This essay will demonstrate one similarity and two differences between Buddhism and Islam's belief on the concept of life after death/next life. For example, the belief that one reaches the end of one's life (i.e. for Muslims one will reach heaven or hell and for Buddhists one will reach nirvana, or sometimes called enlightenment or liberation.) Specifically, each religion offers similar advice about what a person must do to merit admission to heaven or achieve enlightenment. However, there is a differentiation between the Muslim soul's transition between death and the afterlife and for Buddhists, their being in the cycle of samsara and their reincarnation after death. Additionally, Buddhist and Islamic doctrines contain different descriptions of what one can expect to see and experience in the afterlife or upon liberation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an original essayIn general principle, like Buddhists, Muslims generally believe that a person must practice good deeds to deserve be admitted to paradise. Practicing and non-practicing Muslims generally share the view that doing good deeds is a prerequisite for heaven. The reasoning proposed to explain this precondition is that upon death, righteous followers and those who commit certain sins follow the same path to reach the ultimate goal of the order (heaven). For example, in Islam, if a Muslim has done good deeds and is therefore righteous, then that person will end up in an order, also called Paradise. On the other hand, if a Muslim has sinned or strayed against the Islamic way, then that person will end up in Jehenna (hell). Furthermore, a Muslim who has neglected to pray can nevertheless secure a place in behesht by doing enough good deeds to balance the scales of judgment. Likewise, Buddhists believe that their actions, or as it is formally called darma, will have real consequences in their neighbor. life or to reach nirvana. The reason is that – just like Islam – Buddhists believe that developing one's life potential, such as being a good spouse or parent and believing in the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, will be a prerequisite for achieving end their samsara and move forward. about nirvana (heaven.) Moreover, to reach the highest level of heaven, Islam prescribes acceptance and faith in Allah while Buddhism prescribes acceptance and faith in Buddha as a moral to follow to achieve nirvana. Darma is traditionally defined as “a uniform standard, a universal and moral order or natural law; it also includes the specific duty and good conduct of each person.” A Buddhist must have wisdom and correspond morality with natural law to achieve nirvana. Another similarity seen in the two religions' instructions on how to access the afterlife is the Islamic belief in adherence to the five pillars and the Buddhist belief in adherence. to the Four Noble Truths (and ultimately the Eightfold Path.) For example, the first pillar is that one must dedicate one's life and faith to Allah and to Muhammad as a prophet. The second pillar is that one should pray five times a day towards Mecca. The third pillar is charity towards the Muslim community and the poor. The fourth pillar must fast during the month of Ramadan. Finally, the fifth pillar involves performing the Hajj, which is the journey to Mecca. During the month of Ramadan, the doors of Behesht open to enhance the spiritual progress ofeach, thus gaining a place in Behesht. The reason for adhering to the Five Pillars is that one who believes in them and dedicates themselves to them will earn or secure their place in command. Similar to the Islamic belief of adherence to the Five Pillars, Buddhism prescribes adherence to the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths are one: life is full of suffering (Duhkha); there is a cause for this suffering (Duhkha-samudaya); there is a way to extinguish suffering (Duhkha-nirodha); there is a path to end suffering (Duhkha-nirodha-marga). Staying strong and true to the Four Noble Truths will help one achieve enlightenment. The Last Noble Truth alludes to the Eightfold Path to liberation (enlightenment). The Eightfold Path was spoken by Buddha as a means to extinguish all suffering. The Eightfold Path is the morality by which Buddhists should live. It is said that the eight moralities are not all practiced chronologically, but rather simultaneously; they are all linked together. Overall, Buddha tries to teach compassion and wisdom to all beings. Another way Buddhists are like Muslims in the way of accessing the afterlife is to be in the clearest state of being with oneself and with religion and to die in peace. The reason is that by believing in the Four Noble Truths and the Five Pillars (for Muslims), the being is always on the way to spiritual perfection through reincarnation (samsara). For example, Buddhists believe in the Samsaric Wheel. These are repeated cycles of life and death (rebirth) based on the actions of one's previous life called karma. “The doctrine of karma states that a person's state in this life is the result of actions (both physical and mental) during past incarnations, and that action in this life can determine one's destiny in future incarnations” (Hui and Coleman.) Only those who have achieved liberation (moksha) from samsara can then transcend into nirvana. Unlike Buddhists, Muslims believe in a selection process to go to heaven or hell. For example, in the afterlife of a Muslim, the Angel of Death takes away the jun (the soul). It is believed that from two angles, Munkir and Nakir, test the dead on their knowledge of Islam. This should happen right after the person is buried. In their tomb, both angles ask them questions about their faith, such as: Who is your God? Who is your prophet? What is your religion? Where are you facing in prayer? If the person answers these questions in the belief of Islam, he is said to cross a bridge to heaven and non-believers are said to cross the bridge to hell. It is said that people who go to hell are asked: what led you to hellfire? These people will then answer for all the sins they think they have committed. The reason is that after this, the soul waits in the grave until the day of judgment, where the person is tested and weighed based on the good and bad deeds he has done. While waiting in their graves, they are said to feel and taste their final destiny, whether they will go to hell or heaven. This means that those who go to hell already feel the punishment and even the "heat" of hell in their graves, and those who go to heaven wait peacefully in their graves. The questions asked determine whether the person should go to heaven (behesht) or hell (jehenna). If it is decided that the person will go to heaven, then a personal protective angel guides them to heaven (paradise). Buddhists, however, believe that one should not reach nirvana directly, but rather pass through the six realms of existence; which are part of the cycle of samsara. These six kingdoms are: paradise, asuras,humans, animals, hungry ghosts and hell. One is placed in a field selected based on his karma. For example, if someone was greedy in their previous life, they are likely to be a pig in the animal kingdom in their next life. The reason is that a person's action will improve or diminish their future and move closer or further away from enlightenment. With rebirth, one can move to any realm or even stay in the same realm as their previous life. “Therefore, reincarnation is generally called transmigration in Buddhism.” Muslims, unlike Buddhists, believe that their afterlife is this fertile place with multiple beautiful women. The reason is that men receive a reward for their loyalty and faithfulness to their religion of Islam. For example, it is said that for men, they enjoy the company of beautiful virgins. In addition, this also means that there will be attentions from houris, which many translate as virgins, who have very white skin and very dark eyes. It is said that in the other world (heaven or hell), life will continue as in this world, but perhaps without haste, without worries, without anger, without corruption, without war and other earthly irritations. Whatever happens, it is God's will. In the Quran it is said that the sky will have two kinds of fruits, cushioned sofas, palm trees and pomegranates, and green pastures. In heaven, the faithful will see the image of God, peace, physical rewards and pleasure and the unbelievers will go to the fiery hell. Buddhists, contrary to Muslim belief, believe in nirvana rather than a real place like heaven for the departed. go. The reason is that nirvana is a state which signifies the end of the samara cycle, ending all suffering. For example, unless a being achieves enlightenment (nirvana), that being (i.e. an animal, a god, a hungry ghost, etc.) will not be able to escape pain or to the misery of reincarnation. In Sanskrit (a language in which Buddhists meditate), it refers to a flame that burns away, equivalent to the end of suffering and the end of desires. “Buddhist scriptures say that the state of enlightened man beyond death cannot be described.” Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Overall, one can clearly see the similarities between how Buddhists and Muslims believe in reaching or achieving the next life. Earning merit and doing good deeds, similarly, to complete one's darma, will help one reach the next life/hereafter. Following and internalizing the Four Noble Truths for Buddhists and the Five Pillars for Muslims will also benefit in the next life. However, there are differences in the belief of Buddhists and Muslims regarding the next life after death. For the Buddhist, we are on the wheel of samsara until we reach enlightenment. In the Muslim afterlife, just after death, a person is asked a series of questions in the grave and experiences contact with hell or heaven. Buddhists and Muslims also have different beliefs about what is said about the next life and the afterlife. For Muslims, paradise is simply full of beautiful women for men, and for Buddhists, the state of the enlightened cannot be described, it is like a flame that goes out. Buddhism and Islam are a Varanasi religion and a Jerusalem religion with similar and different beliefs about life after death/next life. Work cited DIAMOND, S., et al. 'Life after death.' New Encyclopedia.