Meaning of the Afterlife:

As with some other religions, Muslims believe in a life after death. Each person will be held accountable on the "Day of Judgement" for their actions. They will then be sent to either heaven or hell, depending on whether they performed good deeds or bad deeds in their life.

Some people might say that God punishing humans means that God is not merciful or that God does not love us. That is not true, because although God is merciful and he loves his creation, God is also the most Just. Hence, evildoers and sinners must have their share of punishment, and the virtuous must have their share of His bounties and favors. Actually, God's attribute of Mercy has full manifestation in His attribute of Justice. People suffering throughout their lives for His sake and people oppressing and exploiting others all their lives should not receive similar treatment from their Lord. Expecting similar treatment for them will amount to negating the very belief in the accountability of man in the Hereafter and thereby negating all the incentives for a moral and virtuous life in this world.

The Afterlife as Described in the Holy Qur'an:

Allah (swt) says: "That Day shall they be thrust down to the Fire of Hell, irresistibly. 'This,' it will be said, 'is the Fire, which ye were wont to deny! Is this then a fake, or is it ye that do not see? Burn ye therein: the same is it to you whether ye bear it with patience, or not: Ye but receive the recompense of your (own) deeds." (The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 52, Verses 13-16).

Allah (swt) says: "As to the Righteous, they will be in Gardens, and in Happiness, Enjoying the (Bliss) which their Lord hath bestowed on them, and their Lord shall deliver them from the Penalty of the Fire. (To them will be said:) 'Eat and drink ye, with profit and health, because of your (good) deeds.' They will recline (with ease) on Thrones (of dignity) arranged in ranks; and We shall join them to Companions, with beautiful big and lustrous eyes. And those who believe and whose families follow them in Faith, to them shall We join their families: nor shall We deprive them (of the fruit) of aught of their works: (Yet) is each individual in pledge for his deeds. And We shall bestow on them, of fruit and meat, anything they shall desire. They shall there exchange, one with another, a (loving) cup free of frivolity, free of all taint of ill." (The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 52, Verses 17-24).

There are a lot more verses describing the various aspects of the afterlife, but these were just two examples of descriptions of heaven and hell.