What happens after death?

From medical point of view, a person whose breathing and heartbeat has completely stopped is considered dead.

Many changes occur immediately after death. For example, the temperature of the body drops to that of its surroundings, the muscles of the body become stiff, the circulation of the blood stops and produces reddish-purple discoloration in the lowest par t of the body, and finally the bacteria and other tiny organisms grow on the corpse and cause it to decay. So, there is no dispute or doubt that death is the end of worldly life.

But we believe that a human being is made-up of two components. i.e., organic body andnonphysical soul.Thus, death is the termination of organic functions.We can say death is caused by the separation of soul and body or we can also say, the sparation of soul and body causes death.So death is the end of organic life but not the absolute end of whole life. This means that there is some kind of life after death and death is simply a major change in the present kind of life.

This is true. The entire edifice of Islam is based on this fact that death is not the end of life but it is a sharp turning point from where another kind of life begins. A large number ahadith and Quranic verses are there which clearly explain the philosophy of life and death. If we understand them correctly then we will realize that life in this world has a direct effect on the life after death. We are told to do good preparation in this life for
the next life.

The Holy Prophet (sws) and Imams have explained the repercussion of this life on the life after death in the following words:
“You have not been created to perish, but to remain for ever; only you will be transferred from one home to another; and the souls in the bodies are (like) prisoners.” (Holy Prophet)

“Death is one of the three things happening (to the dying person), either it is a good tiding of eternal bliss, or bad tidings of eternal punishment, or there is obscure uncertainty so that he does not know in which category he will be grouped.” (Hazrat Imam Ali)

“(Death is) the greatest happiness which comes to the believers, when they migrate from the house of misery to the eternal bliss; (it is) the greatest disaster which befalls the unbelievers, when they go from their paradise(i.e., this world) to the fire which will never be extinguished and will never burn itself out.” (Hazrat Imam Hassan)

“Death is nothing but a bridge which takes you from difficulties and troubles to the vast paradise and everlasting bliss. So among you who would dislike to transfer from the prison of the world to the paradise” (Hazrat Imam Hussain)

“It (Death) is for the believer like removing a dirty cloth and like removing heavy shackles and chains, and to take the finest and best cloths, or finest horses and most lovely abode” ( Hazrat Imam Zainul Abideen)

“Death is like sleep that comes to you every night, but this is a sleep which is very long and there is no awakening but on the Day of Resurrection.” ( Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqar)

“Death for a believer is like fragrant breeze, by smelling which he becomes revived and every trouble and sorrow is removed from him. And for unbelievers, it is like snake-bite and sting of the scorpions and even worse.” (Hazrat Imam Jafer-e- Sadiq)