Which Life Is the “Good Life” (Hayat Tayyiba)?

Question

The state prior to worldly life has been described [by the Qur’an] as death, after which this [earthly] life was granted; then death will come, and after it a second life will be granted for which there will be no further death — that life will be granted on the Day of Resurrection (Hashr). The question remains: the life obtained in the realm of barzakh — would this be called a third life? If we accept this “third life,” would that be contrary to the Qur’an?

Answer

[ar]مَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةً طَيِّبَةً[/ar] “Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while being a believer, We will surely cause him to live a good life…” (Surah al-Nahl, 16:97) — one of the referents of “the good life” (hayat tayyiba)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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