Life, death and resurrection in the hereafter – this is the course of human life. To begin with, where has life come from? Some people have cheek and temerity to assert that life is an accident, i.e. we have come to life in an accidental manner. Some others say, in a layman’s terms, that it is the parents who give life to their offspring. But, for that matter, there are a lot of parents who desire for children but, as the Providence would have it, remain childless. On closer analysis, we come to realise that in both the cases they are beating about the bush. The truth is that bringing one to life is the manifestation of Divine will, i.e. it is God who brings a person to life.
The Qur’ān (42:49-50) avers: “To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He creates what he wills. He gives to whom He wills female (children), and He gives to whom He wills males. Or He makes them (both) males and females, and He renders whom He wills barren. Indeed, He is Knowing and Competent.” In our society we find people who are blessed with only daughters, and there are people who have only sons, and also those who have both daughters and sons. And there are some people whom God wills to render barren. In all these cases people have to undergo some sort of trial – whether or not they remain thankful to God.
This life grows and grows and a time comes when it comes to an end. But we have to understand that it is only the end of our earthly life, not life itself. For, death is the transmogrification of soul (and also of body) from the earth to Aalam-e-Barzakh (a period and state between death and resurrection) where the ‘dead’ body and soul lives in the manner God wills, till the Day of Judgement when God will bring people back to life, put them to accountability and bless them with everlasting life in Paradise if they are thankful believers and their deeds on earth are acceptable, and condemn the unbelievers to Hell.
The Qur’ān (22:66) draws a picture of this human journey from birth to death and from death to resurrection in a succinct manner: “It is He who gave you life, and then will cause you to die, and then will bring you back to life.”
Before our death, God makes us see the death of some of our near and dear ones as also of other persons in society. This gives us chance to contemplate on the journey human life has to undertake, and make preparations for the life to come, mend our ways in the required areas and be thankful to God for whatever He has blessed us with. This is the way one can enjoy ultimate success, God willing.