On the day of judgement, we are divided into two groups, believers and non-believers.
Graves of Muslims should be very simple, rising only 20-30 cm above the ground, with a square top. No concrete or hard surface should be made over them, and they should be marked with something very simple.
Muslims are forbidden to transgress and mutilate a body, or treat it in an unbecoming manner. The prophet Muhammed preached that breaking the bone of a dead person is like breaking the bone of a living person as the dead are not just pieces of ruin and must be treated with the best of respect. Therefore Muslims are not allowed to cremate.
Other than actually being sentenced on Judgement Day, Muslims also believe in being questioned about our beliefs in the grave. It is believed that two angels come to the deceased and ask him very straight forward questions about his faith and also their view on God's last prophet. Depending on our replies, comfort or discomfort is made sure of, that is until the Day of Resurrection.
When having to go through a loss of a loved one Muslims are taught that grief is understandable as long as your sense of loss does not develop into a protest against God's will which can be the case sometimes. Muslims accept that death occurs by the will of God and that we have to accept it without a protest. Lamenting a loved one's departure from this life with wailing and words, which is not recommended as it goes beyond the expression of sorrow to saying things that are often untrue, in addition to putting up a show that does not fit with the concept of accepting God's will.
Visiting graves however is recommended because it reminds the visitor of death and the hereafter, in other words Judgement Day. Both women and men need that reminder. It also helps to view matters in the right perspective.
Explain how a particular belief may affect the way in which followers in this religion may live their lives?
The fact that Islam states that there is a life after death and a Judgement Day affects the way Muslims lead their lives in many ways and the difference between a pagan for example, a person who does not believe in God, and a Muslim can be clearly recognised.
Every one of us remains throughout our life totally unaware of the time of death. When death comes, it is just as sudden as the bullet of a sniper, the impact of a car accident, the fall of a building or indeed any cause of death. Therefore, every person should be prepared for death all the time. Indeed, it is through the need to be prepared to meet his Lord at any moment that man steers away from sin, resists temptation and strives to improve his record of good deeds. Hence, it is not possible for anyone, regardless of the circumstances of his death, to claim that he has not had a chance to reform, which ensure for him a good position in the Hereafter.
From another point of view, a person who wants a chance to reform should realize that the chance is there now. It may not continue to the next minute. There is nothing like the present for reform.
Having said, the basic Islamic principle which Allah has stated clearly in the Qur'an is that everyone is responsible for his own deeds. No one shall bear the burden of anyone else. When someone is killed, he is in the same position as everyone who had died regardless of the cause. His murderer, however, bears the responsibility of a far graver sin, namely, murder. This is enough to ensure for him a most severe punishment from Allah
Some people, especially those unhappy with their lives, may think that life ends with death. Thus they try to commit suicide or get killed in one way or another. In Islam however, this belief is invalid of course because the individual's life does not end with this worldly life, but extends to other periods of existence. For this reason, the person who has committed suicide is viewed as an unbeliever and any Muslim who does so has gone against God's orders; Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves. Comitting suicide is a grave sin.This temporal life is a trial period for the hereafter and therefore due to this belief this affects the way Muslims lead their lives in the respect that they both have to learn to be patient and tolerant no matter what is thrown at them in life and should not wish to die or to be killed but also that all their actions are approved of in Islam.
Muslims believe that they have limited powers, they will know that they were put on this Earth for reasons that may not be known to them. Death in this respect can make humans realise that this worldly life is short. True believers live a disciplined life whose final reward is Paradise. Doing what is right can sometimes be hard but it is always worth it in the end. For example those who don't smoke increase their chance of living and doing damage to their health. The prophet Muhammed had said: This life is a detention for a believer and a paradise for a non-believer. Any person believing in God should expect difficulty in this life and thus should comfort their problems with patience and endurance, which brings up the topic of Euthanasia which Islam is against. So even when in a country where it is permissible Muslims should not even put it into mind. Those who support say, that "modern medical technology can prolong a patient's life artificially and we should have the right to die with dignity. Only God causes the termination of human life and he alone determines when a person should die and the cause of their death. When people actually interfere with that process which God had determined, then they have killed. It is interesting to note that euthanasia is defined as "mercy killing". That definition acknowledges that it is a killing and all killing is forbidden in Islam. Even if a person makes it clear that they wish to die, and even if his wish is the result of long suffering, incurable illness, ending their life is forbidden. The reason also for this is due to the fact that whoever puts the person to death has actually put himself in the position of God, by determining whether that person should actually die. Islam teaches that the notions of the "right to die with dignity" or sparing the patient "unbearable pain" are not acceptable. There is no lack of dignity in a person being ill. If he cannot control his own body functions, then he should be helped with these. To terminate his life for that reason is inhumane. To speak of euthanasia in this case is actually to suggest that people are unwilling to help those who are in need of medical and human care. It is a condemnation of modem society that it argues for "mercy killing" in their cases. There is no mercy in such a killing. If people want to be merciful, then they should take good care of such patients. In cases where it cannot be helped, the patient should be reminded of the fact that he will be rewarded if he bears it with resignation and accepts what Allah has determined for him. A believer will always be willing to accept such pain for the prize of earning forgiveness.
Abortion is another issue which is only permitted if the mother's health is at risk and when the baby has not passed four months which is when the foetus has actually been formed.
Other than these bigger issues which not everyone faces at all there are of course other beliefs which affect the way Muslim lead their lives and these are things which we all come across in social life whether we want to or not.
Issues that would affect a Muslims life and that are more likely to be met are:
*Alcohol
*Drugs(not smoking)
*Sex before or outside marriage
*Women's appearance
Alcohol and Drugs are both not allowed in Islam. Sex before or outside marriage is also forbidden and is regarded as a very grave sin. A woman is expected to wear hijab, clothing which covers both her hair and her body including arms. This is so that she can be respected for who she is rather than her beauty or body.
Also a Muslim should pray five times a day, fast during Ramadan, give money to the poor and if they can afford it pay pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lives. These are all things which get counted and will also affect decisions on Judgement Day due to the fact that they are the five pilgrims of Islam.
The statement "We should enjoy ourselves and forget what will happen next" certainly does not apply in Islam. As people we should always have in mind what may happens next, making us enquiring people. Albert Einstein, a most famous genious with great intelligence and knowledge once said "All I know is that I know nothing at all". In this respect there are many mysteries in the World and we must always be willing to learn more. In Islam, the way we enjoy ourselves is very important and depending on this some means of fun are forbidden, for example getting drunk .These forms of fun always have a disadvantage to them. We do not need to these things to enjoy ourselves. People who do not do these things can still have as much fun as the next person.
