How does Islam view Death?

How does Islam view Death? 

Islam offers a distinct and comprehensive perspective on death. In Islam, death does not signify non-existence; rather, it marks the separation of the soul from the body. When a person’s breathing ceases and the heartbeat stops, the individual is considered deceased. The terms mutawaffā (deceased) or wafāʾ (death) literally mean “return,” referring to the soul’s return from its confinement in the human body to the realm from which it originated. As God says: “…Indeed we belong to God, and to Him do we indeed return” (Quran 2:156). Our souls come from God, and ultimately, they return to Him.

Accordingly, Islam views death as the beginning of a new and eternal life, in contrast to the temporary nature of worldly existence. In this life, humans live with both body and soul for a limited time, after which the soul ascends to the heavens and the body is buried in the earth.

Islam teaches that worldly life is a temporary period granted by God for human beings to strive, serve humanity, obey God, fulfill obligations, and avoid prohibitions. In His justice, God will recompense every individual according to their deeds, intentions, and efforts. In this sense, the world is a bridge to the Hereafter—a “farm of the Hereafter”—where our actions in this life are planted, and in the eternal life to come, we reap the rewards. One’s rank in Paradise will be determined by knowledge, actions, piety, manners, and conduct.

Islam also emphasizes the preservation of life. A person is obligated to protect themselves from anything that may lead to death, including fatal diseases, epidemics, deadly accidents, harmful substances, and suicide. One must care for their body and health, eat wholesome food, maintain hygiene, exercise, and engage in activities that prolong life. By living longer while performing righteous deeds, a person’s record in the Hereafter grows, the scale of their deeds becomes heavier, and they earn God’s pleasure and the highest ranks in Paradise.