Eschatology and Theodicy

Arguments for the soul and afterlife

• Descartes believed that the mind came from an immaterial world and returns to it after death. Supported by Kalamists.

• A feeling that one has a soul and the belief that it will continue in an afterlife

• Empirical Oberservations from our senses that an afterlife soul or spirits exist. May be seen through mystical experiences.

• Postulation that there is a soul to avoid nihilism

Arguments against the soul and afterlife

• Empiricist biologists and chemists have not detected a soul in the body.

• The mind is merely a product of complex interaction in the brain. It is material

• The mind cannot survive without the body

Arguments against both for and against afterlife

• Sceptics belive there is inconclusive empirical evidence for/against souls and science has not shown that the mind and brain are identical

• Kant believes we can be completely sure but believing in one makes people responsible and gives their life a meaning

Psyche (C) and Nafs (Is)

• Word for Soul

• Individual self or personality

• Subject to accountability at the day of judgement

• "have inclinations to do evil and good” and can stray from the straight path to god

• Implies a notion of freewill

Pneuma (C) and Ruah (Is)

• Breath breathed into humans by god to create living beings

• living “spirit”

• Part of the soul that has innate knowledge of God and this provides innate conscience of right and wrong

• Taqwa (Is) and linked to imaga dei (C)

Body and Resurrection

• Human beings are the highest physical creations of God

• Contrasts with Platos and Hindiusm view as body is seem as evil

• Adam - “soil” Eve - “Living”

• Argue that a purified body will be resurrected and joined with the soul.

• Therefore the matter and body are not evil but the soul and mind have evil inclinations

Similarities between Christianity and Islam

• Psyche and Nafs

• Pneuma and Ruh

• Body and Resurrection

Differences between Christianity and Islam

• Original sin vs Fitrah

• Imago Dei

Original sin vs Fitrah

• Humans very originally perfect but “Original Sin” destroys the harmony resulting in unhappiness and poor decisions.

• Baptism is required to purify and correct their natures so they can live a life of holiness

• In Islam. humans were born in a state of purity “Fitrah” as the original sin was forgiven by Allah

• A persons fitrah can be made impure by bad deeds and the purpose of their life should be to preserver their “original purity”

Quote relating to Fitrah

“ Those who purify their nafs will have everlasting happiness those who corrupt their souls will be deprived of happiness” (Surah 91)

Imago dei

• St Augustine interpreted humans being created with a soul that has reason,freewill and innate knowledge of goodness

• There features are similar to Gods attributes and the Trinity

• Muslims also believe that humans have these things but they are not in the image of Allah

• Allah does not have an image as he is entirely transcendent

The four last things in Islam

Death,Judgement Day,Heaven,Hell

Surah (9:72) - Description about heaven

“Allah hath promised to believers men and women gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah: that is the supreme happiness.” (Surah 9:72)

Yawmuddin – Day of judgment

Barzakh – barrier/partition; state of waiting

Al Jannah

Heaven

Al Jahannam –Hell

Akhira

Afterlife

Akhrah

Relisation to be morally responsible in life

Fitrah

Purity

Iman

Faith

Amal

Deeds

Death and Test of Faith

• Muslims believe the afterlife is linked to this life through a person’s faith and deeds,( iman and amal)

• Muslims believe that life is a test; your progress in this test will determine the type of afterlife (akhira) you achieve. 

• This gives Muslims a realisation that they must be morally responsible in this life (akhrah) and preserve their fitrah from being polluted and despoiled. 

• To do this they must have/follow taqwa,five pillars,the teachings of Allah and the prophet (hadith and Quran(

Afterlife Decision

• Muslims believe that the nafs of those who die before the Yammudin are taken by the angle of death to Barzakhn

• On the day of judgement the bodies are resurrected and reunited with their souls

• The two angels will be compared and if they had performed more good deeds they will go Jannah and vice verca

• However, if a person has been punished sufficiently, Allah in his mercy may raise them to Jannah (Surah 74) unless the person has committed shirk without repenting.

Surah 74 - Hell and Repenting

‘What has cast you into hell fire?’ ‘We were not of those who prayed nor those who fed the poor, and we wasted our time with empty arguments, and we rejected as a lie the Day of Reckoning – till we were forced to accept the reality.’” Surah 74 

Barzakh - The Test of Faith: iman

• At death the body and soul separate.

• Angel Azrael separates body and soul

• Angels of Justice (Munkar and Nakir) 3 questions of faith….

• Until the Last Day, deceased souls remain in their graves awaiting the resurrection. Barzakh 

• Evil doers will suffer in their graves, while those bound for heaven sleep in peace until that time. 

Yamuddin - The Test of Actions: amal

• On the Last Day, Allah recreates everyone’s decaying bodies, unites body and soul and they are judged by God according to their actions.

• Muslims who have preserved their fitrah will recieve the book in the right arm but sinner who polluted themselves will recieve it in the left

• Some are consigned to fiery hell forever (al-Jahannam), or until God decides rescue them. 

• Others are rewarded with heaven, which is like a paradise garden (al Jannah).