Strength of Belief in the Hereafter

A story is told about Malik Shah (d. 1092), ruler of Iraq. One day, he was passing over a bridge while seated on his horse when an old woman came up and stood in front of him. A soldier of the king had conscripted her son for forced labour. Addressing Malik Shah, the woman told him what had happened. The king said to her that she should present a formal request in the court. The woman responded, “Malik Shah! You must decide for me right now, on this very bridge. Otherwise, tomorrow the decision will happen on the other bridge.”

By ‘the other bridge’ the woman meant the pul-e sirat. From a hadith we learn that the pul-e sirat is a bridge that is thinner than a hair, sharper than a sword and hotter than fire. In the Hereafter, true believers will pass over it quickly. Some people will find some difficulty crossing it but will eventually find relief. And other people will slip and fall down in the deep pits below.

Malik Shah was taken aback hearing the old woman’s words. At once he fulfilled her request.

Belief in the Hereafter is undoubtedly a revolutionary belief, much more revolutionary than all other beliefs and concepts. If someone discovers the Hereafter, he simply cannot remain as he was before. His discovery will become a personal earthquake, as it were, for him. It will completely transform his thinking, behaviour and dealings with others. In fact, he will become an entirely new person in every aspect.

If a society is made up of people who have a living conviction in the Hereafter, every member of that society will possess tremendous energy. In such a society, to remind a person of the court of the Hereafter will be a much more effective way to lead him to reform his behaviour than any sort of law or force. Faith in the Hereafter converts even a weakling into a person of great strength.