Representations of death in Islam

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Islam is one of the world's three monotheistic religions. His homeland is the Middle East, and he takes his origins in the same ideas and cultural traditions that underlay Christianity and Judaism. The monotheism of this religious system is the most complete; in fact, it has developed on the basis of its predecessors.

The whole life of a Muslim is a test that determines his ultimate destiny. For him, death is the return of the soul to its Creator, God, and the inevitability of death is always present in his mind. This helps the Muslim guide his thoughts and actions as he tries to live in readiness for what is to come. For Muslims, the concept of death and the afterlife comes from the Qur'an.

Theoretical foundations of Islam

Islam in Arabic means obedience, surrender to God. Those who converted to Islam are called devotees (from Arabic - Muslim).

For Muslims, the holy book is the Koran - the records of the revelations of the Prophet Muhammad. They are presented in the form of verses (verses), which are collected insuras (chapters). Only the Koran in Arabic is considered a holy book.

The Quran is the first written monument in Arabic, which sets out religious views on the world and nature, attitudes, instructions, rules, prohibitions, orders of a cult, ethical, legal and economic nature. In addition to religious and philosophical, legislative and historical and cultural significance, the Koran is also of interest as a model of Muslim literature.

Islam is a practical religion, it regulates almost all aspects of human life. The basis of this control is, first of all, the humility of the soul, to which it comes, realizing that it is completely dependent on the Creator. This, in turn, causes complete unquestioning submission to His will and the possibility of worshiping Him in accordance with her position.

Reflection of death in the Koran

According to the Quran, death is exactly like sleep (Quran 6:60, 40:46). The period between the moment a person dies and his resurrection passes like one night of sleep (Quran 2:259, 6:60, 10:45, 16:21, 18:11, 19, 25, 30:55). As indicated in Islam, on the day of death, everyone knows his fate: he will go to heaven or hell.

Various themes of death occur in the Qur'an, which greatly affect the understanding of its meaning, while the concept remains vague and is always depicted in close connection with the concepts of life and resurrection.

In other words, for a person, his physical existence is not separated from the soul. Death is the cessation of the existence of an individual,who may or may not be a believer. Man is not seen as just a living organism.

Just as a person does not cease to exist in a dream, he also does not cease to exist in death. Thus, just as a person returns to wakefulness when he awakens from his sleep, so too will he be resurrected at the great awakening on the Day of Judgment. Therefore, in Islam, the death of a person is considered only as the next stage of existence. Physical death is not to be feared, but one should be concerned about the agony of spiritual death caused by breaking moral rules.

Perception

Regardless of individual beliefs, disbelief or uncertainty about life after death, Muslims have no doubt about the certainty and inevitability of this event. The Quran says that God created death and life in order to test people regarding their behavior in earthly existence. The concept of death is directly related to the way of life.

Some may wonder why the Quran mentions death before life? At first glance, it is more logical to speak of life first, and then of death, which is preceded by being. One possible answer to this question is that the elements of the earth (such as iron, sodium, phosphorus) that make up the human body do not have biological life on their own. This is analogous to death. This is followed by life, which in turn is followed by physical death. This is based on the acceptance of the chronological sequence of life and death.

No one doubts that every person is mortal, even those who do not believe or are “not sure” in the existence of God. However, life itself can be a probabilistic concept. You can be sure that life already exists in the womb, but can you be sure that it will continue after birth, whether there will be spontaneous abortion or stillbirth? In other words, death is considered more certain and inevitable.

According to the Koran, God predetermines the moment when a person will die before he is born. No one can hasten or delay their own death or the death of others if it is contrary to the will of God, regardless of the cause of death.

Attitude of Muslims to basic concepts

Muslim beliefs about death and the afterlife influence their attitude towards end-of-life decisions. Although death itself is terrifying, the realization that one returns to God makes it less terrifying. For a believer in the afterlife, death means the transition from one form of existence to another.

According to Quran 45:26:

Allah will give you life, then kill you, and then He will gather you for the Day of Resurrection, of which there is no doubt. However, most people do not know this.

This passage establishes that, as in Christianity, the Muslim view of death begins with an eternal human soul given by God and that after physical death there is resurrection (qiyamat) and a day of judgment (yaum al-din).

Islam says about death asabout the natural threshold before the next stage of existence. This idea can be seen in the quote above.

The mystery of life and death in Islam, as presented by the Koran, is associated with human conscience and the ability to maintain the necessary status of spiritual and moral existence, combined with faith.

What happens after death?

Particular importance is attached to what will happen to a person after death. Islam in its doctrine states that human existence continues after the death of the body in the form of spiritual and physical resurrection. There is a direct link between behavior on earth and life beyond. Life after death will be one of the rewards or punishments that are commensurate with earthly behavior. The day will come when God will resurrect and gather His first and last creation and will judge everyone fairly. People will enter their last place, hell or heaven. Faith in life after death encourages doing right and avoiding sin.

The belief in life after death in Islam is one of the six fundamental beliefs necessary for a Muslim to form his spirituality. If this postulate is rejected, all other beliefs become meaningless. If a person does not have faith in the coming of the Day of Judgment, for him neither obedience to God will be useful, nor disobedience will cause any harm. The acceptance or rejection of life after death in Islam is perhaps the most important factor in determining the course of a person's life.

Death and resurrection

Muslimsbelieve that, having died, a person enters an intermediate phase of life, which separates death and resurrection. Many events take place in this new "world", such as a test in which angels ask questions about religion, the prophet, and the Lord. After death in Islam, a person's new habitat becomes the Garden of Eden or the pit of hell; angels of mercy visit the souls of believers, and angels of punishment come for unbelievers.

The resurrection will precede the end of the world. People will be resurrected in their original physical bodies, thus entering the third and final stage of life.

Doomsday

On the Day of Judgment (qiyamat) God will gather all people, believers and wicked, genies, demons, even wild animals. Believers will acknowledge their shortcomings and be forgiven. Unbelievers will not have any good works to announce. Some Muslim scholars believe that the punishment of an unbeliever can be reduced for his good deeds, with the exception of the punishment for the great sin of unbelief. Friday (Yawm al-Juma) is of particular importance for Muslims. It is on this day that the day of the Last Judgment is expected.

What happens after death in Islam?

After death, according to tradition, two angels begin testing the soul, the strength of her faith. Depending on the answers, she will be assigned bliss or suffering to the extent that corresponds to her merits and sins. Is this time a cleansing or a temptation to sin until the last day? Until now, this issue is a matter of debate. However, there are stable traditions that even after death, reading a prayer on behalf of the dead caninfluence these circumstances, determining where the soul goes after death in Islam.

There are many statements from the Prophet Muhammad recommending the recitation of prayers for the dead and for the relief of their suffering. Muslims often pray on behalf of their deceased loved ones, visit their graves and even perform the Hajj. These practices establish and maintain contact with the departed.

Hell and Paradise in Islam

Of no small importance is the question of where you go after death in Islam. Paradise and hell will be the last places for the faithful and the damned after the Last Judgment. They are real and eternal. According to the Quran, the bliss of paradise will never end and the punishment of unbelievers condemned to hell will never end. Unlike some other religious systems, the Islamic approach to the subject is considered more sophisticated, conveying a higher level of divine justice. Muslim theologians define it as follows. First, some believers may suffer in hell for very serious sins. Secondly, both hell and heaven have several levels.

Paradise is an eternal garden, a place of physical pleasures and spiritual delights. There is no suffering here, and all bodily desires are satisfied. All wishes must be fulfilled. Palaces, servants, we alth, streams of wine, milk and honey, pleasant aromas, soothing voices, partners for intimacy - a person here will never be bored or fed up with pleasures.

The greatest bliss, however, will be the vision of the Lord, which unbelievers willdeprived.

Hell is a terrible place of punishment for unbelievers and cleansing for sinning believers. Burning with fire, boiling water that burns food, strangulation with chains and pillars of fire are used as torture and punishment. Unbelievers will be forever damned, while sinner believers will eventually be led out of hell and into heaven.

Heaven is for those who worshiped God, believed in and followed their prophet, and lived a moral life in accordance with the teachings of Scripture.

Hell will be the last place for those who did not believe in the existence of God, worshiped beings other than God, rejected the call of the prophets, led a sinful lifestyle and did not repent of it.

Funeral rite

Islam is quite demanding in respect of observance by believers of Muslim rituals, rituals and holidays. Many of them are obligatory for the faithful.

A special place is occupied by Muslim funeral rites. They are quite complex, they are accompanied by special funeral prayers. A Muslim must prepare for the next world while still alive: prepare a shroud, stock up on cedar powder and camphor, save money for a funeral. All funeral rites must be strictly observed. For example, the dying person should lie on his back with his feet pointing towards the qibla (that is, towards the Kaaba). If this is not possible, it can be placed on its side facing the qibla. During the funeral rite, the Shahadat prayer is read. It must be read so that the dying person can hear it. You can not leave one woman near the dying,talk loudly or cry around him. Also, he should not be alone in the room. After the death of the deceased, according to tradition, it is necessary to blindfold and mouth, tie up his chin, tie his hands and feet, cover his face. A rite of washing with water or sand is performed over him.

According to Sharia, the deceased should not be buried in clothes. He is wrapped in a shroud. It is a piece of white linen or chintz, divided into three parts: one is wrapped around the legs, the other acts as a shirt, and the third part completely covers the entire deceased. The shroud is sewn only with a wooden needle.

Prayer over the deceased is of particular importance in the funeral rite. They begin to read it even before the funeral. Also associated with this rite is the vahshat prayer (intimidation). It must be read on the first night after the funeral.

Sharia does not approve of the decoration of graves and monumental structures above them. Also, the grave cannot be a place of prayer. A Muslim cannot be buried in a non-Muslim cemetery.

The funeral prayer (salat al-janazah) is recited on the day of the funeral, and in most cultures, the family and friends of the deceased gather three days later for another special prayer. A forty-day mourning period is usually observed, after which normal family events such as weddings or other celebrations may resume.