The world that we live in is a place for testing everyone. This test lasts throughout our lives and takes into account every single action we do and word we say. To help us pass this test; all the resources of this world are at our disposal. We have the freedom to use these, as we have the wisdom and knowledge to appreciate them, and distinguish between which are right and helpful, and which are wrong and ruinous. Above all, we have been given rules and regulations that will guarantee a 'pass' if they are followed strictly with the correct attitude. The life in this world is the only chance we have to prepare for the life in the next. The life on the earth is temporary and we have no knowledge whatsoever of when it may end. So we should exploit every minute of our lives, every object at our disposal, and every piece of guidance that we have to improve and to continue to improve our lot in the eternal life to come. It stands to reason then that if this world is a test, there should come a time when the test will stop for all, and when the results will be announced and explained.

Another piece of logical thinking is that when we look around us today, we see much injustice. There are some people who devote lives to preaching the message of God but who are not rewarded on earth. They see their own families butchered in front of them; they are expelled from their home and their country while the rest of the world is silent, they endure lives of hardship and are killed because they will not trade their faith for a life of ease. And there are those who violate every single rule set by God, but who live and die in luxury and comfort. Our instinctive demand for justice makes us realize that if in this world the people are not punished or rewarded according to their deeds there must come a time when Divine justice will be carried out fully. A time when no single good or bad deed will be forgotten, when prestige and wealth will not be able to buy the support of a jury.

The time chosen for all this by Allah is the Day of Judgement (Day of Resurrection) or the Last day. On that day Allah will end this world and all the systems of this world and the order of the universe will be finished. Then He will give a new life to all the people right from Adam to the last human being and Divine justice will be carried out whereby people will be rewarded or punished according to deeds committed by them in the life of the world.

Allah has provided all the necessary help and guidance for mankind to prepare in this world for the life after death. To guide him to the right path Allah has sent His prophets with full and detailed guidance. Every time his guidance was forgotten, distorted or changed, He sent another prophet with His guidance. Finally He sent his complete guidance via His last prophet Muhammad and told mankind that they will be punished in the life after death if they did not follow this guidance.

It is mandatory upon all Muslims to believe in the Hereafter. Those who do not believe automatically nullify their belief in Allah. Both the Qur'an and Hadith (sayings of the Prophet -pbuh) have numerous descriptions of Heaven and Hell, and signs that signal the coming of the End.

Among the minor signs regarding the Hour, some of which have already come to pass, are:

1. the arrival of the last Prophet (Muhammad SAW)
2. When slave girls give birth to their mistresses
3. Increase in earthquakes, and
4. the barefooted, naked, destitute herdsmen compete in constructing lofty buildings.

Some of the major signs prophesied include:

1. The second coming of Isa Al-Maseeh i.e. Jesus Christ
2. The reign of terror perpetuated by Dajjaal the Beast
3. The rising of the sun from the west.

On the very last day, the Angel Israafeel (a.s.) will blow the Trumpet. The first blow will destroy the entire universe and everything in it. All will perish except Allah Almighty Himself.

When he blows again, all accountable beings, in particular humans and jinns, will be resurrected to face Judgment Day in the great court of Almighty Allah. Those who have done good deeds and obediently served Allah in their earthly lives will be sent to Heaven; while those arrogant and unfortunate disbelievers will be condemned to Hell.

The scenario on the Last Day and its aftermath are vividly described in the following Qur'anic verses:

"Then when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no kinship among them that Day, nor will they ask of one another. Then those whose scales (of good deeds) are heavy; they will attain salvation. And those whose scales (of good deeds) are light; they are those who lose their souls; in Hell will they abide. The Fire will burn their faces, and they will grin with lips displaced." [Al-Mu'minoon: 101-104 ]

Belief in the Hereafter is the fifth Article of Faith. It connotes the belief in all that the Qur'an and Prophet (pbuh) say will happen after death, in the grave, on the Day of Resurrection and on Judgment Day. It also denotes the belief in the rewards of Heaven and the punishment of Hell.

Anas b. Maalik reported that the Prophet SAW told him:

"When a non-believer does good he is made to taste his reward in this world. And so far as the believer is concerned, Allah stores (the reward) of his virtues for the Hereafter and provides him sustenance in accordance with his obedience to Him." [Bukhari]