May be death would be different if it were predictable or consistent. But death can be so capricious. It hardly seems fair. To all of us life is precious. But death is everywhere! We do not want to die. We do not want to see our loved ones die.
Yet for all human-beings efforts, hopes and wishes, DEATH is the one thing in life that remains certain. Whether through old age, illness, accident, wars or violence; whether we are rich, poor, male or female, regardless of race, religion or creed- eventually all of us face death.
Scientists cannot tell us "What exactly is DEATH?" and "What happens after DEATH?" Too many aspects of life itself are intangible--too elusive to measure and record. Philosophers disagree on death and the afterlife or lifeafter.
Religions also disagree. Traditional Christian and Muslim denominations (and some of the Believers in God ) generally teach that the souls of the dead live on in a place or condition of heaven or hell, depending on the deeds of the souls of the dead. Many Non-Christians/Non-Muslims believe in the Transmigration or Reincarnation of souls at death. Still Non-Believers (who are in minority) or others say that the dead will never live again--
What really happens at death? Why do we even have to die? Can we actually know whether there is life beyond the grave or death? Where can we go, or how can we find meaningful and believable answers?
Infact majority of the world population is "BELIEVER OF ALMIGHTY GOD" and hence only the Creator of Life can reveal its purpose and the State of the Dead. By looking into the Word of God ( in 4-Holy Books like Torah, Zaboor, Bible, and Qur'an ) for answers to our above questions, we can learn a great deal about both LIFE and DEATH.
Let us now take a look at what God, our Creator, says about Life and Death in His inspired Word, in the last 2-Holy Books, the Bible and the Qur'an. You may be both surprised and challenged as you discover the Truth about what happens after DEATH!!
The Bible does not speak of the Dead going to live on forever in a place or condition of "Heaven" or "Hell". Solomon observed that mankind and animals are destined for, in death, a common fate. "For what happens to mankind also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other.....All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust" (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20).
The book of Daniel refers to the state of the dead in an inspiring prophecy: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" ( Daniel 12:2 ). This passage conveys some crucial information. For one, it offers the promise of Life-after-Death--notby people living on apart from their bodies after death but through a resurrection fromdeath that will take place in the future. Some will receive immortality then, and some will not. So clearly we are immortal souls at present. Moreover, the passage compares death to sleep--and explains the resurrection as waking up from the sleep.
Sleep connotes unconsciousness, and the Bible draws the same analogy in other places. How could people who have died be sleep in their graves, profoundly unconscious--as revealed in the Bible--yet be residing blissfully in Heaven and looking down at us on earth ( or, persumably, suffering in Hell and looking up )??
The Bible shows that the Spirit in Humans, which originally came from the Creator God, returns to Him. "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). This spirit that returns to God is neither the source of human life, nor is it human consciousness. Life and consciousness both perish when one dies. This may be the way God preserves the characteristics of each person until the resurrection.
The truth is that man/woman has no spiritual soul with conscious awareness independent of the physicalbody. This has been proven time and time again when individuals have gone into comas for weeks, months and sometimes years at a time, only to emerge from that comatose state with no memory or recollection of the passage of time!!
The Holy Qur'an ( Surah 75: Al Qiyamah ) shows: "The Rising of the Dead" - Nay, I swear by the Day of Resurrection and by the accusing soul ( that this Scripture is true ). Does man think that We shall not assemble his bones? Yea, We are able to restore his very finger prints! But man would deny what is before him. He asks: When will be the Day of Resurrection? But when sight is confounded. And moon is eclipsed. And the sun and moon are united, on that day man will cry: Where to flee? Alas! No refuge! Unto your Lord is the recourse that day. On that day man is told the tale of that which he has sent before and left behind. Oh,but man is a telling witness against himself. That day will faces be resplendent. Looking towards their Lord; and that day will other faces be despondent, they suspect that some great disaster is about to fall on them. Nay, but when the life comes to the throat. And men say: Sho is there to recite (to save it)? And he thinks that it is the parting; and agony is heaped on agony; unto your Lord that day will be the driving. For he neither believed, nor prayed, but he denied and flouted. Then went to his folk with glee. Nearer unto you and nearer, again nearer unto you and nearer (is the doom). Does man think that he is to be left aimless? Was he not a drop of fluid which gushed forth? Then he became a clot; then ( Allah/God ) shaped and fashioned. And made of him a pair, the male and female. Is not He ( Who does so ) able to bring the dead to life?
The Holy Qur'an ( Surah 36: Ya Sin ) reveals about death: "They await but one Blast, which will surprise them while they (i.e., Non-Believers ) are disputing (about existence of God); then they cannot make bequest, nor can they return to their own folk (who believed in Lord). And the trumpet is blown and lo! from the graves they hie unto their Lord, crying: Woe upon us! Who has raised us from our place of sleep? This is that which the Beneficent did promise, and the messengers ( i.e., Adam, Noah, Abrahim, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad ) spoke truth. It is but one Blast , and behold them brought together before Us! This day no soul is wronged in anything; nor are you requited anything save that which you used to do. Lo! those who merit Paradise (Heaven) this day are happily employed, they and their wives, are in pleasant shade, on thrones reclining; theirs in it will be fruits and theirs in it will be (all) that they ask; Peace is the word ( to them ) from a Merciful Lord.
His (Lord) command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says unto it: Be! and it is. Therefore glory be to Him in Whose hand is the dominion over all things! Unto Him you will be brought back.
You are the Best Judge!
