Life after Death

Guidance-I

“Man is prone to say: ‘Shall I be raised to life after I die?’ Does man not remember that We created him before when he was nothing? By your Lord, We will surely muster them and the devils together. Then We will surely bring them all, on their knees, around Hell, and We will draw aside from each party those who were most rebellious against the Most Compassionate Lord, and then We shall know well all those most worthy to be cast in Hell. There is not one of you but shall pass by Hell. This is a decree which your Lord will fulfil. Then We shall deliver those that feared Allah and leave the wrong-doers there on their knees.”

(Al-Qur’an – 19:66-72)

These Qur’anic verses deal with the most vital misconception of the unbelievers that man will not be raised after his death to account for what good or bad he has done during his life on earth. They aim at righting this wrong and warning the unbelievers against the certainty of the Day of Judgement when God will raise them along with their devils. The reference to ‘devils’ here talks of those devils under whose influence the unbelievers regarded the life in this world as the only life and thereby denied the Next Life where all will be called to account.

The word warid, according to some traditions, signifies ‘one who enters’. These traditions are weak, for they are not backed up by a chain of authentic narrations going back to the Holy Prophet, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be with him). Moreover, this interpretation is contrary to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and a large number of authentic traditions which exclude righteous believers from entering Hell. Furthermore, this view is not supported by lexical evidence for indeed warud does not mean entrance.

What is meant by this verse, therefore, is that everyone will pass by Hell; yet, as stated in the following verse, the pious will be saved from entering it, while the wrong-doers will be hurled into it.

Top