The Afterlife

Taking a page from Lisel's book, this excerpt is from a book intended for children, covering the basics of the Islamic faith.

Excerpt from World Faiths Islam: Worship, Festivals, and Ceremonies From Around the World by Trevor Barnes

Heaven and Hell
Muslims believe that while death is the end of earthly life, it is the beginning of eternal life. They believe that faithfulness to Allah in this life will be rewarded in the next and that wickedness will be punished.

Angels and messengers
God is everywhere in Creation but cannot be seen. However at points in human history it is believed that God sent special people to bring important spiritual messages. The first of these is said to be Adam, the first man, and the last was Muhammad, the "Seal of the Prophets." In addition, Muslims recognize the prophets of Judaism and Christianity, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.

The righteous sit forever in the presence of God in one vision of Paradise. Heaven is seen as a garden.

Death and Judgment
Muslims about to die say the shahada—the profession of faith in one God and belief in his final prophet, Muhammad. [...] The dead are buried as soon as possible. The body is placed in the grave, with its head facing toward Mecca, where it will wait until the Last Day, when it is believed that the dead will rise and be judged.

Heaven
Heaven is the eternal reward for those who have followed the will of Allah. Heaven is described in the Koran as a beautiful garden where the righteous can eat fruits and drink juices while reclining on comfortable couches and waited on by heavenly servants. [...] Some interpret this literally, while others say it is an image describing the joy of being eternally in God's presence.

Hell
Hell, in contrast, is an ugly place reserved for the wicked and the unbelievers. It is described as a place of everlasting fire, boiling waters, scorching winds, and black smoke. The punishments of Hell are believed to be eternal. [...] Although they are described as physical tortures, many Islamic scholars argue that they are dramatic images that powerfully describe the pain of separation from God. (16-17)