What Are the Similarities Between the World and the Hereafter, and What Common Characteristics Do They Share?

How much do you know about the hereafter? In your opinion, what are the common characteristics of and similarities between the world and the hereafter? How does knowing the hereafter and discovering its similarities with the world help us? Does knowing the hereafter have any effect on our worldly life?

The worldly life is temporary and has its own limitations. After this transient life, we will be transferred to a world that is billions of times bigger and more advanced than this world. Our transfer from the world to the hereafter is like moving from a small underground cave to a very modern city to live there forever. What is our first step in such a situation? First, we must know the city well and become familiar with its laws and regulations. Second, based on what we know about this city, we must try to provide the essential tools and equipment to live a comfortable and trouble-free life. So we need to know the hereafter in order to prepare ourselves for living there and provide the essential equipment for our journey to it.

According to the Law of Proportion that we discussed earlier, the relationship between the world and the hereafter is like the relationship between the mother’s womb and the world. Understanding this law helps us a lot to know the similarities between the world and the hereafter. Just as a fetus in the womb does not have a proper understanding of the magnificence and the resources of the world, it is natural that we, who are in the womb of the world, do not have a proper understanding of the hereafter. So by discussing common characteristics of and similarities between the world and the hereafter, we will try to gain a relative knowledge about the hereafter.

Both the World and the Hereafter Are Real Places

One of the most prominent similarities between the world and the hereafter is their “reality.” The realm of Barzakh and the hereafter, like the world, are real places. They are not illusory or imaginary places created by the human mind. Just as a fetus enters a world with more advanced resources after the uterine period, we will also be transferred to the realm of Barzakh and then the hereafter after our worldly life. Therefore, the first step on the path to knowing the hereafter is to be certain and believe that such realms exist; whether we like it or not, we must move there to live an eternal life.

The Similarity Between the World and the Hereafter in Terms of Types of Birth

One of the other similarities between the world and the hereafter is “the type of birth.” In general, there are six types of birth upon entering the world and the hereafter. These include:

• Robustly healthy birth
• Healthy birth
• Weak birth
• Sick birth
• Defective birth
• Deformed birth

Among these types of birth, only the first two types, i.e., “robustly healthy” and “healthy” are desirable for this world and the hereafter. Other types of birth come with pain and suffering. What is meant by a healthy birth? What is the difference between a healthy birth and robustly healthy birth?

The term “healthy birth” refers to a situation where a person adjusts himself to the living conditions of a place he is supposed to be born into, whether it is the world or the hereafter. To put it more clearly, we are all living in the world now, and we know well the first requirement for living a comfortable and trouble-free life. The most important requirement for a comfortable life in the world is that the newborn is completely healthy physically. In other words, his digestive system, nervous system, hands, feet, eyes, and his other systems and organs have no defects. A baby born with these conditions is called a healthy baby.

What is meant by a robustly healthy birth? Every day, many babies are born. Most of them do not have any physical problems and have the basic tools for living in the world. But in terms of strength, ability, intelligence, and talent, they are not all equal. Some have higher intelligence and ability, while others are average and ordinary. Babies who, in addition to being completely healthy, have higher abilities than others are called “robustly healthy. ”

The desired birth into the world is only these two types. The other types of birth are troublesome because a person must endure pain and suffering depending on the type, severity, and the number of his diseases. It is the same in the hereafter. The main requirement for living a comfortable life in Barzakh is to have the minimum health factors for living there. As we mentioned before, the factors that determine the health or disease of our soul are our deeds. If we are born into Barzakh with a sick soul tainted with various moral vices such as arrogance, envy, hatred, irritability, etc., we must wait thousands of years in the hospital of hell to rid our soul of these infections. Even the thought of it is terrifying! Therefore, a wise person cures his moral diseases in this world and before entering Barzakh and the Day of Judgement.

We Need True Assets to Live in the World and the Hereafter

One of the other similarities between the world and the hereafter is that life in both places requires “true assets.” Just as we need material assets to sustain our lives and live a worldly life, we also need spiritual assets to sustain our lives in the hereafter and live an eternal life. “Spiritual assets” are a set of abilities that manifest themselves in individuals and become the source of specific behaviors. For example, having a “kind heart” is a type of spiritual asset that makes us treat others with kindness. “Generosity” is a type of spiritual asset that is itself the source of good deeds and many blessings, and it causes our soul to always have radiant outputs. “Forbearance or patience” is a kind of spiritual asset that prevents us from harming ourselves and others, etc. We are in great need of these spiritual assets in the hereafter, and in fact, the amount of these assets is what builds the heaven of each of us. In the hereafter, just like the world, anyone who has more assets is wealthier and enjoys life more!

The Similarity of Reckoning in Both the World and the Hereafter

Among the similarities between the world and the hereafter is the “reckoning or being quick in account.” Just as a fetus is immediately subject to reckoning, questioning, and answering upon entering the world, we will also be subject to reckoning, questioning, and answering upon entering Barzakh and on the Day of judgement. Of course, these questions are not written or oral, but rather “existential” ones. This means that we do not need to confess our sins and bad deeds with our tongues. The type of our birth says everything. If we are born healthy or robustly healthy into the hereafter, we will enter the heaven without delay. If we are born sick or weak, we have to stay in the hospital of hell for a long time and endure the suffering until our diseases and weaknesses are cured. If, God forbid, we are born with defects, we have no choice but to stay in hell forever: As birth defects cannot be cured in the world, they are also incurable in the hereafter.

The Hereafter Surrounds the World and the World Surrounds the Mother’s Womb

One of the other similarities between the world and the hereafter and the last one that we will discuss from the point of view of the Law of Proportion is that just as the world surrounds the mother’s womb, the hereafter surrounds the world. Therefore, right now, we are living in the hereafter, but since we are confined in the womb of the world, we cannot see it now.

Considering what we have stated, now we have a better understanding of the hereafter. Being familiar with the similarities between the world and the hereafter greatly increases our readiness for entering that realm and helps us to make the most of our life opportunities.

What do you think about this? Please share your thoughts with us.