Seven Stages of Life in Islam


Islam = submission to the Will of Allah (GOD).

Islam has beginning and end. Those who embrace Islam are called Muslims. The word Muslim is derived from the word Peace. The traditional Muslim greeting is peace be unto you.

Who is Allah? Allah is The One and The Only God who created the worlds, Angels (created by light), Jinn (created by Fire), Satan (devil) is an outcast Jinn, man (created from sounding clay), animals and contents of the universes. Allah is One, there is no God other than Him, without any partners, He is eternal without a beginning and enduring without end, Absolute, Self-Sufficient, Self-Existing, never dies, not borne nor gives birth, has no companion and nothing is comparable to Him. He never sleeps nor slumbers. All-Knowing, All-Hearing, All-Seeing. Nothing happens except what He wills. He gives life and death. He is The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful. He is intensively and continuously merciful to his creatures even though Non Muslims do not believe in him. He is far above from any created being. He is The Creator of everything in the universe, heaven and earth and its content. He will never perish or come to an end. When Allah wants anything to happen he says "Be" and it is. Muslims do not believe that Allah assumed Human form and came down to this earth. Human body form has animal properties and animal characteristics are created by Allah. Allah is high above all the creations.

Creation of Mankind

The first Man's (Adam ) body was created from sounding clay. His companion woman "Hava " was created from Adam's rib. All his descendant's bodies are created by sperm of man and ovum of women. Jesus (Prophet ISA) son of Mariam (Mary) was created by Allah's word (Be and it is) like Adam but in Mariam's womb. Jesus was a human prophet and not son of God. He was not crucified but taken up alive (Holy Quran).

Allah breathed into the body of man part of His spirit called (Ruh) Soul . When the soul enters the body it becomes alive. When this soul is withdrawn from the body it dies and the body decays, putrefies and is eaten by microorganisms. Every day man experience temporary death at night when he sleeps and resurrects when he wakes up. Allah keeps his soul in a safe place during his sleep. Allah has appointed angels as guardians to the right and left side and allowed satan to disturb humans. All these facts are described in Holy Quran.

Stage 1. Life in Lau Ho Mahfuz.

Allah created all the souls of the descendants of Adam and Hava who were predestined to come to this earth. Everything about the universes and our soul before and after creations are documented and recorded in the tablet (book) board in heaven (Lau Ho Mahfuz).

Allah once asked all the created souls, "who is your Lord?". All the souls said "You are our Creator our Lord". But souls forget the covenant when they descend to the earth. Some have faint or vague memory of Allah (God) in the inner core of the heart. At times of life threatening danger man will automatically shout "Oh God !". But who is that God? If no one tells him he will not know. At that time they usually do not address false gods. They usually point up to the heaven and say Almighty God meaning ALLAH.. If they say that many times they will forget false gods. That is the inner instinct of Humans.

Stage 2. Life in the mother's womb.

The soul is sent down to this earth into the body of fetus developed in the mother's womb and the fetus becomes alive. The fetus was swimming in the amniotic fluid inside the uterus like a fish. It does not breathe air. The fetus was fed by the blood through the placenta of the mother and supplied to the body of the fetus by means of umbilical cord. In pregnant women there is no menstruation until the baby is born. Do we remember how we lived 9 months inside the mother's womb?

Stage 3. Life in this world.

At the fetal age of 36 to 40 weeks (pregnancy) the baby is born. The baby breaths the first time and cries. Whereas the nurses, friends, parents and relatives laugh, are happy and praise the baby. When the same baby become old and dies, the relatives and friends cry. Some practice infanticide (kill babies) if the baby is female. Islam does not allow infanticide and abortion. The newly born baby is clean, innocent , free from sins, grows, develops , learns and is brought up in Muslim families or in non-Muslim families. The soul in the baby forgot Allah and the promise (covenant) given in the heaven that Allah is his Creator and Lord.

The babies brought up in Muslim families will be taught Quran and reminded about Allah and Islam to worship only The One Allah. To avoid worshiping false gods. False gods are either made by man from wood or stone or the creation of Allah (such as sun , moon, tree, fire, water, animals , spirits, the content of the universe). Muslims only worship one creator (Allah) but not the creations. Muslims do not associate anything with Allah. Allah has sent 124,000 Prophets from the time of Adam to the time of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the last Prophet, to remind all mankind to worship one God Allah. There were divine revelations (books) sent down through Prophets including Abraham, David , Solomon, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (Pbuh).

Muslims believe all the Prophets and their books (psalms, Torah, Bible and Quran). Quran is the latest divine revelation (words of Allah) revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) 1400 years ago and is preserved without any flaws and amendments done by humans up to date. Whereas all the other Holy books were altered or corrected by humans and the original statements were corrupted and become doubtful. Allah said in Quran he will preserve the Holy Quran until the end of the world so no man can alter it. Quran is preserved in the hearts of Hafizs (Those who have memorized the whole book Holy Quran by heart). There are millions of Hafizs in this world. Burning all the copies of Quran will not make miraculous Quran disappear from this world. Quran is revealed in Arabic language whereas the Bible was revealed in Hebrew language. Quran updates all the previous holy books and teaches mankind about universal laws, moral concepts and narratives. The Quran's timeless text remains a miracle, an inspiration and guide to all humanity.

Muslims believe in Quran and follow Prophet's saying and example of his way of life. Those who believe in one Allah, his prophets, his books, his angels, the last day of judgment, the next life, good or bad come from predestined decree of Allah, the existence of hell and heaven, reward for good people and punishment of bad people are called Muslims. All souls are provided with limited free will to choose. There is no compulsion in Islam. All souls have to taste death. When the soul leaves the body, relatives and friends cry. The soul of man will be extracted by the angel of death either gently or roughly when the time is ripe. When a soul is pulled out from the body man must remember his faith in Allah (that Allah is his Creator) otherwise he will be sent to hell.

Satan, the devil is proud and cast out by Allah because he is jealous of Adam, disobeyed Allah, and became avowed enemy of Mankind. He has the power to disturb man from the front, behind, by the sides and can enter the body, whisper evil in Man's heart as approved by Allah. Satan, the devil's job is to mislead man to hell. It is easy for Satan to mislead non-muslims to worship other than Allah but not true Muslims. Satan will destroy Muslims by using many tactics but especially by 1. Jealousy and 2. Greediness . Satan was punished because of jealousy and Adam was punished because of greed. Satan certainly will try to persuade muslims at the time of death when a person is in semi conscious state to say that there are other gods than Allah. If Satan succeeds the soul of Muslim or non Muslim will go out from the body at the time of death without faith and that soul will enter hell.

Muslims therefore practice and profess "there is no God except Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah" (in Arabic "La ilaaha illallah Muhammadur Rasullulah") it must be said by mouth and believed in the heart all the time and practiced all the time to make it habitual during sleep or while awake or in shock or distress. Allah has provided a way for mankind to drive away Satan by uttering the divine revelation 'A-'oo thu bil-laa-hi mi-nash-shai-taa-nir ra-jeem. Bis-mil-laa-hir- Rah-maa-nir Ra-heem." meaning "I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the outcast, In the name of Allah , The Most Gracious , The Most Merciful". Whenever a Muslim starts to do anything e.g. eat, drink, sleep, travel, switch on the computer, open the book to read or write, enter bath room , twilight , travel, enter into vehicle, sleep with his wife, gets up from sleep, he recites this verse to drive away Satan.

Muslims always say in good or bad status Alhamdulillah (All praises and thank be to Allah), that is submission to the Will of Allah. Muslims will say to Allah "Thee do we worship and Thine aid we seek. Please show us the right way." Muslims must understand that we are tourists travelling and not permanent in this world. We must love Allah more than our life. Family and other worldly things come next. Allah says in Holy Quran "Man and Jinn are created for nothing except to worship (serve) Allah". So our first priority is to serve Him and to please Him with good intention. Allah will not accept the worship or service if performed without good intention e.g. To Pay charity or pray to show off will not be accepted. Intention of doing any good must be to please Allah. Muslims are Vicegerent (representatives) of Allah. Muslims always say Insha Allah (God willing) before they plan to do things. Masha Allah (will of God) to appreciate things.

In order to die as a Muslim with faith one must also practice virtues of Islam (good practice) such as the 5 pillars of Islam.

1. Faith ("Laa ilaha illallah Muhamadur Rasullulah") "there is no God except Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah", it must be believed in the heart and said by mouth repeatedly to become habitual and to not forget at the time of accident or sleep or distress or death. This is the most important faith. This is the visa to enter paradise. Without faith one may not enter paradise. The biggest tug of war inside our soul is faith. A Muslim will not bow his head to anything living or non living to worship except Allah.

2. Pray five times a day (dawn, afternoon, evening, sunset and night).

3. Pay Zakat (poor man's money Alms)

4. Fasting one month in Ramadan

5. Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) once in a life time.

The first two are compulsory and a must for all Muslims. The other three depends upon one's health and wealth. The above practice with good intention will make a Muslim the best person on the earth and remember Allah at the time of death. At the time of death if a Muslim or a non-Muslim remembers Allah and utters "La ilaaha illallah Muhamadur Rasullulah" ("there is no God except Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah"), he will be taken to paradise and otherwise to hell. So non-Muslims may remember The Creator just before death and enter paradise because Allah has kept open His door of forgiveness and mercy until before his death. A Muslim cannot point at the non-Muslims and say he is going to hell because he himself is not sure about hell or paradise.

Therefore this stage 3 is very important testing ground for human being. It is the duty of Muslims to remind each other and his non-Muslim friends about Allah, death, the next life (resurrection), reward and punishment, hell and paradise. Muslims are like living in jail in this temporary world. Muslims must obey the laws stated in Quran, avoid adultery, alcohol, gambling, cheating, observe Halal (lawful) and Haram (unlawful) food and Halal and Haram money and usury, etc. Muslims must undergo many tests and practice Islam. Muslims must be patient constantly, must bear and accept that good and bad are preordained and decreed by Allah and say Alhamdullilah (All praise and thank be to Allah) all the time in order to enjoy reward in the Hereafter, which is everlasting. Muslims must work hard in this third stage temporary world with fear, repentance , ask forgiveness for wrong doing mistakes with hope and mercy from God to prevent from hell fire and enjoy reward in the next life. Muslims will say "Our prayers, our good deeds, our life and death are for Allah our Lord, Creator of the Worlds." Allah created evil but He does not like it. Allah created good and He likes it. He encourages us and guides us to do good. He will guide and protect the obedient servants. But those who refuse to accept Allah's revelation sent to prophets, and follow Satan, Allah will not guide them any more. They will go astray. Allah will forgive all kinds of sins except Polytheism.

Stage 4. Death. 

After the soul is drawn from the body Allah keeps it in a place called Alam Barzaak. Good people's soul are kept in a good place and bad people's soul in a bad place until Kiyamat (Judgment day) arrives, when everything is destroyed except Allah. There will be resurrection of all Mankind

Stage 5. Resurrection on the Judgment day. 

All souls will get up from the graves. Obedient souls will go to paradise for ever. Disobedient souls will go to hell for punishment. Those who ignore or reject or refuse to believe Allah and who worshiped false gods rather than Allah, The Creator , in this world , will go to Hell forever in the next world. Muslims do not believe in Incarnation (reborn again) to this world.

Stage 6. The end stage for disobedient soul is to enter Hell fire.

Stage 7. The end stage for obedient soul is peaceful to enter paradise in the form of new creation with different forms. Allah said that it is easy for Him to do so (Holy Quran). In paradise they will be free from sickness, illness and will at all times be healthy, clean, peaceful and satisfied with provisions, with beautiful young companions and of no ageing, to dwell in forever. This is because Allah is satisfied with the soul who is obedient to His Divine laws and the soul is also satisfied with Allah.

*****

Source:  Kyaw Kyaw Oo


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Older Comments:
KAMAL114 said:
Assalamualikum, I am Kamal Hussain Hoque from Myanmar, I am really grateful for this post. May Allah bless you.
2019-07-10

BAHARULISLAM0071 said:
Nice article.
2019-05-31

AISHA FROM INDONESIA said:
i am translating a book into presentation about human life stages, and i feel it's lacked of something, then i found your article and am gonna write about the lau ho mahfudz stage, i hope you allow me to use this article, jazakumullah khairan katsiran...
2015-06-24

KHADIJA ISA FROM NIGERIA said:
Jaza kallahu bil jannah اللهم آمين
2015-01-18

THAMIM FROM INDIA,CHENNAI. said:
Alhamdulilaah.allah ungal anthasthai uyairthuvanaga...
2014-10-20

NADINE FROM PHILIPPINES said:
Mashaallah , very informative article. me and my husband are both converted to islam.Alhamdullilah we became Muslim and Inshaallah our prayers and duaas, Allah will accept it.
2014-02-15

MRS. A CHISOLM FROM UNITED STATES said:
assalaam alaikom what are the names of the three stages of being a
Muslim. My husband is trying to explain to me. 1.. Muslim, 2. and 3.
He can't remember
2012-09-03

ISHAQAALTILDERI FROM NIJERIA said:
Alhamdu lillah for the job welldone jazakallahu khairan ya uztaz what a good article
2012-05-16

ABU ARSET KHAN FROM INDIA said:
All are the basic knowledge for Muslim and non Muslim. It must be required for knowing to Muslim/who born Muslim family. So nice article.
A.A. Khan
India
2012-03-11

JAAFAR FROM MALAYSIA said:
Salam. Interesting article subhanallah.
My comment is with regards to the statement that Hawa was created from
Adams rib. There is no basis of it in the Quran but a popular
misconception derived from the bible.Correct me if i am wrong.

Thanks
2012-01-27

USMAN HASSAN MOHAMMED FROM NIGERIA said:
thank you very for contribution on you article 7 stages of life.usman hassan mohammed.
2012-01-23

QASIM FROM INDIA said:
Mashaallah good article about teaching islam for muslims and non muslims. but.. but.. but ADAM (PEACE BE UPON HIM) WAS not greedy like us. he was ALLAH'S MESSANGER. ALLAH has written this things before he created Adam.
2012-01-22

QASIM FROM INDIA said:
Mashaallah good article about teaching islam for muslims and non muslims. but..but.. but ADAM (peace be upon him) was not greedy like us. he was ALLAH'S MESSANGER. ALLAH has written this things before he created Adam.
2012-01-22

QASIM FROM INDIA said:
Mashaallah good article about teaching islam for muslims and non muslims.
2012-01-22

AIDA FALL FROM USA said:
May ALLAH AL MIGHTY reward you for all the information you put out for us! I am so happy to receive the Islamic bulletin b/c it's also helping me to memorize the verses of Quran! I thank ALLAH for given you the wisdom to help someone like me and I also thank you and your fellows for your good deeds with the Islamic bulletin! I am SOoo happy and grateful to be born Muslim! May ALLAH blesses and rewards you all! Amen.
JAZA'A KUMUL LAH BI KHAIR
2012-01-20

XMEN FROM UNITED STATES said:
Assalamu Alaikum

I like all of this article except for stage 7. This is where mall credibility is gone and your trust violated with non-Muslims who may read this.
I am an American convert to Islam. Raised as a Christian and then a long time into the pagan and non believing aspect of my life that no god existed. I found my way with help and now am Muslim by the grace of Allah(swt).
The problem I have is that if you are going to try and explain Islam to the west( they already have an irrational fear of it and of Muslims), then you can not talk about the numerous, young, non-ageing companions that await in Jannah. They have been so brainwashed to understand that"virgins"(and this is exactly how they see this) are the reward from Allah for "Jihad"(they do not understand this either) agsinst the "Infidel"( they believe this to be all Americans and Christians and Jews). Virgins or "young companions" only will harden them and justify the garbage that a zionist press wants to instill in them.

You must be more responsible if you wish them to truly understand REAL Islam and report on the misconceptions and explain in detail what is meant by such phrases.

Wassalam

Xmen
2012-01-19

TEE DUBFA FROM PHILIPPINES said:
Subhanaka la I'lmalana illa ma alam tana,innaka antal a"limul Hakeem.
Alhamdolillah , this is a good article just to illustrate the process
of the cereation of human being.
2012-01-19

BUBA UMAR FROM NIGERIA said:
Alhamdu lillah.This is a well written article.JAZA'A KUMUL LLAH BI KHAIR.
2012-01-18

ZAMANA FROM SRI LANKA said:
Mashallah its a well written article, from birth to death and the hereafter. Though we are born muslims we take everything for granted. We do not think how lucky we are to be born to muslim parents. Articles like this refreshens our heart and developes some fear in us. The author talks about satan and "A -oo thu billahi mi na sai thaa nir ra jeem" this is the only worse that can drive satan away from us and we have to go on repeating this over and over so that satan does not get closer to us. "La ilaaha illalah" is so powerful if this is the visa to paradise why not utter these words. Allah is great. Spreading knowledge is sadaka may Allah help the author to produce more meaningful and knowledgable articles
2012-01-18

HANEEFA FROM USA said:
SubhanAllah! Exquisite article! A beautiful reminder, sustenance, and healing for the soul! MashaAllah!
2012-01-08

BABANDI A. GUMEL FROM U.K said:
Life is like three days yesterday which is past so has become history today which is the present in your hand you do good or bad the choice is yours and tommorow you give account getting ready for the future which comes after death.This is why it is described like dream or illusion.Therefore wealth,affluence, prosperity poverty poor living or indignity are all not sign of success or failure but they are test to see how we behave. So we should prepare and do good deeds in this preod of tests.The one who passes the test would succeed and one who fails is going to be an everlasting failure Allah save us.Definitely if we obey Allah and follow His messenger He would give us success in the form of what is called Hayatin Tayyiba pure life,which the whole humanity are aspiring to get in this Duniya which is peace and contentment.Ala bi zikirillah tat'mainnal Qulub.Money and wealth combined with influence and power cannot give us satisfaction.We may have all of them yet we are not living in piece instead living in peaces and fear.Why? Simple fact we have forgoten the purpose of our lives.So the only way is to go back to Allah who created us and our body so He knows how to give the heart and mind peace through His Remembrance.Not only in this Duniya we would be saved but in Qabar,Hashr,Qiamah and finally until we enter Jannah for ever a sign of success as Allah has mentioned "He who is saved from Fire of Hell and made to enter Paradise he is successful,the life of Duniya is nothing but illusion.So let us prepare before the Angel of death arrives to take our soul and there is no going back to the world to do good deeds.We are given the chance so today is our chance you can't say to Allah or Iam sorry send me back to the world I will do good deeds now I got yakeen.It is too late to cry when the head is cut off.The ball is in our courts we can do whatever we like. May Allah bestow us with His choicest Blessings sticking to the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet until our last breath.
2010-12-12

MUHAMED NYAMATULLAH FROM INDIA said:
A very simple but griping the mind article. The author has to be thanked for opening th eyes of one and all. Allah, the Divine designer, has charted the course of his slave very nicely along the straight path! But the adventuresome deviates from the straight path and gets bogged down in the laybriths of the world of sins!He could easily destroy the deviant. But being the "oft forgiving and merciful god', he gives him time to atone for his sins and change the course of his life. Prayers, alms, fasting and pilgrimage accelerate his atonement. May Allah guide one and all aright. Ameen!
2010-12-10

AYISHA FROM USA said:
This is an article. i believe is written with good intent though the prayer order needs to be corrected. The correct prayer is dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and night. Otherwise, this article is a confirmation and inspiration for the practice of Islam.
2010-12-10

AD FROM NIGERIA said:
A well exposition of Allah's attribute of rububiyya (Lordship) of the Universe and all that is in it. But know brother, that the most important component which we most often forget is to emphasise the uluhiyya principle which is to say and believe that nothing or NOBODY else, deserves to be WORSHIP except ALLAH Only. That all acts of worship are done to Allah ( the one and only). NO OTHER. This is the meaning of Lailaha illa-ALLAH and this in my opinion will in sha-Allah complete your opening phrase of 'who is Allah?'.. To complete further the meaning Muhammad Rasoolull-Allah - that all these forms of WORSHIP must be the way the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) approved or performed them during his lifetime. OR that Muhammad (SAW) should be the ONE and ONLY ROLE MODEL you have in ALL acts of worship.

Wal-lahu 'alam.
2010-12-10

KYAW KYAW OO FROM MALAYSIA said:
Asslamulaikum,
My sincere thanks to all of you from Islamic city for reproducing the original post by Professor Haji Ibrahim from my web log - (http://kyawkyawoo.wordpress.com).
May Allah bless with Mercy and Forgiveness to original author and all those who spread the words of knowledge of Islam to the Umah.
Allah knows the best,
Kyaw Kyaw Oo
2010-12-10