Signs & Science: soul

Showing posts with label soul. Show all posts

Thursday, January 11, 2024

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

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Soul Mates

DRAFT

وَمِنۡ اٰيٰتِهٖۤ اَنۡ خَلَقَ لَكُمۡ مِّنۡ اَنۡفُسِكُمۡ اَزۡوَاجًا لِّتَسۡكُنُوۡۤا اِلَيۡهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيۡنَكُمۡ مَّوَدَّةً وَّرَحۡمَةً ؕ اِنَّ فِىۡ ذٰ لِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ يَّتَفَكَّرُوۡنَ‏ ٢١

And of His signs is this: He created for you helpmeets from yourselves that ye might find rest in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo! herein indeed are portents for folk who reflect.

[Al-Quran 30:21, Translation: Pickthall]

From each soul (nafs), Allah has created its soul mate (azwajun)
The purpose of creation of soul mate for each soul is for them to find rest (sukoon) in each other
Allah has appointed love and mercy between a soul and its soul mate
In that are signs for those who think about it

يٰۤـاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوۡا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَكُمۡ مِّنۡ نَّفۡسٍ وَّاحِدَةٍ وَّخَلَقَ مِنۡهَا زَوۡجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنۡهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيۡرًا وَّنِسَآءً ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ الَّذِىۡ تَسَآءَلُوۡنَ بِهٖ وَالۡاَرۡحَامَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ رَقِيۡبًا‏ ١

O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom ye claim of one another, and toward the wombs. Lo! Allah hath been a watcher over you.

[Al-Quran 4:1, Translation: Pickthall (text in parenthesis removed)]

Allah has created mankind from a single soul (nafs)
From that soul (nafs), Allah has created her soul mate (zawjaha)
Created from them many men and women
Keep your duty to Allah through Whom you ask (claim rights)
Keep your duty towards the wombs (guard them)
Allah is Always Watching you

اَلرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُوۡنَ عَلَى النِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللّٰهُ بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلٰى بَعۡضٍ وَّبِمَاۤ اَنۡفَقُوۡا مِنۡ اَمۡوَالِهِمۡ ؕ فَالصّٰلِحٰتُ قٰنِتٰتٌ حٰفِظٰتٌ لِّلۡغَيۡبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللّٰهُ ؕ وَالّٰتِىۡ تَخَافُوۡنَ نُشُوۡزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوۡهُنَّ وَاهۡجُرُوۡهُنَّ فِى الۡمَضَاجِعِ وَاضۡرِبُوۡهُنَّ ۚ فَاِنۡ اَطَعۡنَكُمۡ فَلَا تَبۡغُوۡا عَلَيۡهِنَّ سَبِيۡلًا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيۡرًا‏ ٣٤

Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.

[Al-Quran 4:34, Translation: Pickthall]

Men are in charge of women, because
Allah has given excellence to men over women, and because
Men spend of their wealth on women
Therefore, the women who do right / reform are:

obedient
guard in their husband's absence what Allah wants them to guard

So, the woman from whom you fear nushuz:

advise / admonish them
observe separation
beat them (lightly) or (... some understand this clause differently)*

Then, if they obey you, seek not a way against them
Allah is the One Who is Absolutely Exalted (above all)
Allah is the One Who is Absolutely Great (above all)

وَاِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ شِقَاقَ بَيۡنِهِمَا فَابۡعَثُوۡا حَكَمًا مِّنۡ اَهۡلِهٖ وَحَكَمًا مِّنۡ اَهۡلِهَا ۚ اِنۡ يُّرِيۡدَاۤ اِصۡلَاحًا يُّوَفِّـقِ اللّٰهُ بَيۡنَهُمَا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلِيۡمًا خَبِيۡرًا‏ ٣٥

And if ye fear a breach between them twain (the man and wife), appoint an arbiter from his folk and an arbiter from her folk. If they desire amendment Allah will make them of one mind. Lo! Allah is ever Knower, Aware.

[Al-Quran 4:35, Translation: Pickthall]

And if you fear a dissension between husband and wife
Appoint an arbiter from her people, and an arbiter from his people
if they desire to reform, Allah will make them agree and bring about a reconciliation
Indeed, Allah is the One Who Has Always Known, is Always Aware

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The institution of marriage was established by Allah when He created the first human soul. Each soul has its soul mate. The purpose of creation of the pair is so that they can find rest and tranquility in each other. To facilitate that in a beautiful way, Allah has appointed love and mercy between them.

Like all institutions, there has to be an organisation of roles and responsibilities. Men are at the top of their own family's organisational hierarchy. Women are placed under their administration. As in all hierarchal relationships, there has to be a clear top-down relationship defined. Allah has defined it for the family institution. Allah has also defined how to handle disobedience, as well as provided safeguards for the wife's rights to seek help in case of dissension.

Finally, Allah also permits divorce in irresolvable situations.

* Video Title: Hitting Women - A look at 4:34 and Beyond by Nouman Ali Khan discusses the ayah till just before the hitting clause. Other videos of his on YouTube explore the meaning of the ayat in further detail. May Allah increase us in knowledge, guidance and taqwa. Aameen.

Last updated on: April 28, 2024

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Monday, August 7, 2017

Organ Harvesting & Organ Transplant

Murder & Corruption

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ الْقَيِّمِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصَّدَّعُونَ

مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ

لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

[Q30:43 - 45] So set your face to the religion right, before [that] comes a Day not (can be) averted [it] from Allah. That Day, they will be divided. Whoever disbelieves, then against him (is) his disbelief. And whoever does righteousness, then for themselves they are preparing, That He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds (out) of His Bounty. Indeed, He (does) not like the disbelievers.

1.     What is The Right Religion?
The phrase ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ (The Right Religion) has been used in Q9:36, Q12:40, Q30:30 & in Q98:5 as وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ in the Quran. Q30:43 quoted above commands us to فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ الْقَيِّمِ   (So set your face to the religion right). Q30:30 informs us that one of the decrees of The Right Religion is that there should be no change in the creation of Allah, especially humans.
Q4:119 informs us that Satan has vowed to mislead bani Adam, and one of his misleading commands is to change the creation of Allah.
Satan knows that mortals desire immortality, therefore he effectively uses longevity/immortality as a promise to lead humans into error. He used it with Adam, and he has used it with many mighty civilisations, causing them to wrong their NAFS.

2. How / when are organs harvested?
Current technology requires that organs be harvested from the body while the person is still on the ventilator, which means the person is still breathing. When doctors think that they can no longer save a patient, the patient is evaluated for brain death. If the patient is found to be brain dead, organs are harvested. Legally, organs can be harvested according to the will of the patient, if he/she has pledged his/her organs, or with the permission of his/her family. Also read Organ Trade for related issues.
Though 'a brain dead donor is preferred, but only a small percentage of deaths are brain deaths. Therefore, the majority of human organ sources are post cardiac death', while there is at least still some brain activity.

3. Is a brain-dead person dead?
Not always. There have been cases where a patient who has been declared brain-dead is removed from the ventilator but continues to breathe and live on for sometime.

4. When we die, do we no longer need the body?
According to The Bible and The Quran, we are made of dust. This means that we are the body. When we die, we stop living and transfer to the realm of the dead. Death is a subsequent stage, a state of being. We know very little about that realm, but The Quran informs us that the dead exist in an alternate state of being.

5. What happens to the soul?
The popular concept regarding the soul is not rooted in the scriptures. According to the Quran, we are our body and we have a NAFS. Please read Human: Body or Soul? for details.

6. When the NAFS is removed from the body at the time of death, why is it then not okay to harvest organs from a dead body?
As mentioned above, we are the body!
Q39:42 informs us that the NAFS is removed from the body every time we fall asleep; would it be okay to harvest organs of a person while he/she is asleep?

7. If the NAFS is the software and contains all the information needed to resurrect us, then why is the body important?
According to some ayaat of The Quran, it seems that the same earth that perishes from our dead body will be used to resurrect us. Please read the section titled Body in Human: Body or Soul? for details.

8. Saving human life is important, in fact an ayat of the Quran states that saving a single life is like saving all humans. Organ transplants save lives. Isn’t it a good deed?
The ayat is Q5:32. The same ayat also contains the exception clause 'he who kills a soul other than (for) a soul or (for) spreading corruption in the earth then (it) is as if he has killed all [the] mankind'.

i) When organs of a patient declared brain-dead are harvested, there is no sure way of knowing if the person is already dead or the harvesting of vital organs will result in the death of the patient.

ii) When an organ is transplanted into a patient, the body is being corrupted with a part of another person. This includes the hardware or physical material (dust), as well as the software (DNA). This is in violation of Q30:30 which clearly forbids change in the creation of Allah. Q91:7-10 emphasizes the importance of purifying the NAFS. It is already suffering the corruption caused as a consequence of the error of Adam. By adhering to The Right Religion, we can hope that Allah will correct and purify us on the Day of Judgment.

9. How about growing organs specifically for the purpose of transplants?
Allah creates in the womb as He wills. In The Quran, there is mention of three unusual cases of conception. Abraham and his wife, Zechariah & his wife, and the Virgin Mary. In all three cases, they have not been directed to take any particular treatment/medical intervention; rather they have been told that Allah’s command will be done.
In Q4:1, we have been cautioned to keep our duty regarding the womb. The Quran mentions the womb along with corruption as in Q47:22. The womb must to be guarded from corruption.
Harvesting organ from an entity grown specifically for the purpose would entail some form of medical intervention to grow such an entity, as well as eventually killing the entity to harvest the organ. That would be a major crime in itself.

10. How about non-human organs?
Transplanting a non-human organ will also result in corruption.

11. Why is this corruption a bad thing if it saves lives?
Allah creates perfectly. He has decreed mortality in this life, and promises immortality in the Hereafter. Adam erred in his pursuit of immortality. The Quran specifically warns against making changes in the NAFS. Every civilization that made changes in their NAFS was punished, except the people of Jonah. Please read Wronging the NAFS.

قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

[Q6:161-163] Say, "Indeed (as for) me, has guided me my Lord to a straight path - a religion right, religion (of) Ibrahim - a true monotheist. And not he was from the polytheists. Say, "Indeed, my prayer, and my rites of sacrifice, and my living, and my dying (are) for Allah, Lord (of) the worlds. No partners for Him; and with that I have been commanded. And I am (the) first (of) the ones who surrender (to Him).

Few years ago, when I neither understood the science nor knew the directives of the religion, I pledged my organs. Now, all thanks to Allah for having guided me in the matter, I have unpledged my organs. I have also informed my family and friends that, Allah forbid, if such a situation arises, please do not transplant any organs into me.

إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

[Q25:70] Except (he) who repents and believes and does righteous deeds, then (for) those Allah will replace their evil deeds (with) good ones. And is Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

I know that there are many people who have pledged their organs, and some are also earnestly working for the cause, sincerely assuming it to be a good deed. May Allah guide us all, enable us to submit to the guidance in The Quran, forgive us and be well-pleased with us.

List of Related Articles

Further Reading:
Organ Transplantation
Organ Trade

Last updated on August 11, 2017

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Human: Body or Soul?

No change should there be in the creation of Allah [Quran 30:30]

Mission of the Messengers - XIV

Abstract

The human is created from Earth, and is essentially its body. When the command granting life is breathed in, the body becomes alive. Death marks the end of life. Both the Quran and the Bible emphasize our earthly origins and return. The Quran also mentions the ‘ashab-ul-quboor’.

The correct understanding of the significance of the human body is very important, as it concerns the permissibility, as well as the ethical and moral issues regarding abortions, organ harvesting and transplants, final rites of the deceased, genetic engineering of the living, and so on.

For Muslims, Quran is the final revelation and the decisive word. We need to explore the text in detail lest we harm ourselves for an eternity.

Full Text

Preamble

Who are we? Are we our body or are we our soul or is it a combination of the two? Do we have an existence independent of our body? When we die, do we leave the body, or does life leave us? Who is the I we are so fond of? What are we made of? What do the scriptures say?

The Bible and The Quran both inform us that we are made of dust:

[Bible, Genesis 3:19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground, for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

[Al-Quran, ar-Rum 30:20] And among His Signs (is) that He created you from dust then behold! You (are) human beings dispersing.

We all know that we have a body that is composed of earthly materials. Religious people generally believe that they are a SOUL that is temporarily staying in the body. Atheists do not believe in the existence of a SOUL.

Jews, Christians and Muslims (People of the Book) shroud and bury the body of their dead. Hindus (Polytheists) burn many of their dead and crush the remaining bones into dust. More on Funeral Rites in References and Further Reading at the end of this post.

From the Bible, we learn that the prophets Jacob and Joseph were concerned about their body after their death, and asked for it to NOT to be left in Egypt. From a saying attributed to Prophet Muhammad, we learn that breaking the bone of a dead person is similar to breaking the bone of a living person.

The Quran 30:30 clearly warns against changing the creation of Allah, especially humans:

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا

فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا

لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ

ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ

وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

So set your face to the religion upright.

Nature (made by) Allah (upon) which He has created mankind [on it].
No change (should there be) in the creation (of) Allah.
That (is) the religion the correct,
but most people (do) not know.

[Al-Quran 30:30, Translation edited]

Note: فِطْرَتَ is generally translated as nature but فَطَرَ means to separate, and Allah is فَاطِرِ the One who separated/separates.
Also, الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ is generally translated as the religion the correct, but The Standing Law may be a clearer literal translation. However, I haven't made this correction here.

The following explores the concepts as stated in the scriptures, with focus on the Quran and referring to the Bible, so as to get some clarity on the subject. The correct understanding of this concept is very important, as it concerns the permissibility, as well as the ethical and moral issues regarding abortions, organ harvesting and transplants, final rites of the deceased, genetic modification of the living, crossbreeding, building chimeras, and so on.

For Muslims, Quran is the final revelation and the decisive word. Furthermore, the original Arabic text is preserved in pristine condition, in written form and orally, committed to memory in the minds of the huffaz. The Quran itself claims that it is explained in detail. As we refer to the prior scriptures and the hadith of Prophet Muhammad, the correct understanding must be based on what the Quran states directly or endorses indirectly. We need to explore the text in detail lest we harm ourselves for an eternity.

NOTE: The difference between رُّوحُ and نَفْسُ is often lost in translations. In this post, instead of translations of the Arabic word, I have retained the word in Roman letters as:

رُّوحُ (RUH) in dark purple bold letters, and
نَفْسُ (NAFS (Hebrew nephesh)) are in light blue bold letters

RUH

فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ

[Al-Quran 15:29] So, when I have fashioned him and [I] breathed into him of My RUH, then fall down to him prostrating."

Ar-RUH, generally translated as spirit (Q32:9, Q97:4) or soul (Q17:85), is from the AMR (commands, decrees) of Allah:

وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

And they ask you about the RUH. Say: The RUH is one of the commands of my Lord, and you are not given aught of knowledge but a little.

[Al-Quran 17:85, Translator: Shakir]

In Surah al-Qadr, we read:

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ

The angels and the RUH descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees.

[Al-Quran 97:4, Translator: Pickthall]

People believe that we are essentially our SOUL while the body is just a vessel that we inhabit temporarily. Contrary to popular belief, the Quran does not support this belief about the SOUL, or even acknowledge its existence independent of the body. It simply states that the RUH is from the commands of God.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living nephesh.

[Bible, Genesis 2:7 ; Transliteration ; Arabic Bible]

Who made good everything that He has created, and He began the creation of man from dust. Then He made his progeny of an extract, of water held in light estimation. Then He made him complete and breathed into him of His RUH, and made for you the ears and the eyes and the hearts; little is it that you give thanks. And they say: What! when we have become lost in the earth, shall we then certainly be in a new creation? Nay! they are disbelievers in the meeting of their Lord. Say: The angel of death who is given charge of you shall cause you to die, then to your Lord you shall be brought back.

[Al-Quran 32:7 – 11, Translator: Shakir]

Allah commands through His Words:

He (is) the One Who gives life and causes death. And when He decrees a matter, then only He says to it, "Be," and it is.

[Al-Quran 40:68]

Mary conceived Jesus when she received the Command of Allah. Quran 3:45, 19:17 and 66:12 use the word ruh to convey what was breathed into Mary. As explained in Virgin Birth, speech can be transferred wirelessly (breathed in).

NAFS

The Quran repeatedly mentions the NAFS.

God created the first humans from a single NAFS:

O mankind! Be conscious your Rab (Lord/Sustainer), the One Who created you from a single nafs, and created from her her mate, and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And be conscious of Allah Whom you ask, with it, and the wombs. Indeed, Allah is over you Ever-Watchful.

[Al-Quran 4:1]

As quoted in The First Humans, three ayaat inform us that it is God who has created human beings from a single NAFS. God is the Master Creator. He begins creation, and He delegates some of the creation tasks to some beings in His government, as indicated by The Creator I and The Creators We mentioned through various pronouns across the Quran. For difference between the two, please read the section similarly titled at the bottom of this post.

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ

We swear that We have created the human being and We know what his NAFS whispers to him. We are closer to him than even his jugular vein.

[Al-Quran 50:16, Translator: Muhammad Sarwar]

The information that the NAFS whispers to us indicates that the NAFS is not ‘the us’ but rather resides inside us.

The Quran describes three kinds or states of the NAFS as:

The NAFS-e-AMMARRA is the NAFS that urges us to evil.

The NAFS-e-LAWAMMA is the NAFS that we speak of as our conscience.

The NAFS-e-MUTMAINNA is the NAFS that is satisfied and contented with God, and God is pleased with it.

Furthermore, it seems that our NAFS is in pledge, something that is removed from us daily, and what we risk losing permanently in the Hereafter:

And leave those who take their religion (as) a play and amusement and deluded them the life (of) the world. But remind with it, lest is given up to destruction a NAFS for what it (has) earned, not (is) for it besides Allah any protector and not any intercessor. And if it offers ransom - every ransom, not will it be taken from it. Those (are) ones who are given to destruction for what they earned. For them (will be) a drink of boiling water and a punishment painful because they used to disbelieve.

[Al-Quran 6:70]

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ

Every NAFS, for what it has earned, (is) pledged,

[Al-Quran 74:38]

The above slide is from the presentation: Rethink Genetic Engineering in the Light of the Quran. Whenever humans have tinkered with and attempted to make fundamental changes in the human body, and consequently messed up, they have been unjust to their NAFS, and thus suffer the physical consequences of Wronging the NAFS. Even sin and disbelief have been described in physical terms as a disease of the heart (qalb), rust upon the heart and lying sinful forelock. Does the NAFS contain the master-copy of our genome?

وَفِي الْأَرْضِ آيَاتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ

وَفِي أَنفُسِكُمْ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ

And in the earth (are) signs for those who are certain,
And in your NAFS. Then will not you see?

[Al-Quran 51:20 - 21]

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُم بَلِ اللَّهُ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاءُ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا

انظُرْ كَيْفَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَكَفَىٰ بِهِ إِثْمًا مُّبِينًا

Do not you see [towards] those who claim purity (for) their NAFS? Nay, (it is) Allah, He purifies whom He wills and not they will be wronged (even as much as) a hair on a date-seed.
See how they invent about Allah [the] lie, and sufficient is it - (as) a sin manifest.
[Al-Quran 4:49-50]

If the RUH is God’s command that grants life, the NAFS is neither pure nor a ‘spiritual’ component, then there doesn’t seem to exist a spiritual aspect of us:

Those who avoid great sins and the immoralities except the small faults; indeed, your Lord (is) vast (in) forgiveness. He (is) most knowing about you when He produced you from the earth and when you (were) fetuses in (the) wombs (of) your mothers. So (do) not ascribe purity (to) your NAFS. He knows best (he) who fears.

[Al-Quran 53:32]

In Surah ash-Shams, after drawing attention to the God’s amazing creations: Sun, Moon, Day, Night, Sky, Earth, the surah includes the NAFS in the list in these terms:

By the NAFS, and the proportion and order given to it; And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right;- Truly he succeeds that purifies it, And he fails that corrupts it!

[Al-Quran 91:7-10, Translator: Yusuf Ali]

Q67:2 informs us that God created Death and Life to test us. Q2:28 and Q40:11 speak of two deaths and two lifes in sequence. Q7:172 informs us that the descendants of the Children of Adam witnessed their Nafs. Does it mean that every person is essentially his/her own body? The physical body (hardware) and the nafs (software)?

What does it mean to purify the Nafs? What does it mean to corrupt it? Or does it mean to grow or stun it, like the growth or stunning of a seed sowed in the Earth? For more on this, please read the section titled Growth of the Nafs in The Same Religion (الدِّينِ).

And what does it mean to adhere to the Fitrat upon which Allah 'fatara' Humans (fitrata Allahi allatee fatara alnnasa AAalayha) and to not to make changes in the creation of Allah? Is it permissible to edit the genome; harvest and transplant organs; build chimeras; abort fetuses? Do we have sufficient clarity about our creation to confidently consider all or some of these as permissible? Or are these acts of corruption and crimes against creation? Please also read Allah, fāṭir (فَاطِر) of the Skies and Earth.

Proponents of life-extension technologies quote Q5:32 to state that saving a life is like saving all mankind. Doesn't the ayat contain the exception clause 'he who kills a soul other than (for) a soul or (for) spreading corruption in the earth then (it) is as if he has killed all [the] mankind'? Wasn't Adam attempting life-extension when he tried to achieve Immortality as per Q20:114-124? Wasn't Adam the most knowledgable person as he had been taught all the names by God Himself? Weren't the ancients mightier and more knowledgable than us? Were they not also committing crimes that were corrupting creation?

And what exactly is death, the one that pre-exists this life, and the one that follows this life? Can we risk disobeying God based on our ignorance of the scripture?

And Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth and that may be recompensed every NAFS for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged.

Have you seen (he) who takes (as) his god his desire and Allah lets him go astray knowingly, and upon his hearing and his heart and puts over his vision a veil? Then who will guide him after Allah? Then will not you receive admonition?

And they say, "Not it (is) but our life (of) the world, we die and we live, and not destroys us except the time." And not for them of that any knowledge; not, they (do) but guess.

And when are recited to them Our Verses clear, not is their argument except that they say, "Bring our forefathers if you are truthful."

Say, "Allah gives you life, then causes you to die; then He will gather you to (the) Day (of) the Resurrection, no doubt about it." But most (of) the people (do) not know.

[Al-Quran 45:22-26]

BODY

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُم مِّنْ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِين

And those who believed and followed them their offspring in faith, We will join with them their offspring and not We will deprive them of their deeds (in) any thing. Every person for what he earned (is) pledged.
[Al-Quran 52:21]

Every امْرِئٍ is also in pledge!

The Quran speaks of your nafs, your heart, your face, your eyes, your hands, but it speaks about us or rather our body as 'you', except in the following ayaat:

[source: http://corpus.quran.com/search.jsp?q=body]

[source: http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=jsd]

Consider the following ayaat:

Indeed, (the) likeness (of) Isa near Allah (is) like (the) likeness (of) Adam. He created him from dust then He said to him, "Be," and he was.

[Al-Quran 3:59]

And among His Signs (is) that He created you from dust then behold! You (are) human beings dispersing.

[Al-Quran 30:20]

He (is) the One Who created you from dust, then from a semen-drop, then from a clinging substance, then He brings you out (as) a child; then lets you reach your maturity, then lets you become old - and among you (is he) who dies before - and lets you reach a term specified, and that you may use reason.

[Al-Quran 40:67]

The Quran reiterates that we have been created from the Earth. Not only does it inform us of our earthly origins, it seems that the earth that was used to create us in this life is the same earth that will be put back together when we are resurrected:

And they say, "Is it when we are bones and crumbled particles, will we surely (be) resurrected (as) a creation new." Say, "Be stones or iron. Or a creation of what (is) great in your breasts." Then they will say, "Who will restore us?" Say, "He Who separated (فَطَرَ) you (the) first time." Then they will shake at you their heads and they say, "When (will) it (be)?" Say, "Perhaps that (it) will be soon." (On) the Day He will call you and you will respond with His Praise, and you will think, not you had remained except a little (while).

[Al-Quran 17:49-52; Translation edited]

What! When we die and have become dust. That (is) a return far." Certainly, We know what diminishes the earth of them, and with Us (is) a Book guarded.

[Al-Quran 50:3-4]

(The) Day will split the earth from them, hurrying. That (is) a gathering for Us easy.

[Al-Quran 50:44]

(The) Day they will come out from the graves rapidly as if they (were) to a goal hastening,

[Al-Quran 70:43]

DEATH

Every NAFS (will) taste [the] death. And We test you with [the] bad and [the] good (as) a trial; and to Us you will be returned.

[Al-Quran 21:35]

Allah (is) the One Who created you, then He provided (for) you, then He will cause you to die then He will give you life. Is (there) any (of) your partners who does of that any thing? Glory be to Him and exalted is He above what they associate.

[Al-Quran 30:40]

Blessed is He in Whose hand is the kingdom, and He has power over all things, Who created death and life that He may try you-- which of you is best in deeds; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving,

[Al-Quran 67:1-2, Translator: Shakir]

We [We] have decreed among you the death and not We (are) outrun,

[Al-Quran 56:60]

Death is a purposeful creation, and not a disease. We are caused to live, and then we are caused to die. Granting life and death are the domain of God. We humans can neither give life, nor are we permitted to take life, except in well-defined circumstances, such as animals for food, humans in state-declared warfare and capital punishment for murder.

Death being a state of being, it seems that the dead are conscious and able to experience and also communicate (though not with those still alive; see subtitle Barzakh below). Consider the following ayaat:

And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah, or says: It has been revealed to me; while nothing has been revealed to him, and he who says: I can reveal the like of what Allah has revealed? and if you had seen when the unjust shall be in the agonies of death and the angels shall spread forth their hands: Give up your NAFS; today shall you be recompensed with an ignominious chastisement because you spoke against Allah other than the truth and (because) you showed pride against His communications.

[Al-Quran 6:93, Translator: Shakir]

And even if We had sent down to them the angels and the dead had spoken to them and We had brought together all things before them, they would not believe unless Allah pleases, but most of them are ignorant.

[Al-Quran 6:111, Translator: Shakir]

Then how, when take them in death the Angels, striking their faces and their backs? That (is) because they followed what angered Allah and hated His pleasure, so He made worthless their deeds.

[Al-Quran 47:27-28]

OUR RECORD

As per Q39:42, not only is the NAFS removed from the body at the time of death, but God also takes the NAFS whenever the body sleeps, and those who die in their sleep, God does not return their NAFS. What then is the thing that is removed from the body, only once, at the time of death? Is it our record of deeds?

Consider the following ayaat:

And (for) every man We have fastened to him his fate in his neck, and We will bring forth for him (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection a record which he will find wide open.

[Al-Quran 17:13]

Then why not when it reaches the throat, And you (at) that time look on, And We (are) nearer to him than you but you (do) not see, Then why not, if you are not to be recompensed, Bring it back, if you are truthful.

[Al-Quran 56:83-87]

When receive the two receivers on the right and on the left seated. Not he utters any word but with him (is) an observer ready. And will come (the) stupor (of) death in truth, "That (is) what you were [from it] avoiding." And will be blown [in] the trumpet. That (is the) Day (of) the Warning. And will come every NAFS, with it a driver and a witness. "Certainly you were in heedlessness of this. So We have removed from you your cover, so your sight today (is) sharp." And (will) say his companion, "This (is) what (is) with me ready."

[Al-Quran 50:17 – 23]

And (the) Day will be gathered (the) enemies (of) Allah to the Fire, then they will be assembled in rows, Until, when they come to it (will) testify against them their hearing, and their sight, and their skins, (as) to what they used to do. And they will say to their skins, "Why do you testify against us?" They will say, "Allah made us speak, the One Who makes speak every thing; and He created you (the) first time, and to Him you will be returned." And not you were covering yourselves lest testify against you your hearing and not your sight and not your skins, but you assumed that Allah (does) not know much of what you do. And that (was) your assumption which you assumed about your Lord. It has ruined you, and you have of the losers.

[Al-Quran 41:19 - 23]

REST IN PEACE

What does the phrase Rest in Peace really mean? What are we wishing or praying for the dead? It seems that there is an intermediate existence, after death and before resurrection, in the graves:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَوَلَّوْا قَوْمًا غَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ

قَدْ يَئِسُوا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ كَمَا يَئِسَ الْكُفَّارُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْقُبُورِ

O you who believe! do not make friends with a people with whom Allah is wroth; indeed they despair of the hereafter as the unbelievers despair of those in tombs.

[Al-Quran 60:13, Translator: Shakir]

Our earthly residence is further confirmed:

Have not We made the earth a receptacle (For the) living and (the) dead,

[Al-Quran 77:25 – 26]

And not equal (are) the living and not the dead. Indeed, Allah causes to hear whom He wills, and not you can make hear (those) who (are) in the graves.

[Al-Quran 35:22]

From Genesis 47:29 – 30, we know that Jacob asked to be buried in Canaan. Why not Egypt where he died?

From Genesis 50:25 we learn that Jacob’s son Joseph asked for his bones to be taken away from Egypt when God liberates the children of Israel. Why?

From the Quran, we learn that the Pharaoh, who drowned in Exodus, and his people are routinely shown the Fire:

The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening. And (the) Day (will be) established the Hour, "Cause to enter (the) people (of) Firaun (in the) severest punishment."

[Al-Quran 40:46]

Q102 (Surah at-Takathur) informs us that we will surely see Hellfire when we reach the graves. Q19:68-72 informs us that each one of us must come to the Fire. From Q7:40 we learn that the guilty will not be able to escape and ascend to the gates of the sky/heaven until the camel passes through the eye of the needle, and from Q15:44 we learn that Hell has seven gates. There are seven permanent lava lakes on Earth. (A video of a lava lake at National Geographic) We learn from Q18:98-100 that when the promise comes to pass, Hell will be exposed to view. Several ayaat across the Quran inform us that the mountains will be removed then. Q78:20-22 explicitly states that when that happens, Hell is lying in wait.

Lo! as for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wrong their NAFS, (the angels) will ask: In what were ye engaged? They will say: We were oppressed in the land. (The angels) will say: Was not Allah's earth spacious that ye could have migrated therein? As for such, their habitation will be hell, an evil journey's end; Except the feeble among men, and the women, and the children, who are unable to devise a plan and are not shown a way. As for such, it may be that Allah will pardon them. Allah is ever Clement, Forgiving. Whoso migrateth for the cause of Allah will find much refuge and abundance in the earth, and whoso forsaketh his home, a fugitive unto Allah and His messenger, and death overtaketh him, his reward is then incumbent on Allah. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

[Al-Quran 4:97-100, Translator: Pickthall]

BARZAKH, THE BARRIER

In Surah al-Mominoon, we learn that there is a definite barrier (barzakh) that separates the realm of the living and the dead. It cannot be crossed at will. Only once do the living cross the barrier, and that is at the time they are given death, thereby transferring to the realm of the dead. The Believers are advised to pray:

Say: O my Lord! if Thou shouldst make me see what they are threatened with: My Lord! then place me not with the unjust.

And most surely We are well able to make you see what We threaten them with.

Repel evil by what is best; We know best what they describe.

And say: O my Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from the evil suggestions of the Shaitans; And I seek refuge in Thee! O my Lord! from their presence.

Until when death overtakes one of them, he says: Send me back, my Lord, send me back; Haply I may do good in that which I have left. By no means! it is a (mere) word that he speaks;

and before them is a barrier until the day they are raised.

[Al-Quran 23:93-100, Translator: Shakir]

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THE CREATOR I and THE CREATORS WE

بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُ صَاحِبَةٌ

وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Originator (of) the heavens and the earth.

How can be for Him a son while not (there) is for Him a companion,

and He created every thing? And He (is) of every thing All-Knower.

[Al-Quran 6:101]

The Quran uses various words to inform us that it is Allah who has conceived, designed, originated, created and increases in creation, governs, sustains; and it is Allah to whom the Kingdom of the heavens and earth belongs. Therefore, Allah is the only Deity (ilah) and He alone is worthy of worship. Everything else is created, and no matter how great a task any created being may be entrusted with, everyone and everything, except Allah, is created and is serving Allah.

2:117 informs us that Allah is بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

7:54 informs us that اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ

35:1 informs us that الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

If we look at the usage of these words across the Quran, we find that 'badee' and 'fatara' are used exclusively as the acts of Allah, while 'khalaqa' is used for Allah and other beings. I think 'badee' means Inventor of creation, while 'fatara' means Separator of creation into individual units/beings.

Quran search results:

ba-dal-ayn http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=bdE

fa-ta-ra http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=fTr

kha-lam-qaf http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=xlq

Moreover, wherever the act of creation is referred to using the root letters [kha-lam-qaf], it seems to imply creating something from something: humans are created from 'teen', jinns are created from 'naar', and probably [kha-lam-qaf] implies and/or allows for creation after a set pattern. Even where Jesus' miraculous ability to create a bird from 'teen' is mentioned, the root [kha-lam-qaf] is used, and it is clearly mentioned that Jesus was able to do so by Allah's permission (Q3:49, Q5:110).

I understand that in the grand governance of the heavens and earth, Allah has created some beings with mighty powers and entrusted some of the task of creation [kha-lam-qaf] to them. It seems that they are also entrusted with preparing the scriptures. However, Al-Quran 10:37 clarifies:

وَمَا كَانَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنُ أَن يُفْتَرَىٰ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ

وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ الْكِتَابِ

لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

And not is this the Quran, that (it could be) produced by other than Allah,

but (it is) a confirmation (of that) which (was) before it and a detailed explanation (of) the Book,

(there is) no doubt in it, from (the) Lord (of) the worlds.

So, I infer that the acts of creation, and the preparation and revelation of the scriptures are all done under the instruction, guidance, supervision and control of Allah. Creation belongs to Allah and the scriptures are from Allah for our guidance. Al-Quran 2:252 states:

These (are the) ayaat (of) Allah,

We recite them to you in [the] truth.

And indeed, you (are) surely of the Messengers.

Al-Quran 4:163-166 states:

Indeed, We have revealed to you as We revealed to Nuh and the Prophets after him, and We revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail, and Ishaq and Yaqub, and the tribes, and Isa and Ayyub, and Yunus, and Harun and Sulaiman and We gave (to) Dawood the Zaboor.
And Messengers surely We (have) mentioned them to you before and Messengers not We (have) mentioned them to you. And Allah spoke (to) Musa (in a) conversation.
Messengers, bearers of glad tidings and warners, so that not there is for the mankind against Allah any argument after the Messengers. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.
But Allah bears witness to what He (has) revealed to you. He has sent it down with His Knowledge and the Angels bear witness. And Allah is sufficient (as) a Witness.

However, that does not make these beings gods, nor do they ask to be taken as 'ilah' instead of Allah. Rather, they reiterate across the Quran that there is only one God (ilah). They do not make themselves known to us by their names or forms. In Al-Quran 37:164-166, they state:

وَمَا مِنَّا إِلَّا لَهُ مَقَامٌ مَّعْلُومٌ

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّافُّونَ

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْمُسَبِّحُونَ

"And not among us except for him (is) a position known.

And indeed, we surely, [we] stand in rows.

And indeed, we surely, [we] glorify (Allah)."

As for polytheism, it is stated very clearly in the Quran that those who the polytheists take as their gods are nothing but Jinns (dJinns or genies), and that the Jinns are not the creators, nor do they have any such power or ability to make them worthy of any deification, worship or obedience.

In fact, in the story of Adam, whom Allah created Himself, the Quran is very clear that Adam was honoured because of the knowledge that Allah endowed him with, and those with lesser knowledge were asked to submit/prostrate to Adam. When Iblis was questioned why he didn't obey God, Allah is quoted thus: He said, [Al-Quran 38:75]

قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ

أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْعَالِينَ

"O Iblis! What prevented you that you (should) prostrate to (one) whom I created with My Hands? Are you arrogant or are you of the exalted ones?"

Surah al-Jinn is very clear about the condition of the Jinns, how the secrets of the heavens are protected and they prevented from it, and that whenever Allah sends any message through a chosen messenger, Allah ensures that the messenger and the messages are well-guarded, protected, brought and delivered.

And Allah knows best.

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Links to Related Posts

References and Further Reading:

Bible

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-teach/what-is-a-soul-spirit-meaning/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_in_the_Bible

http://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/soul

Hadith

http://www.fatwaislam.com/fis/index.cfm?scn=fd&ID=522

https://islamqa.info/en/140779

http://islamqa.org/hanafi/askimam/28607

Looking Beneath the Surface (book)