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 About Hereafter

What does "akhirah" mean? Could you give information about "the realm of akhirah" (hereafter)?

The meaning of the word “akhirah”:

“Akhirah” is an Arabic word and literally, it is the feminine gender of the word “akhir” that means “last, the last one”.
It is an Islamic term meaning “the eternal realm” that is our last and original home we’ll go after this world and refers to “hereafter”, “afterlife”.

Believing in the hereafter is one of the “Six Pillars of Faith”

“And who believe in that which has been sent down to you and in that (earlier Revelation) which was sent down before you and they believe with certainty In the Hereafter.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 4)

The beginning of the hereafter is “doomsday”

When we look at the universe, we see that everything in the universe, including the earth, has a “life” time and therefore a “death” time. Today, as even the science accepts, the earth is approaching to the end of its life time.
The end of the world will be by the angel’s -called “Israfel”- blowing the sur (trumpet). The whole universe will be destructed and all the living will die.
This fact is notified in the Holy Quran with many verses:
“When the sun Kuwwirat (wound round and lost its light and is overthrown).
And when the stars shall fall;
And when the mountains shall made to pass away;
And when the seas shall become as blazing Fire or shall overflow.” (Takvir; 1,2,3,6)
"Whenthe heaven is cleft asunder” (Infitar, 1)
When the trumpet is firstly blown, everything on earth and in the heaven will die through horror. Just the archangels Gabriel, Mikael, Israfel and Azrael (the angel of death) will stay alive. Then, Allah (swt) will command the angel of death to take the souls of Gabriel, Mikael and Israfel. Finally, Allah will command the angel of death and Azrael dies, as well.” (Ihya-I Ulum-id Din)
Then, Israfel is recreated. He blows the trumpet for the second time and by the permission of Allah (swt) all the living will resurrects.”

Terms relating to “akhirah”:

“Mahshaar”

is the grand field where people will gather after resurrection. This gathering on the field of mahshaar is called

“hashr”

(resurrection and assembling for judgment).
“Our Lord! Verily, it is You Who will gather humankind together on the Day about which there is no doubt. Verily, Allah never breaks His Promise". (Surah al-Al-i Imran, 9)

“Hisab”

means mankind’s being judged of where and how they spent their lifetimes.
“That Day shall you be brought to Judgment, not a secret of you will be hidden.” (Surah Al-Haqqah, 18)
“Then, as for him who will be given his Record in his right hand, He surely will receive an easy reckoning, and will return to his family in joy! But whosoever is given his Record behind his back; he will invoke (his) destruction, and shall enter a blazing Fire.” (Surah al-Inshiqaq, 7-12)

“Mizan”

(scale) is the balance where the good deeds and misdeeds will be weighed.
“And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We as Reckoners.” (Surah al-Anbiya, 47)
On the Day of Judgment, all prophets, especially our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the martyrs, the scholars and those who were chosen by Allah (swt) like good off springs will ask Allah for pardon of the believers. This is called

“shafaat”

(intercession).
“All prophets have one (special) accepted pray. I kept my pray for akhirah to intercede my ummah.” (Bukhari)
“On the Day of Judgment, I will be the first one who intercedes and whose intercession is accepted.” (Ibn-i Maaja)

“Liwa-ul hamd”

is the banner which will be in Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)’s hand and under which the believers will gather on the Day of Judgment.
“I will be the carrier of the “Liwa-ul Hamd” (Banner of Praise) on the Day of Judgment.”
I don’t say it in order to be pride; on the Day of Judgment the banner will be in my hands.” (Ibn-I Majah)

“Kawthar”

is the pool from which Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) will drink water with his ummah, so that they will never get thirsty. (There is a conflict about the time of drinking kawthaar water. Is it before or after the Sirat? According to the accepted opinion, there are two Kawthars. One is in the Jannah; the other is before the Sirat and on the field of Mahshar.)
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr:
The Prophet said, "My Lake-Fount is (so large that it takes) a month's journey to cross it. Its water is whiter than milk, and its smell is nicer than musk (a kind of Perfume), and its drinking cups are (as numerous) as the (number of) stars of the sky; and whoever drinks from it, will never be thirsty." (Bukhari, Book 8, Volume 76, Hadith 581)
The bridge over which will be passed in order to go to the hell or Jannah (paradise) is called

“Sirat”

.
Narrated by Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: We, the companions of the Prophet said, "O Allah's Apostle! What is the Sirat?' He said, "It is a slippery (bridge) on which there are clamps and (Hooks like) a thorny seed that is wide at one side and narrow at the other and has thorns with bent ends. Such a thorny seed is found in Najd and is called As-Sa'dan. Some of the believers will cross the bridge as quickly as the wink of an eye, some others as quick as lightning, a strong wind, fast horses or she-camels. So some will be safe without any harm; some will be safe after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down into Hell. The last person will cross by being dragged over the bridge." (Sahih Bukhari- Volume 9, Book 93, Number 532)

“Jannah”

is the everlasting place where mumins (believers) will get in and obtain endless beauties through the blessing of Allah (swt).
“And those who believe and do good works: such are rightful owners of the Garden. They will abide therein.” (Surah al-Baqara, 82)

“Jahannam”

is the place where the deniers will suffer torment forever.
“ But they who disbelieve, and deny Our revelations, such are rightful Peoples of the Fire. They will abide therein.” (Surah al-Baqara, 39)
As for the sinner believers, they will get in the jannah after suffering jahannam torment in proportion to the amount of their sins.
However, we should consider that the expressions like “sur, mizan, sirat, kawthar” related to the realm of akhirah are described as “trumpet, balance, bridge, pool” in order to make them closer to mankind’s comprehension. The images imagined comparing the worldly materials are not their original shapes. We will see their original images in the realm of akhirah. Kaynak: http://askaquestionto.us - About Hereafter