20. WHAT COMES AFTER DEATH
Though there is an agreement amongst all people that the soul exists, the dispute over its nature and essence still arises. The lack of knowledge about the latter, however, does not harm the belief of a person since its existence is acknowledged. The destiny of souls after death is another issue that people have been confused about and also disputed over. The correct truthful view is that it exists after death; either punished or relished.
Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said: ‘The souls of believers are in heaven whereas the souls of disbelievers are in Hell.’
Some of the narrations addressing martyrs also state, “Their souls are placed in the crops of green birds hanging from the trees of heaven.”
However, some ignorant people misinterpreted and took the face value of the narrations addressing the comfort the deceased receives after death and so they said, ‘The dead eat and marry while they are in their graves.’ However, the truth is that for souls after death is either punishment or at ease, which is a state the soul will feel until the Day of Judgment. Then, on the Day of Judgment, the soul will be returned into its body so it can fully enjoy the reward [or feel the punishment] by the means of the body.
The statement of the Prophet (ijjg): “in crops of green birds” is a proof that souls cannot attain pleasure except via a means (i.e. body), be it the pleasures of food or drinks etc. As for the pleasure received because of knowledge, it can be attained even in the absence of means [i.e. body].
The reason intended by the previous comments is because I have noticed how the notion of death disturbs me a bit, as well as how the ‘self expects to vanish at that point. Therefore, I said to my ‘self, ‘O you! If you truthfully believe in Islam, then you are informed of what you know’ [i.e. what happens to souls after death] thus you should not object. If you, however, doubt what the religion informed you, then you are actually questioning and doubting the religion, per se.’ My ‘self replied, ‘I have no doubt whatsoever.’ So, I said, ‘In this case, you should strive more to rectify your belief and strive to be fearful of Allah, as only then shall you be relieved from what will happen at the time of death— as I only worry that you may be slack in your duties. You should also know that the levels of grace [in heaven] are according to the levels of virtues; hence fly high with the wings of hard work to reach its highest towers and beware of being hunted by a fanciful-desire or trapped by inadvertency and deception.’
And with Allah is all success.
(source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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