The Death of The Soul

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۞ قُلۡ يَتَوَفّٰٮكُمۡ مَّلَكُ الۡمَوۡتِ الَّذِىۡ وُكِّلَ بِكُمۡ ثُمَّ اِلٰى رَبِّكُمۡ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ‏ ١١

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Your soul will be taken by the Angel of Death, who is in charge of you. Then to your Lord you will ˹all˺ be returned.”

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Say , “The angel of death put in charge of you takes you, then to your Lord you are returned .”

— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation

Say, "The angel of death who has been entrusted with you will take you. Then to your Lord you will be returned."

— Saheeh International

Say, "The angel of death who has been assigned for you will take you in full, then you will be brought back to your Lord."

— Maarif-ul-Quran

[Al-Quran 32:11]

We live and we will die. The body disintegrates and becomes dust. Religious people believe they have a soul. Some believe the soul lives on. The Quran is very clear that all created souls must die. It is decreed. The Arabic word used is nafs (نَفۡسٍ):  

وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفۡسٍ اَنۡ تَمُوۡتَ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰهِ كِتٰبًا مُّؤَجَّلًا ؕ وَ مَنۡ يُّرِدۡ ثَوَابَ الدُّنۡيَا نُؤۡتِهٖ مِنۡهَا ​ۚ وَمَنۡ يُّرِدۡ ثَوَابَ الۡاٰخِرَةِ نُؤۡتِهٖ مِنۡهَا ​ؕ وَسَنَجۡزِى الشّٰكِرِيۡنَ‏ ١٤٥

No soul can ever die without Allah’s Will at the destined time. Those who desire worldly gain, We will let them have it, and those who desire heavenly reward, We will grant it to them. And We will reward those who are grateful.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

For never was it for anyone to die except by Allah’s leave at a predetermined time. So whoever wants the recompense of the Earlier(Life) , We bring him of it. And whoever wants the recompense of the Hereafter, We bring him of it. And We will repay the thankful ones.

— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation

And it is not [possible] for one to die except by permission of Allāh at a decree determined. And whoever desires the reward of this world - We will give him thereof; and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter - We will give him thereof. And We will reward the grateful.

— Saheeh International

And it is not the choice of a person to die without the will of Allah, death being a time-bound destiny. And whoever seeks the return in this world, We shall give him out of it, and whoever seeks the return in the Hereafter, We shall give him out of it. And We shall soon reward the grateful.

— Maarif-ul-Quran

[Al-Quran 3:145]

Some people die a natural death, others are killed. The Quran informs us that we should not say that those who have been killed are dead, particularly those killed battling in the way of Allah. They are alive, but we have no idea about their existence:

وَلَا تَقُوۡلُوۡا لِمَنۡ يُّقۡتَلُ فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ اَمۡوَاتٌ ؕ بَلۡ اَحۡيَآءٌ وَّلٰـكِنۡ لَّا تَشۡعُرُوۡنَ‏ ١٥٤

Never say that those martyred in the cause of Allah are dead—in fact, they are alive! But you do not perceive it.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And do not say of anyone who is killed in the way of Allah, “(They are) dead.” Rather,(they are) alive, but you are unaware.

— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation

And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allāh, "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not.

— Saheeh International

And do not say of those who are slain in the way of Allah that they are dead. Instead, they are alive, but you perceive not.

— Maarif-ul-Quran

[Al-Quran 2:154]

The loss of a nafs is not the same as the death of a nafs: 

وَلَـنَبۡلُوَنَّكُمۡ بِشَىۡءٍ مِّنَ الۡخَـوۡفِ وَالۡجُـوۡعِ وَنَقۡصٍ مِّنَ الۡاَمۡوَالِ وَالۡاَنۡفُسِ وَالثَّمَرٰتِؕ وَبَشِّرِ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَۙ‏ ١٥٥

We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure—

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And We will certainly test you with some fear and hunger and shortage of wealths and lives and products. Thus give glad tidings to the patient ones:

— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,

— Saheeh International

And surely We will test you with a bit of fear and hunger, and loss in wealth and lives and fruits. And give good tidings to the patient who,

— Maarif-ul-Quran

[Al-Quran 2:155]

The nafs cannot be killed before its time. What we humans call death is the body ceasing to live. The nafs dies at its appointed time. It is given death by the angel of death. 

The body ceases to exist as an organism. The cells cannot retain the water they need for them to function. More on this at: Non-Living & Living.

There is also the concept of Ruh. We have been given very little knowledge about the Ruh. I understand Ruh to be Allah's command to breathe. More on this at: Human: Body or Soul? || Ruh / رُوحُ   

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The Quran states that the greatest loss that a person can suffer is the loss of its soul (nafs) in the hereafter. To flourish in the Gardens of Eternity, we need Allah to restore our Nafs in our body, and to reform whatever loss we and our souls have suffered, through all the human misadventures that have been inflicted, because of our disobedience to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى 's commands and prohibitions. 

For example, when Adam عليه السلام prayed after eating from the forbidden tree, he used the word ظَلَمۡنَاۤ which is generally translated as 'wronged', and literally translates to 'darkened': 

قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَاۤ اَنۡفُسَنَا وَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَـنَا وَتَرۡحَمۡنَا لَـنَكُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡخٰسِرِيۡنَ‏ ٢٣

They replied, “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will certainly be losers.”

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Theydl said, “Our Lord, we have been unjust to ourselves. And unless You forgive us and have mercy on us, we will certainly be of the losers.”

— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation

Adam and Eve said: 'O our Lord! We have wronged ourselves by doing what You forbade us from, and surely If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us we will be amongst the losers, losing our share of the worldly life and Hereafter.'

— Abridged Explanation of the Quran

They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers."

— Saheeh International

They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and do not bless us with mercy, we shall, indeed, be among the losers."

— Maarif-ul-Quran

[Al-Quran 7:23]

In their dua, they literally state that they (Adam and his wife) have darkened their nafs (as opposed to being in illumination ( النُّوۡرِ​)? Cross reference: Q2:257). Related post: Adam's Covenant & Expulsion: an overview. 

Adam عليه السلام was tempted to disobey Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى in pursuit of Satan's false promises of immortality (Q7:20, Q2:120), of becoming an angel (Q7:20), of a kingdom (body?) that never decays (Q20:120); believing Satan made Adam عليه السلام suffer loss of original, natural clothing. 

The Quran further draws attention to clothes bestowed upon Adam عليه السلام 's progeny as being a Sign of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, and warns of not allowing Satan to remove our cover:

يٰبَنِىۡۤ اٰدَمَ لَا يَفۡتِنَـنَّكُمُ الشَّيۡطٰنُ كَمَاۤ اَخۡرَجَ اَبَوَيۡكُمۡ مِّنَ الۡجَـنَّةِ يَنۡزِعُ عَنۡهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوۡءاٰتِهِمَا ؕ اِنَّهٗ يَرٰٮكُمۡ هُوَ وَقَبِيۡلُهٗ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا تَرَوۡنَهُمۡ​ ؕ اِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا الشَّيٰطِيۡنَ اَوۡلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِيۡنَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ‏ ٢٧

O children of Adam! Do not let Satan deceive you as he tempted your parents out of Paradise and caused their cover to be removed in order to expose their nakedness. Surely he and his soldiers watch you from where you cannot see them. We have made the devils allies of those who disbelieve.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

O Children of Adam, never let Satan lure you like he brought your parents out of the Garden, stripping them of their garments to show them their private parts. He surely sees you, He and his clan, from where you cannot see them. Indeed, We have made the Satans allies of those who do not believe.

— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation

O children of Adam, do not let Satan deceive you by making disobedience look beautiful to you, making you leave covering your nakedness with clothing, or leave the clothing of Mindfulness. Do not be deceived as he tricked your parents, making eating from the tree seem good to them, and the result of that was that he got them expelled from Paradise, and their nakedness became clear to them. Satan and his tribe watch and see you, and you cannot see or watch them, so always be on your guard against him and his tribe. Allah made the satans friends and helpers of those who do not have faith in Allah. As for those who have faith and do good, the satans have no way against them.

— Abridged Explanation of the Quran

O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.

— Saheeh International

O children of 'Adam, "Do not let Satan put you in trouble the way he had your parents expelled from Paradise, having their dress removed from them, so that he could show them their shame. Indeed, he sees you - he and his company - from where you do not see them. Surely, We have made the satans friends for those who do not believe.

— Maarif-ul-Quran

[Al-Quran 7:27]

Adam was a bashr (بَشَرٌ), not a malak (مَلَكٌ), nor was any of his descendants. The Quran is quite clear that immortality is not granted to any bashr (بَشَرٌ). Every bashr (بَشَرٌ) must die: 

وَمَا جَعَلۡنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِكَ الۡخُـلۡدَ​ ؕ اَفَا۟ٮِٕن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ الۡخٰـلِدُوۡنَ‏ ٣٤

We have not granted immortality to any human before you ˹O Prophet˺: so if you die, will they live forever?

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And never did We grant immortality to any human being before yousg . Should you die, are they then the immortal?

— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation

O Messenger, I have not given eternity in this life to any human before you. So if your life comes to an end in this life and you pass away, will they live forever after you? Never.

— Abridged Explanation of the Quran

And We did not grant to any man before you eternity [on earth]; so if you die - would they be eternal?

— Saheeh International

And We did not assign immortality to any human (even) before you. So, if you die, will they then live forever?

— Maarif-ul-Quran

[Al-Quran 21:34]

Efforts to achieve immortality in this life are futile, and result in failure. Immortality is decreed for the Hereafter. Please read: Immortality & A Kingdom that Never Decays || ... and Join Me with The Reformed || Families are Forever. 

The Quran also informs us that whatever we suffer is due to our own Nafs. More on this at: DRAFT: Nafs || Disease. Since the nafs is removed when we sleep, so it is not surprising that the body heals better when we are asleep. ... 

The Quran informs us that every sin is an act against our own Nafs. So, with every sin, we further darken our own Nafs. 

Modern science now knows that all 'living' things are a set of instructions, and that the information generated cannot be destroyed. It exists forever. So, every word we say, and every act we perform, all is recorded forever. Also read: Generating The Evidence || Our Record in Our Neck.

Abrahamic scriptures in general, and The Quran in particular, promise a bodily resurrection, and judgement, while non-Abrahamic religions focus on the liberation of the soul from the body. Abrahamic scriptures insist on the worship of the one, true God, while non-Abrahamic religions are mostly polytheistic with a pantheon of deities. Abrahamic scriptures enjoin prayers ordained at fixed times to establish contact with God; polytheistic religions have their own modes of worship to establish contact with those they worship. Abrahamic scriptures invite to the house of peace, to dwell in there forever, while non-Abrahamic religions promise eternal liberation from a body as the purpose to pursue. Also read: Salaam, The Significance of the Spoken Word! || as-Salaat vs Yoga || Spirits and spirituality || The Cursed Tree || The Same Religion (الدِّينِ). 

As our knowledge advances, and we are able to affect changes in our Nafs, we risk devolution and/or  divine punishment. More on this at: Wronging the Nafs || Secular Science vs Creation Faith || Faith vs Science.

Our gullet, and our nafs, are in pledge (Q52:21, Q74:38). We, the progeny of the sons of Adam, were made witness to our nafs (cross reference: Q7:172-174). Also read: The Nafs of The Insaan || Corruption of Creation || The Sustainer of the Worlds (رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ) || Humans: Extinct & Extant. 

In this temporary life, every person is offered willing submission to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى 's Deen, that is, a chance to willingly become law-abiding slaves of Allah. However, those who reject or doubt are also permitted to be willingly become lawless criminals. There is no compulsion on the individual. 

We will be judged by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى according to His Deen (Laws of Recompense). The Deen is defined and detailed across The Quran. Surah az-Zumar emphasises the sincerity to The Deen of Allah. Q39:53-59 offers hope to all who have transgressed against their souls to not lose hope of forgiveness from Allah  سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى , and urgently turn towards Allah  سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, submitting to His Deen, and following the best of what has been revealed. Also read: Creation of Space & Time, and The Deen ||  No ilah but Allah لا إله إلا الله || To Forget the Meeting with Allah || Hired for Khilafat.  

The greatest loss that a person can suffer is the permanent loss of their soul in the Hereafter (Q39:15-20). Such people will consciously suffer in Hell, neither living nor dying (Q35:36). 

The souls that are satisfied with Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى will be reinstated in their bodies on the Day of Judgement:

يٰۤاَيَّتُهَا النَّفۡسُ الۡمُطۡمَٮِٕنَّةُ  ۖ‏ ٢٧ ارۡجِعِىۡۤ اِلٰى رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرۡضِيَّةً​ ۚ‏ ٢٨ فَادۡخُلِىۡ فِىۡ عِبٰدِىۙ‏ ٢٩ وَادۡخُلِىۡ جَنَّتِى‏ ٣٠

(As for an obedient man, it will be said to him,) “O content soul, come back to your Lord, well-pleased, well-pleasing. So, enter among My (special) servants, and enter My Paradise.” 

[Al-Quran 89:27-30, Translation: Mufti Taqi Usmani]

The above quoted ayaat are variously translated. As per my understanding of The Quran, it is speaking about the reinstating of the soul (nafs) in its own body, resurrected with the original dust it was created with in this life.  

Related posts: 

Links to posts about Nafs .

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The Case against the Bani Israel 

Protection from (fear of) ar-Rahab 

The Serpent & The Snake: a Clear Sign 

Last updated on: January 18, 2024