What Is the Akhirah? The Hereafter in Islam

Akhirah (Arabic: الآخرة) is pronounced AA-khi-rah. It means “the last” or “the final”, and is the opposite of dunya, “this nearer world”.

Meaning

Muslims believe that death is not the end but a passage. After it comes a waiting stage, then the resurrection of all people, the Day of Judgment when every person’s life is weighed with perfect justice and great mercy, and finally an eternal home. All of this together is called the akhirah. Belief in the Last Day is one of the six articles of Muslim faith.

The Qur’an contrasts the brief life of this world with the lasting life to come:

وَمَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَهْوٌۭ وَلَعِبٌۭ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ لَهِىَ ٱلْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾

And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter - that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.

Why it matters

Belief in the akhirah changes how Muslims see this life. It does not make this world worthless: Muslims are taught to work, love their families, enjoy what is good and care for the earth. But it puts everything in perspective. No good deed is lost, even if no one saw it. No injustice escapes, even if the guilty seem to win here. And no suffering is meaningless, because God will repay patience.

Muslims often pray a short prayer from the Qur’an asking for good in this world and good in the Hereafter (Qur’an 2:201) — holding both together.

Example

“Think of your akhirah before you say something unkind.”

To learn more, read What Happens After Death? and see the related term Jannah.