The Airport of the Hereafter

Once, I was travelling by air and arrived at an airport. I and most of the other passengers went through the necessary formalities and came out. But some passengers were stopped by the airport authorities. They were told to wait for special checking. Some information had been received about these passengers, and that is why the authorities dealt with them that way. Witnessing this sight at the airport I was reminded of a scene from the Hereafter wherein God directs angels to some people and says: “And stop them there for questioning.” (Quran 37:24)

The issue of life is like this too. The Earth, on which we have been settled, rotates continuously about its axis, at a speed of about 1,000 miles an hour. It is as if we are aboard an airplane that is taking us towards an airport at a great speed. This airport is the airport of the Hereafter. A time will come when all of us will be made to disembark there. Then, some people will be detained on landing. They will be told, “You wait here. You will now be questioned.” And on the other side there will be some fortunate people, who will get a very different treatment. They will be welcomed by angels, who will say to them: “Peace be upon you. You have done well, enter Paradise and dwell in it forever.” (Quran 39:73)