The Quran, also known as The Book of Allah, The Criterion and The Light was sent down by Allah upon His messenger Muhammad, through Archangel Gabriel, in the arabic language, as a proof of religion and a guidance for mankind. The Quran is the literal word of Allah, revealed through a span of 23 years. The very first verse that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad was ‘Iqra…’ from Surah Alaq, which means ‘to read’. As the angel Gabriel passed on the verses of Quran to Prophet Muhammad, it was brought to us through multiple and rigorously authenticated chain of narrators. The Quran provides direction to help mankind judge between right and wrong without which man would surely be in loss. The Quran is the only religious sacred text that has been in circulation for a lengthy period, yet remains as pure as the day it was revealed.

Whenever Allah sent a messenger to a group of people He sent him with a miracle so that people would bring an understanding of the truthfulness of the man’s prophethood. As such Allah supported His messengers by sending them holy verses so that they might be believed and followed. ‘We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice’ [Al-Hadeed 57:25] Before the Quran, many scriptures like Tawraat, Zaboor and Injeel were revealed to The Quran is the final scripture of Allah, confirming the truth in the previous scriptures and refuting the false additions in their current versions. It is mentioned in the Quran, ‘I believe in whatsoever Allah has sent down of the Book [all the holy Books, - this Quran and the Books of the old from the Taurat (Torah), or the Injeel (Gospel) or the Pages of Ibrahim (Abraham)]’ [Ash-Shooraa 42:15]

Allah states in the Quran, ‘“He is the One” Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving.’ [Al-Mulk 67:2] The philosophy of life of a muslim is simple. He should strive to do the best deeds in this world to attain peace and success in this world and in the next. This is how muslims are generally wired. They know people will be rewarded for their good deeds and punished for bad ones. But the sad part is that people fail to realize this fact and forget to live their lives according to it. They simply run behind the mere pleasures of this world forgetting the bounty of the hereafter. Allah says, ‘I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.’ [Ad-Dhariyat 51:56] and if a believer understands the purpose of his life, it becomes easier for him to live in a way that is beneficial for him in both worlds.

In Islam, death marks the end of wordly life and the beginning of Afterlife. Belief in afterlife is one of the six articles of faith in Islam. It is mentioned in the Quran that, ‘Every soul will taste death. And you will only receive your full reward on the Day of Judgment.’ [Al-Imran 3-185] Islam elaborately discusses what happens before, during and after death. After death and resurrection, Allah will judge every man and he will decide if the person’s Aakhira lies in Jannah (Heaven) or Jahannam (Hell). In Surah An-NIsa Allah describes briefly the eternal life of those in hell and heaven.

• ‘Surely those who reject Our signs, We will cast them into the Fire. Whenever their skin is burnt completely, We will replace it so they will ˹constantly˺ taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.’
• ‘As for those who believe and do good, We will admit them into Gardens under which rivers flow, to stay there for ever and ever. There they will have pure spouses,1 and We will place them under a vast shade.’ [An-Nisa 4:56-57]