Are there concrete proofs about the existence of Paradise and Hell?

Dear Brother / Sister,

A great part of the Quran is allocated to the explanation of the existence of the hereafter. We can say that the most important news given by the Quran, after the existence of Allah and the expressions related to it, is that the hereafter exists, and that what we do in the world will affect how we lead our lives in the hereafter.

The Quran provides information that was impossible for anyone to know at that time, 1,400 years ago, from physics to embryology, from geology to zoology. The Quran, which deals with all these different subjects, provided the correct and perfect facts in every subject, without including the wrong beliefs and wrong information of that time regarding any issue.

The greatest claim of the Quran, its greatest news, is the existence of Allah, that the existence of Allah is more important than anything else, and that we do not associate partners with Allah. The Quran describes the existence of Allah, which is the basis of all formations in the Universe; and all the formations in the Universe confirm the Quran by showing Allah’s knowledge, might and artistry. The Quran, which shows the existence of Allah, which is the most important knowledge, has no alternative on earth. The Quran introduced the most important issue, belief in Allah, and enabled people to gain this belief. The Quran saved people from unbelief and idolatry, and at the same time, it approved the books and prophets that came before it. In short, those who understand the existence of Allah and the importance of His existence will also understand the importance of the Quran, which forms the belief regarding the issue.

The Quran, which forms miracles that are not seen in any book, in any work or anywhere, is also the book that fulfills the most important task. To sum up:

1. The Quran informs people about the most important issue, the existence of Allah, and leads people to Allah.

2. It shows unprecedented miracles in the world. Thus, it proves that it is from Allah and that its messages are correct.

For example, examine what we wrote about the creation of the Universe in the first three issues. You will see that the information revealed by the Quran on this subject was not available anywhere before (before this subject was understood scientifically). Consider the Quran’s explanations about the development of the embryo in the mother’s womb; the same thing holds true. Think of the Quran’s explanations about the world of animals and consider its explanations about the bottom of the seas; the same thing holds true.

All these miracles and the task undertaken by the Quran prove that the Quran is the word of Allah and how reliable it is. As we stated before, the biggest claim of the Quran, which has all these miracles, after the existence of Allah, is the existence of the hereafter. Every miracle that reveals the reliability of the Quran thus forms a proof for the existence of the hereafter.

IT IS VERY EASY FOR ALLAH TO CREATE THE HEREAFTER

There are many proofs of the existence of the hereafter. The wish of existing eternally that we inherently have and the wish of never being non-existent are proofs of the existence of the hereafter. Allah gave us water to meet the need of the feeling of thirst that He gave us; He created the sustenance that we could eat since He created the feeling of hunger. It is Allah who created the feeling of not being satisfied with this life and the wish of living eternally, that is, being in need of the hereafter in man. Allah, who gives us water to meet the feeling of thirst and food to meet the need of hunger, will definitely create the hereafter to meet our feeling of living eternally. If Allah had not wanted to give them to us, He would not have given us the feeling of wanting. Since Allah makes us want the hereafter, He will definitely give it to us.

Man, who experiences sleep, which is the younger brother of death, every night and who wakes up every morning as if he is resurrected, virtually watches the signs of the Day of Judgment and Resurrection.

“For sure, however reasonable and necessary and certain the morning of this night is, the Morning of the Resurrection and the spring following the Intermediate Realm are certain to the same degree.” (Sözler)

The rays of that life always signal to us. However, what matters is to accept it before going there and to watch the sun before it starts to rise. Is it of any significance to accept the existence of the sun after it rises? One light of that sun is in the world of our spirit: the wish to live eternally. Badiuzzaman Said Nursi expresses that this wish is a proof of the existence of the hereafter as follows:

“(If He had not wanted to give, He would not have given wanting) Yes, if the Being that created us had not wanted us to watch this world, would He have equipped us with eyes in the uterus? Would He have given us ears if He had not wanted us to hear these wonderful sounds? Yes, the biggest evidence for the existence of the hereafter if the wish of “living eternally” placed in the spirit of man.”

“But seek, with the (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on thee, the Home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this world...” (al-Qasas, 28/77)

A person who wants what is low and mean throughout his life, who gets used to low and mean things and who pursues mean things will not be able to look for the hereafter. Lofty ideals, supreme attributes and high ethics are gradually deleted from his spirit. There is also a state that is opposite. As a person makes progress in belief, he wants to meet his Lord more. As he sends more capital to the hereafter, he starts to want to reach there more. A student who thinks of his future and the ranks he will attain does not pay much attention to the yard, classrooms, café and desks of the school very much; similarly, such a person’s love of this world gradually decreases in his heart. No sane person regards it possible that life starts and ends in this world.

“Do they not reflect in their own minds? Not but for just ends and for a term appointed, did Allah create the heavens and the earth, and all between them: yet are there truly many among men who deny the meeting with their Lord (at the Resurrection).” (ar-Rum, 30/8)

After the Ascension (Miraj), the Prophet (pbuh) described the realm of the hereafter to his Companions as follows:

“No eyes have seen anything like that; no ears have heard anything like that; nobody has ever imagined anything like that.” (see as-Sajda, 32/17; az-Zukhruf, 43/71; Bukhari, Bad’ul-Khalq: 8, Tafsiru Surah: 32:1, Tawhid: 35; Muslim, Iman: 312, Jannah: 2- 5; Tirmidhi, Tafsiru Surah: 32:2, 56:1; Ibn Majah, Zuhd: 39)

Paradise cannot be described better than this statement. For, this description is the description of a person who saw Paradise.

“Show us the source and origin of these examples and shadows you have shown us.”

Is it not possible to understand Badiuzzaman Said Nursi’s prayer above as follows?: The world is a place of examples and shadows. A man’s photograph is much less than his own body; similarly, his state in Paradise is much better than his state in this world. It is felt how much better Paradise, where trees obey rules, is than this world, where humans do not obey rules. Besides, the mind says, “It has to be so.”

The most important and sufficient proof of the existence of the hereafter, Allah’s promise on this issue, and the miracles of the Quran are also proofs for the existence of the hereafter.

Is it possible that Allah will disappoint His slaves who believe in His promise, who believe that it is very easy for Allah to create, who turn to Him and who want the hereafter from Him? Is it possible that He will confirm those who do not believe in His promise, who do not regard it possible that Allah will create the hereafter, who do not heed Allah, who deny Him and who make fun of those who turn to Allah? It is definitely impossible! Everything that is seen shows that Allah is trustworthy and that He will never break His promise. Telling lies originates from being incomplete and weak. It is impossible to regard Allah as incomplete and weak. 

The basis of the doubts regarding the existence of the hereafter during the period of the Prophet (pbuh) and in the periods after him was formed by the question “Can Allah create the hereafter?” This is the question that forms the knot about the existence of the hereafter. The Quran answers this question concisely, clearly and in a very convincing way as follows:

“Doth not man see that it is We Who created Him from sperm? Yet behold! He (stands forth) as an open adversary! And he makes comparisons for us, and forgets his own (Origin and) Creation: He says ‘Who can give life to (dry) bones and decomposed ones (at that)?’ Say, ‘He will give them life Who created them for the first time! For He is well-versed in every kind of creation.’” (Yasin, 36/77-79)

The One Who created them for the first time! To know that Allah created us is sufficient evidence to understand the existence of the hereafter and how easy it is for Allah to create the hereafter. It will be sufficient for us to examine the universe and to understand how perfectly, finely and deliberately Allah created the universe in order to understand how easily Allah will create the hereafter.

“They say: ‘What! When we are reduced to bones and dust, should we really be raised up (to be) a new creation?’ Say: ‘(Nay!) Be ye stones or iron, Or created matter which, in your minds, is hardest (to be raised up) - (yet shall ye be raised up)!’ Then will they say: ‘Who will cause us to return?’ Say: ‘He Who created you first!’” (al-Isra, 17/49-51)

It is very easy for Allah to create the universe. It is a promise of Allah; besides, it is our greatest need; furthermore, hundreds of verses of the Quran insistently give use the glad tidings about the hereafter. Since it is obvious how easy it is for Allah to create the universe, denial is an astounding thing. Allah is the creator of man and He knows how the soil decays the human body. Allah does not forget the first creation of man since the soil decomposes the human body.

“What! When we die and become dust, (shall we live again?).’ That is a (sort of) Return far (from our understanding). We already know how much of them the earth takes away: with Us is a Record guarding (the full account).” (Qaf, 50/ 3-4)

Allah stores all of the knowledge about the human body in a single DNA cell. When the Quran tells us that we can understand the existence of the hereafter by looking at our own creation, it attracts our attention to how Allah creates in many verses. In the chapters where we examine the miracles of the Quran, most of these miracles show the perfection of the creation of Allah in the universe. The cells of our body constantly die and new ones are created. Not even one cell of our body today is the same as the cells on the day we were born. The foods we eat become a part of our body and replace the parts that die. Atoms like carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur, which are the building blocks of our body, always go in and come out of our body as long as we live and pass to the soil. However, our essential, spiritual self, which we call “soul, spirit”, does not change and remains the same.  Allah creates our material body by continuously renewing it even when we are alive. Allah, who knows how the soil destroys our body and what the origin of our body is like, has promised us to create us again. Since it is an easy promise and since it is Allah’s promise, it will take place. Many verses of the Quran attract our attention to the creation of the universe and the earth and show them as evidence for the creation of the hereafter and the resurrection of the death.   

“See they not that Allah, who created the heavens and the earth, and never wearied with their creation is able to give life to the dead? Yea, verily He has power over all things.” (al-Ahqaf, 46/33)

The long-range creations in the universe, the big numbers of the individuals of the living beings and the species of the living beings show us that it is as easy for Allah to create living beings in big numbers as creating one individual.

“And your creation or your resurrection is in no wise but as an individual soul: for Allah is He Who hears and sees (all things).” (Luqman, 31/28)

LET US GET READY! WE ARE GOING

When many issues are clearly explained in the Quran, especially those that we cannot perceive with our senses are explained with the analogy method (as mutashabih). (See Aal-i Imran, verse 7) This analogy method is also used when Paradise and Hell in the Hereafter are described. (See al-Baqara, verse 25) It is understood from the verses that the blessings in the hereafter are described in a metaphorical way, that is, with an analogy. Although the narrations in the world are a source of information about the hereafter, it would be wrong to consider them as 100% true picture of the hereafter since those narrations are metaphorical (mutashabih). Although the happiness in Paradise and the regret in Hell are obvious, it will be understood in the hereafter what the Quran’s expressions mean exactly.

In addition, it should be noted that what is told about the hereafter does not include the knowledge of the whole of Paradise and Hell. Even if we tried to describe the Antalya region in Turkey, it would be a thicker book than the Quran. If the Quran had given all the details about Paradise and Hell, there would have been many volumes of books. Certain sections about Paradise and Hell are given in the Quran; they are certain clues for people. Mentioning the names of a few fruits in Paradise does not indicate that there are only those fruits in Paradise. The statement that everything the human soul desires is in Paradise is a proof of it. (see ash-Shuara 22, az-Zukhruf 71, al-Anbiya 102, Qaf 35) The Quran describes sections from the hereafter according to the general desires and fears of people and the period in which it was sent down. Those sections describe Paradise and Hell with certain scenes and with a metaphorical narration.

There can be no wiser or more conscientious deed in this short life than turning to Allah and making efforts for the hereafter. The life of this world is very short. Moreover, a third of this short life is spent asleep, a few years in the toilet and a long time on the road... It is great ingratitude not to turn to Allah, who gives all kinds of blessings, for the sake of a few years of extra pleasure, and it is great foolishness not to work hard for the eternal hereafter despite the short life on earth.

“For He (Allah) is Well-versed in every kind of creation.” (Yasin, 36/79),

“Allah has power over all things.” (an-Nur, 24/45),

“Verily We shall give life to the dead.” (Yasin, 36/12)

“... And that is easy for Allah.” (at-Taghabun, 64/7).

“Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.” (Al-i Imran, 3/185)

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