your hearts purified, you build for the Hereafter and you take along provisions for your day of departure”.
· This supplication is another proof:“O Lord! May peace be upon Mohammad and his kinfolk, people of praise, who Thou ordered us to obey, to seek their affection, to sustain their rights and who Thou grant the Paradise to whoever follow their traces”.
· It is reported from Amir Al-Mu’menin (PBUH) that:“O people! We and you were created to stay alive and not to become extinct. You only move to another home, so be supplied as you are heading to where you will be eternally living. Wish you Peace”.
· Imam Al-Hasan (PBUH) was asked:“What is it about death that they do not know? He replied: ‘It is the greatest happiness for the believers as they are transported from an embittered life to eternal happiness; yet, it is the greatest affliction for the disbelievers as they are transported from their paradise to the eternal Fire’”.
Anwar:Excellent! Can you please offer us a rational proof to support these reported proofs?
Hasan:In fact, the reported proofs are the ones that support the rational proofs because reason produces these proofs even before law comes to existence.
Anwar:What do you mean?
Hasan:It is easy. Mind thinks and comes to conclusions, then law recognizes what mind concluded if it is compatible with its.
Anwar:It will be fine if you tell us what mind concludes in this regard.
Hasan:Of course. Pay attention. Here, we say:
· The Almighty Allah is Wise, and so, He is far above any absurd and irrational acts. Moreover, if there were no other life than this, there would be no purpose for the creation of mankind. Thus, because the Almighty Allah does not do any absurd and irrational acts, the Hereafter has to exist. This following Holy Verse is an obvious proof to the existence of Hereafter and that human beings are not creature in vain:
(What! did you then think that We had created you in vain and that you shall not be returned to Us?۞So Exalted be Allah, the True King; no god is there but He, the Lord of the honorable dominion)23;115-116.
· We can also say: The Almighty Allah is Just, and so, He is far above that to treat the oppressor and the oppressed equally. The oppressor has to be punished. Then, we say: if there were no Hereafter, the oppressor and the oppressed would be equal, and as far as the Almighty Allah does not treat the oppressor and the oppressed in the same way, we have this Holy Verse in the Noble Quran:
(Shall We treat those who believe and do good like the mischief-makers in the earth? Or shall We make those who guard (against evil) like the wicked?)38;28.
Al-Jathiya Chapter from the Noble Quran is also specified to talk about this matter.
· We say; The Almighty Allah promised to reward the obedient and to punish the disobedient; it is either heaven or hell.
As long as the Most Gracious Allah never breaks His promises, there must be the Hereafter where He fulfills His promises.
Anwar:I have more questions, but I will leave them for our next meeting.
Hasan:As you wish. I am at your service.
Symposium 63
Resurrection of Animals
Anwar:Salam ‘Alaykom!
Hasan:Alaykom As-Salam Wa Rahmatollah Wa Barakatoh!
Anwar:I have some questions related to the Hereafter and the Day of Judgment. Can I ask?
Hasan:Please! This is what we are here for.
Anwar:I once read Holy Verses from the Noble Quran that talk about resurrecting some animals, like these:
(And there is no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but they are genera
like yourselves; We have not neglected anything in the Book, then to their Lord shall they be gathered)6;38.
(And when the wild animals are made to go forth )81;5.
What can you tell us in this regard?
Hasan:My answer will be what the honorable religious expert, Al-Fadil Al-Miqdad([17]) – God bless his soul – said:“The Holy Verse, (there is no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but they are genera like yourselves; We have not neglected anything in the Book, then to their Lord shall they be gathered), reasonably proves the necessity of resurrection so everyone would be treat with justice; yet, some say it is not a necessity but just a possibility”.
What is reported from Abu Zar can also offer an answer:“I was with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) when two goats butted one another. The Prophet (PBUH) said: ‘Do you know why they were butting?’ We said, no. So, he said: ‘But Allah knows and He will adjudge them’”.
[17]Sharaf Al-Deen, Miqdad Bin Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Husain Bin Mohammed Al-sairoy Al-Asadi Al-Helli Al-ghrawy, was known as (Al-Fadel Al-Miqdad) or (Al-Fadel Al-Saiory),(… - 826 AH), He was one of the honorable reliqious scholars, and traditions expert in the 9th Hijri century.
The honorable religious expert, Al-Majlisi – God bless his soul – said:“Many tackled the resurrection of animals in many different ways. There are reports about resurrecting animals in general and in specific; some might be in heaven and some other at heaven’s door; some might be ridden in the Day of Judgment, etc.
They (PBUT) said about whoever avoids almsgiving (Zakat): ‘they will tear them into pieces with their teeth and other will set hooves on them’.
Al-Sadouq says in ‘Al-Faqih’ reporting from Al-Sokouni that the Prophet (PBUH) saw a camel shackled with trousseau. He asked: ‘Where is its owner? Tell him to prepare himself for prosecution’.
It is reported from Imam Al-Sadiq (PBUH) that ‘every camel taken to the Pilgrimage (Haj) for three years – it is also reported seven years – it will be among the blessings of the heaven’.
It is reported from the Prophet (PBUH) that ‘be kind to your animal sacrifices as they will be your riding animals on the Path’, as it is also reported that the horses of conquerors in this world will their horses in
heaven”.
What is said so far can offer an answer.
Anwar:Excellent! My last question would be about the benefit of believing in the Hereafter.
Hasan:In fact, there are several benefits:
· Believing in the Hereafter, alongside with the reward and the punishment and the frightening and pleasing aspects, urges us to adjust our beliefs, intentions, words and deeds in accordance with the Shari’a.
· Working on the basis of the Shari’a will fulfill happiness in this world for individuals as well as communities.
· The desire for the heaven necessitates dedication in our work and adopting good manners, as hatred for the hell and its horrible phase prevent us from committing sins and crimes and generally any wrongdoings.
· Believing in the Hereafter gives hope and repels despair.
· Believing in the Hereafter reduces from the suffering due to disasters and catastrophes, as it gives us patience
and restrains our earthly desires that drive us to committing deadly sins, not to mention other psychological and social benefits.
Anwar:Thank you so much. Now that we are done discussing the Hereafter, I would like to raise some ideological questions.
Hasan:Let us put off your curiosity for next time.
Anwar:As you wish, Akhi Hasan.
Hasan:Thank you. See you next time, Inshallah