Souls of the Deceased
Summary:
We sometimes think about the departed souls of our loved ones, in particular their current state before the Day of Judgement. And we want to know where the souls of believers and disbelievers reside and how they are rewarded or punished. How are the body and soul separate, and where are they kept? How will they be rejoined to the bodies and rewarded or punished? The Ahadith below address these questions.
وَ مِنْهُ، عَنِ الْعِدَّةِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ إِنَّ آيَةَ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِذَا حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ بِبَيَاضِ وَجْهِهِ أَشَدَّ مِنْ بَيَاضِ لَوْنِهِ وَ يَرْشَحُ جَبِينُهُ وَ يَسِيلُ مِنْ عَيْنَيْهِ كَهَيْئَةِ الدُّمُوعِ فَيَكُونُ ذَلِكَ خُرُوجَ نَفْسِهِ
And from him, from the number, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin Ali, from Muhammad Bin Al Fuzeyl, from Abu Hamza who said,
‘I heard Abu Ja’far-asws saying: ‘A sign of the Momin is that when death presents him, his face brightens more intensely than the brightness of the complexion of his face, and his forehead sweats, and it flows from his eyes as if it is the tears, so that would be the exit of his soul.
وَ إِنَّ الْكَافِرَ تَخْرُجُ نَفْسُهُ سَيْلًا مِنْ شِدْقِهِ كَزَبَدِ الْبَعِيرِ أَوْ كَمَا تَخْرُجُ نَفْسُ الْبَعِيرِ.
‘‘And the Kafir, his self (soul) exits, and there flows from his mouth like foam of the camel, or just as the self (soul) of the camel exits.’’[1]
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ مِنْكُمْ وَ اللَّهِ يُقْبَلُ وَ لَكُمْ وَ اللَّهِ يُغْفَرُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَيْنَ أَحَدِكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ أَنْ يَغْتَبِطَ وَ يَرَى السُّرُورَ وَ قُرَّةَ الْعَيْنِ إِلَّا أَنْ تَبْلُغَ نَفْسُهُ هَاهُنَا وَ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى حَلْقِهِ
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Ammar Bin Marwan who said,
‘It was narrated to me by the one who heard Abu Abdullah-asws saying: ‘By Allah-azwj, there would be Acceptance from you, and by Allah-azwj there would be Forgiveness for you! There is nothing between one of you and his exultation (happiness), and him seeing the joy and the delight of his eyes, except the reaching of his soul to over here,’ and he-asws gestured with his-asws hand to his-asws throat.
ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُ إِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ وَ احْتُضِرَ حَضَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ عَلِيٌّ ( عليه السلام ) وَ جَبْرَئِيلُ وَ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ ( عليه السلام ) فَيَدْنُو مِنْهُ عَلِيٌّ ( عليه السلام ) فَيَقُولُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ يُحِبُّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَأَحِبَّهُ وَ يَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِ رَسُولِهِ فَأَحِبَّهُ وَ يَقُولُ جَبْرَئِيلُ لِمَلَكِ الْمَوْتِ إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِ رَسُولِهِ فَأَحِبَّهُ وَ ارْفُقْ بِهِ
‘Then the Imam-asws said: ‘When it would be like that, and he is about to die, Rasool-Allah-saww and Ali-asws and Jibraeel-as and the Angel of Death attend him, and Ali-asws would approach him, and he-asws would be saying: ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! This one used to love us-asws, the People-asws of the Household, so love him.’ And Rasool-Allah-saww would be saying: ‘O Jibraeel-as! This one used to love Allah-azwj, and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and the People-asws of the Household of His-azwj Rasool-saww, so love him.’ And Jibraeel-as would be saying to the Angel of Death: ‘This one used to love Allah-azwj, and His-azwj Rasool-saww and the People-asws of the Household of His-azwj Rasool-saww, so I-as love him and be kind with him.’
فَيَدْنُو مِنْهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ فَيَقُولُ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ أَخَذْتَ فَكَاكَ رَقَبَتِكَ أَخَذْتَ أَمَانَ بَرَاءَتِكَ تَمَسَّكْتَ بِالْعِصْمَةِ الْكُبْرَى فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا قَالَ فَيُوَفِّقُهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَيَقُولُ نَعَمْ فَيَقُولُ وَ مَا ذَلِكَ فَيَقُولُ وَلَايَةُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ( عليه السلام ) فَيَقُولُ صَدَقْتَ أَمَّا الَّذِي كُنْتَ تَحْذَرُهُ فَقَدْ آمَنَكَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ وَ أَمَّا الَّذِي كُنْتَ تَرْجُوهُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكْتَهُ أَبْشِرْ بِالسَّلَفِ الصَّالِحِ مُرَافَقَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ عَلِيٍّ وَ فَاطِمَةَ ( عليها السلام )
‘‘The Angel of Death approaches him and says to him: ‘O servant of Allah-azwj! Did you take the redemption of your neck (from the Fire)? Did you take the deed of security of your freedom (from the Fire), attaching with the greatest immunity in the life of the world?’ Allah-azwj would Cause him to speak, and he would be saying, ‘Yes.’ He (the Angel of Death) would be saying: ‘And what is that?’ He (the deceased) would be saying, ‘The Wilayah of Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws.’ He would be saying, ‘You have spoken the truth. As for that which you were cautious of, so Allah-azwj has Secured you from it, and as for that which you were wishing for, so will realise it. Receive glad tidings to be with the righteous ancestors as friends of Rasool-Allah-saww and Ali-asws and (Syeda) Fatima-asws.’
ثُمَّ يَسُلُّ نَفْسَهُ سَلًّا رَفِيقاً ثُمَّ يَنْزِلُ بِكَفَنِهِ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ حَنُوطِهِ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ بِمِسْكٍ أَذْفَرَ فَيُكَفَّنُ بِذَلِكَ الْكَفَنِ وَ يُحَنَّطُ بِذَلِكَ الْحَنُوطِ ثُمَّ يُكْسَى حُلَّةً صَفْرَاءَ مِنْ حُلَلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَإِذَا وُضِعَ فِي قَبْرِهِ فُتِحَ لَهُ بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ رَوْحِهَا وَ رَيْحَانِهَا ثُمَّ يُفْسَحُ لَهُ عَنْ أَمَامِهِ مَسِيرَةَ شَهْرٍ وَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُ نَمْ نَوْمَةَ الْعَرُوسِ عَلَى فِرَاشِهَا أَبْشِرْ بِرَوْحٍ وَ رَيْحَانٍ وَ جَنَّةِ نَعِيمٍ وَ رَبٍّ غَيْرِ غَضْبَانَ
‘‘Then, his soul would flow (out of his body) with a gentle flowing. Then they would descend with his shroud from the Paradise, and his embalming from the Paradise with the saffron musk, so he would be enshrouded with that shroud and embalmed with that embalming. Then he would be clothed with a yellow garment from the garments of the Paradise. (And) when he would be placed in his grave, a Door from the Doors of the Paradise would be opened up for him, and there would be entering upon him its breezes and its fragrances. Then (his grave) would be expanded for him, from ahead of him, a travel distance of a year, and from his right and from his left. Then it would be said to him: ‘Sleep the sleep of a newly wedded bride upon her bed. Receive glad tidings with the breezes and the fragrances and a blissful garden and a Lord-azwj not being Angered.’
ثُمَّ يَزُورُ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ فِي جِنَانِ رَضْوَى فَيَأْكُلُ مَعَهُمْ مِنْ طَعَامِهِمْ وَ يَشْرَبُ مِنْ شَرَابِهِمْ وَ يَتَحَدَّثُ مَعَهُمْ فِي مَجَالِسِهِمْ حَتَّى يَقُومَ قَائِمُنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَإِذَا قَامَ قَائِمُنَا بَعَثَهُمُ اللَّهُ فَأَقْبَلُوا مَعَهُ يُلَبُّونَ زُمَراً زُمَراً
‘‘Then he would be visiting the Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww in Gardens of Pleasure, so he would eat with them-asws from their-asws meals, and drink from their-asws drinks, and would be discussing with them-asws in their-asws gatherings until the rising of our-asws Qaim-asws of the People-asws of the Household. So, when our-asws Qaim-asws rises, Allah-azwj would Send for them, and they would meet up with him-asws exclaiming Talbiyya (Here I am, Here I am), in groups and groups.
فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ يَرْتَابُ الْمُبْطِلُونَ وَ يَضْمَحِلُّ الْمُحِلُّونَ وَ قَلِيلٌ مَا يَكُونُونَ هَلَكَتِ الْمَحَاضِيرُ وَ نَجَا الْمُقَرَّبُونَ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) لِعَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) أَنْتَ أَخِي وَ مِيعَادُ مَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ وَادِي السَّلَامِ
‘‘Therefore, during that, the doubters would be invalidated, and destroyed by annihilation, and very few of the cautioning ones (of the appearance of Al-Qaim-asws) would perish, and the ones speaking of its nearness (of the appearance of Al-Qaim-asws) would attain salvation. Because of that, Rasool-Allah-saww said to Ali-asws: ‘You-asws are my-saww brother-asws, and an appointment between me-saww and you-asws is in ‘Wady Al-Salam’ the Valley of Peace’ ...’’ (Hadith continues).
Death of a non-believer:
قَالَ وَ إِذَا احْتُضِرَ الْكَافِرُ حَضَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ عَلِيٌّ ( عليه السلام ) وَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ( عليه السلام ) وَ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ ( عليه السلام ) فَيَدْنُو مِنْهُ عَلِيٌّ ( عليه السلام ) فَيَقُولُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ يُبْغِضُنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَأَبْغِضْهُ وَ يَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ يُبْغِضُ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِ رَسُولِهِ فَأَبْغِضْهُ فَيَقُولُ جَبْرَئِيلُ يَا مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ يُبْغِضُ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِ رَسُولِهِ فَأَبْغِضْهُ وَ اعْنُفْ عَلَيْهِ
When the infidel is near to dying, Rasool-Allah-saww and Ali-asws and Jibraeel-as and the Angel of Death come over to him. (Imam) Ali-asws approaches him and would be saying: ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! This one used to hate the People-asws of the Household, so hate him.’ And Rasool-Allah-saww would be saying: ‘O Jibraeel-as! This one used to hate Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and the People-asws of the Household of His-azwj Rasool-saww, so hate him.’ So, Jibraeel-as would be saying: ‘O Angel of Death! This is one who used to hate Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww and the People-asws of his-saww Household, so hate him and be fierce upon him.
فَيَدْنُو مِنْهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ فَيَقُولُ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ أَخَذْتَ فَكَاكَ رِهَانِكَ أَخَذْتَ أَمَانَ بَرَاءَتِكَ تَمَسَّكْتَ بِالْعِصْمَةِ الْكُبْرَى فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَقُولُ لَا فَيَقُولُ أَبْشِرْ يَا عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ بِسَخَطِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ عَذَابِهِ وَ النَّارِ أَمَّا الَّذِي كُنْتَ تَحْذَرُهُ فَقَدْ نَزَلَ بِكَ ثُمَّ يَسُلُّ نَفْسَهُ سَلًّا عَنِيفاً ثُمَّ يُوَكِّلُ بِرُوحِهِ ثَلَاثَمِائَةِ شَيْطَانٍ كُلُّهُمْ يَبْزُقُ فِي وَجْهِهِ وَ يَتَأَذَّى بِرُوحِهِ فَإِذَا وُضِعَ فِي قَبْرِهِ فُتِحَ لَهُ بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ النَّارِ فَيَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ قَيْحِهَا وَ لَهَبِهَا .
The Angel of Death approaches him and would be saying to him: ‘O servant of Allah-azwj! Did you take the redemption of your neck (from the Fire)? Did you take the deed of security of your freedom (from the Fire), attaching with the greatest immunity in the life of the world?’ He would say, ‘No.’ The (Angel of Death) would be saying, ‘Receive the news, O enemy of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, of His-azwj Punishment and the Fire. As for that which you were scared of, so it would descend unto you.’ Then his soul would flow (out from his body) with a rough flowing. Then three hundred devils would be allocated with him, all of them spitting in his face, and hurting his soul. So, when he is placed in his grave, a Door from the Doors of the Fire would be opened up for him, and there would enter upon him its pus and its flames.’[2]
الكافي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَمَّنْ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي حَدِيثٍ طَوِيلٍ فِي صِفَةِ قَبْضِ رُوحِ الْمُؤْمِنِ- قَالَ ثُمَّ يَزُورُ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ فِي جِنَانِ رَضْوَى فَيَأْكُلُ مَعَهُمْ مِنْ طَعَامِهِمْ وَ يَشْرَبُ مَعَهُمْ مِنْ شَرَابِهِمْ وَ يَتَحَدَّثُ مَعَهُمْ فِي مَجَالِسِهِمْ حَتَّى يَقُومَ قَائِمُنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ
(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ – Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Ammar Bin Marwan,
‘From the one who heard Abu Abdullah-asws in a lengthy Hadith in describing the capture of the soul of a Momin. The Imam-asws said: ‘Then he will visit the Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww in the Gardens of pleasure. He would eat with them-asws from their-asws food, and drink with them‑asws from their-asws drinks, and he will discuss with them-asws in their-asws gatherings until our-asws Qaim-ajfj of People-asws of the Household, rises.
فَإِذَا قَامَ قَائِمُنَا بَعَثَهُمُ اللَّهُ فَأَقْبَلُوا مَعَهُ يُلَبُّونَ زُمَراً زُمَراً- فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ يَرْتَابُ الْمُبْطِلُونَ وَ يَضْمَحِلُّ الْمُحِلُّونَ وَ قَلِيلٌ مَا يَكُونُونَ هَلَكَتِ الْمَحَاضِيرُ وَ نَجَا الْمُقَرَّبُونَ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِعَلِيٍّ ع أَنْتَ أَخِي وَ مِيعَادُ مَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ وَادِي السَّلَامِ.
When our-asws Qaim-ajfj rises, Allah-azwj will Resurrect them (the Believers), and they will come with him-ajfj exclaiming Talbiya (at your-ajfj service) in groups and groups. During that, the falsifiers would become suspicious (and lost), and the cunning ones would perish, and (Believers) would be few among them. The hasty ones will be destroyed, and the ones not hastening would be saved. For that reason, Rasool-Allah-saww said to Ali-asws: ‘You-asws are my-saww brother-asws and an appointment what is between me-saww and you-asws, Wady Al-Salam (the Valley of Peace)’[3]
The soul will either be punished or rewarded prior to the resurrection
بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع قَالَ إِنَّ الْأَحْلَامَ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِيمَا مَضَى فِي أَوَّلِ الْخَلْقِ وَ إِنَّمَا حَدَثَتْ فَقُلْتُ وَ مَا الْعِلَّةُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ بَعَثَ رَسُولًا إِلَى أَهْلِ زَمَانِهِ فَدَعَاهُمْ إِلَى عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ وَ طَاعَتِهِ فَقَالُوا إِنْ فَعَلْنَا ذَلِكَ فَمَا لَنَا فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا أَنْتَ بِأَكْثَرِنَا مَالًا وَ لَا بِأَعَزِّنَا عَشِيرَةً فَقَالَ إِنْ أَطَعْتُمُونِي أَدْخَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَ إِنْ عَصَيْتُمُونِي أَدْخَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ النَّارَ فَقَالُوا وَ مَا الْجَنَّةُ وَ النَّارُ فَوَصَفَ لَهُمْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالُوا مَتَى نَصِيرُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِذَا مِتُّمْ فَقَالُوا لَقَدْ رَأَيْنَا أَمْوَاتَنَا صَارُوا عِظَاماً وَ رُفَاتاً فَازْدَادُوا لَهُ تَكْذِيباً وَ بِهِ اسْتِخْفَافاً فَأَحْدَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِمُ الْأَحْلَامَ فَأَتَوْهُ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِمَا رَأَوْا وَ مَا أَنْكَرُوا مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَحْتَجَّ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذَا هَكَذَا تَكُونُ أَرْوَاحُكُمْ إِذَا مِتُّمْ وَ إِنْ بُلِيَتْ أَبْدَانُكُمْ تَصِيرُ الْأَرْوَاحُ إِلَى عِقَابٍ حَتَّى تُبْعَثَ الْأَبْدَانُ
Certain persons of our people have narrated from Ali ibn al-’Abbas from Al-Hassan ibn ‘Abd Al-Rahman who has narrated:
Abu AI-Hassan-asws has said: ‘Dreams did not exist in the past, in the beginning of the creation. It came into being later.’ The narrator asked, ‘What is the reason for that?’
The Imam-asws said, ‘Allah-azwj sent a messenger to the people of his time and he-as called them to worship Allah-azwj. They said: ‘If we worship Him-azwj what then we get for it? You do not have more wealth than we do and your tribe also is not stronger than our tribe.’ He-as said, ‘If you follow me Allah-azwj will Admit you in the Garden (Paradise) and if you disobey me-as Allah‑azwj will Send you to the Fire.’
They asked, ‘What are the Garden and the Fire?’ He-as explained it for them and they asked, ‘When will we go there?’ He-as said: ‘This will happen when you die.’ They said: ‘We see our dead people turn into bones and dust.’ They became worse in their rejecting and insults toward him-as, Allah-azwj then Enabled them to have dream. They came to him-as and informed him-as about what they had seen and what they did not know about it. He-as told them that Allah-azwj Wants to establish His-azwj Argument against you. This is how your spirits are. When you die, even though your bodies will decay, the spirits will face suffering until the bodies are raised (resurrection).’[4]
What are the Glad Tidings (The Good News of being successful)?
منتخب البصائر سَعْدٌ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ وَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ابْنَيْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى وَ ابْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخافُوا وَ لا تَحْزَنُوا قَالَ هُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ وَ يَجْرِي فِيمَنِ اسْتَقَامَ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا وَ سَلَّمَ لِأَمْرِنَا وَ كَتَمَ حَدِيثَنَا عِنْدَ عَدُوِّنَا تَسْتَقْبِلُهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بِالْبُشْرَى مِنَ اللَّهِ بِالْجَنَّةِ
(The book) ‘Muntakhab Al Basaair’ – Sa’ad, from Ahmad and Abdullah two sons of Mohammed Bin Isa, and Ibn Abu Al Khattab, from Al Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Abu Ayoub, from Abu Baseer,
From Abu Abdullah-asws, regarding the Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: Surely, those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah!,’ then they are steadfast, the Angels would descend unto them (saying): ‘Do not fear, and do not grieve, [41:30]; he-asws said: ‘They-asws are the Imams-asws, and it flows regarding ones from our-asws Shias who are steadfast and submit to our-asws commands, and conceal our-asws Ahadeeth in the presence of our-asws enemies, the Angels would welcome them with ‘بِالْبُشْرَى مِنَ اللَّهِ بِالْجَنَّةِ’ the glad tidings from Allah-azwj with the Paradise.
وَ قَدْ وَ اللَّهِ مَضَى أَقْوَامٌ كَانُوا عَلَى مِثْلِ مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الدِّينِ اسْتَقَامُوا وَ سَلَّمُوا لِأَمْرِنَا وَ كَتَمُوا حَدِيثَنَا وَ لَمْ يُذِيعُوهُ عِنْدَ عَدُوِّنَا وَ لَمْ يَشُكُّوا فِيهِ كَمَا شَكَكْتُمْ فَاسْتَقْبَلَتْهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بِالْبُشْرَى مِنَ اللَّهِ بِالْجَنَّةِ.
‘And by Allah-azwj, people have passed having been upon the like of what you (Shias) are upon, from the Religion. They were steadfast, and they submitted to our-asws commands, and concealed our-asws Ahadeeth, and did not broadcast these in the presence of our-asws enemies, and did not doubt in it, just as you all are doubting, so the Angels received them with the glad tidings from Allah-azwj with the Paradise.’[5]
The Paradise is guaranteed when one submits to Allah-azwj, His Prophet-saww and His Appointed Imams-asws, see for example:
قَالَ أَبُو هَاشِمٍ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي فِي حِزْبِكَ وَ فِي زُمْرَتِكَ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَقَالَ أَنْتَ فِي حِزْبِهِ وَ فِي زُمْرَتِهِ إِذْ كُنْتَ بِاللَّهِ مُؤْمِناً وَ لِرَسُولِهِ مُصَدِّقاً وَ لِأَوْلِيَائِهِ عَارِفاً وَ لَهُمْ تَابِعاً فَأَبْشِرْ ثُمَّ أَبْشِرْ.
Abu Hashim said, ‘I said within myself, ‘O Allah-azwj! Make me to be in Your-azwj party and in Your-azwj group!’ (Imam) Abu Mohammed-asws (10th Imam) turned to me and said: ‘You-asws are already in His-azwj party and in His-azwj group, when you were a believer in Allah-azwj and a ratifier of His-azwj Rasool-saww, and a recogniser of His-azwj Guardians-asws, and a follower of theirs‑asws. So, ‘فَأَبْشِرْ ثُمَّ أَبْشِرْ’ receive glad tidings! Then receive glad tidings… (an extract)!’’ [6]
The accountability and the rewards
قَالَ أَبَانٌ قَالَ سُلَيْمٌ وَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع يَقُول
يُحَاسَبُونَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يُغْفَرُ لَهُ وَ يُدْخِلُهُ الْجَنَّةَ بِالْإِقْرَارِ وَ التَّوْحِيدِ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يُعَذَّبُ فِي النَّارِ ثُمَّ يَشْفَعُ لَهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ وَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ فَيَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ فَيُسَمَّوْنَ فِيهَا الجهنميون [الْجَهَنَّمِيِّينَ] مِنْهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْإِقْرَارِ وَ لَيْسَتِ الْمَوَازِينُ وَ الْحِسَابُ إِلَّا عَلَيْهِمْ لِأَنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ الْعَارِفِينَ لِلَّهِ وَ لِرَسُولِهِ وَ الْحُجَّةِ فِي أَرْضِهِ وَ شُهَدَاءَهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ الْمُقِرِّينَ لَهُمُ الْمُطِيعِينَ لَهُمْ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ … بِغَيْرِ حِسابٍ وَ الْمُعَانِدِينَ لَهُمُ الْمُنْذِرِينَ الْمُكَابِرِينَ الْمُنَاصِبِينَ أَعْدَاءَ اللَّهِ يَدْخُلُونَ النَّارَ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ وَ أَمَّا مَا بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ فَهُمْ جُلُ النَّاسِ وَ هُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْمَوَازِينِ وَ الْحِسَابِ وَ الشَّفَاعَةِ
(Aban narrates that Sulaym said: I heard Ali-asws ibn Abi Talib-asws, say:) ‘They will be reckoned with. Among them will be the one for whom will be Forgiveness, and he will be Made to enter Paradise, due to their acceptance of the Oneness of Allah-azwj, and among them will be the one who will be Punished in the Fire; then there will be intercession for him from the Angels, and the Prophets-as and the Believers. They will be taken out of the Fire and will be made to enter Paradise. Therein they will be called Hell-dwellers, among whom will be people who accepted, and there is no Scale set up and the Reckoning except for them, because the friends of Allah-azwj, the ones who recognised Allah-azwj (A’arifeen), and friends of His-azwj Messenger-saww, and the Proofs-asws on His-azwj earth and witnesses over His-azwj creation, those who accepted them-asws and obeyed them-asws, will be entering the Paradise without reckoning.
And the obstinate to whom the Warners (Prophets-as) warned, and the arrogant and the Naasibis, the enemies of Allah-azwj will be entering the Fire without Reckoning. But, as for those that are in between these, and they are most of the people, and they are the people of the Scale, and the Reckoning, and the Intercession…’ (An extract).[7]
In another Hadith,
قُنُوتُ الْإِمَامِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى ع
لَقَدْ حَذَّرْتَ اللَّهُمَّ عَذَابَكَ وَ بَيَّنْتَ نَكَالَكَ وَ وَعَدْتَ الْمُطِيعِينَ إِحْسَانَكَ وَ قَدَّمْتَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِالنُّذُرِ فَآمَنَتْ طَائِفَةٌ وَ أَيَّدْتَ اللَّهُمَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَى عَدُوِّكَ وَ عَدُوِّ أَوْلِيَائِكَ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظاهِرِينَ وَ إِلَى الْحَقِّ دَاعِينَ وَ لِلْإِمَامِ الْمُنْتَظَرِ الْقَائِمِ بِالْقِسْطِ تَابِعِينَ
(In the Qunut of Salat, Imam Mohammed-asws Ibn Ali-asws Ibn Musa-asws supplicates as:) ‘O Allah‑azwj! You-azwj have Warned of Your-azwj Punishment, and Clarified Your-azwj Torment, and Promised the obedient ones of Your-azwj Favours, and Advance to them with the vows. A group believed, and O Allah-azwj, You-azwj Aided those who believed against Your-azwj enemies and enemies of Your-azwj friends, for they (enemies) became prevalent (dominant), but they (believers) called to the truth and were followers of the awaited Imam-ajfj Al-Qaim-ajfj.
وَ جَدِّدِ اللَّهُمَّ عَلَى أَعْدَائِكَ وَ أَعْدَائِهِمْ نَارَكَ وَ عَذَابَكَ الَّذِي لَا تَدْفَعُهُ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
‘And, O Allah-azwj, Renew Your-azwj Fire upon Your-azwj enemies and their (Your-azwj friends’) enemies, which You-azwj will not Avert from the wrongdoing people…’ (an extract)![8]
NB: The State of the body and soul after death; see a Hadith in the Appendix.
Souls of believers gather and discuss among themselves in the world:
وَ مِنْهُ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ حَبَّةَ الْعُرَنِيِّ قَالَ: خَرَجْتُ مَعَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِلَى الظَّهْرِ فَوَقَفَ بِوَادِي السَّلَامِ كَأَنَّهُ مُخَاطِبٌ لِأَقْوَامٍ فَقُمْتُ بِقِيَامِهِ حَتَّى أَعْيَيْتُ ثُمَّ جَلَسْتُ حَتَّى مَلِلْتُ ثُمَّ قُمْتُ حَتَّى نَالَنِي مِثْلُ مَا نَالَنِي أَوَّلًا ثُمَّ جَلَسْتُ حَتَّى مَلِلْتُ
And from him, by his chain from Habbat Al-Arny who said,
‘I went out with Amir Al-Momineen-asws at noon (Al-Zuhar time). He-asws paused at Wady Al-Salaam (a graveyard). It was as if he-asws was addressing a people. I stood by at his-asws standing until I was tired, then I sat down until I became restless. Then I stood up until it affected me like what had affected me at first. Then I sat down until I was restless.
ثُمَّ قُمْتُ وَ جَمَعْتُ رِدَائِي فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنِّي قَدْ أَشْفَقْتُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ طُولِ الْقِيَامِ فَرَاحَةَ سَاعَةٍ ثُمَّ طَرَحْتُ الرِّدَاءَ لِيَجْلِسَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا حَبَّةُ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا مُحَادَثَةُ مُؤْمِنٍ أَوْ مُؤَانَسَتُهُ
‘Then I stood up and gathered my robe. I said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! I am pitying upon you-asws from the length of the standing, so rest for a while.’ Then I dropped the robe in order to be seated upon it. He-asws said to me: ‘O Habbat! It is only my-asws talking to a Momin or socialising with him.’
قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَذَلِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ لَوْ كُشِفَ لَكَ لَرَأَيْتَهُمْ حَلَقاً حَلَقاً مُحْتَبِينَ يَتَحَادَثُونَ
He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and they are like that?’ He-asws said: ‘Yes, and if it was uncovered for you, you would see them in circles and circles discussing.’
فَقُلْتُ أَجْسَامٌ أَمْ أَرْوَاحٌ فَقَالَ أَرْوَاحٌ وَ مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ يَمُوتُ فِي بُقْعَةٍ مِنْ بِقَاعِ الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا قِيلَ لِرُوحِهِ الْحَقِي بِوَادِي السَّلَامِ وَ إِنَّهَا لَبُقْعَةٌ مِنْ جَنَّةِ عَدْنٍ.
‘I said, ‘Are they bodies or souls?’ He-asws said: ‘Souls, and there is none from a Momin dying in a spot from the spots of the earth except it is said to his soul, ‘Join with Wady Al-Salaam (cemetery)! And it is a spot from the Garden of Eden.’’[9]
Souls of believers ask for their loved one in Paradise:
سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ دُرُسْتَ بْنِ أَبِي مَنْصُورٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ الْأَرْوَاحَ فِي صِفَةِ الْأَجْسَادِ فِي شَجَرَةٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ تَعَارَفُ وَ تَسَاءَلُ فَإِذَا قَدِمَتِ الرُّوحُ عَلَى الْأَرْوَاحِ يَقُولُ دَعُوهَا فَإِنَّهَا قَدْ أَفْلَتَتْ مِنْ هَوْلٍ عَظِيمٍ ثُمَّ يَسْأَلُونَهَا مَا فَعَلَ فُلَانٌ وَ مَا فَعَلَ فُلَانٌ فَإِنْ قَالَتْ لَهُمْ تَرَكْتُهُ حَيّاً ارْتَجَوْهُ وَ إِنْ قَالَتْ لَهُمْ قَدْ هَلَكَ قَالُوا قَدْ هَوَى هَوَى .
Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Ismail Bin Mihran, from Dorost Bin Abu Mansour, from Ibn Muskan, from Abu Baseer,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘The souls are in bodily representations in a tree in the Paradise, recognising (each other) and asking (about others). So when the soul proceeds upon the souls, they are saying, ‘Leave it alone, for it has just escaped from a great terror.’ Then they are questioning it, ‘What happened to so and so?’ So if it says to them, ‘I left him (while he was) alive,’ they are hopeful for him, and if it says to them, ‘He died,’ they say, ‘He has perished! Perished!.’[10]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنْ أَرْوَاحِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ فِي حُجُرَاتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ يَأْكُلُونَ مِنْ طَعَامِهَا وَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِنْ شَرَابِهَا وَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَقِمِ السَّاعَةَ لَنَا وَ أَنْجِزْ لَنَا مَا وَعَدْتَنَا وَ أَلْحِقْ آخِرَنَا بِأَوَّلِنَا .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Muhammad Bin Usman, from Abu Baseer,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws, about the souls of the Believers, so he-asws said: ‘(They are) in chambers in the Paradise, eating from its food and drinking from its drinks, and they are saying, ‘Our Lord-azwj! Establish the Hour for us and Accomplish for us what You-azwj Promised us, and Join our later ones with our former ones.’[11]
عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَسِّنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِذَا مَاتَ الْمَيِّتُ اجْتَمَعُوا عِنْدَهُ يَسْأَلُونَهُ عَمَّنْ مَضَى وَ عَمَّنْ بَقِيَ فَإِنْ كَانَ مَاتَ وَ لَمْ يَرِدْ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالُوا قَدْ هَوَى هَوَى وَ يَقُولُ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ دَعُوهُ حَتَّى يَسْكُنَ مِمَّا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ .
Ali, from his father, from Muhsin Bin Ahmad, from Muhammad Bin Hammad, from Yunush Bin Yaqoub,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘When the deceased dies, they (souls of the Believers) gather in his presence asking him about the ones who passed away and the ones who remain. So if one had died and did not come to them, they are saying, ‘Perished! Perished! And some of them are saying to the others, ‘Leave it until it settles from what has passed upon it, from the (experience of) death.’’[12]
Wady Al-Salam – The Valley of Peace, where is it?
شى: لقد صلى في مسجد الكوفة رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) حيث انطلق به جبرئيل على البراق: فلما انتهى به إلى وادي السلام وهو ظهر الكوفة، وهو يريد بيت المقدس قال له: يا محمد هذا مسجد أبيك آدم (عليه السلام)، ومصلى الانبياء، فانزل فصل فيه، فنزل رسول الله فصلى، ثم انطلق به، إلى بيت المقدس فصلى، ثم إن جبرئيل (عليه السلام) عرج به إلى السماء .
‘Rasool-Allah-saww had prayed Salat in Masjid Al-Kufa when Jibraeel-as went with him-saww upon Al-Buraq. When he-as ended up with him-saww at Waady Al-Salaam, and it is at the back of Al-Kufa, and he-as intended Bayt Al-Maqdas, he-as said to him-saww: ‘O Muhammad-saww! This is a Masjid of your-saww father-as Adam-as, and a praying place of the Prophets-as, so descend and pray in it. Rasool-Allah-saww descended and prayed Salat. Then he-as went with him-saww to Bayt Al-Maqdas and prayed Salat, then Jibraeel-as ascended with him-saww to the sky.’’[13]
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ أَخِي بِبَغْدَادَ وَ أَخَافُ أَنْ يَمُوتَ بِهَا فَقَالَ مَا تُبَالِي حَيْثُمَا مَاتَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَا يَبْقَى مُؤْمِنٌ فِي شَرْقِ الْأَرْضِ وَ غَرْبِهَا إِلَّا حَشَرَ اللَّهُ رُوحَهُ إِلَى وَادِي السَّلَامِ قُلْتُ لَهُ وَ أَيْنَ وَادِي السَّلَامِ قَالَ ظَهْرُ الْكُوفَةِ أَمَا إِنِّي كَأَنِّي بِهِمْ حَلَقٌ حَلَقٌ قُعُودٌ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ .
A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Al Hassan Bin Ali, from Ahmad Bin Umar, raising it,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws, the narrator said, ‘My brother is in Baghdad and I am afraid he would be dying in it.’ So he-asws said: ‘You should not care where so ever he dies, as there would not remain a single Believer in the east of the earth or the west of it, except that Allah-azwj would Resurrect his soul to ‘وَادِي السَّلَامِ’ the valley of peace.’ The narrator asked, ‘And where is the valley of peace?’ He-asws said: ‘At the back of Al-Kufa (Iraq). But it is as if I-asws see them, in groups and groups, sitting, discussing.’[14]
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ يَمُوتُ فِي شَرْقِ الْأَرْضِ وَ غَرْبِهَا إِلَّا وَ حَشَرَ اللَّهُ رُوحَهُ إِلَى وَادِي السَّلَامِ.
And it is reported from Abu Abdullah-asws, he-asws said: ‘There is none from a Momin who dies in east of the earth or its west, except Allah-azwj gathers his soul to the valley of peace (Al-Wady Al-Salam in Al-Najaf).’[15]
The supplication of the 12th Imam-ajfj through the Wady Al-Salam:
وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كَأَنَّنِي بِهِ قَدْ عَبَرَ مِنْ وَادِي السَّلَامِ إِلَى مَسِيلِ السَّهْلَةِ عَلَى فَرَسٍ مُحَجَّلٍ لَهُ شِمْرَاخٌ يَزْهَرُ يَدْعُو وَ يَقُولُ فِي دُعَائِهِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ حَقّاً حَقّاً لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ إِيمَاناً وَ صِدْقاً لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ تَعَبُّداً وَ رِقّاً
And Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘It is as if I-asws am with him-ajfj having crossed from the valley of peace (Wady Al Salam) to Maseyl Al-Sahla upon a white-legged horse having a mane for it blossoming. He-ajfj supplicates and says in his-ajfj supplication: ‘There is no god except Allah-azwj truly, truly! There is no god except Allah-azwj, believing and ratifying! There is no god except Allah-azwj, worshipping and serving!
اللَّهُمَّ مُعِزَّ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَحِيدٍ وَ مُذِلَّ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ أَنْتَ كَنَفِي حِينَ تُعْيِينِي الْمَذَاهِبُ وَ تَضِيقُ عَلَيَّ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ
‘‘O Allah-azwj! Endear every unitarian Momin and Disgrace every obstinate tyrant! You-azwj are my-ajfj Patron when the doctrines fatigue me-ajfj and the earth is constricted upon me-ajfj with what I-asws extend.
اللَّهُمَّ خَلَقْتَنِي وَ كُنْتَ غَنِيّاً عَنْ خَلْقِي وَ لَوْ لَا نَصْرُكَ إِيَّايَ لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمَغْلُوبِينَ
‘‘O Allah-azwj! You-azwj Created me-ajfj and You-azwj were needless of having to Create me-ajfj, and had it not been for Your-azwj Helping me-ajfj, I-ajfj would have been from the ones who were overcome!
يَا مُنْشِرَ الرَّحْمَةِ مِنْ مَوَاضِعِهَا وَ مُخْرِجَ الْبَرَكَاتِ مِنْ مَعَادِنِهَا وَ يَا مَنْ خَصَّ نَفْسَهُ بِشُمُوخِ الرِّفْعَةِ فَأَوْلِيَاؤُهُ بِعِزِّهِ يَتَعَزَّزُونَ
‘‘O Spreader of the Mercy from its places, and Extractor of the Blessings from its mines! And O One-azwj Who has Specialised Himself-azwj with the peaks of loftiness, so His-azwj friends and being honoured with honours!
يَا مَنْ وَضَعَتْ لَهُ الْمُلُوكُ نِيرَ الْمَذَلَّةِ عَلَى أَعْنَاقِهِمْ فَهُمْ مِنْ سَطْوَتِهِ خَائِفُونَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِي فَطَرْتَ بِهِ خَلْقَكَ فَكُلٌّ لَكَ مُذْعِنُونَ
‘‘O the One-azwj for whom the kings have placed the yokes of disgrace upon their necks, so they are fearing from His-azwj Punishment! I-ajfj ask You-azwj by Your-azwj Name which You-azwj had Originated Your-azwj creation, so all of that is submissive to You-azwj!
أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَنْ تُنْجِزَ لِي أَمْرِي وَ تُعَجِّلَ لِي فِي الْفَرَجِ وَ تَكْفِيَنِي وَ تَقْضِيَ حَوَائِجِي السَّاعَةَ السَّاعَةَ اللَّيْلَةَ اللَّيْلَةَ إِنَّكَ عَلى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ.
‘‘I-ajfj ask You-azwj to Send Salawaat upon Muhammad-saww and Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww, and You-azwj Fulfil my-ajfj affairs for me-ajfj, and Hasten for me-ajfj regarding the relief, and Suffice me-ajfj and Fulfill my-ajfj needs (requests), now, now, tonight, tonight! You-azwj are Able upon all things!’’[16]
Imam Ali-asws advises people to save themselves from Punishment:
وَ اعْلَمُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ أَنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَ أَجْسَادَكُمُ الرَّقِيقَةَ النَّاعِمَةَ الَّتِي يَكْفِيهَا الْيَسِيرُ مِنَ الْعِقَابِ ضَعِيفَةٌ عَنْ هَذَا فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَنْ تَرْحَمُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَ أَجْسَادَكُمْ عَمَّا لَا طَاقَةَ لَكُمْ بِهِ وَ لَا صَبْرَ عَلَيْهِ فَتَعْمَلُوا بِمَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَتْرُكُوا مَا كَرِهَ فَافْعَلُوا وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
From Imam Ali-asws: ‘And know, servants of Allah-azwj! Your souls and your bodies are delicate and soft, which would be sufficed by the easiest of the Punishments being too weak for this. If you are able, then be merciful upon your souls and your bodies for there is no strength for you to withstand it (punishment), nor any patience upon it. Therefore, work with what Allah-azwj and Glorious Loves and leave whatever He-azwj Dislikes, do so, and there is neither any might nor strength except with Allah-azwj…’ (an extract from a lengthy Hadith).[17]
Both bodies and souls of the disbelievers will be punished:
كش، رجال الكشي حَمْدَوَيْهِ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ نُوحٍ عَنْ حَنَانِ بْنِ سَدِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: كُنْتُ جَالِساً عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ مُيَسِّرٌ عِنْدَهُ وَ نَحْنُ فِي سَنَةِ ثَمَانٍ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ مِائَةٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُيَسِّرٌ بَيَّاعُ الزُّطِّيِّ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ عَجِبْتُ لِقَوْمٍ كَانُوا يَأْتُونَ مَعَنَا إِلَى هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ فَانْقَطَعَتْ آثَارُهُمْ وَ فَنِيَتْ آجَالُهُمْ
(The book) ‘Rijal Al Kashy’ – Hamdawiya, from Ayoub Bin Nuh, from Hanan Bin Sadeyr,
The narrator says: ‘I was seated in the presence of Abu Abdullah-asws and Muyasser was with him-asws, and we were in the year one hundred and thirty-eight. Muyasser Baya Al-Zuty said to him-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you-asws! I am astounded at a group of people who were coming with us to this place, and their traces are cut off, and their terms have perished.’
قَالَ وَ مَنْ هُمْ قُلْتُ أَبُو الْخَطَّابِ وَ أَصْحَابُهُ وَ كَانَ مُتَّكِئاً فَجَلَسَ فَرَفَعَ إِصْبَعَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَى أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَ النَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ فَأَشْهَدُ بِاللَّهِ أَنَّهُ كَافِرٌ فَاسِقٌ مُشْرِكٌ وَ أَنَّهُ يُحْشَرُ مَعَ فِرْعَوْنَ فِي أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ غُدُوًّا وَ عَشِيًّا
‘He-asws said: ‘And who are they?’ I said, ‘Abu Al-Khattab and his companions.’ And he-asws was reclining, so he-asws sat up and raised his-asws finger towards the sky, then said: ‘Upon Abu Al-Khattab, is the Curse of Allah and the Angels and of the people, altogether [3:87]. I-asws testify by Allah-azwj that he is a Kafir, mischief-maker, Polytheist, and he will be Resurrected with Pharaoh-la in the severest of the Punishment, morning and evening [40:46].’
ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَنْفَسُ عَلَى أَجْسَادٍ أُصْلِيَتْ مَعَهُ النَّارَ.
‘Then he-asws said: ‘But, by Allah-azwj! Surely, the souls along with the bodies would (also) be afflicted with it.’’[18]
The souls of disbelievers are transferred to the Valley of Barhout:
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بِإِسْنَادٍ لَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) شَرُّ بِئْرٍ فِي النَّارِ بَرَهُوتُ الَّذِي فِيهِ أَرْوَاحُ الْكُفَّارِ .
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Ahmad, by a chain of his, said,
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘The evillest of the wells in the Fire is Barhout (a valley in Yemen) in which are the souls of the Infidels.’[19]
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنِ الْقَدَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ( عليهم السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) شَرُّ مَاءٍ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ مَاءُ بَرَهُوتَ وَ هُوَ الَّذِي بِحَضْرَمَوْتَ تَرِدُهُ هَامُ الْكُفَّارِ .
A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, and Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, altogether from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Al Ashary, from Al Qaddah,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws, from his-asws forefathers-asws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘The most evil of waters on the surface of the earth is the water of Barhout, and it is which is situated at Hazramout (in south Yemen) whereby camp the spirits of the Infidels.’’[20]
Seeing a deceased in a dream:
وَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِذَا أَرَادَ رُؤْيَا مَيِّتِهِ فِي مَنَامِهِ حَدَّثَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ هَارُونُ بْنُ مُوسَى رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ هَمَّامٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حُسَيْنٍ الصَّائِغِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَ أَعْطَانِيهِ فِي رُقْعَةٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بَكْرٍ الطَّحَّانِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ بَعْضِهِمْ ع قَالَ: إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَرَى مَيِّتَكَ فَبِتْ عَلَى طُهْرٍ وَ انْضَجِعْ عَلَى يَمِينِكَ وَ سَبِّحْ تَسْبِيحَ فَاطِمَةَ ع ثُمَّ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْحَدُّ الَّذِي لَا يُوصَفُ وَ الْإِيمَانُ يُعْرَفُ مِنْهُ مِنْكَ بَدَتِ الْأَشْيَاءُ وَ إِلَيْكَ تَعُودُ
And from what, whenever he wants to see a deceased in his dream – It is narrated by Abu Muhammad Haroun Bin Musa, may Allah-azwj be Pleased with him, said, ‘It is narrated to us by Muhammad in Hammam, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Bin Malik, from Muhammad Bin Husayn Al Saig, from Ahmad Bin Al-Hassan and he gave it to me in a note from Muhammad Bin Bakr Al Tahhan,
From one of them-asws having said: ‘Whenever you want to see your deceased, then spend the night upon cleanliness and lie down upon your right and glorify with the glorification (Tasbeeh) of (Syeda) Fatima-asws, then say, ‘O Allah-azwj! You-azwj are the Limit which cannot be described, and the Eman is recognised from it, and the things began from You-azwj and will return to You-azwj.
فَمَا أَقْبَلَ مِنْهَا كُنْتَ مَلْجَأَهُ وَ مَنْجَاهُ وَ مَا أَدْبَرَ مِنْهَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَلْجَأٌ وَ لَا مَنْجَى مِنْكَ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ
‘‘So what comes from it, You-azwj are its Shelter and its Rescuer, and whatever turns around from it, there will neither be a shelter for it nor a rescuer from You-azwj except to You-azwj.
فَأَسْأَلُكَ بِلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ سَيِّدِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ بِحَقِّ عَلِيٍّ خَيْرِ الْوَصِيِّينَ وَ بِحَقِّ فَاطِمَةَ سَيِّدَةِ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ بِحَقِّ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ اللَّذَيْنِ جَعَلْتَهَمَا سَيِّدَيْ شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ السَّلَامُ
‘‘I ask You-azwj by there being no god except You-azwj, and I ask You-azwj by, ‘In the Name of Allah‑azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful,’ and by the right of Muhammad-saww, chief of the Prophets-as, and by the right of Ali-asws, best of the successors-asws, and by the right of (Syeda) Fatima‑asws, chief of women of the worlds, and by right of Al-Hassan-asws and Al Husayn-asws those whom You-azwj have Made them-asws as two chiefs of youths of the people of Paradise, may the greetings be upon them-asws all.
أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ أَنْ تُرِيَنِي مَيِّتِي فِي الْحَالِ الَّتِي هُوَ فِيهَا فَإِنَّكَ تَرَاهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ.
‘‘(Please) Send Salawaat upon Muhammad-saww, and People-asws of his Household, and Show me my deceased being in the state which he is in!’ So, you will see him, if Allah-azwj so Desires.’[21]
Appendix: The State of body and soul after death
قال ع عرفان المرء نفسه أن يعرفها بأربع طبائع و أربع دعائم و أربعة أركان فطبائعه الدم و المرة و الريح و البلغم و دعائمه العقل و من العقل الفهم و الحفظ و أركانه النور و النار و الروح و الماء و صورته طينته فأبصر بالنور و أكل و شرب بالنار و جامع و تحرك بالروح و وجد طعم الذوق و الطعام بالماء فهذا تأسيس صورته فإذا كان تأييد عقله من النور كان عالما حافظا ذكيا فطنا فهما و عرف فيما هو و من أين يأتيه و لأي شيء هو هاهنا و إلى ما هو صائر بإخلاص الوحدانية و الإقرار بالطاعة و قد تجري فيه النفس و هي حارة و تجري فيه و هي باردة فإذا حلت به الحرارة أشر و بطر و ارتاح و قتل و سرق و بهج و استبشر و فجر و زنى و بذخ و إذا كانت باردة اهتم و حزن و استكان و ذبل و نسي فهي العوارض التي تكون منها الأسقام و لا يكون أول ذلك إلا بخطيئة عملها فيوافق ذلك من مأكل أو مشرب في حد ساعات لا تكون تلك الساعة موافقة لذلك المأكل و المشرب بحال الخطيئة فيستوجب الألم من ألوان الأسقام ثم قال ع بعد ذلك بكلام آخر إنما صار الإنسان يأكل و يشرب و يعمل بالنار و يسمع و يشم بالريح و يجد لذة الطعام و الشراب بالماء و يتحرك بالروح فلو لا أن النار في معدته لما هضمت الطعام و الشراب في جوفه و لو لا الريح ما التهبت نار المعدة و لا خرج الثفل من بطنه و لو لا الروح لا جاء و لا ذهب و لو لا برد الماء لأحرقته نار المعدة و لو لا النور ما أبصر و لا عقل و الطين صورته و العظم في جسده بمنزلة الشجر في الأرض و الشعر في جسده بمنزلة الحشيش في الأرض و العصب في جسده بمنزلة اللحاء على الشجر و الدم في جسده بمنزلة الماء في الأرض و لا قوام للأرض إلا بالماء و لا قوام لجسد الإنسان إلا بالدم و المخ دسم الدم و زبده فهكذا الإنسان خلق من شأن الدنيا و شأن الآخرة فإذا جمع الله بينهما صارت حياته في الأرض لأنه نزل من شأن السماء إلى الدنيا فإذا فرق الله بينهما صارت تلك الفرقة الموت يرد شأن الآخرة إلى السماء فالحياة في الأرض و الموت في السماء و ذلك أنه يفرق بين الروح و الجسد فردت الروح و النور إلى القدرة الأولى و ترك الجسد لأنه من شأن الدنيا و إنما فسد الجسد في الدنيا لأن الريح تنشف الماء فييبس الطين فيصير رفاتا و يبلى و يرد كل إلى جوهره الأول و تحركت الروح بالنفس و النفس حركتها من الريح فما كان من نفس المؤمن فهو نور مؤيد بالعقل و ما كان من نفس الكافر فهو نار مؤيد بالنكراء فهذا من صورة ناره و هذا من صورة نوره و الموت رحمة من الله لعبده المؤمن و نقمة على الكافر و لله عقوبتان إحداهما من الروح و الأخرى تسليط الناس بعض على بعض فما كان من قبل الروح فهو السقم و الفقر و ما كان من تسليط فهو النقمة و ذلك قول الله عز و جل وَ كَذلِكَ نُوَلِّي بَعْضَ الظَّالِمِينَ بَعْضاً بِما كانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ من الذنوب فما كان من ذنب الروح فعقوبته بذلك السقم و الفقر و ما كان من تسليط فهو النقمة و كل ذلك عقوبة للمؤمن في الدنيا و عذاب له فيها و أما الكافر فنقمة عليه في الدنيا و سوء العذاب في الآخرة و لا يكون ذلك إلا بذنب و الذنب من الشهوة و هي من المؤمن خطأ و نسيان و أن يكون مستكرها و ما لا يطيق و ما كان من الكافر فعمد و جحود و اعتداء و حسد و ذلك قول الله عز و جل كُفَّاراً حَسَداً مِنْ عِنْدِ أَنْفُسِهِمْ
Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws said: ‘One can realise عرفان المرء نفسه (recognition of one’s soul) through four natures, four supports, and four pillars.
‘The natures are blood, bile, wind, and phlegm;
‘The supports are the Aql, its understanding, preservation (from the evil);
‘The pillars are the Noor, the Fire, the Soul, and the Water. The appearance of a man is in (according to) his genes. He could see through light, eat and drink through fire (acid), copulated and moved through the soul, and found the taste of every tasted thing and food through water. This is the basis of man’s characteristics.
‘A man whose Aql (intelligence) is supported by the Noor becomes knowledgeable, a retainer, clever, insightful, and thoughtful. He should also recognise the real situation that he is in, the source of his situation, the reason beyond his existence, and the fate that he will inevitably encounter, through the sincere belief of Allah-azwjs oneness and the submission to the obedience (to Him-azwj).
‘The soul may move in him, with its heat or coldness. When heat of the soul influences that man, he will behave in an evil and arrogant manner, feel comfortable, kill, rob, feel pleasant and dashing, commits sins and fornication, and spend lavishly. When the soul covers that man with its coldness, he feels depressed, sad, submissive, withered, and oblivious. These are the symptoms that cause diseases.
‘This coldness originates only when individuals commit a sin and have a drink or food in an hour that is not appropriate to that drink or food – all at the same time; therefore, this will create a certain pain.’
Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws explained the topic in other words: Man drinks, eats, and works through the fire; hears and smells through the wind; enjoys the taste of food and drink through the water; moves through the soul. Food and drink cannot be digested in the interior body without the existence of the fire (acid) in the stomach. Without the existence of the wind, the fire of the stomach cannot be flamed (smell, sound, sight and taste all increase the stomach acid secretion) and the dregs cannot find an exit out of the abdomen. Without the existence of the soul, man cannot come and go; i.e., move. Without the existence of the cold water (in the stomach), the fire of the stomach would burn (man). Without the existence of Noor, man cannot see or understand.
Clay is his nature. The role of bones in the human body is similar to the role of trees on the surface of the earth. The hair on the skin plays the same role as of the grass on the earth. The nerves of the human body play the same role of the bark on trees. The blood of the human body plays the similar role of water on the earth. The earth cannot endure without water. Similarly, the human body cannot endure without the blood. The brain is the fat and the foam of blood.
This is the human being who was created from matters of this world and matters of the world to come. If Allah-azwj Combines these (earthly) matters, man’s life will be on the surface of the earth, because he descended from the matters of the Heavens to the world. When Allah-azwj Disconnects these matters by means of death, the matters of the Heavens go back to their source; the Heavens. The life is on the earth and death is in the Heavens by means of separating the soul from the body. The soul and the Noor are taken back to the foremost power and the body is left, because it is composed from matters of the world.
The body disintegrates in this world because the wind dries water and the clay becomes debris and old and return to its original phase. The soul moves in the breath whose movement is out of the wind.
The breath of the believers is ‘Noor’ that is supported by the mind while the breath of the disbelievers is ‘fire’ that is supported by devilry. This is the nature of its fire and the former is the nature of its Noor. Death is Allah-azwj’s Mercy for the believers and Allah-azwj’s Punishment on the disbelievers.
Allah-azwj has two Punishments; the soul is the source of one and peoples’ desire to empower and control over each other is the source of the other. Ailment and poverty are the punishments whose source is the soul while agony is the punishment whose source is peoples’ desires to take over others. This is indicated in Allah-azwjs saying: Thus, do We make the unjust ones predominate one another because of their evil deeds (6: 129). These evil deeds are their sins.
The punishment of the sins, whose source is the soul, is ailment and poverty, while the punishment of the sins – the source of which is people’s cruelty on each other – is the agony. All these are punishment and agony for the believers in this world. For the disbelievers, these are punishment in this world and harsh agony in the world to come (Hereafter). The reason for any punishment is a sin and the source of every sin is passion.
The sins of the believers are the slips, what they detest and what they don’t tolerate. For the disbelievers, their sins are intentional: denial, aggression, and envy. This is indicated in Allah-azwjs Words: Once you have accepted the faith, many of the People of the Book would love, out of envy, to turn you back to disbelief, even after the Truth has become evident to them. Have forgiveness and bear with them until Allah issues His order. Allah has power over all things (2: 109).[22]
[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 58 The book of creation – Ch 42 H 26
[2] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 12 H 4
[3] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 53 The book of History – Imam Al-Mahdi-ajfj, Ch 29 H 113
[4] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14505
[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 25, The book of Imamate, P 3 Ch 13 H 5
[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 50, The book of History – Al Hassan Bin Ali-asws, Ch 2 H 72 e
[7] The Book Of Sulaym Bin Qays Al-Hilali, H. 7
[8] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 82 – The Book Salat – Ch 55 H 1
[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 58 The book of creation – Ch 42 H 34
[10] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 89 H 3
[11] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 89 H 4
[12] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 89 H 5
[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 18, The book of our Prophet-saww, P 3 Ch 3 H 87
[14] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 88 H 2
[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 97 – The Book of Shrines – Ch 11 H 25 e
[16] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 52 The book of History – Imam Al-Mahdi-ajfj, Ch 27 H 214 b
[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 33, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 30 H 720 f
[18] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 25, The book of Imamate, P 3 Ch 10 H 24
[19] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 90 H 3
[20] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 90 H 4
[21] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 73 – The book of Etiquettes – Ch 44 H 23 / 26
[22] Tuhaf al-Uqoul, pg. 258(English), تحفالعقول ص : 355 Also , Ilul al-Sharia, vol. 1, Ch. 96, h, 6, عللالشرائع ج : 1 ص : 109