Page 39 - Islam and Karma

The Afterlife According to the Idea of Karma

Everyone who has learnt from the Qur’an of the existence of the
next world, of the eternal agonies of the Fire and of the extraordinary
beauty of the eternal life in the Garden should consider these things
carefully and sincerely. Only someone lacking in intelligence and lack-
ing a conscience would admit the possibility that the pains of Hell re-
ally existed and still refuse to reflect on the implications. Faced with
the possibility of such a terrible thing as living in the Fire for ever, it

would be the height of stupidity to cast this awareness aside in one’s
determination to "get the best out of life" during the short time we
have on Earth.
Instead, we should make a serious effort to avoid bringing this
torture upon ourselves, and we should meticulously follow the teach-
ings that Allah gives us in the Qur’an, and make the best possible use
of the time given to us in this world in view of the reality of the after-

life. We will understand everything fully only at the very moment
when death comes to us. This is what the Qur’an tells us about what
is said at that moment by those who have tried to avoid thinking
about these things because of their fear of death:
The throes of death come revealing the truth. That is what you
were trying to evade! The Trumpet will be blown. That is the Day
of the Threat. Every self will come together with a driver and a wit-
ness: "You were heedless of this so We have stripped you of your
covering and today your sight is sharp”. His inseparable comrade
will say, "This is what I have ready for you". Hurl into Hell every
obdurate disbeliever, impeder of good, doubt-causing aggressor,
who set up another god together with Allah. Hurl him into the ter-
rible punishment. (Surah Qaf: 19-26)

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