Matters of Life & Death

• In the Qur'an Allah created the world in 6 ayyams
• The act of Creation is frequently spoken of in the Quran in order to remind people about the order of the universe and about the All-Knowing Creator who maintains it all
• Al-Khaliq


  The Creator
• Perfect, intricate, natural laws - an infinitely wise and All-Powerful Creator must be ordering the universe
• Value of the universe to Muslims


  • It was created by Allah
  • Allah gave earth to humans to take care of on his behalf
  • All Muslims should work in some way to care for the environment
  • Muslims are to be Khalifah's of the earth
• Big Bang theory explains how the universe was created

  Some atheists argue we don't need to believe in Allah
• Scientific evidence for Big Bang Theory
• Just because humans look for a cause or designer, this doesn't mean there is one
• If the universe needs a creator, then surely Allah needs one too?
• Similarities between the Big Bang and Quran account of creation

  6 Ayyams might be six stages which could be compatible with creation over billions of years
• The Quran: '"The heavens, We have built them with power…We are expanding it"'
• Nothing existed before the Big Bang
• The Quran states "Created the night and the day"
• The Prophet: '"Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger than that without a just cause, Allah will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment."'
• The Quran states "They are communities like you"
• The Prophet explained that a killing would be for a just cause if it was for food
• The Quran: '"To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth."'
• The Quran: '"Take not life, which God hath made sacred."'
• The Quran states "No one can die except by Allah's leave."
• The Quran: '"If any one slew a person... it would be as if he slew the whole people."'
• Euthanasia


  Killing a person to end their suffering
• Qur'an teachings on euthanasia?


  • Only Allah can decide when a person's life is over
  • Life is holy, sacred, precious, and valuable and belongs to Allah
  • Humans should preserve and respect life and only Allah has the right to give and take life
  • Humans cannot decide when to end it. Euthanasia is killing and this is forbidden in the Qur'an
  • Life is a test - should not be ended prematurely
• Qur'an teachings on abortion


  • Abortions are ACCEPTABLE if the mother is very disabled and unable to look after a child
  • Life starts at 120 days, which is called ensoulment (soul enters the body)
  • An abortion could be to prevent danger
  • Pregnancy a result of rape
• Qur'an teachings on abortion (not permitted)


  • The Qur'an says do not kill your child because of want
  • Allah is the creator of life. Only Allah has the right to end life
  • The Sanctity of life (life is holy/sacred)
  • Life begins at conception
• Life after Death (Akhirah)


  • Life has a purpose - how we spend time on earth will determine what happens to us in the akhirah
  • In the next life, Muslims will be accountable for their actions in this world e.g. good deeds, selfless acts and following Allah's teachings will lead to a better existence
  • Belief in resurrection - that one day the whole of humanity will be brought back to life for the Day of Judgement
• Quran teachings on euthenasia?

  • '...not to kill yourself; God is merciful to you'
  • Islam is a religion of mercy and so Muslims should care for the sick, not kill them
  • The hadith shows that a person who ends their life earlier than Allah intends will not go to paradise
  • The Qur'an shows that people should accept suffering and they will be rewarded for it
  • Many Muslims support hospice care
  • 'Those who patiently preserve will truly receive a reward without measure'
• Life after death?


  • Jannah - heaven or paradise and Jahannum - hell
  • "It is God who gives life, then causes you to die, and then gathers you all to the Day of Resurrection..."
  • "...peace be on you; enter paradise for what you were doing"