Eleven

Reservation in the Hereafter?

Islam says that only Muslims will enter the Heaven. Is this not a very narrow view? Can there be reservation in the Hereafter?
Suppose a person doesn't want to pass the examination, and he doesn't answer any of the questions on the test. So it is certain that he will not pass the examination though he may have written many other things in the answer paper. No body expects such a person to pass. Similarly another person doesn't want to cure his disease; so he doesn't take the medicines prescribed. Nobody will say his disease will be cured. In the same way without aiming at the heaven, and without fulfilling the ways set for its achievement, one will not attain it. No one with a sense of justice will claim that such persons are eligible for heaven.
Heaven is the gift of God for the virtuous. God has promised it in the scriptures through his messengers. For achieving it there are certain clearly mentioned ways. So those people who believe in God, heaven, God's messengers and the scripture, and who aim at heaven and live according to the ways prescribed for its achievement, only those people will achieve heaven. God will not discriminate anyone in this matter. However Heaven cannot be hoped for those who have no belief in it. These people have not aimed at heaven. They have neither faith in God who promised Heaven nor in his messengers and in the scripture. They have also lived on earth without fulfilling the conditions set for achieving Heaven. It is meaningless to say that they too are eligible for Heaven, and here there is no question of any reservation or narrowness in outlook. Exact justice will be implemented in the life hereafter.
Do all non Muslims deserve Hell?
People born in Muslim communities naturally know about God, his prophets, the scripture, and also about heaven and hell. Others don't have the same opportunity. They are people, who, in the absence of proper knowledge, could not live according to Islamic teachings. Do you say that they will go to hell?
If one doesn't live as expected of him, even after getting clear knowledge about God and the way of life He has decided for him, he is rejecter of faith (Kafir). The Quran has warned of severe punishment to such people after death. Moreover people having knowledge about God and His way of life, have obligation of conveying it to others. If they do not perform this duty they are punishable in the hereafter.
Islam doesn't say that people who have no knowledge about God and religion will be punished or they deserve hell. Neither the Quran nor the traditions of prophet say anything to this effect. The Quran teaches that people, who didn't get divine messages, will not be punished. "Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit; who goeth astray doth so to his own loss; No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another; nor would we visit with our wrath until we had sent an apostle  (to give warning)'' (Chapter 17:15).
However, there cannot be people who have not heard of god, or who do not have a fair knowledge about Him. They are obliged to inquire about Him and to find out whether He has prescribed any way of life to follow. Those who have merely heard of heaven and those who know that for achieving it they must live as per Gods instructions, are bound to study more. Otherwise it is an offence, and it is punishable in the hereafter.
Don't all the Virtuous deserve Heaven?
One has no belief in God or life after death. At the same time he doesn't harm anyone, and does all possible help for others. Is he eligible for heaven?
One may work hard and achieve what one aims at. Yet what one achieves is what was aimed at before. If a person without belief in God or life after death does good and abstains from evil, he does it not out of any desire for heaven. Heaven is not at all his objective. He may be doing so for fame and reputation, and he may attain them. He will also have self satisfaction and contentment if they were his aims for the good deeds. Those people who had set god's pleasure and reward as their ultimate objectives will attain them. So, as already explained, those people who set heaven as their goal and work for it alone will reach there.
However we are not to determine and say such and such people will enter heaven and others will go to hell. It is the will of god, which He alone knows. The prophets whom He has informed will know it.
What is the nature of Life in Heaven?
On hearing the description of heaven as viewed by Islam, one gets a feeling that it is equivalent to the luxurious life of the affluent people. Is the life in heaven similar to life on earth?
Divine revelation is the only means of acquiring knowledge of the supernatural. So people have no knowledge about God, heaven, hell, angels and devils, except what they have acquired through the messengers of God. God has explained the supernatural things in a language and style which people can really understand. Man inhabiting this earth has severe limitations. So while describing the heaven, God has said that life in heaven would be full of joy, with no worries at all. "Therein (hereafter) shall ye have all that your souls shall desire; therein shall ye have all that ye ask for '' (41:31).
The bliss of heaven is beyond all human imagination. In the words of Prophet Muhammad no earthly eye has ever seen it; no ear has ever heard it and no mind have ever imagined it. So we are unable in this life to know the exact nature of heavenly life. But there is no doubt that life in heaven will be peaceful, happy, absolutely free of care, and all human desires will be fulfilled there.
If the life in heaven is as described above, won't it be monotonous?
One supposes it monotonous, depending merely on the present state of mind, and on the basis of present thoughts and feelings. In this world we experience different feelings like joy, sadness, love, hate, hope, despair, jealousy, vengeance, kindness and cruelty. However in heaven the state of mind is entirely different. It is a world free of all negative emotions and feelings mentioned above. The Quran and prophet's tradition have explained it in clear terms. Heaven can never be a place where one feels monotony or unpleasant experiences. ''There in shall ye have all that your souls desire'' I41:31) includes the state of mind that is not monotonous.