This essay will demonstrate one similarity and two differences between Buddhism and Islam's belief regarding the concept of afterlife/next life. For example, both beliefs in reaching 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 guidance on what a person should do to merit admission to heaven or achieve enlightenment. However, there is a differentiation for the Muslim soul's transition between death and the afterlife and for Buddhists, their being in the cycle of samsara and reincarnation after death. Furthermore, Buddhist and Islamic doctrines contain different descriptions of what one can expect to see and experience in the afterlife or liberation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay As a general principle, similar to Buddhists, Muslims generally believe that a person must practice good deeds to deserve admission to heaven. Practicing and non-practicing Muslims generally share the view that performing good deeds is a prerequisite for Paradise. The reasoning offered as an explanation for this prerequisite is that after death, both righteous followers and those who commit certain sins follow the same path to reach the ultimate goal of the command (heaven). For example, in Islam, if a Muslim has done good deeds and is therefore righteous, then that person will end up in bliss, which is also called Paradise. On the other hand, if a Muslim has sinned or strayed from the Islamic path, then that person will end up in jehenna (hell). Furthermore, a Muslim who neglects to pray can still secure a place in the behesht by performing 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 next life. life or to achieve nirvana. The reason for this is that, just like Islam, Buddhists believe that completing one's life potential such as: being a good spouse or being a parent and believing in the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path will be a prerequisite to ending the own samsara and move. on nirvana (paradise). Furthermore, to reach the highest level of heaven, Islam prescribes acceptance and faith in Allah while Buddhism prescribes acceptance and faith in Buddha as the moral to follow to achieve nirvana. Darma is traditionally defined as “uniform rule, universal and moral order, or natural law; also includes one's specific duty and the correctness of conduct." A Buddhist is required to have wisdom and correspond morality with natural law to achieve nirvana. Another similarity seen in both religions' instructions on how to gain admission to the afterlife is the Islamic belief in adhering to the Five Pillars and the Buddhist belief in adhering. to the Four Noble Truths (and, ultimately, to the Eightfold Path). For example, the first Pillar is that one must dedicate one's life and faith to Allah and Muhammad as one's prophet. The second pillar is that one must pray five times a day looking in the direction of Mecca. The third pillar is that we must give charity to the Muslim community and the poor. According to the fourth pillar one must fast during the month of Ramadan. Finally, the fifth pillar is that one must complete the Hajj which is the journey to Mecca. In the month of Ramadan, the doors of behesht open to improve one's spiritual progress by earningso a place in the behesht. The reason for adhering to the Five Pillars is that those who believe in them and dedicate themselves to them will earn or secure their place in the behesht. Similar to the Islamic belief of adhering to the Five Pillars, Buddhism prescribes adhering to the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths are one: life is full of suffering (Duhkha); there is a cause of this suffering (Duhkha-samudaya); there is a way to extinguish suffering (Duhkha-nirodha); there is a path to end suffering (Duhkha-nirodha-marga). Remaining strong and true to the Four Noble Truths will help you achieve enlightenment. The final Noble Truth alludes to the Eightfold Path to liberation (enlightenment). The Eightfold Path was described by the Buddha as a way to extinguish all suffering. The Eightfold Path is the morality Buddhists must live by. All eight morals are not said to be practiced chronologically, but rather simultaneously; they are all connected together. Overall, Buddha is trying to teach compassion and wisdom for all beings. Another way Buddhists are similar to Muslims in the way of reaching the afterlife is by being in the clearest state of being with oneself and with religion and dying in peace. The reason for this is that by believing in the Four Noble Truths and the Five Pillars (for Muslims), the being is always on the path to spiritual perfection through reincarnation (samsara). For example, Buddhists believe in the Samsaric Wheel. Which are repeated cycles of life and death (rebirth) based on previous life actions called karma. “The doctrine of karma states that a person's state in this life is the result of actions (both physical and mental) in past incarnations, and action in this life can determine one's fate in future incarnations” (Hui and Coleman ). Only those who have achieved liberation (moksha) from samsara can transcend to nirvana. Unlike Buddhists, Muslims believe in a selection process to reach heaven or hell. For example, in the afterlife of a Muslim, the Angel of Death takes away the jun (soul). Two corners, Munkir and Nakir, are believed to test the dead on their knowledge of Islam. This is expected to happen soon after the person is buried. In their tomb, they are asked questions about their faith from two angles, such as: Who is your God? Who is your prophet? What is your religion? Where do you turn in prayer? If the person answers these questions by believing in Islam, it is said that he will cross a bridge to heaven and non-believers will cross the bridge to hell. It is said that people who go to hell are asked: What brought you to hell fire? Those people will then respond to whatever sin they think they have done wrong. The reason for this is that, after this happens, the soul waits in the grave until judgment day, where one is tested and weighed according to the good and bad deeds they have done. As they wait in their graves, they are said to feel and taste their final fate, whether they will go to hell or heaven. It means that those who will go to hell already feel the punishment and even the 'heat' of hell in their graves, and those who will go to heaven wait in their graves peacefully. The questions asked determine whether the person will be able to go to heaven (behesht) or hell (jehenna). If it is decided that the person will go to heaven, then a personal protective angel will guide the person to behesht (heaven). Buddhists, however, believe that it is not necessary to directly reach nirvana, but rather to traverse the six realms of existence; which are part of the samsara cycle. These six realms are: heaven, asura, human, animal,hungry ghosts and hell. One is placed in a realm selected according to one's karma. For example, if a person was greedy in the previous life, he is likely to become a pig in the animal kingdom in the next life. The reason for this is that a person's action will enhance or diminish their future and bring them closer or closer to enlightenment. With rebirth, one can move into any of the realms or even remain in the same realm as in the previous life. “So, in Buddhism, reincarnation is usually referred to as transmigration.” Muslims, unlike Buddhists, believe that their afterlife is this fruitful place with multiple beautiful women. The reason for this is that men receive a reward for being faithful and true to their religion of Islam. For example, it is said that for men they will delight in the company of beautiful virgins. Also, another meaning of this is that there will be the attentions of the 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 go on much like in this world, but possibly without haste, worries, anger, corruption, war and other earthly irritations. Whatever it is, however, it is the will of God. In the Quran it is said that the sky will have two kinds of every fruit, upholstered sofas, palm trees and pomegranate trees and green pastures. In heaven, the faithful will see the image of God, peace, rewards and physical pleasures, while the faithless will go to fiery hell. Buddhists, contrary to Muslim belief, believe in nirvana, rather than a real place like heaven for the deceased. go. The reason for this is that nirvana is a state that signifies the end of the samara cycle, ending all suffering. For example, unless a being achieves enlightenment (nirvana), that being (i.e. animal, god, hungry ghost, etc.) will not be able to escape the pain or misery of reincarnation. In Sanskrit (the language in which Buddhists meditate), it refers to the burning of a flame, equivalent to the end of suffering and the cessation of desires. “Buddhist scriptures say that the state of enlightened man beyond death cannot be described.” Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper 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 realizing the next life. Earning merit and performing good deeds, likewise, to complete one's weapon will help one reach the next life/afterlife. Following and internalizing the Four Noble Truths for Buddhists and the Five Pillars for Muslims will also gain an advantage in the next life. However, there are differences in the beliefs of Buddhists and Muslims regarding the next life after death. For the Buddhist, one is in the wheel of samsara until enlightenment is achieved. In the Muslim afterlife, soon after death, a person is asked a series of questions in the grave and experiences the touch of hell or heaven. Buddhists and Muslims also have different beliefs about what the next life/afterlife should be like. For Muslims, heaven is simply full of beautiful women for men, and for Buddhists, the state of the enlightened cannot be described, it is just like a flame going out. Buddhism and Islam are a religion of Varanasi and a religion of Jerusalem with similar and dissimilar beliefs about the afterlife/next life. Work CitedDIAMOND, S., et al. "Afterlife." New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd ed., vol. 1, Gale, 2003, pp. 163-168. Gale eBooks, https://link-gale-com.lib1.lib.sunysuffolk.edu/apps/doc/CX3407700196/GVRL?u=sunysuffolk&sid=GVRL&xid=7f92de88.Obayashi, Hiroshi. "Afterlife:.