What do Muslims believe about Akhirah, the afterlife?
Akhirah (life after death): this life as a test, the Day of Judgement (Yawm ad-Din), the resurrection, Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam), and the impact of these beliefs.
An Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies (C120) Component 3 answer on Akhirah, covering this life as a test, the Day of Judgement (Yawm ad-Din), the resurrection, Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam), and the impact of belief in the afterlife, with the sources of wisdom and authority Eduqas rewards.
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to explain the Muslim belief in Akhirah (life after death): this life as a test, the Day of Judgement (Yawm ad-Din), the resurrection, Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam), and the impact of these beliefs on how Muslims live. Akhirah is one of the six beliefs of Sunni Islam and gives this life its meaning as a test for the next. The topic feeds the 15-mark evaluation question on whether the afterlife is the main reason Muslims live good lives, so you need the content, the range of motives, and the sources of wisdom and authority Eduqas rewards.
This life as a test
The Day of Judgement (Yawm ad-Din)
The resurrection and judgement are central: belief in them is one of the six beliefs (and one of the Shia five roots, as Mi'ad). They mean no wrong goes unanswered and no good is forgotten, which gives Muslims confidence in Allah's fairness.
Paradise and Hell
The impact of belief in Akhirah
Belief in Akhirah is not just about the future: it shapes how Muslims live now. It gives a powerful reason to follow the Five Pillars, obey Allah's commands, do good and avoid sin, knowing they will be judged. It brings comfort in the face of death and hope of reward, and it supports justice, since wrongs will finally be put right. But many Muslims insist the deepest motive is taqwa (God-consciousness and love of Allah): obeying Allah because it is right and out of gratitude, not merely from fear of Hell or hope of Paradise. This is the heart of the evaluation question.
Common and divergent views
The common view across Islam, Sunni and Shia, is that there is a real afterlife: this life is a test, all will be resurrected and judged, and the outcomes are Jannah and Jahannam. The divergence is mainly in interpretation: some Muslims read the Qur'anic descriptions of Paradise and Hell literally, others as symbolic of nearness to or distance from Allah. There is also debate over the motive for good living (judgement versus taqwa). For the exam, present Akhirah as an agreed belief and use these differences when evaluating.
Try this
Q1. What are Jannah and Jahannam? [a-style recall]
- Cue. Jannah is Paradise, a garden of eternal peace and reward for those who had faith and did good; Jahannam is Hell, a place of punishment and fire for those who rejected Allah and did evil.
Q2. Explain how belief in Akhirah affects how a Muslim lives now. [b-style short explanation]
- Cue. Because this life is a test and everyone will be judged on their deeds, belief in Akhirah gives Muslims a strong reason to keep the Five Pillars, obey Allah and do good; it also brings comfort in death and hope of reward, though many act mainly out of taqwa (love of Allah).
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas C120 2019 (style)2 marks[a] What is meant by Akhirah?Show worked answer →
This is the 2-mark (a) AO1 definition question. Define the term precisely: Akhirah is the Muslim belief in life after death. A short developed phrase secures both marks, for example "the afterlife: the belief that after death everyone is resurrected and judged by Allah, and sent to Paradise or Hell". A single word risks only one mark.
Eduqas C120 2021 (style)8 marks[c] Explain Muslim beliefs about the Day of Judgement. Refer to sources of wisdom and authority in your answer.Show worked answer →
This is the 8-mark (c) extended AO1 question, and referring to sources is required for the top band. Explain that Muslims believe this life is a test, and at the end of time Allah will resurrect all people and judge them on the Day of Judgement (Yawm ad-Din). Each person's deeds, recorded by the angels, are weighed in the balance, and they are sent to Paradise (Jannah) or Hell (Jahannam). Develop that judgement reflects Allah's justice and mercy. Anchor in sources: "We shall set up scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection" (Surah 21:47), and "every soul will taste death" then be "paid in full" (Surah 3:185). The top band rewards developed points with accurate sources.
Eduqas C120 2022 (style)15 marks[d] "Belief in the afterlife is the main reason Muslims try to live good lives." Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should refer to religious beliefs and teachings, give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, and reach a justified conclusion.Show worked answer →
This is the 15-mark (d) AO2 evaluation question, where SPaG is assessed, so write in continuous prose with specialist terms. Arguments to support: belief in Yawm ad-Din, Jannah and Jahannam gives Muslims a strong reason to obey Allah, keep the Five Pillars and do good, since they will be judged on their deeds; this life is a test for the next. Arguments for a different view: many Muslims stress that the true motive is taqwa (love of and submission to Allah and gratitude), not just fear of Hell or hope of reward; submission (Islam) means obeying Allah because it is right in itself. Use specialist terms (Akhirah, Yawm ad-Din, Jannah, Jahannam, taqwa). A justified conclusion weighs whether the afterlife is the main motive or whether love of and submission to Allah is the deeper reason.
Related dot points
- The belief in Tawhid (the oneness of God), the nature and characteristics of Allah, the sin of shirk, and why Tawhid is central to Islam.
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Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies specification (C120, from 2016) — WJEC Eduqas (2016)