بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ، نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، أَمَّا بَعْدُ
حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَآءَ اَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُوْنِۙ۰۰۹۹لَعَلِّيْۤ اَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيْمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا١ؕ اِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآىِٕلُهَا١ؕ وَ مِنْ وَّرَآىِٕهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ اِلٰى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُوْنَ۰۰۱۰۰
( المومنون: 99۔100)
Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allâh), he says: “My Lord! Send me back. 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.
(Sura e Mominoon 99 – 100)
Until, when death comes to one of them
حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَآءَ اَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ
How does death come to a man?
Allah Almighty says:
اَللّٰهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْاَنْفُسَ حِيْنَ مَوْتِهَا وَ الَّتِيْ لَمْ تَمُتْ فِيْ مَنَامِهَا١ۚ فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِيْ قَضٰى عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَ يُرْسِلُ الْاُخْرٰۤى اِلٰۤى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى١ؕ اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَّتَفَكَّرُوْنَ۠۰۰۴۲
( سورہ زمر : 46)
It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply.
(Sura e Zumr, 42)
How is the soul taken away at the time of death?
وَ هُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهٖ وَ يُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً١ؕ حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَآءَ اَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَ هُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُوْنَ۰۰۶۱ثُمَّ رُدُّوْۤا اِلَى اللّٰهِ مَوْلٰىهُمُ الْحَقِّ١ؕ اَلَا لَهُ الْحُكْمُ١۫ وَ هُوَ اَسْرَعُ الْحٰسِبِيْنَ۰۰۶۲
( سورہ الانعام : 61۔62)
He is Dominant over His slaves, and He sends guardians over you until when death comes upon one of you, Our deputies take his soul in full, and they neglect nothing (from their duties).Then they are returned to Allâh, [True Master the Just Lord)(to reward them)]. Surely, for Him is the judgment and He is the Swiftest in taking account.
(Sura e Aanaam : 61-62)
Muslim :: Book 40 : Hadith 6867
حَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْقَوَارِيرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ حَدَّثَنَا بُدَيْلٌ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ إِذَا خَرَجَتْ رُوحُ الْمُؤْمِنِ تَلَقَّاهَا مَلَکَانِ يُصْعِدَانِهَا قَالَ حَمَّادٌ فَذَکَرَ مِنْ طِيبِ رِيحِهَا وَذَکَرَ الْمِسْکَ قَالَ وَيَقُولُ أَهْلُ السَّمَائِ رُوحٌ طَيِّبَةٌ جَائَتْ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْأَرْضِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْکِ وَعَلَی جَسَدٍ کُنْتِ تَعْمُرِينَهُ فَيُنْطَلَقُ بِهِ إِلَی رَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ انْطَلِقُوا بِهِ إِلَی آخِرِ الْأَجَلِ قَالَ وَإِنَّ الْکَافِرَ إِذَا خَرَجَتْ رُوحُهُ قَالَ حَمَّادٌ وَذَکَرَ مِنْ نَتْنِهَا وَذَکَرَ لَعْنًا وَيَقُولُ أَهْلُ السَّمَائِ رُوحٌ خَبِيثَةٌ جَائَتْ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْأَرْضِ قَالَ فَيُقَالُ انْطَلِقُوا بِهِ إِلَی آخِرِ الْأَجَلِ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَرَدَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَيْطَةً کَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ عَلَی أَنْفِهِ هَکَذَا
( مسلم۔ کتاب الجنۃ و صفتہ،باب عرض مقعد المیت)
Abu Huraira reported: When the soul of a believer would go out (of his body) it would be received by two angels who would take it to the sky. Hammad (one of the narrators in the chain of transmitters) mentioned the sweetness of its odour, (and further said) that the dwellers of the sky say: Here comes the pious soul from the side of the earth Let there be blessings of Allah upon the body in which it resides. And it is carried (by the angels) to its Lord, the Exalted and Glorious. He would say: Take it to its destined end. And if he is a nonbeliever and as it (the soul) leaves the body-Hammad made a mention of its foul smell and of its being cursed-the dwellers of the sky say: There comes a dirty soul from the side of the earth, and it would be said: Take it to its destined end. Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) put a thin cloth which was with him upon his nose while making a mention (of the foul smell) of the soul of a non-believer.
Found In: Imam Malik’s Muwatta Chapter No: 16, Burials.Hadith no: 50 Narrated: Ibn Shihab
عَنْ کَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِکٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ کَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِکٍ کَانَ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا نَسَمَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ طَيْرٌ يَعْلَقُ فِي شَجَرِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتَّی يَرْجِعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَی جَسَدِهِ يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُ
( موطا امام مالک ، کتاب الجنائز، باب: جامع لاجنائز)
Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that Abd ar-Rahman ibn Kab ibn Malik Ansari told him that his father, Kab ibn Malik, used to relate that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “the ruh of the mumin (the soul of a believer) is a bird that sits in the trees of the Garden until Allah returns it to his body on the day He raises him.”
الَّذِيْنَ تَتَوَفّٰىهُمُ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُ ظَالِمِيْۤ اَنْفُسِهِمْ١۪ فَاَلْقَوُا السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِنْ سُوْٓءٍ١ؕ بَلٰۤى اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِيْمٌۢ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُوْنَ۰۰۲۸فَادْخُلُوْۤا اَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خٰلِدِيْنَ فِيْهَا١ؕ فَلَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِيْنَ۰۰۲۹
( النحل : 28۔29 )
“Those whose lives the angels take while they are doing wrong to themselves (by disbelief and by associating partners in worship with Allah and by committing all kinds of crimes and evil deeds).” Then, they will make (false) submission (saying): “We used not to do any evil.” (The angels will reply): “Yes! Truly, Allah is All-Knower of what you used to do.” “So enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein, (live forever) and indeed, what an evil abode will be for the arrogant.”
(Al Nahal 28- 29)
الَّذِيْنَ تَتَوَفّٰىهُمُ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُ طَيِّبِيْنَ١ۙ يَقُوْلُوْنَ سَلٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمُ١ۙ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُوْنَ۰۰۳۲
( النحل : 32 )
Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state (i.e. pure from all evil, and worshipping none but Allâh Alone) saying (to them): Salâmun ‘Alaikum (peace be on you) enter you Paradise, because of that (the good) which you used to do (in the world).
(Al Nahal, 32)
The summary of above stated verses of Quran and the sayings of prophet (PBUH) is that when the time of a person’s death comes, the angels take away his soul and take it to Allah Almighty and Allah orders them to take them away till the day of judgment. These souls are given hell or paradise according to their deeds, where they live till the day of judgment. These souls will be returned to their bodies on the day of judgment and they will be raised again. When the soul is taken out of the body, it becomes dead and the period of death continues till the day of judgment.
he says: My Lord! Send me back. (99)
لَعَلِّيْۤ اَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيْمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا١ؕ اِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآىِٕلُهَا١ؕ وَ مِنْ وَّرَآىِٕهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ اِلٰى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُوْنَ
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. (100)
It has already been made clear in the explanation of death that the soul is brought to Allah Almighty after death and it has to be there till the day of judgment. What happens there?
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِکٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَمُوتُ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ يَسُرُّهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَی الدُّنْيَا وَأَنَّ لَهُ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا إِلَّا الشَّهِيدَ لِمَا يَرَی مِنْ فَضْلِ الشَّهَادَةِ فَإِنَّهُ يَسُرُّهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَی الدُّنْيَا فَيُقْتَلَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَ
( عن انس بن مالک ، بخاری، کتاب الجھاد و السیر ، بَابُ الحُورِ العِينِ، وَصِفَتِهِنَّ يُحَارُ فِيهَا الطَّرْفُ، شَدِيدَةُ سَوَادِ العَيْنِ، شَدِيدَةُ بَيَاضِ العَيْنِ)
Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, “Nobody who dies and finds good from Allah (in the Hereafter) would wish to come back to this world even if he were given the whole world and whatever is in it, except the martyr who, on seeing the superiority of martyrdom, would like to come back to the world and get killed again (in Allah’s Cause).” Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, “A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah’s Cause in the afternoon or in the forenoon is better than all the world and whatever is in it. A place in Paradise as small as the bow or lash of one of you is better than all the world and whatever is in it. And if a hur from Paradise appeared to the people of the earth, she would fill the space between Heaven and the Earth with light and pleasant scent and her head cover is better than the world and whatever is in it.”
(Bukhari, Book of battles)
مَالِکٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَا أَحَدٌ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَی الدُّنْيَا وَلَهُ مَا عَلَی الْأَرْضِ مِنْ شَيْئٍ إِلَّا الشَّهِيدُ يَتَمَنَّی أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَی الدُّنْيَا فَيُقْتَلَ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ لِمَا يَرَی مِنْ الْکَرَامَةِ
( عن انس بن مالک ، بخاری، کتاب الجھاد و السیر ،بَابُ تَمَنِّي المُجَاهِدِ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا)
Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, “Nobody who enters paradise would wish to come back to this world even if he were given the whole world and whatever is in it, except the martyr who, on seeing the superiority of martyrdom, would like to come back to the world and get killed again (in Allah’s Cause)
(Bukhari, Book of battles)
عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ قَالَ سَأَلْنَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ عَنْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَائٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّا قَدْ سَأَلْنَا عَنْ ذَلِکَ فَقَالَ أَرْوَاحُهُمْ فِي جَوْفِ طَيْرٍ خُضْرٍ لَهَا قَنَادِيلُ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالْعَرْشِ تَسْرَحُ مِنْ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ شَائَتْ ثُمَّ تَأْوِي إِلَی تِلْکَ الْقَنَادِيلِ فَاطَّلَعَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ اطِّلَاعَةً فَقَالَ هَلْ تَشْتَهُونَ شَيْئًا قَالُوا أَيَّ شَيْئٍ نَشْتَهِي وَنَحْنُ نَسْرَحُ مِنْ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ شِئْنَا فَفَعَلَ ذَلِکَ بِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا أَنَّهُمْ لَنْ يُتْرَکُوا مِنْ أَنْ يُسْأَلُوا قَالُوا يَا رَبِّ نُرِيدُ أَنْ تَرُدَّ أَرْوَاحَنَا فِي أَجْسَادِنَا حَتَّی نُقْتَلَ فِي سَبِيلِکَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَی فَلَمَّا رَأَی أَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ حَاجَةٌ تُرِکُوا
( عن مسروق ، إسلم ، کتاب الامارۃ ، باب: باب بيان أن أرواح الشهداء في الجنة، وأنهم أحياء عند ربهم يرزقون)
It has been narrated on the authority of Masruq who said: We asked ‘Abdullah about the Quranic verse: “Think not of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay, they are alive, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord..” (3:169). He said: We asked the meaning of the verse (from the Holy Prophet) who said: The souls, of the martyrs live in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung from the throne of the Almighty. They eat the fruits of Paradise from wherever they like and then nestle in these chandeliers. Once their Lord cast a glance at them and said: Do ye want anything? They said: What more shall we desire? We eat the fruit of Paradise from wherever we like. Their Lord asked them the same question thrice. When they saw that they will continue to be asked and not left (without answering the question). They said: O Lord, we wish that Thou may return our souls to our bodies so that we may be slain in Thy way once again. When He (Allah) saw that they had no need, they were left (to their joy in heaven).
Sahih Muslim – Book 020, Hadith 4651]
سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ لَقِيَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا جَابِرُ مَا لِي أَرَاکَ مُنْکَسِرًا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اسْتُشْهِدَ أَبِي قُتِلَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ وَتَرَکَ عِيَالًا وَدَيْنًا قَالَ أَفَلَا أُبَشِّرُکَ بِمَا لَقِيَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَبَاکَ قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلَی يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَا کَلَّمَ اللَّهُ أَحَدًا قَطُّ إِلَّا مِنْ وَرَائِ حِجَابٍ وَأَحْيَا أَبَاکَ فَکَلَّمَهُ کِفَاحًا فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدِي تَمَنَّ عَلَيَّ أُعْطِکَ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ تُحْيِينِي فَأُقْتَلَ فِيکَ ثَانِيَةً قَالَ الرَّبُّ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنَّهُ قَدْ سَبَقَ مِنِّي أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهَا لَا يُرْجَعُونَ
( عن جابر ؓ، ترمذی، ابواب تفسیر القرآن ، باب: و من سورۃ آل عمران ، حدیث حسن)
I heard Jabir bin ‘Abdullah say: “When ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (Haram) was killed on the Day of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah (saw) met me, and said; “O Jabir, shall I not tell you what Allah has said to your father?” Yahya said in his Hadith: “And he said: ‘O Jabir, why do I see you broken-hearted?’ I (Jabir) said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, my father has been martyred and he has left behind dependents and debts.’ He said: ‘Shall I not give you the glad tidings of that with which Allah met your father?’ I said: ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘Allah never spoke to anyone but from behind a screen, but He spoke to your father directly, and He said: ‘O My slave! Ask something from Me and I shall give it to you.” He said: “O Lord, bring me back to life so that I may be killed in Your cause a second time.” The Lord, Glorified is He, said: “I have already decreed that they will not return to life.” He said: “My Lord, then convey (this news) to those whom I have left behind.” Allah said: “Think not of those dead who are killed in the way of Allah. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.
[3:169] (Hasan)Relevance: 23.246
In the under discussion chapter of the holy Quran, Sura e Mominoon, it is told that the souls of disbelievers request to be sent back after reaching Allah Almighty. It is proved from the above mentioned ahadith (sayings of prophet Muhammad (SAW) that the martyr also requests the same because he has seen the honor of martyrdom and wants to be sent back and martyred again. Unlike, other believers who are in paradise, don’t want to return to this world because they are sure that the blessings of this world are nothing compared to what is in the paradise.
َعَلِّيْۤ اَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيْمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا
So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!
Allah says:
وَمَنْ اَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرٰي عَلَي اللّٰهِ كَذِبًا اَوْ قَالَ اُوْحِيَ اِلَيَّ وَلَمْ يُوْحَ اِلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ وَّمَنْ قَالَ سَاُنْزِلُ مِثْلَ مَآ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ ۭ وَلَوْ تَرٰٓي اِذِ الظّٰلِمُوْنَ فِيْ غَمَرٰتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلٰۗىِٕكَةُ بَاسِطُوْٓا اَيْدِيْهِمْ ۚ اَخْرِجُوْٓا اَنْفُسَكُمْ ۭ اَلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُوْنِ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَقُوْلُوْنَ عَلَي اللّٰهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَكُنْتُمْ عَنْ اٰيٰتِهٖ تَسْتَكْبِرُوْنَ 93 وَلَقَدْ جِئْتُمُوْنَا فُرَادٰي كَمَا خَلَقْنٰكُمْ اَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَّتَرَكْتُمْ مَّا خَوَّلْنٰكُمْ وَرَاۗءَ ظُهُوْرِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا نَرٰي مَعَكُمْ شُفَعَاۗءَكُمُ الَّذِيْنَ زَعَمْتُمْ اَنَّهُمْ فِيْكُمْ شُرَكٰۗؤُا ۭ لَقَدْ تَّقَطَّعَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَضَلَّ عَنْكُمْ مَّا كُنْتُمْ تَزْعُمُوْنَ 94ۧ
And who can be more unjust than he who invents a lie against Allah, or says: “A revelation has come to me” whereas no revelation has come to him in anything ; and who says, “I will reveal the like of what Allah has revealed.” And if you could but see when the Zalimun (mushrik and wrong-doers) are in the agonies of death, while the angels are stretching forth their hands (saying): “Deliver your souls! This day you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation because of what you used to utter against Allah other than the truth. And you used to reject His Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) with disrespect! “And truly you have come unto Us alone (without wealth, companions or anything else) as We created you the first time. You have left behind you all that which We had bestowed on you. We see not with you your intercessors whom you claimed to be partners with Allah. Now all relations between you and them have been cut off, and all that you used to claim has vanished from you.
(Sura e Anaam 94)
It asserts that human soul leaves away every blessing which Allah has bestowed upon it. The foremost, Allah gifted it with a physical body, and then countless bounties of life; air to breathe, water to quench thirst and food to satisfy the belly. But at the time of departure, every blessing is withdrawn from this soul. In the under study Surah Muminun, it is described that the soul requests Allah to give it back all what it has left away in the mundane world (فِيْمَا تَرَكْتُ), my body, my business, my home etc. (It is discussed before too that they request Allah to give them back their souls into their bodies and send them back to the world so that they can get martyrdom once again).
Here, Allah says ‘never’; it is a mere wish by him. This is rubbish which he desires. No and never; means it is impossible. It is not in Allah’s laws to send them back. And behind them all is a time when they lives will be ceased.
In the line above, the earlier parts of this Ayah have been elaborated that the soul of the deceased is confiscated by the angels who then take it before Allah and are ordered to prolong it till the last time. Quran and Hadith make it further clear that the soul is then transferred to the Heaven or Hell in the levels they deserve. A momin is awarded with the blessings of heaven and he never desires to return to the world. However, a martyr, to gain the honour of martyrdom once again, wishes to return to the world. Hence, he requests for the return of his soul so that he could go the world again and once again get the honour of being martyr in jihad. Similarly, this Ayah describes that the pagan’s soul also requests to return to the world about which Allah has declared that it is a mere wish by them and behind them all is a barrier when they lives will be ceased.
It is told that the human being died till to date in this world, have a barrier behind their souls, i.e. barzakh. It is a time which they have left behind. It determines that these souls which have reached Allah, if wish to go back to the world, barzakh has left them behind. It defines the irretrievable barrier which does never allow them to fly from that world.
‘‘Behind all who die is a barrier.’’ Today a belief is found that, the moment one dies, barzakh (a barrier) intervenes between us and the dead body. You will not find anywhere in the whole Quran reading that barzakh intervenes between us and the dead. In Quran and Hadith, there is no mention of barzakh at the time of one’s death. The angels confiscate the soul and bring it to Allah and there is no barzakh in between. There is no mention of barzakh even when they are entered to the heaven or hell. After entrance to the hell, the pagan and disobedient are shown their destiny and there the soul requests Allah to send it back to the place it has left away. And at this point, Allah says it can never happen; now there is a barrier behind them till the doom’s day.
Then this creed is also spread that when the dead one is transferred to his earthly grave, this grave changes into barzakh for him. In the Quran and Hadith, barzakh is not described as a place; rather it is a barrier which does not allow two things meet together. The Quran and Hadith assert that human soul dwells in heaven or hell. All this happens behind the barrier which Allah has declared to establish till doom’s day. The term used for this reference is “Alam-e-barzakh”. It means the world where human soul dwells after it is departed from this world.
After this, you can further see that this self-contrived creed is not practicable in anyway: A) one dies in Karachi and so his burzakh should be in Karachi; B) one dies in America and so his burzakh should be in America; C) one dies drowned in the sea and so his burzakh should be in the sea and similarly one is eaten by the lion and so lion’s belly is burzakh; the lion consumes him and excretes him in his filth, and so a new burzakh is formed. Do the statements of Quran and Hadith support any such creed? Only one burzakh is described for every dead one.
Therefore, according to the creed in the light of the Quran and Hadith, it becomes axiomatic that ‘burzakh’ lies between the soul and what it has left behind, i.e. this world, this body and all the worldly blessings. This burzakh will remain till the doom’s day. When this burzakh ceases to end on the doom’s day, the soul will return to its body. This is discussed in Quran that these rotten bodies will be re-created and they would be brought back alive. The Quran asserts that the dead is dead till the doom’s day and there is no sign of life in them.