A Response to Mr. Sumit Paul’s Article: “Heaven and Hell Are Mere States of Mind”

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 4 June 2025 Sumit Paul Sahib’s recent article argues that Heaven and Hell are not real places, but psychological states and merely conditions of the mind. While this subject is not new, it resurfaces from time to time, often promoted by atheists and those who do not adhere to any revealed religion. Among Muslims, however, this claim has always been met with a firm and reasoned rejection. Islamic scholars throughout history have responded to it, using both divine revelation and rational arguments. Many books have explored this topic in depth, including Islam: The Challenge of Our Time by Wahiduddin Khan, which offers both scriptural and intellectual evidence for the reality of the Hereafter. To offer a concise and clear response, I’d like to share a revised version of a Q&A originally published on Islamweb.net, which directly addresses a question similar to the one raised in Mr. Paul’s article: Question: Has anyone ever actually died and then come back to tell us that Paradise and Hell truly exist? I want solid proof. Even Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) asked Allah for confirmation—not out of doubt, but to bring peace to his heart. I know the answer is in the Qur’an, but I still seek reassurance…. Answer: All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and companions. A true Muslim should not need someone to physically die and come back to confirm the existence of Paradise and Hell. We already have the most trustworthy and truthful testimony, from the one whose heart and sight Allah Himself purified from error, falsehood, and deception: the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He was taken to that unseen world and shown what Allah has prepared for the people of Paradise—eternal bliss—and what He has prepared for the people of Hell—disgrace and torment. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) returned and told us exactly what he saw, in both detail and summary. His vision, his testimony, is more reliable for us than if we ourselves were granted a glimpse of the Hereafter. May Allah have mercy on one of the early righteous scholars who once told his companions: “I have seen Paradise and Hell truly, right here in this world!” Meaning through the eye of faith, by the light of certainty that Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) have conveyed to us. So they asked him, “How did you see Paradise and Hell?” He replied, “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saw them. And the eyes of the Messenger of Allah are more trustworthy to me than my own two eyes.” As for the request of the questioner—seeking “real, concrete proof” of Paradise and Hell, it is important to understand that Paradise and Hell are not part of the physical world we experience (the seen realm). They belong to the realm of the unseen (al-ghayb). Belief in them is part of our belief in the unseen. And in truth, the evidence we have for the unseen—based on divine revelation—is more powerful than sensory or material proof. Let us explain this further: Our belief in Paradise and Hell is built upon our belief in Allah. And when you truly believe in Allah, you also believe in His absolute justice. It is impossible to imagine that the All-Just Creator would design a world full of injustice, oppression, pain, and wrongdoing, then allow it all to end without a day of reckoning. Can it be that the murderer escapes justice, the oppressed dies without vindication, and the good and evil meet the same end? Such a vision would lead to despair, nihilism, disbelief, and moral chaos. Therefore, it is a core truth of our faith that there must be a Day when Allah, the Supreme Judge, will establish the scales of justice. As the Qur’an says: “So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (99:7–8) A true believer also denies any sense of pointlessness in God's creation, just as Allah Himself denied it: “Did you think that We created you in vain, and that you would not be returned to Us?” (23:115) To deny Paradise and Hell is to accuse God’s creation of being random and purposeless. But Allah did not create human beings without guidance, without commands, and without accountability. If we were created for no purpose, then what of right and wrong? What of reward and punishment? So, belief in Paradise and Hell is not just belief in a place, it is belief in the very meaning of justice, purpose, and divine wisdom. Belief in Paradise and Hell is directly connected to belief in the Qur’an, and in the fact that it is the Word of Allah. The Qur’an speaks in detail about both Heaven and Hell, describing not only the physical pleasures and punishments, but also the emotional and spiritual aspects of each. It presents many proofs and arguments for the Resurrection, the Day of Judgment, and the resulting reward or punishment. Among these proofs is the evidence of our own first creation, which Allah mentions in the Qur’an: “They will say, ‘Who will bring us back [to life]?’ Say: ‘The One who created you the first time.’” (17:51) Another sign is found in the stages of human development and in the growth of plants. As Allah says: “O people, if you are in doubt about the Resurrection, then (consider) that We created you from dust, then from a drop of fluid, then from a clinging clot, then from a lump of flesh...” (22:5) If Allah can bring a human being from dust to life, through such astonishing stages, then surely He can resurrect us in a new form—either into eternal bliss or painful torment. Belief in Paradise and Hell also follows naturally from belief in the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). If you believe that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is truly the Messenger of Allah, then you also believe in everything he brought—every command, every prohibition, and every report he gave us, including his detailed descriptions of Heaven and Hell and of the people in each. Let us also share a word with our dear questioner: Even though followers of revealed religions (like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) differ on many matters, they all—without exception—agree on the existence of Paradise and Hell, even if they use different names. In contrast, those who reject religion—atheists and materialists—have no proof at all for their denial of the Hereafter. Not even a fraction of a proof. That is why the Qur’an calls their claim nothing more than guesswork: “They say: ‘There is nothing but our life in this world. We die and live, and nothing destroys us except time.’ But they have no knowledge of that; they only speculate.” (45:24) A Recommendation for Further Reading: We encourage the questioner to read the book “Islam: The Challenge of Our Time” by Wahiduddin Khan, especially Chapter 5: The Proof of the Hereafter. It offers deep insight and clear reasoning for the reality of life after death, built on both scriptural and rational foundations. We would also like to gently remind the questioner of a vital truth: guidance is entirely in the Will of Allah. Many people throughout history were shown clear signs and witnessed undeniable miracles—proofs that should have erased all doubt—yet they were still deprived of guidance and success. So, if the truth has already been made clear to you from the beginning, then praise Allah for having guided you, and keep asking Him for even more certainty and steadfastness. Reflect on the words of Allah, the Exalted: “They swear by Allah with their strongest oaths that if a sign came to them, they would surely believe in it. Say, ‘Signs are only with Allah.’ But what will make you realize that even if signs came, they still would not believe? We will turn their hearts and their eyes away (from the truth), because they refused to believe in it the first time. And We will leave them to wander blindly in their transgression.” (6:109–110) And also His words: “They swore by Allah their strongest oaths that if a warner came to them, they would be more guided than any other nation. But when a warner did come to them, it only increased them in aversion.” (35:42) And Allah knows best. May He keep our hearts firm upon the truth, and increase us in guidance, light, and certainty. ----- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/response-heaven-hell-states-mind/d/135769 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism