1 and 46) This will be heralded by the sound of the Trumpet. "The Trumpet (al-Sur) shall be blown: that will be the day whereof warning had been given." (Surah Qaf 50: 42)

• The Resurrection (al-Qiydmah) when humanity in its entirety will stand up for accountability of their deeds before Allah. It is called Yawm al-Hisab (the Day of Judgement) or Yawm al-Jam (the Day of Recompense).

• The final result will separate people. Those successful will attain an everlasting life of pleasure in Jannah. Those doomed will live in eternal damnation in Hell.

The Akhirah with Tawhid (the oneness of God) and Risalah/ Nubuwwah (Prophethood) are the three main components of Iman (faith). The Iman in the Akhirah is, of course, a part of al-Iman bil-Ghayh (Belief in things which we cannot perceive by our senses).

Hence, in both the Qur'an and ahadith there is a detailed description of all the events that will take place in the Hereafter so as to convince the believers and strengthen their faith.

Proof of the Hereafter

The Qur'an often uses the simile of rain to explain how it is possible to resurrect dead bodies. Just as after a shower of rain, dead earth becomes covered with greenery so can Allah resurrect the dead (Surah Qaf, 50: 11; Surah al-Ankabut, 29: 20; Surah al-Hajj, 22: 5-6).

The Qur'an also argues that the presence of conscience (nafs) in human beings presupposes that one can instinctively distinguish between right and wrong (Surah al-Shams 91: 7). We see that the physical laws do take effect in this world but not the moral laws. For example fire burns but telling a lie does not harm.

As to the ability of Allah to bring about resurrection, the Qur'anic argument is, if He is able to create not only human beings but the whole universe in the first place why should it be difficult for Him to recreate them? (Surah Ya Sin 36: 79; Surah al-Ahqaf 46: 33).

Some of the prophets, including the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) were shown how Allah brought the dead to life (Surah al-Baqarah 2: 259-260). Similarly the story of Ashab al-Kahf related in Surah 18 is presented as historical evidence to prove that people can be raised again after sleeping for about three hundred years.

The Necessity of al-Akhirah

AI Akhirah is necessary so that true justice can be done. In this world pious people suffer and do not reap a full reward for their actions. Similarly evil persons triumph and often do not receive full punishment for their deeds. Allah, who is Just, wants full justice to be done and everyone to be fully recompensed. Why is there such a long delay in meting out this justice? There are two reasons: one, this world is Dar al-Imtihan (a place of test or trial - (Surah al-Mulk, 67: 1-2)) and only at the conclusion of the test are the papers marked and the results announced. Second, the benefits of good deeds one does are reaped by succeeding generations and similarly the evil practices devised by an individual continue to have repercussions for a long time. The effects of all the good and evil deeds will have to be accumulated in order to reward or punish those who started them in the first place. This can be done only when the whole world comes to an end, only then can the full account of deeds be measured. Thus, in this world people will be tested, and in the Akhirah they will be either rewarded or punished as the case may be.

References

• Akhirah: Surah al-Baqarah, 2: 4; Surah an-Nisa’, 4: 77; Surah Ghafir, 40: 39; Surah Al-Hashr, 59: 3; Surah Al-A'la, 87: 17.

• Al-Sa'ah: Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43: 85; Surah Al-Qamar, 54: 1 and 46; Surah An-Nazi'aat, 79: 42.