Basic Beliefs of Islam

Chapter 20 : Third Phase of Our Existence

Life After Death

Our third phase of life or the third stage of our existence is the life af ter death. World of Souls (Alam-e-Arwah) - Womb of Mother - Physical World - World of Soul (Barzakh)

What is life and death ?

Many scientists do not believe in the existence of the Master of the universe. They think that all living beings in the world are the accidental products of Darwin's evolution. The inevitable outcome of this baseless faith is that everything is for nothing. Such mindless people can never comprehend the philosophy of life and death.

That is the reason that Western scientists who have discovered a large number of facts about life and death know very little about life. They admit that they can not give one simple definition of life that can appropriately cover all its aspects.

We find this confession in all standard books of biology that scientists can not define life because they can not locate the dividing line between the living and non-living things.

For example, a virus is a lifeless particle by itself, but it becomes active and multiplies rapidly when invades in a living cell. i.e., the virus has the characteristics of both living and non-living species.

Thus, scientists openly confess that they can not give a precise definition of life and can only give some common characteristics of living creatures.

So when scientists cannot even define life, how can they create life. Test-tube baby, surro- gate motherhood or cloning are nothing but the manipulation of natural bir th mechanism. Similarly, scientists cannot comprehend the philosophy of death.

They say, death is the end of all life processes in an organism. But they can not say anything about what makes the life process to cease.

Today, surgeon can transplant almost every organ of the human body if it starts malfunctioning. This means that they should be able to avoid death as it is always caused by the malfunctioning of any organ. But we all know that despite the tremendous progress in surgery and medicine, the life span is more or less the same as it was 100 years ago.

So, scientist can neither create life nor can they stop occurrence of death. This fact reveals the actual nature of life and death.

"Blessed be He in Whose hands is all sovereignty: He has power over all things. He created life and death that He might put you to the test and find out which of you acquitted himself best. He is the Mighty, the Forgiving one." ( 68:1)

In such a short sentence, Quran has given a complete and perfect definition of life and death. It gives a full account of the origin and the prospect of life and death. Briefly we can highlight the impor tant features of life and death from this shor t verse of the Holy Quran.

1 - Life is not the accidental product of some spontaneous bio-chemical reactions. Rather, it is the great creation of All-Mighty Allah Subhanahu taala.

2 - Death is not the disorder of physio-chemical functions of organic systems of the body. Rather, it is also another kind of creation of All-Mighty Allah Subhanahu Taala.

3 - Both, life and death have a well defined purpose in the existence of a living being.

4 - Death is not the end of life but the beginning of another kind of life.

This complete and perfect definition of life and death opens our mind to think seriously about the life after death.

What happens after death?

From medical point of view, a person whose breathing and hear tbeat has completely stopped is considered dead.

Many changes occur immediately after death. For example, the temperature of the body drops to that of its surroundings, the muscles of the body become stiff, the circulation of the blood stops and produces reddish-purple discoloration in the lowest par t of the body, and finally the bacteria and other tiny organisms grow on the corpse and cause it to decay.

So, there is no dispute or doubt that death is the end of worldly life. But we believe that a human being is made-up of two components. i.e., organic body and nonphysical soul.

Thus, death is the termination of organic functions.

We can say death is caused by the separation of soul and body or we can also say, the sparation of soul and body causes death.

So death is the end of organic life but not the absolute end of whole life. This means that there is some kind of life after death and death is simply a major change in the present kind of life.

This is true. The entire edifice of Islam is based on this fact that death is not the end of life but it is a sharp turning point from where another kind of life begins.

A large number ahadith and Quranic verses are there which clearly explain the philosophy of life and death. If we understand them correctly then we will realize that life in this world has a direct effect on the life after death. We are told to do good preparation in this life for the next life.

The Holy Prophet (sws) and Imams have explained the repercussion of this life on the life after death in the following words:

"You have not been created to perish, but to remain for ever; only you will be transferred from one home to another; and the souls in the bodies are (like) prisoners." (Holy Prophet)

"Death is one of the three things happening (to the dying person), either it is a good tiding of eternal bliss, or bad tidings of eternal punishment, or there is obscure uncer tainty so that he does not know in which category he will be grouped." (Hazrat Imam Ali)

"(Death is) the greatest happiness which comes to the believers, when they migrate from the house of misery to the eternal bliss; (it is) the greatest disaster which befalls the unbelievers, when they go from their paradise(i.e., this world) to the fire which will never be extinguished and will never burn itself out." (Hazrat Imam Hassan)

"Death is nothing but a bridge which takes you from difficulties and troubles to the vast paradise and everlasting bliss. So among you who would dislike to transfer from the prison of the world to the paradise" (Hazrat Imam Hussain)

"It (Death) is for the believer like removing a dirty cloth and like removing heavy shackles and chains, and to take the finest and best cloths, or finest horses and most lovely abode" ( Hazrat Imam Zainul Abideen)

"Death is like sleep that comes to you every night, but this is a sleep which is very long and there is no awakening but on the Day of Resurrection." ( Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqar) "Death for a believer is like fragrant breeze, by smelling which he becomes revived and every trouble and sorrow is removed from him. And for unbelievers, it is like snake-bite and sting of the scorpions and even worse." (Hazrat Imam Jafer-e- Sadiq)

Why we fear death

Those who do not believe in life after death and assume death as the painful end of everything, always live with an intense fear of it.

This is the reason that most people fear death and try to avoid thinking about it. Medical reports reveal that in the Western hospitals, close relatives, intimate friends, and even doctors and nurses leave the dying patients to die alone and avoid seeing the occur rence of death because of the fear of death.

In Muslim society, there is no such thing. Relatives and friends live very closely with the dying person and recite duas and Quran until the last breathing of the patient. Thus, the major cause of fear of death is ignorance or the feelings of uncer tainty.

In one hadith it is mentioned that Imam Hadi (as) went to visit a dying person who was drowning in the ocean of fear. Imam beautifully explained him the nature of death in the following way;

"O servant of Allah, you fear death because you do not understand it correctly. Tell me: if your body were soiled with dirt so that it was paining you and afflicted you with sores, and you knew that a washing in the bathhouse would rid you of all that dir t and pain, would you wish to avail yourself of the bathhouse to clean yourself of the dir t? or would you be reluctant to avail this facility and will prefer to remain in your polluted state"

The sick man replied: O descendant of the Prophet: I would definitely prefer to wash myself to become clean.

Then Imam responded:

"Know, then the death is exactly like the bathhouse. It offers you the last chance to rid yourself of your sins and to purify yourself of evils. If death embrace you now, there can be no doubt that you will be freed of all sorrow and pains and will attain an everlasting happiness and joy."

This clear picture of death in the explanation of the Imam relieved the dying person from the unknown fear of death and allowed him to die with peace and grace.

So mostly people fear death because they are not sure what is going to happen with them or they know very well that time of severe punishment has come.

Hazrat Ali (as), The Commander of Faithful, has disclosed the truth that Godfearing people do not have any fear of death as he repeatedly said the following words in his lifetime: "I swear by Allah that the son of Abu Talib is more at ease with death than a suckling infant with the breast of his mother. "

The taste of death

The internal feelings that a dying person has when death approaches him is very difficult to know. Normally all sorts of communications are blocked between the dying person and the rest of the world. But the Holy Quran has clearly told us at two different places that there is a par ticular taste of death.

"Every soul shall have a taste of death." (3:185) "Every soul shall have a taste of death." (21:35)

Thus, the Holy Quran tells us that every person will have some kind of strong feeling at the time of his death.

We know that there are three different kinds of taste, namely, sour, sweet, and bitter. As Quran has not described any par ticular kind of taste for death, the intense feelings of death may be either sweet, sour or bitter.

This is true. Both, Quran and ahadits tell us that good people will find a sweet taste in their death, and bad people will meet a frightful death.

Death - A sweet taste

No sophisticated machine can disclose the internal feelings of a dying person. Usually, a person becomes unconscious before the occurrence of death. During this period the acute pain of the killing disease or wound disappears and it is replaced by an intense fear or perfect peace.

This is the time when the dying person loses all contacts with the physical world and communication with the angel of death begins. The internal feelings during this communication can not be made known by any instrument. However, a careful and knowledgeable person can read the internal conditions from his facial expressions.

The Holy Quran transmits out the text of inter-communication. "The angels will say to those whom they cause to die in purity, peace be on you: come into paradise for what you did."(16:32)

This verse of Quran tells us that the pious people will be warmly welcomed by the angel of death with a salutation of peace.

According to the ahadith of our Imams noted by Allama Mur taza Mutahheri as an authentic one, for the righteous people after their death there are several paradises, not one single paradise. In the next world they vary according to degree of their intimate proximity to Allah. In addition to these paradises, there are some other paradises in the Barzakh. Hence the paradise mentioned in the above quoted verse would give a wrong impression that it relates to the Day of Judgment.

In one hadith, much more details of conversation between the angel of death and the dying person which occurred just before the commencement of death, has been given. One companion of Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (as) asked him about the internal feelings of the true believer just near his death.

The Imam answered:

When the angel of death comes to take the soul of a believer, he is at first distraught. But then the angel consoles him and says :

O friend of Allah, do not distress yourself. I swear by the Lord who sent Muhammad as His messenger that we will treat you more kindly and gently than your father. The angel of death will further say;

Open your eyes and look at us. Then the Messenger of Allah and Imaams will appear before him, and the angel will introduce them to the dying believer by saying: This is the Prophet (sws) and the leaders of religion who will be your friends and companions.

He will then open his eyes par tly, and hear Allah calling him as follows:

O soul that found tranquillity in the protection of Muhammad and his pure family, now return to your Lord. You have accepted as truth the authority of the Imams, and because of this you are now happy. Be certain that you have also earned thereby the pleasure of your Lord. Come now and be the companion of My chosen elite, and take up the abode that has been prepared for you in everlasting paradise.

Imam further said; nothing could be more desirable for the believer at that moment than for his soul to take flight and receive all that it has been promised.

This is a clear indication that there will be no pain or any kind of discomfor t in death for righteous people. This is a sweet death.

In the battle of Karbala, Imam Hussain (as) asked his 10 year old nephew, Hazrat Qasim bin Hassan, just before he was going to sacrifice his life; My dear son! you are going to die, how do you feel about death? The young Qasim instantly replied with confidence; My uncle I find death sweeter than honey.

Death - A bitter taste.

But the wicked people will face a dreadful death. Quran has depicted the scene of horrifying death.

"If you could see the angels when they carry off the souls of the unbelievers : They shall strike them on their faces and their backs, saying : Taste the torment of fire. This is your punishment for what your hands committed. Allah is not unjust to His servants." (8:50) This verse of the Quran also gives a clear picture of what really happens when wrongdoers die. This is a deadly bitter taste of death.

All those people whose conduct was not fair but they were not rebellious will feel a sour taste in their deaths. The Holy Quran has also described the miserable dying conditions of such Muslims who were not practicing the Islamic codes of life in this world.

Burial

According to the Islamic Shariah, the dead body of the deceased should be buried with full Islamic honor as early as possible after death. When the dead body is taken for the burial, his guardian angels go with his body in company of his soul. During the bath (Ghusl-e-Mayyet ), dressing of Kafan and other burial formalities, the soul feels all those going with his dead body and listen to the screaming of the relatives and the friends.

When they take the body to the grave, the soul sees the burying of his dead body in a narrow place - The Grave. After burial, the guardian angels allow the soul to see off his departing relatives and friends. As soon as the relatives leave the grave of the dead person, the guardian angels take the soul into the grave for questions - answers.

It is narrated in a hadith, recorded by Shia and Sunni authentic books, that the Holy Prophet (sws) has advised the Muslims to stand by the grave of the dead person after the burial, and should pray to Allah Taala for the forgiveness. The Prophet said, it is the most difficult time for the dead person as he is put to the questions concerning his beliefs and actions. The Talqeen in Shias is recited at this time.

The Barzakh ( Purgatory ) - Resting place of souls.

Barzakh is an Arabic word which means a barrier, i.e., a thing that separates two things. Quran has used this word to inform us that there is another world between this physical world and the eternal world where we will live after our death until the day of resurrection. Quran says; "And behind them is the Barzakh till the day of judgment." (23:100)

Thus, barzakh is the place where every departed soul will live until the resurrection day. No one knows how long the souls will live there as the time of resurrection is known to Allah only. Even the Prophets have expressed their unawareness about it.

What happens in the grave ?

The first stop in the barzakh is grave. This is the place where the soul of the dead person meets with two angels who ask him certain fundamental questions. The names of these two angels are Munkir and Nakeer. According to the reports from Imams, in the Barzakh man is interrogated about his faith and belief only. Other questions are left to the Day of Resurrection (Allama Mutahheri).

The soul of the dead person will re-enter the body and he will be asked by the angels to get ready for the questioning.

Munkir and Nakir will ask the following questions:

I - WHO IS YOUR RABB (creator) ? 2 - WHO IS YOUR PROPHET ? 3 - WHAT IS YOUR RELIGION ? 4 - WHAT IS YOUR BOOK ? 5 - WHO IS YOUR IMAM ?

These questions apparently seem to be very easy and straight forward. We think that, even a small boy can answer them easily.

But in fact, only a true and practising Muslim will be able to answer these questions correctly and the rest of the people will become stunned and perplexed.

In the grave, the unconscious mind (Rooh or spirit) will speak. If the dead person had recognised Allah in his lifetime by vir tue of his knowledge and deep understanding, then he will be able to answer the first question correctly. But if he was a materialistic person, his unconscious mind will answer accordingly. He might respond to the angels telling them - dollar, pounds, shilling, or another things as his god. It is because, he was worshipping them in place of God in his lifetime.

It is narrated that, those who used to worship idols and images will star t worshipping the angels and will say that they are their gods.

Similarly the second question, i.e., who is your Prophet ? and who is your Imam ? the answer will depend on the lifestyle and perception. Those who have sincerely and wholehear tedly followed the teachings of the Holy Prophet (sws) and the Holy Imams (as) in their lifetime will instantly give the correct answer. But, those Muslims who proclaim that they love the Holy Prophet and Imams but were following the lifestyle and footsteps of some other people, the unconscious mind will name the same persons instead of Prophet or Imams.

These questions and answers are just to show the dead person, what should be his status in the barzakh and thereafter.

The Squeezing of the body in the Grave.

The squeezing of the body takes place in the grave on the first night. For some, this squeezing will be as two intimate friends embrace each other when they meet after a long time. But, for others this will be so severe that the ribs of right and left side will penetrate into each other.

How does a soul live in Barzakh?

Immediately after death, we will find ourselves in an entirely new world. How would be this world and what will be the nature of life there?

From Quran and hadith, our ulema explains that immediately after death, man enters a new stage of life in which he feels everything. i.e., after the death, the body becomes motionless and useless, but the soul does not die and the sense of feelings remains. The soul of the dead person feels both pain and pleasure. But the pain and pleasure in barzakh depends on the conduct of the previous life.

The place and the living conditions in the barzakh will be different for different people. The Holy Prophet (sws) said: Grave is the first encounter with the events leading to the Resurrection. If one finds it easy, his future will also be secured, but if this is not good for him, then the remaining events of the resurrection might be even worse for him.

Allama Mutahhaeri has mentioned 15 verses of the Holy Quran which tell about the nature of life in barzakh.

We can send gifts and presents to our dear relatives and friends who live in barzakh. The meritorious deeds performed by the relatives of the dead person with intention that their reward should go to his dead relative reaches him and makes the dead person happy. If alms and charities are given with an intention that their reward should go to one's depar ted father, mother, brother, husband, wife , friend, teacher, or anyone else, these charities in form of gifts are delivered to the concerned deceased person. This makes him cheerful and happy.

Similarly if anyone performs salat, fasting, tawaaf of Kaaba, hajj, or any other mustahab act on behalf of a dead person, its reward goes to him and make the dead person blissful. It has been advised that those who have displeased their parents during their lifetime, should take the advantage of this privilege. They should do something to please them after their death if they did not please them when they were alive.

Wadi-e-Salaam

This is the resting place of the good souls. The good practising Muslim is transfer red after the Questions - Answers session to a place known as Wadi-e-Salaam. Here, he would meet many of his relatives and friends who died before him and were housed here because of their good deeds.

They see the delights of the paradise throughout this period in reward of their exceptionally good deeds.

The Valley of Barhut.

This is the place where the souls of the non-believers, polytheists, infields and rejected people are transferred immediately after the death. The new dead man will find many of his dead relatives, friends and followers camped there in miserable conditions.

All of them, i.e., their souls, will live there until the day of resurrection.

Although the final accountability and the punishment of the dead person will be on the Day of Judgment, but the souls of the rebellious people like Firaun, Namrood, Yazid and other enemies of the Prophets and Imams will be exposed to the punishment soon af ter their death.