After reunion at resurrection, the spirit and body ‘ll never separate again, licensing our corporeal beings without an expiration date! Death hallmarks the ending of a trial phase, so that an aptly judicious judgement is possible. Once the motive of death is over and arbitration complete, dieing ‘ll be purposeless. At this point, man’s biological clock will get stuck in an automatic renewal system, generating persistence in the conditions of reward or reprisal. We won't become eternal beings, but ‘ll be bound to live either in continuous suffering or exultation.
The term ‘eternal life’ is unrelated to our universe, for we need a Creator to be. So, a Creator was indeed present before the inception of space and time, as God explains: “And it is He, Who created the heavens...and BEFORE this His Throne rested on water;” (Quran 11:7) Similarly, Bible Genesis 1-3 quotes: ‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Here, water carries a symbolic meaning - difficult to explain.)
Immortality needs a beginning. As God is ever-living and not someone begotten, the word immortal does not apply to an Existence eternally timeless. He defines: (Bible: Revelation 1:8): ‘“I am the Alpha and the Omega...the one Who is, Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty.”’ and the Quran notes: “He is the First as well as the Last, the Manifest as well as the Hidden…” (57:3) Human immortality in the afterlife is due to the elimination of death. Which is to immerse us into a sempiternal state of recompense: everlasting but within bracketed time!
Quran verses 11:108 are a noteworthy portrayal of resurrection when the verdicts of recompense would have been issued: “Those who shall be damned shall go to Hell...Therein they shall abide forever, as long as the earth and the heavens shall last unless your Lord ordains otherwise. Indeed your Lord has full powers to do as He will. As for those who shall be blessed they will go to the Garden and dwell therein forever, as long as the earth and the heavens shall last, unless your Lord wills something else. They will be blessed with a boon that will be imperishable.” (Quran 11:108)
Quran verses 20:127, that: “The torment in the Hereafter will be more severe and longer lasting;'' emphasise the same. Creation is testimony to Allah’s atemporal omnipresence: “...He is God the One, God the eternal. He begot no one nor was He begotten. No one is comparable to Him.” (surah:112) “...There is nothing like unto Him...” (Quran 42:11) It is apparent therefore, that the definition of eternity for a being, chemically designed and held as a “pledge for his own deeds,” (Q 74:38) cannot be on par with the perpetually timeless, incorporeal Sovereign, Who is not accountable for His actions!
Humans would have experienced mortality twice before gaining ‘immortality,’ which is by virtue of either being welcomed into the fold of acceptance or black-listed with rejection. There is only one judgement to be held and the issuance of verdicts terminally final! The afterlife is a stuck-up phase, as conservation by rejuvenation would maintain an unrelenting continuation: “...As often as their skins shall be consumed, We will replace them by other skins...” (Q 4:56) whereas the believers: “Will be served by young boys who will ALWAYS remain youthful...” (Q 76:19)
Allah’s Sovereignty is not reliant on our belief or disbelief. The Merciful warns and invites us to heed the in-process unfolding of what is a rigid scheme; allowing us an opportunity to save ourselves from the immotile tribulations of disobedience. “They will answer, "Our Lord, You indeed gave us death twice and life twice. Now we confess our sins. Is there any way out from here?” (40:11) Nevertheless: “Who shall enter the Great Fire, wherein he shall neither die nor live.(Q 87:13) and: “They ‘ll not taste death therein except the first death…” (Q 44:56; Bible Isaiah 25:8)
We, as a combination of spirit (نفس), soul ( روح) and organism (جسد خاكى) - cannot be eternal. We ‘ll regain our earthly body on the Day of Resurrection: “When the spirits (النُّفُوسُ) are reunited with the body” (81:7) and be physically ‘ushered’ to hell or paradise as: “The angels will rush forth to receive them…” (Q 21:103) Our afterlife is corporeal and perishable but sempiternal: which means stuck in time with an abiding setup, for which: “...The earth will be replaced by another earth, and the heavens...” (Q 14:48): “And when Paradise is brought near.” (Q 81:13) “And hell will stand forth visible to him who sees;” (Q 79:36) - all of which are material arrangements, just like our present solar system.
The afterlife is not devoid of survival needs either: “Indeed, the tree of zaqqum is food for the sinful, like murky oil, it boils within bellies, like the boiling of scalding water." (Quran 44:43) “No food will there be for them except from a bitter, thorny plant which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.” (Quran 88:6-7) “They will drink boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels." (Quran 47:15) “...like thirsty camels drink....” (Quran 56:51) So, “... what do you know what Hell is? It leaves nothing and it spares none. It scorches the skin...” Therein is: “Scorching fire and scalding water and a shade of black smoke…”(Q 74:27; 56:41).
Man is meant to be always a corporeal being and perishable, so even the undeviating Hereafter is not without provisions for survival needs of nutrition, clothing, shelter, and desires. In Paradise, on the other hand: “Attired in silk and silk embroidery, facing one another;” (Q 44:53) “Indeed, the righteous will be among shades and springs; and fruits from whatever they desire.” Q 77:41-42). The lush gardens of paradise are presented with free flows of milk, honey, springs of ginger-water and ecstatic serenity. Therein, pure wines served in crystal goblets will “neither cause headache nor intoxication.” (56:16-37).
The Hereafter is physical in all aspects. People ‘ll be recognised from their visage-impressions from previous life on earth - meaning that relations, acquaintances and memories will come along to the new set up. Immortality, within a self-renewal system, will bind us to a persistent state of either overwhelming blessings or ultimate rejection: “Your craze...has made you heedless... By no means! Soon you shall know!... Nay! Had you known with certainty of knowledge (علم الیقین); You shall certainly see Hell (visually). Again, you shall most certainly witness it and believe (عین الیقین)... (Q:102)