Evie Summers
In Islam, death is viewed as a gift from Allah, and the soul is believed to be taken by the angel of death, known as Azreal. While the exact nature of the soul is unknown, it is said to be separate from the body and may be taken during sleep or death. According to some Islamic beliefs, the soul returns to the body in the grave, where it is questioned about its faith. The soul's journey after death depends on its state, with righteous believers rewarded and sinners punished. The day of resurrection is considered the final test, where individuals will face their final destination of heaven or hell.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soul | The soul is taken when one falls asleep, and sleep is a kind of death. |
| Death | Allah sends the angel of death, Azrael, to retrieve the soul from the human. |
| Burial | The family and Muslim community conduct Ghusl (full-body ritual purification) and Janazah (funeral prayer) before the body is buried six feet underground. |
| Afterlife | The soul returns to the body in the grave, and the deceased is questioned about their Lord, religion, and Prophet. The fate of the soul depends on the answers. |
| Judgement Day | The day of resurrection is when all creation will be judged and sent to heaven or hell based on their deeds and the way they died. |
| Suicide | Suicide is discouraged and is considered one of the greatest sins in Islam. |
| Soul's Nature | The soul's true nature is known only to Allah, and knowledge of it is beyond human comprehension. |
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What You'll Learn
Sleep is a type of death
Sleep is often likened to death in Islamic tradition. This is because, in Islam, it is believed that the soul is taken from the body during sleep, in a similar way to how the soul is taken at the time of death.
Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) woke up, he would say: “Praise be to Allah Who has given us life after He caused us to die, and to Him will be the resurrection”. This evidence was quoted by al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him), who then said: “The verse indicates that sleep is a death, and the hadith indicates when a person sleeps his soul is taken. They both indicate that the soul that is taken in death is the soul that is taken during sleep”.
However, it is important to note that the soul is not completely separated from the body during sleep, as it is in death. Instead, the soul is taken while some kind of connection to the body is still present. This is supported by the verse in the Quran: "Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep".
According to some Islamic scholars, the soul is returned to the body after sleep so that the person may fulfil the remainder of their lives. The soul is then taken again at the time of death. This is in line with the belief that the soul is taken and returned by Allah during sleep, and only truly departs from the body at the time of death.
In Islam, the soul is believed to be a complex and mysterious concept, known only to Allah. While the exact nature of the soul is not fully understood, it is considered to be separate from the body and to undergo a journey after death. This journey depends on whether the person was a righteous believer or a sinner during their lifetime.
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Allah takes souls during sleep and returns them
In Islam, there are differing opinions on what happens to the soul when a person dies in their sleep.
One view is that when a person falls asleep, their soul is taken by Allah, and sleep is considered a kind of death. This is supported by Quranic verses that state: "Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed." (Az-Zumar 39:42).
Hudhayfah narrated that the Prophet, upon waking up, would say: “Praise be to Allah Who has given us life after He caused us to die, and to Him will be the resurrection.” (al-Bukhari, 6312). This indicates that sleep is seen as a temporary death, and the soul's return to the body upon waking is a form of resurrection.
Al-Suddī offers a similar interpretation of the Quranic verse, explaining that during sleep, the souls of the living meet the souls of those who have passed away, and they reminisce and remind each other of past events. The souls of the living then return to their bodies to complete their remaining lifespan.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim supports this view, stating that the souls of the dead are taken by the angel of death and are unable to return to their physical bodies before the Day of Judgement. In contrast, the souls of those who are asleep are returned to their bodies, only to be taken again at the time of their actual death.
However, it is important to note that the taking of the soul during sleep does not imply a complete separation from the body, as occurs in death. Instead, there remains a connection between the soul and the body during sleep, and the soul is returned upon waking.
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah offers a different interpretation, suggesting that the verse refers specifically to those who die in their sleep. According to this view, the souls of those who pass away in their sleep are held, while the souls of those who are still alive are returned to their bodies until their preappointed time of death.
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The soul is taken in death
In Islam, death is viewed as the termination of worldly life and the beginning of the afterlife. It is believed that Allah takes the souls at the time of death, and those who do not die during their sleep have their souls taken temporarily and then returned. According to the Quran, "Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep".
The soul's departure from the body does not necessarily indicate death; rather, the soul may be taken while some connection to the body still persists, as in the case of sleep. This belief is supported by the Prophet's narration: "Praise be to Allah Who has given us life after He caused us to die, and to Him will be the resurrection".
The soul's fate after death depends on the individual's beliefs and deeds. If the deceased was a righteous believer, angels from heaven descend with divine perfume and a shroud. The righteous believers live in peace and comfort, while sinners and disbelievers face punishment.
The period between death and resurrection is also discussed in Islam. Some believe that the soul is insensate until resurrection, while others believe it experiences pleasure or punishment depending on its final destination. Another concept suggests that souls inhabit paradise or hell in the intermediate stage of Barzakh, which is a world similar to our own but distinct.
Preparing for death is an important aspect of Islamic teachings. Muslims are encouraged to perform good deeds, such as Sadaqah Jariyah (continuous charity), and to create Islamic wills to ensure their intentions are respected after death.
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The soul is questioned after death
In Islam, death is seen as the separation of the soul from the human body and its transfer from the world of the living to the afterlife. The Quran and Sunnah indicate that the soul is taken from the body when a person falls asleep, and sleep is likened to a kind of death.
When a person dies, their soul is questioned about their Lord, their religion, and their Prophet. The angels Munkar and Nakir are appointed by God to interrogate the dead and test their faith. If the deceased is a righteous believer, they will answer correctly and live in peace and comfort. They will be rewarded with heaven. If the deceased is a sinner or a disbeliever, they will fail this test and face punishment.
The soul's fate after death depends on whether it belonged to a believer or an unbeliever. The souls of believers are extracted easily and wrapped in a perfumed shroud. They are taken up to heaven, where God declares: "Write down his name in Illiyin and take him back to earth. I created him from earth, and I will raise him a second time from this very earth." The soul is then returned to the body and buried in the grave.
The souls of disbelievers, on the other hand, are extracted painfully. The angels give them tidings of hellfire and divine wrath, and they are taken up, disgraced and humiliated. The gates of heaven remain closed to them, and their souls return to their bodies, where they are punished in their graves.
The exact nature of the soul and what happens to it after death are beyond human comprehension, as stated in the Quran: "The soul is of the affair of my Lord, a matter that you cannot comprehend."
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The soul's true nature is known only to Allah
In Islam, the soul, or Ruh, is a creation of Allah and its true nature is known only to Him. While the soul is often associated with the body, it is not the same as the body and has its own unique attributes. According to the Quran and Sunnah, the soul is taken from the body during sleep, and sleep is likened to a kind of death. However, this does not imply a complete separation of the soul from the body, as life remains in the body during sleep.
Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) woke up, he would praise Allah for giving him life after death, indicating the belief that sleep is a temporary death. Al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) supported this interpretation, stating that sleep and death both involve the taking of the soul.
The Quran and Sunnah describe the soul using various verbs and adjectives, such as "seizing", "taking", "fettered", "shrouded", and "coming and going". These attributes are obligatory for Muslims to believe in, but the true essence of the soul remains a mystery known only to Allah. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that knowledge of the soul is limited to Allah: "They will ask thee concerning the soul. Say: The soul is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little." (Al-Israa': 85).
The soul's true nature is beyond human understanding, and its mysteries are known only to Allah. In Islam, the soul is believed to be a reflection of the divine light from Allah, and cultivating a pure heart is essential for spiritual fulfillment. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught his companions to seek refuge in Allah from the evil of their own selves, emphasizing the importance of striving against the lower self and its whims.
When a Muslim wakes up, it is recommended to praise Allah for restoring health and returning the soul, acknowledging the belief that Allah takes the souls during sleep and at the time of death. This belief is supported by the interpretation of Al-Zumar, 39:42, which states that Allah takes the souls of those who die and those who are asleep, returning the souls of the living to fulfill their lives.
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Frequently asked questions
In Islam, Allah sends the angel of death, known as Azrael, to retrieve the soul from the deceased. The Quran states that "Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep".
The soul is questioned about its Lord, its religion, and its Prophet. The fate of the soul depends on whether it belonged to a believer or non-believer. The soul of a righteous believer is met by bright-faced angels from heaven who bring divine perfume and a shroud. The soul of a sinner, on the other hand, is extracted in a painful way.
Islam holds that life and death are given by Allah. The Quran states that "Every soul shall taste death, and only on the Day of Judgement will you be paid your full recompense". The Day of Resurrection is the final test that determines whether a soul goes to heaven or hell.
