Resurrection After Death (Part 10)

Author: Abu Ayesha

Resurrection After Death (Part 10)

The Argument from Divine Wisdom

The divine wisdom of Allah (SWT) necessitated that human beings be created differently from other creatures in their creation, moral capacity, and structure, due to the lofty purpose and great mission they are meant to fulfill in this world. Thus, the divine will behind the creation of this world is that it serves as an abode of action and trial for humanity, so that later they may receive complete recompense for their deeds in the Abode of Recompense.[1]

All of us are fully aware of this reality and know that Allah the Exalted is Wise in His essence, and that all His actions are based on wisdom and sound purpose. Therefore, when we observe that rebellious oppressors are not punished in this world and that they live with arrogance and pride, we should not assume that this worldly life is all that exists. Rather, a day will surely come when such individuals will witness the recompense for every single one of their actions and behaviors.

At this point, several important questions arise that help clarify the essence of this issue:

• If there is no other world and no resurrection, how can the tyrants—those who shed people’s blood, take pleasure in doing so, and live in this world without facing hardship or accountability—be justly answered?

• If resurrection and life after death do not exist, what consolation remains for the oppressed whose rights have been trampled upon, and to whom should they express their suffering—those who endured years of injustice at the hands of despotic and oppressive rulers?

• If neither the oppressors nor the oppressed are recompensed in this world or the next, can wisdom and justice truly be said to exist, when we know with certainty that our Lord is both Just and Wise?

Verses on Divine Wisdom

Allah the Exalted says: الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ  [2] Translation: “Those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and who reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth [saying]: ‘Our Lord, you did not create this in vain. Glory be to You; so, protect us from the punishment of the Fire.’”

From this verse it is understood that reflection upon creation and realization that it is not purposeless naturally leads to belief in resurrection, reward, and punishment. According to the implication of this verse, true believers—upon realizing that existence is not futile or a mere plaything but rather established upon specific wisdom—immediately turn to supplication, seeking deliverance from the punishment of the Day of Resurrection.[3]

The Lord of the Worlds says: اللَّهُ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ  [4] Translation: “Allah is the One who raised the heavens without pillars that you can see, then established Himself over the Throne, and subjected the sun and the moon—each running for an appointed term. He governs all affairs and explains the signs, so that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.”

Reflecting upon the creation of the heavens and the earth and contemplating the temporality and eventual end of all created beings, leads the intellect to the necessity of resurrection. Otherwise, all these intricate systems of creation would be rendered meaningless and purposeless.

Allah the Exalted says: وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَاعِبِينَ ۝ لَوْ أَرَدْنَا أَنْ نَتَّخِذَ لَهْوًا لَاتَّخَذْنَاهُ مِنْ لَدُنَّا إِنْ كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ ۝ بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ  [5] Translation: “We did not create the heavens and the earth and what lies between them as a plaything. Had We intended amusement, we could have taken it from Our own presence—if We were to do so. Rather, we cast the truth against falsehood, and it crushes it, and behold, falsehood vanishes. And woe to you for what you attribute [to Allah].”

Allah the Exalted also says: أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ  [6] Translation: “Did you think that We created you aimlessly and that you would not be returned to Us?”

In this verse, the notion of purposeless creation is posed as a rhetorical question of negation, indicating that the idea of creation being futile and the denial of resurrection is nothing but false imagination and delusion. The divine essence is exalted above such an act. In contrast, the disbelievers and polytheists who denied resurrection used to say: إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا مَوْتَتُنَا الْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُنْشَرِينَ  [7] Translation: “There is nothing but our first death, and we will never be resurrected.”

Allah the Exalted says: وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَاعِبِينَ ۝ مَا خَلَقْنَاهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۝ إِنَّ يَوْمَ الْفَصْلِ مِيقَاتُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ  [8] Translation: “We did not create the heavens and the earth and what lies between them as a plaything. We created them only in truth, but most people do not know. Indeed, the Day of Judgment—the Day of decisive separation—is the appointed time for all of them.”

The collective meaning of these verses can be formulated as a sound rational argument establishing the necessity of resurrection. Within them lies a profound lesson for people of intellect and reflection.

Continues…

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References:

[1]. Ramadan, Manzur ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad, Manhaj al-Qur’an al-Karim fi Ithbat ‘Aqidat al-Ba‘th Ba‘d al-Mawt, n.d., pp. 131–132.

[2]. Surah Aal ‘Imran, verse 191.

[3]. Makki, Dr. Majd, A Comprehensive Collection of Sunni Creed, trans. Fayz Muhammad بلوچ, 2015, vol. 2, p. 654.

[4]. Surah al-Ra‘d, verse 2.

[5]. Surah al-Anbiya’, verses 16–19.

[6]. Surah al-Mu’minun, verse 115.

[7]. Surah al-Dukhan, verse 35.

[8]. Surah al-Dukhan, verses 38–40.