Understanding the Philosophy of Living Based on Islamic Theology and the Qu’ran

Although the Qur’an and the hadith are the common sources of Islamic theology, Marcia Hermansen argues that different sects and trends interpret these authorities differently, as previously established. Therefore, there is also no concrete agreement on eschatology, which refers to doctrines on death, resurrection, life after death, judgment, beginnings, and history, although purpose is most heavily emphasized. Typically the opinions of classical scholars are used to determine the validity of an eschatological interpretation. Sunni interpretations, especially those of the Ash’arites, trust revealed truth, particularly that concerning God and the unseen world, without requiring a concrete description of the revelation. Medieval Islamic scholars believed that basic eschatology was a literal doctrine of faith.

Eschatology is a broad discipline, but an important once. It has an individual and universal impact in that the fate of one is linked with the purpose and fate of humanity. Islam places a huge emphasis on eschatology mainly because of the doctrine of accountability of one’s actions. There are four main components of creation that set the stage of eschatological themes in Islamic theology: the Day of “Am-I-Not?”, creation and the end of convention, the creation of Adam and the Garden, and the “amana,” or humans accepting the Trust. On the Day of “Am-I-Not?” all human souls acknowledged God as their Lord. From an eschatological dimension, human beings in this life must recall this recognized truth. The Qur’an describes creation as a process as well as an instantaneous response to God’s command to “Be.” There are many references in the Qur’an to the destruction of nature and physical creation. These references allude to a Judgment Day, another aspect of eschatology. The first creation, Adam and human beings, will be mirrored by a second creation, their resurrection. The idea of resurrection was a difficult concept for pre-Islamic Arabs to grasp, and a metaphorical interpretation was also purported by Avicenna. The belief in creation is related to the belief in judgment, of individuals or of nations. Islamic eschatology claims that a trumpet will sound twice to signal the end of times. The first sound will end all life, and the second indicated “qiyama,” or the resurrection of the dead (which is also known as “ba’th,” or “rising up”). All of mankind will then be gathered on a plain, and many aspects of this day, such as the large crowds, confusion, and white clothing resembles aspects of Hajj. Hadith also indicate that punishments will fit the sins, such as greed embodied by a snake around the sinner’s neck, which is where Dante may have drawn his inspiration from for his Inferno. The Day of Judgment is also known as the Day of Reckoning (“yam al-hisab”) because each individual’s deeds have been recorded, and these deeds will testify against each person. These deeds will be weighed on scales (“mizan”), and individual will attempt to cross the “sirat,” a bride over hell – sinners will fall while the good reach the Prophet. After judgment, those destined for hell will be separated from those destined for heaven.