"Life Begins After Death – A Reflection in the Light of Islam"

They say, "Once a child is born, a new life begins." But as Muslims, we know — real life doesn't begin at birth. It begins after death.

 This life, however long or plentiful it appears to be, is fleeting. We're born in a world of trials, diversions, and illusions. It's a world where happiness and misery go together, and where time, whether sweet or bitter, always elapses. And still we pursue this transitory world as though it would never end.

 But the reality is: this life is merely the beginning — not the end.

 Allah ﷻ reminds us in the Qur'an:

 "Every soul shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection will you be paid your full rewards."

(Surah Aal-e-Imran, 3:185)

 We enter this world crying, not knowing what is in front of us. As soon as we're born, the clock starts. With each breath that we take, we're one step closer to our real home — the akhirah (Hereafter).

 This World: A Test, Not a Home

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to say:

 "Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler."

(Bukhari)

 This dunya (world) is like a stop on a long journey. We’re here to prepare, to worship, to reflect. It’s not meant to be perfect — and it never will be. But that’s the point. The pain, the loss, the struggles — they all serve as reminders that we’re not meant to stay here.

 For a Muslim, death is not an end. It's the beginning of perpetual existence. A shift from the visible to the invisible. From the test to the reward. Or, for others — Allah protect us — the remorse.

 The Real Life: Jannah or Jahannam

Allah ﷻ explains the true life in the Qur'an:

 "And indeed, the home of the Hereafter – that is the [real] life, if only they knew."

(Surah Al-Ankabut, 29:64)

 Think of a life without death, pain, sorrow — only peace, happiness, and proximity to Allah. That's Jannah (Paradise). But we don't arrive there by chance. We arrive there by faith, patience, prayer, and righteous deeds. And we fail. But the glory of Islam is that Allah is Most Forgiving. He loves to forgive. He loves those who attempt, even when they fall short.

 So Why Do People Say "Life Starts Now"?

Perhaps it's because they have not looked beyond the veil of this world. They view a baby's birth as the beginning of something lovely — and in many respects, it is. But the true loveliness is not in starting life here. It's in finishing life well and being received into a much better place by the grace of our Creator.

 So let us remind ourselves and our loved ones:

 Life doesn't begin when we're born. It really begins when we come back to Allah.

Let's live this brief life in preparation for the eternal one.

 May Allah guide us to live with purpose, and give us the best ending. Ameen.