Resurrection is rising again from the dead, as was in the case of Christ. People of the Christian faith believe this. The process of reward or punishment along with judgement by God is the tenets of Mohammedanism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism. Let’s understand more about the concept of Resurrection and Judgement Day
The Jews initiated the concept of resurrection which to date continues with the belief systems of Christians and Mohammedans. The jews themselves borrowed it from the faith of Zoroastrianism.
The general view, however, is the soul will rise again from the grave. One may inquire how will human anatomy, which decomposes, rise again? Let’s understand this.
Islamic Faith – Concept of Resurrection
But according to the Islamic faith, a person’s body was entirely consumed by the earth, except the bone called Al Ajib or the coccygeus or rump bone. It was the first-formed of the human body. It will likewise stay uncorrupted until the last day as a seed from which the whole will reform anew.
Mohammed stated that God would send a forty-day rain, covering the earth to a considerable height and the bodies to sprout forth like plants.
The Jews opine of a similar concept of the bone Luz. However, they say that the body will sprout by a dew impregnating the dust of the earth.
The Zend Avesta refer to philosophical questions on the resurrection.
“How will the body that the wind has taken away and waves have swallowed recreate? How will the revival of the dead happen?”
Answered Ormuzd: ” corn laid in the ground grows and comes to life: when I have given the veins of the tree according to their types: when I have given a child to the mother. when I have invented the clouds which take the water from the earth and send it down as rain. ”
When God can create all these, would resurrection not be possible by the almighty? “If the seed of wheat buried naked in earth springs up as multiple blades, …is it not possible for the virtuous to rise again?
Resurrection, however, is possible when the following signs precede it according to the Islamic faith
- The sun rising in the west instead of east
- Dajjal, the false messiah and deceiver of most curious appearance will preach Islam in Arabic speech,
- The sound of the trumpet called Sur will be audible three times.
JUDGEMENT DAY – Views of different religious faiths
The Islamic faith believes that once the soul departs the body, it has to wait for interrogation with Mohammed, the prophet. Every part of the soul will be questioned and made to confess for all the sins committed. A bridge called AL Sirat has to be crossed.
A record is made and kept for all the actions of the past life. This is similar to lord Yama and Chitragupta of the Hindu faith.
In Christianity angel, Gabriel will hold a balance that weighs the evil and good deeds of the individual and accordingly, the soul goes to either heaven or hell.
According to Zoroastrianism, the soul has to interact with two angels named Mehr and Sarush on the day of judgement. The souls will be able to cross the Chinavat bridge to meet the preceptor Ahuramazda only after their investigation.
The Hindus speak of Vaitarani, a river, as mentioned in the Garuda Purana that, lies between the earth and the realm of Yama, Hindu god of death, and purifies one’s sins. Furthermore, while the righteous see it filled with nectar-like water, the sinful see it filled with blood.
Souls have to cross this river after death.
