Akhirah

Not to be confused with Akira (disambiguation).

al-Ākhirah (Arabic: الآخرة, derived from Akhir which means last, ultimate, end or close)[1][2] is an Arabic term for "the Hereafter".[3][4]

In Islamic eschatology, on Judgment Day, the natural or temporal world (dunya) will come to an end, the dead will be resurrected from their graves, and God will pronounce judgment on their deeds,[5][6] consigning them for eternity to either the bliss of jannah (heaven) or the torment of jahannam (hell).

The belief that death is not the end of existence, but a transferral from the temporal world to the everlasting world, (al-Ākhirah), is a belief Islam shares with other Abrahamic religions such as Judaism and Christianity.

Al-Ākhirah is referenced dozens of times in the Quran in numerous surahs[7] where among other things, believers are told it makes "the enjoyment of this worldly life" (dunya) appear "insignificant" (Q.9:38).

In connection with the Last Judgment, it is traditionally considered to be one of the six essential beliefs of Muslims, (along with Tawhid (monotheism), angels, the four Revealed Books (Injeel, Taurait, Quran and Zabur), prophets and messengers, and predestination). In Islamic doctrine, Al-Akhirah is necessary because the pious often suffer and unbelievers often prosper and enjoy themselves in the temporal world. To rectify that and to bring justice, Al-Akhirah with rewards of Jannah and punishment of Jahannam is necessary.[8]

  1. ^ Siddiqui, Abdur Rashid (25 November 2014). "Akhirah (The Hereafter)". Alukah. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  2. ^ Siddiqui, Ahdur Rasheed (2015). "Akhirah". Qur'anic Keywords: A Reference Guide. Leicestershire, UK: Islamic Foundation. pp. 11–14. ISBN 9780860376767. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Searchable Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic" (PDF). giftsofknowledge. p. 8. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  4. ^ "What does AKHIRAH mean?". definitions.net. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  5. ^ "Eschatology (doctrine of last things)". Britannica. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Afterlife (akhirah)". BBC. GCSE WJEC. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  7. ^ "search results". Quran.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  8. ^ Siddiqui, Ahdur Rasheed (2015). "Akhirah". Qur'anic Keywords: A Reference Guide. Leicestershire, UK: Islamic Foundation. p. 14. ISBN 9780860376767. Retrieved 16 April 2022.