The Shiite Apologetics

Question Ten

What does Raj`ah mean and why do Shiites believe in it?

Answer:

Raj`ah in Arabic means, to return and it specifically refers to the return of a group of people to life before the Day of Resurrection - simultaneous with the global uprising of the promised Mahdi. This is a truth which is inconsistent neither with the common sense nor with the logic of Revelation: on the one hand, in view of Islam and other Divine religions, mans essence or soul continues to live an immortal life after it departs the body; on the other, God is Omnipotent, as stated in the Quran - nothing can limit His might. Thus, the issue of Raj`ah (returning of life) is logically possible, for a passing look upon the matter proves that bringing the dead to life is far easier than creating them. Thus, the Creator who created man first is undoubtedly able to bring them to life again.

Referring to instances of Raj`ah in the bygone nations, the Holy Quran states: and when you said; O Moses, we will not believe in you until we see Allah manifestly, so the punishment overtook you while you looked on. Then We raised you up after your death that you may give thanks. (2:55-56). Also, the holy Quran quotes Jesus Christ as saying: and I bring the dead to life with Allahs permission (3:49)

The holy Quran not only attests the possibility of Raj`ah but also confirms that a group of people will return to life before the Day of Resurrection. The following verses refer to this point:

And when the word shall come to pass against them, We shall bring forth for them a creature from the earth that shall speak to them, because people did not believe in our revelations. And on the day when We shall gather from every nation a party from among those who rejected our revelations then they shall be formed into groups. (27:82-83)

To prepare the ground for a discussion on the question of the return of the dead before Resurrection Day, the following points should be taken into consideration:

  1. Muslim commentators believe that the above verses refer to Judgment Day. The first verse mentions one of the signs of what will happen before the Day of Resurrection. Jalal al-Din Suyuti in his al-Durr al-Manthur, quotes Ibn Abi Shaybah who reported Hudhayfah as having said that the phrase bring forth as a creature points to an event that will take place before Resurrection Day.[1]

  2. As attested in the following verse, all men, not a chosen group from each nation, shall be brought to life on the Resurrection Day:

That is a day when all mankind will be gathered together. (11:103)

And the day when We move the mountains and you will see the earth emerging, and We gather them together so as to leave not anyone of them behind. (18:47)


[1] Al-Durr al-Manthur, vol. 5, p. 177, commenting on verse 82 of Chap. 27 of the Qur'an, 'the Ant (al-naml).'

However, the verse 37:83 mentioned above clearly states that only a group of men will be brought to life.[1]

Based on these introductory points, it is clear that only a particular group of people who disbelieve the signs of God (as understood from verse 37:83) will be brought to life before the Day of Judgment. This is called Raj`ah in which we believe. However, Resurrection will be inclusive of all people.

The Household of the Prophet, who are companions and commentators of the Quran, have elucidated the issue. For the sake of brevity, two statements of Imam Sadiq are quoted in this connection:

The days of God are three: the day of the rising of Mahdi (a.s), the day when (some of) the dead return to life (raj`ah), and the Day of Resurrection. The Imam also says, The one who has no faith in our return to life is not (to be considered as) one of us.

The following points merit consideration:

  1. Philosophy of Raj`ah:

A deliberation on the question of Raj`ah reveals that there are two lofty goals in it. One is to display the real glory of Islam and the shame of disbelief. The other is the rewarding of the believers and the righteous, and the punishment of disbelievers and the unjust.


[1] Al-Durr al-Manthur refers to this day as Resurrection Day. (vol. 3, p. 349.)

  1. Raj`ah vs. Transmigration:

It should be mentioned that belief in the Raj`ah never entails belief in transmigration since the latter denotes a denial of the Day of Resurrection. In the view of those who believe in transmigration, the universe is an unending circulation with periods each of which is a repetition of the one before it, and the spirit returns to the world and enters another body after it leaves the body in which it dwelt. If the spirit had done good deeds in its past life, it will then be lodged in a body that would enjoy a happy life. Otherwise, it will enter a body to lead a miserable life in its future life span. Such a return is considered a resurrection for the spirit.

Those who believe in Raj`ah, however, believe in the Day of Resurrection as prescribed in the Shariah of Islam and reject the idea that the spirit enters another body after its departure from a former body. [1] They believe that a group of people will return to this world before the Day of Resurrection. Then they will return to the eternal abode once the requirements of Raj`ah are fulfilled, so that they will be resurrected with all mankind. They also believe that the spirit will never return to another body once it departs the world.


[1] Rejecting the idea of transmigration, Sadr al-Muta'allihin states the following in his al-Asfar, vol. 9, chapter 1, p. 3, sub-section 8: "The (idea) of the spirit leaving the body and entering another one, whether this happens in the fetal stage or else, requires that one of the two (the body or the spirit) be in a state of potentiality and the other in the state of de facto. That which is in de facto must at the same time maintain its potentiality, and this is impossible because the combination of the spirit and the body is a natural unity; such a natural combination will be impossible between two things of differing states: potential and de facto."

 Back
Back

 Home
Index

 Next
Next