POS-5
DEATH AND RESURRECTION
BARZAKH – Literally a barrier between two things, a partition; Phase between Death and the Day of Resurrection (An interim period between death and resurrection.)
Surah 23 Al-Mu’minoon (The Believers)
99. Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah), he says: "My Lord! Send me back,
100. "So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!" No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected.
According to Islam and all divinely revealed religions, when a person dies on earth he will not be reborn until the Day of Resurrection. After the destruction of the world, all of mankind will rise up from the dead to be judged by Allah (swt). From the time a man dies until he is resurrected, he remains in a suspended state known in Arabic as the Barzakh
THE TAKING OF THE SOUL AND THE STATE OF THE GRAVE
The Coming of the Angels of Death:
BARZAKH – Literally a barrier between two things, a partition; Phase between Death and the Day of Resurrection (An interim period between death and resurrection.)
Surah 23 Al-Mu’minoon (The Believers)
99. Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah), he says: "My Lord! Send me back,
100. "So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!" No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected.
According to Islam and all divinely revealed religions, when a person dies on earth he will not be reborn until the Day of Resurrection. After the destruction of the world, all of mankind will rise up from the dead to be judged by Allah (swt). From the time a man dies until he is resurrected, he remains in a suspended state known in Arabic as the Barzakh
THE TAKING OF THE SOUL AND THE STATE OF THE GRAVE
The Coming of the Angels of Death:
According to the hadith of Al-Baraa’ ibn Aazib, The Messenger (saw) said:
“When the believing slave is about to depart this world and move to the Hereafter, angels come down to him from the heavens, with white faces like the sun. They bring with them a shroud from Paradise and aromatics (for embalming) from Paradise, and they sit in front of him as far as the eye can see. The Angel of Death comes and sits at his head and says, ‘O good soul, come out to forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure.’ Then it comes out like a drop of water from the mouth of a jug and they take it…”
“But when the disbelieving slave (according to one report immoral slave), is about to depart this world and move to the Hereafter, angels come down to him from the heavens, (harsh and severe) with black faces, bringing sackcloth (from Hell). They sit in front of him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits at his head, and says, ‘O evil soul, come out to the anger of Allah and His wrath.’ Then it cowers within his body and is dragged out like a (many-hooked) iron skewer passing through wet wool (with which veins and nerves are cut)…”
The Stupor of Death
This stupor is the distress and hardship of death.
“When the believing slave is about to depart this world and move to the Hereafter, angels come down to him from the heavens, with white faces like the sun. They bring with them a shroud from Paradise and aromatics (for embalming) from Paradise, and they sit in front of him as far as the eye can see. The Angel of Death comes and sits at his head and says, ‘O good soul, come out to forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure.’ Then it comes out like a drop of water from the mouth of a jug and they take it…”
“But when the disbelieving slave (according to one report immoral slave), is about to depart this world and move to the Hereafter, angels come down to him from the heavens, (harsh and severe) with black faces, bringing sackcloth (from Hell). They sit in front of him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits at his head, and says, ‘O evil soul, come out to the anger of Allah and His wrath.’ Then it cowers within his body and is dragged out like a (many-hooked) iron skewer passing through wet wool (with which veins and nerves are cut)…”
The Stupor of Death
This stupor is the distress and hardship of death.
There is a severe form of rebuke to both the deceased kaafir and the deceased disobedient and hypocritical Muslim who did not practice their religion.
It is an appropriate symbol as it signifies his spiritual circumstances in earth – deaf, dumb and blind
Believer’s Joy at Meeting His Lord
Anas ibn Maalik narrated from ‘Ubaadah ibn as Saamit that the Prophet (saw) said:
“Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.” Aishah or one of his wives said, “We do not like death.” He (saw) said, “That is not what I meant. But when the believer is dying, he is given glad tidings of the pleasure and honoring of Allah, so there is nothing dearer to him than what lies ahead of him. So he loves to meet Allah and Allah loves to meet him. But when the kaafir is dying, he is given the tidings of Allah’s punishment and torment, so that nothing is more hated by him that what lies ahead of him. So he hates to meet Allah and Allah hates to meet him.” (Bukhari 11/357)
The disbelievers, hypocrites and sinful Muslims do not want the establishment of the Last Hour and subsequently, the Resurrection and Judgment.
The Soul’s Departure and Journey to Heaven
It is an appropriate symbol as it signifies his spiritual circumstances in earth – deaf, dumb and blind
Believer’s Joy at Meeting His Lord
Anas ibn Maalik narrated from ‘Ubaadah ibn as Saamit that the Prophet (saw) said:
“Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.” Aishah or one of his wives said, “We do not like death.” He (saw) said, “That is not what I meant. But when the believer is dying, he is given glad tidings of the pleasure and honoring of Allah, so there is nothing dearer to him than what lies ahead of him. So he loves to meet Allah and Allah loves to meet him. But when the kaafir is dying, he is given the tidings of Allah’s punishment and torment, so that nothing is more hated by him that what lies ahead of him. So he hates to meet Allah and Allah hates to meet him.” (Bukhari 11/357)
The disbelievers, hypocrites and sinful Muslims do not want the establishment of the Last Hour and subsequently, the Resurrection and Judgment.
The Soul’s Departure and Journey to Heaven
According to the hadith of Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib, in which the Messenger (saw) described a person’s journey after death to Al-Barzakh, he said:
“…until when his soul comes forth, every angel between heaven and earth, and every angel in heaven, sends blessings on it. The gates of heaven are opened for him and there is no one among the gatekeepers who does not pray to Allah to let him ascend through where they are. When he (i.e. the Angel of Death) takes it (that soul), they (the angels) do not leave it in his hand even for a twinkle of an eye, before they take it and put it in that shroud and that embalming perfume…”
[This is what Allah (swt) says … “Our messengers (Angel of Death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty. (Surah 6 Al-An’ am (The Cattle):61)]
“…until when his soul comes forth, every angel between heaven and earth, and every angel in heaven, sends blessings on it. The gates of heaven are opened for him and there is no one among the gatekeepers who does not pray to Allah to let him ascend through where they are. When he (i.e. the Angel of Death) takes it (that soul), they (the angels) do not leave it in his hand even for a twinkle of an eye, before they take it and put it in that shroud and that embalming perfume…”
[This is what Allah (swt) says … “Our messengers (Angel of Death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty. (Surah 6 Al-An’ am (The Cattle):61)]
“…There comes forth from it (a fragrance) like the finest musk to be found on the face of the earth. They take it up, and do not pass any group of angels but they say, ‘Who is this good soul?’ They say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so’ – calling him by the best names by which he was known in this world. Then when they reach the first heaven, they ask for it to be opened for them, and it is opened for them. (In each of the heavens), the angels who are closest to Allah walk with him (to bid him farewell) as he moves to the next heaven, until he reaches the seventh heaven. Then Allah (swt) says, ‘Place the book of My slave in ‘Illiyyeen (the Register of righteous
deeds).’ So they place his book in ‘Illiyyeen, then it is said, ‘Take him back to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them, and from it I shall bring them forth again…”
And the Messenger of Allah (saw) spoke of the evil soul which is dragged forth from the kaafir or evildoer. He said that after it is dragged forth, “(Then every angel between heaven and earth, and every angel in heaven, curses it, and the gates of heaven are shut. There is no one among the gatekeepers who does not pray to Allah not to let him ascend through where they are). When he (i.e. the Angel of Death) takes it (that soul), they (the angels) do not leave it in his hand even for the twinkling of an eye, before they take it and put it in the sackcloth. There emanates from it (a stench) like the foulest of dead flesh to be found on the face of the earth. They take it up, and they do not pass any group of angels but they say, ‘Who is this evil soul?’ They say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so.’ – calling him by the worst names by which he was known in this world. Then when they reach the first heaven, they ask for it to be opened for them, and it is not opened for them.”
[Then the Messenger of Allah recited the ayah “…for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will never enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle…” (Surah 7 Al-A’raf (The Heights):40)]
And the Messenger of Allah (saw) spoke of the evil soul which is dragged forth from the kaafir or evildoer. He said that after it is dragged forth, “(Then every angel between heaven and earth, and every angel in heaven, curses it, and the gates of heaven are shut. There is no one among the gatekeepers who does not pray to Allah not to let him ascend through where they are). When he (i.e. the Angel of Death) takes it (that soul), they (the angels) do not leave it in his hand even for the twinkling of an eye, before they take it and put it in the sackcloth. There emanates from it (a stench) like the foulest of dead flesh to be found on the face of the earth. They take it up, and they do not pass any group of angels but they say, ‘Who is this evil soul?’ They say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so.’ – calling him by the worst names by which he was known in this world. Then when they reach the first heaven, they ask for it to be opened for them, and it is not opened for them.”
[Then the Messenger of Allah recited the ayah “…for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will never enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle…” (Surah 7 Al-A’raf (The Heights):40)]
“Then Allah (swt) says: ‘Record his book in Sijjeen (the Register of evil deeds), in the lowest earth.’ Then He says, ‘Return my slave to the earth, for I have promised them that from it I created them, to it I will return them, and from it I shall bring them forth again.’ So they throw it down from heaven, (until it returns to his body).”
[Then he (saw) recited the ayah “… and whoever assigns partners to Allah, it is if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place.”(Surah 22 Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage):31)].
Then his soul is returned to his body, so that he hears the thumping of his companions’ shoes as they walk away from his grave…”
The Trial (Fitnah) of the Grave
In Bukhari it is narrated that Asmaa’ bint Abi Bakr (ra) said: “The Messenger of Allah (saw) stood up to deliver a Khutbah. He mentioned the trial of the grave with which each person will be tested. When he mentioned that, a nervous hubbub arose amongst the Muslims.” When the hubbub died down, I asked a man who was near me, “May Allah bless you, what did the Messenger (saw) at the end?” He said: ‘[The Messenger of Allah (saw)] said: “It has been revealed to me that you will be tested in your graves (with a trial) that is similar to the trial of the Dajjal.”
[Then he (saw) recited the ayah “… and whoever assigns partners to Allah, it is if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place.”(Surah 22 Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage):31)].
Then his soul is returned to his body, so that he hears the thumping of his companions’ shoes as they walk away from his grave…”
The Trial (Fitnah) of the Grave
In Bukhari it is narrated that Asmaa’ bint Abi Bakr (ra) said: “The Messenger of Allah (saw) stood up to deliver a Khutbah. He mentioned the trial of the grave with which each person will be tested. When he mentioned that, a nervous hubbub arose amongst the Muslims.” When the hubbub died down, I asked a man who was near me, “May Allah bless you, what did the Messenger (saw) at the end?” He said: ‘[The Messenger of Allah (saw)] said: “It has been revealed to me that you will be tested in your graves (with a trial) that is similar to the trial of the Dajjal.”
Narrated Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib, the Messenger (saw) said,
“…Two (very harsh) angels come to him (and treat him roughly) and make him sit up. They say to him, ‘Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet?’ This is the last trail to which the believer is subjected. So he says, ‘My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam and my Prophet is Muhammad (saw).’ Then a voice cries out from heaven, ‘My slave has spoken the truth.’…”
And he (saw) said concerning the kaafir or evildoer:
“…Two (very harsh) angels come to him (and treat him roughly) and make him sit up. They say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They say to him, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They say, ‘What do you say about this man who was sent among you?’ He can not remember his name, so they tell him, ‘Muhammad.’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ (I heard the people saying such and such.’ They say to him, ‘May you never know and may you never say what the people said!’) Then a voice calls out, ‘My slave is lying’…” (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasaa’i)
And he (saw) said concerning the kaafir or evildoer:
“…Two (very harsh) angels come to him (and treat him roughly) and make him sit up. They say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They say to him, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They say, ‘What do you say about this man who was sent among you?’ He can not remember his name, so they tell him, ‘Muhammad.’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ (I heard the people saying such and such.’ They say to him, ‘May you never know and may you never say what the people said!’) Then a voice calls out, ‘My slave is lying’…” (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasaa’i)
