If there is one phenomenon that no one can fully grasp, it’s death. Yet, death is an inevitable reality that we all must face at some point in our lives. It is a natural function of life and is one thing that all living organisms have in common. If there is life, then there is death. Even with this fact, one cannot fully comprehend the notion of death. Science tells us that the body will eventually decay after death, but is that it? Some would claim that they do not know, while others will assert that nothing will happen after death. Our bodies gradually decay, and nothing is left of us except in the memories of our loved ones. Others, however, believe that there is another life after death.
As a Muslim, I firmly believe that there is life after death and that in some ways, death is merely the beginning of another life. But let me take a step back and assume that I do not hold that belief. I often wonder how I would think and act if I truly believed that our bodies rot away when we die, and that is the end of the story. I soon realize how depressed and disheartened I become. If there is no belief in an afterlife, then life itself becomes depressing. However, I also wonder why I feel that way and I soon realize that the main reason is separation. Without a firm belief in an afterlife, and in God, then an individual will be forever separated from their loved ones—there will be eternal separation and no chance of reuniting with the people we love after we have died.
This is, of course, only one reason why a believer in an afterlife would live a life filled with hope and optimism; that this is not the end of the road, and that there will be a day where everyone will reap the benefits of their deeds, and for others, reap the sorrows of their oppression and tyranny. At the end of the day, one cannot scientifically prove that there is no life after death, no matter how hard modern-day atheists try to bolster their arguments with scientific authority. This is because what cannot be tested can neither be proven nor disproven. Therefore, science will never be able to prove or disprove the existence of an afterlife. However, from an emotional and spiritual perspective, one cannot deny the importance of having this kind of optimism. Your outlook on life is fundamentally altered when you start believing that one day you could be reunited with your loved ones, and you will potentially never again live in fear of being separated from them.
The Quran repeatedly mentions and reminds Muslims of this inevitable fact of life. For instance, it often repeats the words, “Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day.” This is the starting point for the believer, which is made clear in the opening verses of Al-Baqarah:
And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]
[1:2-4]
A belief in the hereafter is what Quraysh could not fathom. They deemed it impossible that there is a life after death, and instead of thinking about what would this mean for them, they chose to mock the Prophet for his claim:
“Qaf. By the honored Qur’an. In fact, it seems odd (to the pagans) that a warner from their own people has come to them. The disbelievers have said, “It is very strange that after we die and become dust, we shall be brought back to life again. This seems far from reality”
[50:1-3]
This kind of mockery is similar to what we witness from modern-day atheists. The only difference, of course, is that these modern-day atheists think that they have the backing of science, which is false.
“They have said, “The only life is this worldly life and here we shall live and die. It is only time which will destroy us” They have no knowledge about this. It is only their guesswork. When Our enlightening revelations are recited to them, their only argument against it is, “Bring our forefathers back to life if what you say is true”. (Muhammad), say, “It is God who gives you life and causes you to die. He will bring you together on the inevitable Day of Judgment,” but most people do not know.”
[45:24-26]
In the modern-day world, death for many does not appear to be something that should be taken seriously. Sure, if a loved one dies, they will go to a funeral, say a few words, and many would move on. The reemergence of death for some is intimidating, and many would rather avoid remembering the fact that they will one day die. This kind of thinking is dangerous and could contribute to the fact that there is an increasing rate of suicide across the world. While many people question the meaning of life, I believe they should question the meaning of death, instead. Once we understand death and fully embrace it, only then we will find the joy and meaning of life.
A life that is worth living is one that fully embraces the notion of death. While many perceive this as a “sad” fact of life, I see it as the opposite. Only with the constant remembrance of death lies hope and optimism. Bearing in mind this fact of life, one would try their best to live a righteous life and help their loved ones to do the same—all in the hopes that they will one day be reunited.