Critique and Review of Four Reasons Why Knowing the Hereafter Matters
Why is knowing the Hereafter so crucial?
What does make us realize the importance of knowing the Hereafter?
Is truly knowing the Hereafter only religious people’s duty, or is it a vital concept that anyone who seeks a meaningful, peaceful, and fulfilling life, should know?
As the most complex beings in God’s creation, we constantly face fundamental questions about life. One of the most important questions concerns our ultimate destiny and the concept of the “Hereafter.” Although the resurrection and the hereafter has held a special place in religious texts, philosophy, and literature across cultures for centuries, we must admit that in today’s busy life, knowing the Hereafter is often sidelined and neglected.
However, knowing the Hereafter and properly understanding its place in our lives deeply influences our perspective on worldly life. Just as a traveler seeks to know his destination before starting a journey, we also need to be aware and know our life destination; an endpoint that, from a self-knowledge perspective, is an absolute and inevitable truth.
This article, aims to answer why knowing the Hereafter is important and how being aware of its conditions affects our worldly life. It also explores why the significance of knowing the Hereafter goes beyond religious belief and how being aware of the Hereafter influences not only our eternal destiny but also our present world. Additionally, this article examines the consequences of not knowing the Hereafter and how this knowledge influences our decisions, behaviors, and lifestyle.
Knowing the Hereafter: An Introduction to Conscious Action
If someone encourages us to travel to an unknown destination, how can we be sure that we would have peaceful travel and could take pleasure of it without gathering information and preparing ourselves? Knowing the Hereafter is like knowing the destination of a journey. Without it, we lack motivation, perseverance, and the ability to endure travel hardships; Before moving toward any goal, we must understand its necessity and importance. Without a proper understanding of the destination, we have no desire and are not determined to reach it. We also will not be strong enough to face the difficulties of the journey. So, why do we know so little about our eternal home?
From the self-knowledge perspective, the Hereafter is not an end but the beginning of our eternal life. Accepting this truth offers a new outlook on the world and its role in our human development. If we see the Hereafter as our eternal home and ultimate destination, we are naturally motivated to learn about its characteristics and conditions to prepare ourselves to enter it.
In other words, knowing and believing in the Hereafter changes our lifestyle, help us to create higher purpose for our relationship, maximize decision-making accuracy, and make our behavior more meaningful. Instead of chasing fleeting perfections like power, status, or temporary pleasures, we seek something lasting and genuine.
The Impact of Knowing the Hereafter on Regulating Lifestyle
One common mistake is thinking that this world and the Hereafter are two separate realties. While, the life in the Hereafter is the continuation and result of life in this world. Our worldly life is like fetus’s life in the womb. It means we develop limbs in this world and prepare ourselves to be born in the other world. If we neglect to prepare ourselves for entering the other world, we will not be born healthy into the Hereafter.
Therefore, knowing the Hereafter is not just being aware of the distant future; it is a key factor influencing our daily choices. If we see the Hereafter as a logical continuation of this life, it is natural that we will align our lifestyle with this ultimate goal. To better understand the relationship between this world and the Hereafter, we can use the Law of Proportion: just as the condition of a fetus in the mother’s womb determines the quality of his life in this world, our actions in this world determines our eternal peace and the quality of our eternal life. If proper care isn’t taken during fetal period, the baby will not be born healthy into this world. Similarly, if we do not take our responsibilities and duties seriously in this world, we won’t develop morality and grow behaviorally; as a result, we will not live a good life in the eternity. If we neglect the values and our duties in the life of this world, indifferently and carelessly, we will not live a peaceful and comfortable life in the Hereafter. Just as a healthy birth is dependent on proper growth and care, our eternal life depends on proper “self-development” in this world. Every action, decision, and attitude in this life echoes in the Hereafter and shapes our eternal existence. So, the strong correlation between this world and the Hereafter, makes knowing the Hereafter even more essential.
Knowing the Hereafter: A Cause of Peace During Life’s Crises
Hope for a bright and sweet ending, like entering the Heaven, gives us strength to overcome sorrows and life’s pressures. Knowing that our suffering is not in vain and that there is wisdom behind every hardship makes it easier to endure life’s difficulties.
Worldly life is often full of challenges. We experience failures, sadness, and worries in it that can lead to despair. In such times, belief in the Hereafter and hope for a bright, eternal future can be our souls’ anchor. Like someone who endures the hardships of climbing a mountain and he longs to reach the summit, we can also overcome worldly problems and pass the stages of being born healthy into the Hereafter with hope to enter the heaven and having trust in the purpose of creation. This perspective not only brings inner peace in facing difficulties but also encourages us to set higher goals and avoid being lost in trivial daily routines.
Knowing the Hereafter: A Path to Clarity and Freedom from Confusion
If we don’t know why we are here or where we are headed, we will inevitably fall into routine and confusion, and feel aimless. Therefore, knowing the Hereafter is not just about the moment we enter it; it’s about saving ourselves today. This knowledge gives meaning to our lives, helps us avoid mistakes, live with hope and have focus, and ultimately have a healthy birth into our eternal home.
Ignoring the concept of the Hereafter not only prevents us from preparing for eternal life but also causes confusion, aimlessness, and feeling of emptiness in the worldly life. In other words, without proper knowledge of the Hereafter or taking it seriously, we are indecisive, weak, and anxious when facing hardships.
Furthermore, neglecting the importance of the Hereafter leads us to prioritize only material and immediate needs, ignoring our eternal life and its requirements. A correct understanding of its significance gives us powerful motivation to improve our behavior, do good deeds, and move forward toward our ultimate purpose.
In summary, the importance of knowing the Hereafter lies in giving meaning to our worldly life and preparing us for a beautiful, eternal life. This knowledge is not only a religious belief but also a rational necessity for a deep, purposeful, and peaceful outlook on life—especially in a world increasingly plagued by spiritual crises, aimlessness, and anxiety.