Through Force or Faith? — Page 262
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 262 distinction between Islamic teachings and that of other religions concerning the creation of man, the purpose of his creation, man being sinful by birth or not, the design of man’s nature, distinction among men on national or racial grounds, etc. The Fate of Man The third part, that relates to religious beliefs and is part of the fundamentals of all the faiths, is concerned with the end of man’s life, and the life hereafter. Life-after-death is a basic belief of all religions, and every religion has taught that there is life after death. Therefore, it is imperative to make a comparison of teachings about the life to come. The Old Testament mentions the subject of life-after-death only as a hint. The concept does exist that there are Hell and Heaven where punishment and reward will be given to man, but there is no detailed knowledge about their nature, quality and essence. Christianity being a branch of Judaism could not and did not make any progress and failed to throw any light on this subject. As for the teachings of the Bible, it depicts Hell and Heaven as corporal places because it is written in (Genesis, 2:8) that God planted a garden near Eden. Moreover, God’s punishment to the sinners in Hell shall be everlasting (Isaiah, 33:14; 66:24; Matthew, 25: 41–46). Islam, on the other hand, clearly and explicitly states for the first time that Hell and Heaven are not physical things; rather they are spiritual places. Islam also teaches that Hell is not an everlasting place, nor is God a personal enemy of any one that he should give him an everlasting punishment. To be in Hell is like