Introduction
From the vast expanse of the sky with its beautiful stars adorning it, to the depth of the human soul, which is full of mystery, the question of the soul is something that will never cease to be explored. We are connected to the Almighty God in a bond that is beyond the reach of our senses. It serves as a compass for all of humanity, guiding us to seek who the Creator of the universe and all that is within it is.
At the beginning of the creation of the inhabitants of the world, the soul was breathed into the body of Prophet Adam (PBUH), the father of all of humanity. From there began our rise and fall throughout the pages of world history. Indeed, the soul has never died since the first day it was created, until the Day of Judgment when it will be gathered before Allah for the reckoning.
The journey of the soul from one realm to another is a long journey, and all of it has already been arranged and planned by Al-Khaliq, the Almighty Planner.
So, for this episode, we will embark on a journey, following the path of the soul, from the first moment it was created, until it is finally gathered before Allah when the time comes.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Answers Questions
“And they ask you about the soul. Say, ‘The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little.”
Surah Al-Isra’ (17:85)
A hadith that narrates the revelation that was recited earlier has been recorded by At-Tirmidhi, narrated by Ibn Abbas. According to the hadith, while the Prophet (PBUH) was reclining on a palm frond, a group of Jews were walking past him as he sat with his companions.
The Jews were debating whether they should ask the Prophet (PBUH) a question or not. Eventually, one of them asked about the soul.
“O Abul-Qasim, tell us about the soul.” The Prophet (PBUH) stood for a while, lifted his head to the sky, and I knew that revelation would come to him. After the revelation ceased, he (PBUH) said: “The soul is one of the affairs, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And regarding knowledge, you have been given but a little.”
Arrogantly, the Jew responded:
“We have been given vast knowledge, we have been given the Torah, and whoever is given the Torah has indeed been given abundant knowledge.”
Then, the following revelation was sent down, which is Surah Al-Kahf, verse 109:
“Say, ‘If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were finished, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement.’”
Surah Al-Kahf 18:109
This epic dialogue shows that we, as His creations, only know a little about these unseen matters. Yes, the question of the soul is a question of the unseen world, just as we discussed in the previous video titled The Realm of the Jinn. Therefore, there is not much that we can know or learn except what has been revealed to us through the words of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The First Soul
“And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I am creating a human being from clay of black mud, molded. So, when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My spirit, then fall down to him in prostration.”
Surah Al-Hijr (15:30-31)
The first human soul that was created, as we all agree, including the scholars, is Prophet Adam (PBUH). In the Tafsir Al-Qurthubi, it is mentioned that the body of Prophet Adam was breathed into with the soul created by Allah, and the phrase “My soul” in the earlier verse refers to the fact that Allah attributes His creation to Himself as an honor and a form of exaltation.
It is similar to His words, “My earth, My sky, My house, the camel of Allah, and the moon of Allah.”
In the Hadith recorded by At-Tirmidhi, Abu Hurairah narrated a sound hadith, which I will summarize. The Prophet (PBUH) mentioned that the best day is Friday because it was the day Adam was created, the day he entered Paradise, and the day he was expelled from it.
From this, we understand that the body of Prophet Adam was created on Friday. Then, in the Sahih Muslim hadith from the book Kitabul Birri Wassilati Wal’adabi, narrated by Anas, the Prophet (PBUH) said:
After completing the creation of Adam’s body in Paradise, Allah left it for as long as He willed. Then, Iblis came and circled around him, observing. Upon discovering that the body was empty, Iblis knew that this body would not be able to control itself.
(Sahih Muslim)
The footnote of this hadith mentions that an empty vessel cannot prevent anything from entering it. Yes, gentlemen, the body of Prophet Adam was empty at the time of his creation until the soul was breathed into it, as mentioned in Surah Al-Hijr that was recited earlier.
In two hadiths of Hasan status, collected by At-Tirmidhi, which I will also summarize, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) spoke about the event that occurred when Allah breathed the soul into Prophet Adam’s body.
As soon as the soul was breathed into his body, Prophet Adam sneezed and said, “Alhamdulillah” (Praise be to Allah). Allah then taught him how to respond to this, saying “Yarhamukallah” (May Allah have mercy on you). Allah then commanded him to go to the angels who were gathered and greet them with peace. Prophet Adam then said, “Assalāmu’alaykum” (Peace be upon you). The angels responded, “Wa’alaikassalamu Warahmatullah” (And upon you be peace and Allah’s mercy). Prophet Adam then returned to his Lord, and Allah told him that this was the greeting of peace for him and his descendants.
Then Allah stroked the back of Prophet Adam, and the souls of his children fell from him. In addition to these hadiths, this event is also mentioned in Surah Al-A’raf 7:172.
“And (remember) when your Lord took from the children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants and made them testify of themselves, saying, ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes, we testify.’ This was lest you say on the Day of Judgment, ‘Indeed, we were of this unaware.’”
Surah Al-A’raf (7:172)
According to Tafsir Al-Qurthubi, regarding the event of the emergence of the souls, scholars have differing opinions about the location of this event. Some scholars say it occurred in the first heaven, the heaven of the Earth, before Prophet Adam set foot on Earth after being cast out of Paradise for eating the forbidden fruit. Others say it happened on Earth. Wallahu A’lam Bisawaf (Allah knows best). However, what is most important is that these souls are all of us, gentlemen.
In the gathering of all these souls, or in its plural form arwah (souls), Allah asked us one question, “Am I not your Lord?” All of us answered the same, “Yes…” If we think about it, it is strange how the souls were able to answer correctly without any guidance or revelation to them. Why didn’t we answer that Adam was our Lord since we came from his back? Even today, we see that people can mistake their Lord and worship other things.
The answer can be found in Surah Ar-Rum:
“So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. Adhere to the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created mankind. There is no altering the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.”
Surah Ar-Rum (30:30)
It is the fitrah. This fitrah has been embedded in our souls and then deeply ingrained in our hearts and inner being. For this reason, even if someone claims to be an atheist, they will never stop talking about God, seeking arguments and support for their rejection of Him. Their heart will never find peace. From my own experience, I befriended an atheist loser who was always defeated in debates with me, even though I was not particularly knowledgeable, while he was my superior.
Next, in Hadith 3076, At-Tirmidhi narrates that Abu Hurairah reported the Prophet (PBUH) describing that when Prophet Adam saw the souls falling from his back, he asked his Lord who they were. Allah responded that they were his future children. Among his many children, there was one who had a remarkable light between his eyes. Prophet Adam asked who that person was, and Allah replied that it was his son named Dawud (David). After learning that Prophet Dawud’s life span was 60 years, Prophet Adam asked for 40 years of his life to be taken and added to Prophet Dawud’s.
Such is the story of the creation of the first human body and soul, starting with Prophet Adam. Before we move on to the next stage where these souls are placed, allow me to present an interesting argument regarding Adam and Hawa as the first human couple to refute the theory of Darwinism.
If we invite these atheists to think about the past, they will say that the human population decreases the further back we go. The further back in time, the smaller the population. Does that make sense?
If we go even further back, the population would decrease until it reaches a point where it started with two individuals, a man and a woman, regardless of what their names were. This can challenge the theory of humans evolving from monkeys.
Regarding the evolution from monkeys, an objection that can be raised is: Why did it stop at the human form? Why did the evolution not continue to form a new species to adapt to the environment in accordance with their lifestyle? Societies like the Bajau Laut in the waters of Sabah, the Ama in Japan, and the Haenyeo in Korea have lived for centuries in their water villages, making diving a daily activity to earn a living. Why are there no half-fish humans in these societies?
Indeed, the theory that humans evolved from monkeys is a plot by Iblis to deny our status as noble creatures and, by doing so, to deny Allah as the Almighty Creator.
The Unseen World
The place where these souls reside is in the unseen world, the secret of which only Allah knows, including its exact location. Some speakers claim that these souls inhabit a place called the ‘Alam ‘Arwah’ before it is their time to enter the womb of a mother, but I could not find any reference for this.
So, that statement can be set aside for now. However, what is certain is that in Sahih Muslim, Kitab Al-Birri Wassilati Wal’adabi, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
الْأَرْوَاحُ جُنُودٌ مُجَنَّدَةٌ،فَمَا تَعَارَفَ مِنْهَا الْتَلَفَ،
(Sahih Muslim)
وَمَا تَنَاكَرَمِنْهَا اخْتَلَفَ
Meaning:
“The souls are like recruited soldiers. Those whom they recognize, they will gather with, while those whom they do not recognize, they will turn away from.”
A similar hadith was also narrated by Aisha (RA) in Sahih Bukhari.
I heard the Prophet (PBUH) say, “The souls are like well-organized soldiers. Those that recognize each other will surely unite, and those that do not recognize each other will surely clash.”
(Sahih Bukhari)
According to Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in his book Fath al-Bari, the creation of the children of Adam is divided into two parts: the first part is the soul, which is placed in a certain place in the unseen world, while the second part occurs in the physical world when they are born from the womb of a mother. While in the unseen world, we may have encountered a good soul, and we felt comfortable with it.
When it is destined for us to meet in the physical world, we will easily unite and become friends with that soul. On the other hand, if we were enemies with a certain soul in the unseen world, we may end up clashing with that person in the physical world if we are destined to meet.
A hadith with a similar theme was narrated by Abu Hurairah in Sahih Muslim. To me, this is very interesting and may explain several things, according to my personal opinion. Perhaps this is why sometimes when we look at someone, we feel as if we have known them before, even though after thinking and trying to remember, we realize we’ve never met them anywhere.
Perhaps this is also why we feel so comfortable with someone we’ve just met, even if it’s been less than an hour, though they might not be particularly special. Whereas with another friend, even though they have no issues, we feel uneasy about getting close to them, even though we are fine with other people.
Not only that, according to Al-Khattabi, this is a sign of similarity in goodness and badness, problems, and corruption. Therefore, the acquaintance between souls in the unseen world aligns with their inherent nature, whether inclined towards goodness or evil.
The Realm of the Womb
The process of human creation is a remarkable miracle. From the moment of fertilization that occurs in the mother’s womb, until the moment we are born into the world, it is a journey full of wonders and the greatness of Allah Subhana Wata’ala for those who reflect.
Fertilization begins when a sperm cell successfully penetrates the ovum and forms a zygote. This zygote then undergoes rapid cell division, eventually developing into an embryo. At this stage, the embryo begins to find a place to attach to the uterine wall in a process known as implantation. This process ensures that the embryo receives the necessary nutrients and protection to continue developing.
Allah Subhana Wata’ala says in Surah Al-Mu’minun, verses 13-14:
Surah Al-Mu’minun (23:13-14)
“Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood, then We made the clot into a lump of flesh, and We made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh. Then We caused him to grow into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators.”
After attaching to the uterine wall, the embryo continues to grow and goes through various stages of development. It begins to form essential organs and more complex body structures, becoming a fetus (fiːtəs). This fetus will continue to grow and develop into a fully formed baby in the mother’s womb.
In a hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA), the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
Meaning: “Indeed, the creation of each one of you is gathered in the womb of your mother for forty days, then it becomes a clot of blood for the same period, then it becomes a lump of flesh for the same period, then the angel is sent and the soul is breathed into it.”
Riwayat al-Bukhari (3208) & Muslim (2643)
The similarity between us and the father of humanity, Prophet Adam (PBUH), is that his body was prepared first, and then the soul was breathed into it. The difference, however, is that it was Allah who breathed the soul into Prophet Adam’s body, whereas our souls are breathed into us by the angels.
The Dunya
Finally, after nine months full of miracles, nurtured and safely cared for in the womb of a mother, a perfect baby is born into the world. Dunya is simply means world. Every moment of this journey of the soul from the realm of the womb to the world is a testament to the power and wisdom of Allah Subhana Wata’ala in creating the cycle of life for His creations.
Our birth is in accordance with His plan and arrangement, and similarly, we must live our lives according to His commands and guidance. Our birth marks the beginning of the next journey, one that is challenging and full of twists and turns, as the soul inhabits the vessel called the body. Our birth is not a coincidence, as argued by those who reject God by saying, “everything happened by chance.” Our birth has a purpose, which is to seek and worship the God who created us. Thus, we grow and continue to live in this transient world. Allah says:
“Know that the life of this world is but play and amusement, adornment and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. It is like the example of rain whose plant growth pleases the farmers; then it withers, and you see it turning yellow, and then it becomes debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure. And the life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.”
Surah Al-Hadid (57:20)
Sakaratul Maut
“And realize (do not prioritize the world and forget the Hereafter) when the soul reaches the collarbones,
Al-Qiyamah (75: 26-30)
And it is said, ‘Who will cure him?’
And he is certain that it is the time of separation;
And the severity of the death throes intensify.
To your Lord, on that Day, you will be driven.”
Each of us has different sustenance and fate. But there is one thing that everyone will experience the same, and that is the agony of death (Sakaratul Maut). Sakaratul maut is the pain experienced by a person when the soul slowly separates from the body at the moment of death. This is a very intense and terrifying time.
Signs of sakaratul maut include heavy and irregular breathing, fatigue, drowsiness, and sometimes sweating on the forehead. It may vary from one individual to another.
In a hadith recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Aishah (RA) narrates the story of the pain the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) experienced as he was nearing his death at his home. In that hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“There is no god but Allah…! Death has its agonies.”
(Sahih Bukhari)
A hadith from Ibn Majah regarding events that will occur when a person is on the verge of sakaratul maut, narrated by Abu Hurairah, where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
The angels come to the person who is dying, and if the person is righteous, they say: “Come out, O good soul in a good body, come out praised and receive the good news of mercy and fragrance, and of a Lord who is not angry.” This is repeated until the soul exits, then it is lifted to the heavens, and the gates of heaven are opened for it. They ask: “Who is this?” They reply: “So-and-so.”
(Ibnu Majah)
It is said: “Welcome to the good soul in the good body. Enter praised and receive the good news of mercy and fragrance, and of a Lord who is not angry.” This is repeated until it is brought to the highest heaven where Allah is. However, if the person is wicked, they say: “Come out, O evil soul in an evil body. Come out, censured, and receive the news of boiling water and the pus from filthy wounds,” along with other punishments. This is repeated until the soul exits, then it is lifted to the heavens, but the gates of heaven are not opened for it. They ask: “Who is this?” It is said: “So-and-so.”
And it is said: “No welcome to the evil soul in the evil body. Return, censured, for the gates of heaven will not be opened for you.” The soul is then sent back down from the heavens, and it goes to the grave.
In another hadith in Sahih Muslim, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said regarding the eyes of Abu Salamah, which were open and fixed upward at the time of his death:
“Do you not see when that man dies and his eyes remain open, fixed upwards?” Abu Hurairah replied: “Yes.” The Prophet (PBUH) said: “That is because when the soul departs the body, the vision follows the soul.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Just imagine, gentlemen, when our soul is taken, we see our soul slowly leaving the body until it finally exits from the head, and our eyes remain fixed in that direction. Subhanallah, Allahuakbar!
I have good news for you. In a hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim, narrated by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated that the soul of a believer, after it is taken, will be received by two angels and taken up to the heavens in a fragrant state.
Realm of Barzakh
“Until when death comes to one of them, he says, ‘My Lord, send me back,
Surah al-Mukminun (23: 99-100)
That I may do righteousness in that which I left behind.’ No! Indeed, it is but a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier (barzakh) until the Day they are resurrected.”
Imam al-Qurtubi, in explaining the above verse, stated that Barzakh is the realm between death and resurrection. The office of the Mufti of the Federal Territories has discussed this term and concluded that Barzakh is a place where those who have passed away will reside before being gathered at the Mahsyar (place of reckoning). It is the space between the worldly life and the Hereafter. Therefore, anyone who dies has entered the realm of Barzakh.
The soul, which once used the eyes to see, the feet to walk, the ears to hear, and all other parts of the body freely as tools, will no longer be able to perform these functions in Barzakh. If paralysis means the loss of function in a particular body part, then death is the paralysis that affects the entire body.
When the soul of a person leaves the worldly realm and enters Barzakh, they are removed from the framework of time in this world.
This is based on the words of Allah:
“The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him in a day the extent of which is fifty thousand years.”
Surah Al-Ma’arij 70:4
Imam al-Tabari mentioned this in his tafsir, stating:
It is mentioned that the duration of the ascent of the angels is one day, which for other creatures is equivalent to fifty thousand years. This is because the angels ascend from the lowest point beneath the seven layers of the earth to the highest point above the seven heavens. This interpretation we have mentioned is also cited by other scholars of tafsir.
What can be understood from the explanation above is that the time frame of life in the realm of Barzakh is not the same as life in this world. Therefore, for the believer, life in Barzakh is a form of rest before waiting for the Day of Resurrection. As for those who do not believe, it is a form of punishment that precedes the eternal punishment in the Hereafter.
Yaumul Mahsyar
“And indeed, the Hour (Day of Judgment) is coming, there is no doubt about it, and indeed Allah will resurrect those who are in the graves.”
Surah Al-Hajj (22:7)
The Day of Judgment, also known as Yaumul Mahsyar, is a realm where every human being from the beginning to the end of time will be gathered on a vast plain to be accounted by Allah. On that day, all distinctions between humans will disappear; there will be no more respect for origin, skin color, or social status. Every soul will stand level before its creator, to be judged based on their actions and intentions during their life in this world.
On the plain of Mahsyar, every person will face a fair trial by Allah Subhana Wata’ala. The condition of each human being at this time will also vary depending on their deeds.
Conclusion
The journey of the soul, from the moment it is created until all souls are gathered at the Day of Mahsyar, is very long. The ease or difficulty of this journey depends on our deeds and the fate that has been decreed for us in this world. We must all be prepared. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in Sahih Bukhari that we should live in this world as strangers. This means that we come to this world only for a short while. This brief stay is very important because here is where we will gather all our good and righteous deeds to fulfill the purpose of our creation. However, it should be remembered that the ticket to entering Paradise is not solely dependent on the number of deeds we do, but it is Allah’s mercy that ultimately determines everything. If not, how would a prostitute who gave water to a thirsty dog be rewarded with Paradise?
That’s all for today’s video. Actually, this script is so long that I had to split it into two separate topics. The next video is titled “The Soul, Nafs, and Heart.” See you in the next episode. Please smash the like button and subscribe to watch more videos about the miracles of the Quran and other knowledge related to Islam.
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Attributions:
- BBC Global. (2022, July 18). The tribe that evolved to stay underwater longer – BBC REEL [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jNfDr-_P_Q
- VICE News. (2017, September 10). Japan’s last “AMA” – the Female Fishers who Free-Dive for Seafood (HBO) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDsslEE8S7E
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