Eternal Consequence

After death, everyone enters an eternal life. In the Hereafter everyone will suffer eternal consequences of the actions they performed in this world, either in Paradise or hell.

In the present world everyone makes mistakes but he finds that, on each occasion, he is able to rectify his mistakes and save himself from their evil consequences. This happens with everyone. It is a daily experience either in one’s own life or in the lives of others.

The result of this general experience is that man tends to feel that mistakes or errors can be compensated for. Consciously or unconsciously, this thinking that mistakes are not fatal in the absolute sense takes a greater and greater hold. Mistakes temporarily do result in some harm but, sooner or later, these mistakes are made up for. Life once again comes back to normal. The result of this situation is that man tends to suppose that what happens in this world will also happen in the same way in the hereafter. He thinks that regarding the consequences of mistakes what ensues in this world will also ensue in the next world. It is this misconception which is expressed in these words: “The fire is not going to touch us, and [even if it does], it will only be for a few days!” (2:80)

This creates a serious problem for every man and woman. In this world, every man and woman must think with an open mind and must discover the real nature of all matters relating to the hereafter. Every man and woman must know that what takes place in the hereafter is totally different from the happenings of this world. After death, everyone has to enter upon an eternal life from which no return will be possible, where man will be all alone, where there will be no way of making amends. After entering into the world of the hereafter everyone has at all events to suffer the consequences of his actions in this world. When man enters the life of the world hereafter, he will land either in eternal Paradise or in eternal hell.