Examining the Factors Influencing the Quality of Entering the Hereafter
Many of us face questions and concerns when thinking about death and what happens after it. You may have had these concerns as well; what factors does the quality of entering the hereafter depend on? What fate awaits us at the end of our lives in this world? Will we find peace and comfort upon entering the hereafter, or will we be faced with worry, anxiety, and regret? Can we be more prepared for this critical and fateful moment? What are our true assets to get through this important stage and what is truly worth taking to the other world?
These questions are considered some of the deepest existential concerns of us humans; these issues come to our mind most at critical moments in life, especially when we hear the news of the death of someone we know, and that forces us to reflect and reconsider our lifestyle.
It is in such moments that the human being comes to a more serious realization of the transience of the world and the impermanence of material attachments, and the importance of real and lasting assets becomes clearer to them.
Ensuring that the quality of our entering the hereafter is desirable and satisfactory is the concern of every truth-seeking and thoughtful person; such a person always seeks inner peace and reassurance for the moment of wafat (transfer to the hereafter) through this fateful stage.
Paying attention to these types of questions and trying to find clear, logical, and reasoned answers to them not only help us continue on our path through life with more peace, but also broaden our view of the true purpose and meaning of life. These reflections prepare us to build a better future in the hereafter and cause us to pursue assets that do not decay or vanish and will be our true helpers and assistants in the crucial moments of life after death.
In this article, by focusing on the quality of entering the hereafter and examining the factors affecting it, we try to show what role our assets play in the quality of our entry into the next world and what is truly worth accumulating to cross this decisive stage.
What Is Meant by the Quality of Entering the Hereafter?
The quality of entering the hereafter means the manner and state of our entry into the world after death; this state can indicate peace, reassurance, and satisfaction or, conversely, anxiety, distress, and regret about entering this fateful stage in life. This quality is not limited merely to the moment of death or transition to the hereafter, but is the result of a lifetime of our beliefs, behavior, intentions, and efforts in worldly life.
To better understand this concept, we will use the Law of Proportion. As we previously stated, the mission of the fetus in the mother’s womb is to build all the tools (limbs) he needs to live in the world, tools such as hands, feet, heart, etc., all of which must be in proportion to the living conditions of the world; in fact, each of these tools is the fetus’s assets at the time of birth into the world. Therefore, the more fully developed a fetus is, the easier his transition from the womb to the world, resulting in the birth of a healthy and strong infant. From the perspective of religious teachings, the quality of entering the hereafter actually reflects the degree of our spiritual readiness to face the reality of the hereafter. This means that each person will experience a specific way of entering the hereafter, depending on their assets and achievements in this world; in fact, the quality of entering the hereafter depends on our lifestyle in this world. The more our lifestyle in this world is aligned with the purpose of our creation, the better our quality of entering the hereafter will be, and we will enter it with peace and contentment. On the other hand, neglecting the purpose of creation and being negligent in regulating our lifestyle can weaken the quality of our entry into the hereafter and cause us to enter it with much sadness, worry, and regret. Therefore, what we call today the quality of entering the hereafter is in fact a direct result of our efforts during our worldly life. This is a matter that every truth-seeker should pay special attention to.
What Does Human Asset Mean?
When it comes to assets, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind for many of us is money, houses, cars, or valuable items. Having such material possessions can undoubtedly bring us more comfort, prosperity, and security in our daily lives, but if we think a little deeper about the truth of life, we will see that these material assets are only valuable as long as we are in this world, and with the end of our lives and entering the hereafter none of them are useful or reliable. The life experiences of the past, as well as religious and human teachings, have shown us that what accompanies a person after death goes beyond money and material wealth.
If we reflect more closely, we realize that one of the most fundamental and influential factors in determining the quality of our entering the hereafter are these non-material and inner assets. Though not outwardly apparent, these assets constitute the essence and substance of who we are. For example, imagine someone who, throughout their lifetime and years of hard work and practice, has strengthened the trait of generosity and has repeated this trait so often that they have become known as Jawad (generous). Or someone who has experienced the practice of patience and tolerance in various parts of life and is known as Halim (forbearing). What is important is that these good virtues are not just occasional and temporary behaviors, but rather they become part of our personality and being. In this way, the person truly becomes the owner of that noble name or attribute.
These are the inner assets that come to our aid at the time of entering the hereafter. Such valuable traits, as real and lasting human assets, play a decisive role in the quality of entering the hereafter and are considered the best provisions for the hereafter. Simply put, no matter how much money, wealth, and material resources there are, they have no effect on the quality of entering the Hereafter. However, the divine names and attributes that we have instilled in ourselves through struggle and effort in this world are the most valuable and enduring assets of every human being. These assets not only grant us honor and dignity in this world, but will also accompany us after death as the best provision and will enhance the quality of our entering the hereafter.
How to Increase the Assets of Our Soul
Based on what we have discussed so far, without a doubt, the most important way to increase the quality of entering the hereafter and provide a bright and secure future after death is to make real investments in human assets in the world. But the question arises: How can we acquire these valuable assets and permanently establish them in ourselves?
This can be compared to the birth of a baby; the fetus in the mother’s womb is busy acquiring assets appropriate for the world, so that when he is born, he is healthy, complete, and ready to enter the world. Increasing assets for the fetus means focusing on the purpose of being in the mother’s womb. As long as the fetus does not neglect this goal, which is to build a healthy and complete body, the quality of his entry into the world will be at an excellent level, but the slightest interruption or developing organs inappropriate for the biological conditions of the world will endanger the quality of the fetus’s birth. Similarly, during our stay in the womb of this world, we must remain focused on the purpose of our creation, which is to acquire God’s names and attributes, and align our lifestyle with this purpose.
The truth is that achieving genuine human assets for the hereafter is a time-consuming process that requires a lot of effort. Merely having a heartfelt desire or intention is not enough; one must have the will and perseverance to gradually strengthen and consolidate each of these virtues within themselves.
In the first step, self-knowledge and recognition of moral strengths and weaknesses are of particular importance in the quality of entering the hereafter. Each person must honestly face themselves and identify the qualities needed. After this stage, the most important strategy is “practice” and conscious repetition of correct behaviors; that is, in dealing with problems and challenges, we consciously decide to demonstrate moral virtues such as honesty, patience, forgiveness, or kindness in practice, even if it is difficult. Also, overcoming wrong desires and confronting temptations play a very decisive role in the process of acquiring these assets.
The path to strengthening human assets is never short or easy, but its most valuable fruit is that once these traits are established in us, they will no longer disappear when circumstances change or life becomes more difficult, and they will be our guiding light even in the most difficult moments.
The quality of our entering the hereafter depends on the assets we acquire during our lifetime, not on material possessions like money or property. Virtues such as honesty, kindness, and self-control are our greatest assets for the hereafter bringing us true peace and satisfaction in the next world. So if we want to have a successful entry into the hereafter, we must work more than anything else on developing these human attributes and assets.