Honorable Muslims!
This world is a place of trials and a guesthouse. It is the cropland and preparation stage for the Afterlife. The Afterlife, on the other hand, is the last stop on our path of servitude before eternity. It is our true homeland and eternal residence.
Belief in the Afterlife gives significance to our lives, attitudes, and behaviors. It helps us to understand the reason for our creation.
A person who believes in the Afterlife is aware that they are under divine supervision. They are always well-measured and well-balanced. They are excusive, forgiving, and tolerant. They are patient and resilient in the face of hardships. For a believer knows, “So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”[１]
Dear Muslims!
The Prophet Muhammad (saw) states in one hadith as follows, “Verily, the example of this world and myself is that of a rider who seeks shade under a tree, then he moves on and leaves it behind.”[２] Yes, we are all passengers on our way to the Afterlife. We shall leave this world where we have been hosted as guests. When that great day arrives, we shall be confronted with the consequences of our actions in this life. Our book of deeds will be handed to us, the scales of justice will be set up, and we will be brought to account. We shall be rewarded for every good deed we have done, but we will also be punished for every sin we have committed.
I would like to conclude this Friday’s khutbah with our Lord’s (swt) following verse: “O you who have believed! Fear Allah and let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow. Fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is acquainted with what you do.”[３]
[１] Zalzalah, 99/7, 8.
[２] Tirmidhi, Zuhd, 44.
[３] Hashr, 59/18.
FRIDAY KHUTBA OF TOKYO CAMİİ “ENDLESS LIFE: AKHIRAH (AFTERLIFE)“.(PDF)