The Relationship Between Afterlife Beliefs and Mental Wellbeing Among Jordanian Muslim Youth

Abstract

Despite the centrality of afterlife reward and punishment beliefs in the religious life of Muslims, few empirical studies have sought to understand how such beliefs affect the psychological state and social behavior of Muslims. Past scant related studies have concluded that these beliefs are unhealthy, because they are positively associated with anxiety and death anxiety. This finding contradicts a central notion in Islamic theology, which states that avoiding afterlife punishment and obtaining afterlife reward is the primary motive for Muslim religiosity. The current study attempts to deepen our understanding of how Islamic afterlife reward and punishment beliefs affect the psychological state of Muslims. The study suggests that the influence of Islamic afterlife beliefs on well-being can be better understood from the perspective of meaning management theory as well as through the eudaimonistic tradition of well-being. This study has two goals: To develop the Islamic Afterlife Reward and Punishment Beliefs (IARPB) scale, and to examine the relationship between IARPB and Muslim religiosity, death anxiety, death acceptance and integrity. Data were collected from Jordanian university students (N = 605). Exploratory and confirmatory analyses support the construct validity of the IARPB Scale. IARPB positively predicted Muslim religiosity, death anxiety, death acceptance, and integrity. Results of ad hoc analysis indicated that IARPB suppresses death anxiety and amplifies death acceptance by increasing Muslim religiosity. In general, the results indicate a positive relationship between IARPB and the psychological state of Muslims. The limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Can I Pay at Purgatory? The Negative Impact of the Purgatory Ethic in Islamic Societies: Theoretical and Empirical Evidence

“…How and when the misunderstanding of temporary afterlife punishment belief appears is a topic that needs further study. One of the obstacles that hinders a deeper understanding of this phenomenon is the lack of empirical studies that examine how Muslims perceive afterlife beliefs (Al-Issa et al 2021a). A recent study by Al-Issa and his colleagues (Al-Issa et al 2021b) suggests that this misunderstanding may arise as a result of cognitive bias, as researchers have found that some Muslims believe that it is imperative that one enters Hell to be cleansed of her/his sins before entering Paradise, even if their good deeds outweigh their bad ones.…”

To Heaven through Hell: Are There Cognitive Foundations for Purgatory? Evidence from Islamic Cultures

“…This idea is alluded to repeatedly in the Quran (Al-Issa et al 2021;Shafer 2012). Among the many examples include: the Quran states that Allah created the heavens and the earth to test humanity (liyabluwakum) and find out those who do good deeds (Quran 11:7); He created human beings to test them (Quran 76:2); He made that which is on earth as an adornment for it, in order to test humans (Quran 18:7); He created death and life to test human beings as to which of them is best in deeds (Quran 67:2); and He tests humans with both hardships and blessings (Quran 21:35).…”

Advancing learners’ Islamic knowledge through a parenting education module

“…A devout generation is a generation that always does good deeds and has a good impact on the surrounding environment. Whereas the intelligent generation of those who are knowledgeable and able to optimize their potential, integrate their physical, intellectual, and emotional abilities can account for what they will do in the afterlife (Al-Issa et al, 2021). concLusIon Islamic-based parenting activities in schools need to be implemented and developed to provide understanding to parents about how to educate teenagers in accordance with Islamic teachings.…”