What Happens After Death - Part 1. 007 of 2007

ISSUE NO. 007 of 2007
ISSUE DATE. Friday 16th February, 2007
Corresponding Islamic Date: 27th Muharram, 1428
A’ oozu Billahi Minash Shaitaan Nir Rajeem Bissmillaah Hir Rahmaan Nir Raheem
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the Accursed, I begin in the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu ‘Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh
Peace Be Unto You and the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings.

What Happens After Death - Part 1.

Rasulullaah (saw)’s saying denote clearly that the dead persons are much alive, although their lives are very different from those of ours. Rasulullaah (saw) said: “Breaking the bones of the dead person is like breaking the bones whilst he was alive.” [Mishkat]

Once Rasulullaah (saw) saw Hadhrat Amr bin Hazm (ra) reclining against a grave and retorted : “Do not trouble the man of the grave.” [Mishkat]

When a person dies , he enters a world called “Barzakh”, even if he might be buried or cremated. His sense and ability of comprehending remains intact. Rasulullaah (saw) stated :

“When the dead body is placed on the bier , and the people carry it towards the graveyard,the virtuous one urges them to move faster, but when, the dead is a sinner, he cries “where is my family members
taking me”
He further added,”Every creature, except human beings, hears to his wailings ; if a human being should hear it, he is bound to fall
unconscious.” [Bukhari]

What happens to a person between his death and the Day of Qiyamaah is called “Barzakh” which literally means screen and fence.

Since dead bodies are generally buried, the term, “Grave” is generally used for all. Hence even those persons who are cremated or drown remain alive in Barzakh. In reality reward and punishment are related and connected to the soul, and Allaah (swt) has the definite power of granting reward and punishment by collecting even the burnt particles and molecules.

Bukhari and Muslim report: A certain person committed numerous sins.
On the verge of death, he bequeathed his sons that after his death his body should be burnt to ashes; half of the ashes be spread on the land and the other half be thrown into the sea. Having left this will (testament)
he remarked:

“If Allaah overpowers me and He restores me life He will render me the worst and severest punishment ever given to anyone.”
When he died, his sons acted as instructed. Then Allaah (swt) ordered the sea to collect all the particles of his body, and the sea complied with His Order, and the land did the same when ordered. After having assembled all the particles He revived him. Later on he was asked:

“Why did you leave such a will?”.
“O Rabb I did so due to your fear,” He submitted.
Thereafter Allaah (swt) forgave him.

In another hadith we are informed that the Believers visit each other and enquire about others from those who meet them.Hadhrat Jubair (ra) said:
“When a person dies his offsprings often welcome him, as was done in the world.”

Hadhrat Thabit Banani (ra) should say:
“When a person dies his kith and kin who died, surround him in
Barzakh and express their joys and delight more than they did when greeting a person from abroad in the world.” [Ibn Abid’duniya]

Hadhrat Qays bin Qabisa (ra) reports that Rasulullaah (saw) stated :

“Unbelievers are not permitted to talk with each other “
Someone enquired whether the dead could speak, he answered :
“Yes, and they also visit each other.” [Ibn Hibban]

Hadhrat Ayesha (ra) reported that Rasulullaah (saw) said:

“One who is not a Believer is not allowed to talk to the dead.”
“Do the dead speak too?” Someone enquired .
“Yes, of course!” said Rasulullaah (saw) and added.
“They also visit each other.”

Hadhrat Umm Basher (ra) reported to have enquired from Rasulullaah (saw):

“O Rasul of Allaah! Do the dead persons recognise each other?”
He replied: “The virtuous souls are embodied in green birds in
Heaven.” “Now if the birds could recognise each other why not the souls?”

Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khudri (ra) reports Rasulullaah (saw) stated :

“One who begins learning the Noble Qur’aan and dies without
completing it, an angel teaches him the Qur’aan in the grave.
Thus he will meet Allaah in a state as if he has learnt the entire Qur’aan by heart.” [Shauq-e-Watan]

Hence those who spend their lives in performing righteous acts and believe in life after death do not love worldly life and prefer death to this life but those who waste their worldly life in evil are afraid of death.

Suliman bin Abdul Malik once asked Abu Hazim (ra):
“Why are we afraid of death?”
“You are afraid because you have beautified the world and discarded the Aakhiraat; thus you dislike to proceed to wilderness, departing from the habitated and beautified world.” he replied.
“ Definitely you spoke the truth indeed!” Suliman acknowledged.

Virtuous and righteous personal are not worried at the concept of death
because they firmly hope to have a better life in the next world.

Rasulullaah (saw) stated :
“Man loves his life while death is better for him.” [Baihaqi]

Rasulullaah (saw) further added: “Man regards death as detestable,
although death is better than mischiefs. Thus as soon as he dies, he is secure from the mischiefs of the world.” [Ahmad]
In another hadith, Rasulullaah (saw) has denoted death as a gift for the Believer. [Mishkat]

In brief , death is something very desirable provided the person is righteous and has formulated a good relationship with Allaah. Those persons who live doing good acts prefer death to this worldly abode and desire to depart for the permanent life of peace and comfort, away from this world of sorrow and sufferings.

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (ra) one day enquired from someone:
“Where are you going?”
“To the market,” he replied.
“If able , buy and bring death for me.”
That is, he destested life in the world and hence was even ready to possess death by purchasing it.

Hadhrat Khalid bin Madah (ra) says: “If anyone says that the one who touches a particular object first will die.I shall be the first person to touch it . However, it is a different matter if someone superseded me in running and reaching the object.” [Sharh-us-Sudur]

Hadhrat Anas (ra) reports that Rasulullaah (saw) stated : “Death of a man is like the birth of a child from (the dark and narrow) the womb of a mother to the peace and comfort of the world”. (Tirmidhi).
Allahumma habbibil mauta ilayya wa ila man yalamu anna syedena
Muhammadan sallallahu Ta’aala alaihi wa sallama abduka wa rasulika
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