An Exploration into the Philosophy of Life

Life and death are the inevitable realities of human existence. The journey of life begins when the soul is breathed into the child in the mother’s womb, and death is about which has been said in the Quran:

کُلُّ نَفۡسٍ ذَآئِقَۃُ  الۡمَوۡتِ

Meaning: Every soul is to taste death and then to Us you will be returned. (29:57)

The soul, which Allah breathed into the body, may be withdrawn at any moment, leaving the body lifeless and still. Yet, the journey of human life does not conclude with death. Allah will bring him back to life again, and this return to life is what is known as life after death. Belief in this reality is a fundamental tenet of faith for every Muslim, both men and women. Allah says in the Quran:

وَ قَالُوْٓا ئَ اِذَا کُنَّا عِظَامًا وَّ رُفَاتًا ئَ اِنَّا لَمَبْعُوْثُوْنَ خَلْقًا جَدِیْدًا۔  قُلْ کُوْنُوْا حِجَارَۃً اَوْ حَدِیْدًا۔لا  اَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا یَکْبُرُ فِیْ صُدُوْرِکُمْ ج  فَسَیَقُوْلُوْنَ مَنْ یُّعِیْدُنَا ط قُلِ الَّذِیْ فَطَرَکُمْ اَوَّلَ مَرَّۃٍ ج فَسَیُنْغِضُوْنَ اِلَیْکَ رُئُ وْسَہُمْ وَ یَقُوْلُوْنَ مَتٰی ہُوَ ط قُلْ عَسٰٓی اَنْ یَّکُوْنَ قَرِیْبًا ۔  یَوْمَ یَدْعُوْکُمْ فَتَسْتَجِیْبُوْنَ بِحَمْدِہٖ وَ تَظُنُّوْنَ اِنْ لَّبِثْتُمْ اِلَّا قَلِیْلًا ۔ (سورۃ بنی اسرائیل ۔ 49-52)

Meaning: And they say: ‘When we shall become (decomposed) bones and dust particles (after dying), shall we be raised up alive anew?’ Say: Be you stones or iron, Or any other created matter which you deem even harder (than these things, and which is not susceptible to becoming a living thing).’ Then (in this condition) they will say: ‘Who will bring us back to life?’ Say: ‘He Who created you the first time.’ They will then shake their heads at you (by way of wonder and ridicule) and will say: ‘When will it happen?’ Say: ‘It is expected to occur soon.’ The Day when He will call you, you will respond praising Him, deeming that you tarried (in the world) for only a short while. (17: 49-52)

At another instant, it is said:

کَیْفَ تَکْفُرُوْنَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ کُنْتُمْ اَمْوَاتًا فَاَحْیَاکُمْ ج ثُمَّ یُمِیْتُکُمْ ثُمَّ یُحْیِیْکُمْ ثُمَّ اِلَیْہِ تُرْجَعُوْنَ۔ (سورۃ البقرہ ۔ 28)

Meaning: How can you deny Allah, whereas you were lifeless and He gave you life, then He will cause you to die and will again bring you back to life, and then to Him you will be returned? (2:28)

Ali ibn Abi Talib narrated that the Holy Prophet said:

A person cannot be a true believer until he believes in four things: The testimony that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah whom He sent with the truth, and that he believes in the death, and in being brought back to life after death and that he believes in destiny. (Tirmidhi 2145)

The belief in life after death teaches a person the understanding that this world is a place of trials, a temporary abode meant for testing. It encourages him to perform the righteous deeds and to prepare for the provisions for the eternal life to come. Indeed, the life of the Hereafter is the true, everlasting life. It is stated in sura Al-Mumin:

یٰقَوْمِ اِنَّمَا ھٰذِہِ الْحَیٰوۃُ الدُّنْیَا مَتَاعٌ چ وَّ اِنَّ الْاٰخِرَۃَ ھِیَ دَارُ الْقَرَارِ۔  (سورۃ المومن۔ 39)

Meaning: O my people! The life of this world is nothing but (a few days’) gain, and the Hereafter is certainly a home to live in forever. (40:39)

May Allah give us strength and ability to live life according to His will for it is in such life that secret to true success lies.