Resurrection: Hope in a Better Life

In Islam, after belief in Allah, belief in the Resurrection has the primary place in securing a peaceful social order. Why should those who do not believe that they will be called to account strive to live an honest, upright life? But those of us who are convinced of this final reckoning in the other world certainly try to live a disciplined and upright life.

Allah says in the Quran what means:

[In whatever affair you may be, and whichever part of the Quran you recite, and whatever deed you do, We are witness over you when you are deeply engrossed therein. Not an atom's weight in the Earth and in the heaven escapes your Lord, nor is there anything smaller or greater, but it is in a Manifest Book.] (Yunus 10:61)

Muslims believe that certain angels are entrusted with recording everything that we do. Allah also has full knowledge and awareness of all our deeds, intentions, thoughts, and imaginings. Those who understand this, and act accordingly, will find true peace and happiness in both worlds. A family and community composed of such individuals would feel that they were living in Paradise.

Belief in the Resurrection prevents young people from wasting their lives in transitory and trivial things, and gives hope to the elderly as they move closer to the grave. It also helps children endure the death of loved ones.

Children who believe that they will be reunited with their deceased loved ones in a far better world find true consolation in the Resurrection. Everyone, regardless of age, gender, and any other artificial human-devised difference, needs belief in the Resurrection as much as they need air, water, and bread.

As this belief leads people to a life of peace, intellectuals who seek public peace and security should emphasize it. Muslims who are convinced of what the Quran declares that Whoever does an atom's weight of good shall see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil shall see it live a responsible life, and a community composed of such people finds true peace and happiness.

When this belief is inculcated in the hearts of young people, they will no longer be a harmful social element, but rather, will seek to serve their nation and humanity.

Children are very sensitive and delicate. Extremely susceptible to misfortune, they are also easily affected by what happens to them and their families. When they lose a family member or become orphans, their world becomes dark and they fall into deep distress and despair.

What else other than belief in the Resurrection and reunion with deceased loved ones can compensate for the loss of parents, brothers and sisters, and friends? Children will find true consolation only when they are convinced that their beloved ones have flown to Paradise, and that they will be reunited with them.

How can you compensate the elderly for their past years, their childhood and youth that have been left behind? How can you console them for the loss of their loved ones who preceded them in death? How can you remove the fear of death and the grave from their hearts? How can you make them forget death, which they feel so deeply? Will more and newer worldly pleasures console them?

Only convincing them that the grave, which seems to them like an open-mouthed dragon just waiting to devour them, is really a door to another and much better world, or simply a lovely waiting room opening onto that world, can compensate and console them for such losses.

In its inimitable style, the Quran voices such feelings through Prophet Zachariah:

[This is a mention of your Lord's mercy unto His servant Zechariah; when he invoked Him with a secret, sincere call, saying: "My Lord, my very bones have become rotten and my head is shining with gray hair. My Lord! I have never been disappointed in my prayer to You.] (Maryam 19:2-5)

Fearing that his kinsmen would not be sufficiently loyal to his mission after his death, Prophet Zachariah (peace be upon him) appealed to his Master for a male heir to continue his mission. This is the cry of all old people.

Belief in Allah and the Resurrection gives them the good news: "Do not be afraid of death, for death is not eternal extinction. It is only a change of worlds, a discharge from your life's distressing duties, a passport to an eternal world where all kinds of beauty and blessing wait for you.

"The Merciful One Who sent you to the world, and has kept you alive therein for so long a time, will not leave you in the grave's darkness and dark corridors opening onto the other world.

"He will take you to His Presence, give you an eternal and ever-happy life, and bless you with all the bounty of Paradise."

Only such good news as this can console the elderly and enable them to welcome death with a smile.
Our free will, which we use to direct our life, makes us unique among all creatures. Free will, according to Islam, is the manifestation of Divine mercy and, if used properly, will cause us to be rewarded with the fruits of mercy.

Belief in the Resurrection is the most important and compelling factor urging us to use our free will properly and not to wrong or harm others.