How do Muslims view Death?

Like Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial preparation for the next realm of existence. Basic articles of faith include: the Day of Judgment, resurrection, Heaven and Hell. When a Muslim dies, he or she is washed, usually by a family member, wrapped in a clean white cloth, and buried with a simple prayer preferably the same day. Muslims consider this one of the final services they can do for their relatives, and an opportunity to remember their own brief existence here on earth. The Prophet taught that three things can continue to help a person even after death; charity which he had given, knowledge which he had taught and prayers on their behalf by a righteous child.

The Qur'an states:

Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the Day
of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only
he who is saved from the fire and admitted to the
garden will have attained the object (of life): for the life of
this world is but goods and chattels of deception. (3:185)

Wherever ye are death will find you out even if ye are in
towers built up strong and high!" If some good befalls
them they say 'This is from Allah'; but if evil they say 'this
is from thee (O Prophet)'. Say: "All things are from Allah.
But what hath come to these people that they fail to
understand a single fact? (4:78)

Death is not pure annihilation, but rather both the living and dead are aware in different ways. Death is merely movement from one world to another. It can be described as a journey through a to a separate dimension of existence. In this life, the soul and the body are together, except during sleep when the soul may leave the body and come back in the morning with Allah's permission. The Qur'an states:

"It is Allah that takes the souls at death; and those that die
not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has
passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning
to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term
appointed. Verily in this are Signs for those who
reflect." (39:42)

It is indeed something to be pondered; that we die each night and Allah gives us another chance at life when we wake up the next day.

Muslims believe that the life of this world does not hold any value compared to the life of the next world. The goal is to attain a place in the garden of Paradise, which is eternal. Allah says in the Qur'an:

Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and
their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of
Paradise). (9:111)

This encourages Muslims to be righteous in their actions and to uphold justice for all since doing so will please Allah and gain them success in the next life.