Death & Resurrection


Every created thing will taste death eventually. Repentance by the disbeliever is not accepted by God once death approaches.

And We granted not to any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad): then if you die, would they live forever? Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good. And unto Us you will be returned. (Quran 21:34-5)

And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: "Now I repent!" Nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment. (Quran 4:17-8)

"There is no Deity worthy of worship except Allah. Verily death comes with agonies." (Hadith)

Once a person dies, they can never return to this world as a barrier is set between called the barzaq (souls do not return as ghosts or spirits, rather such paranormal phenomena is explained by mischievous Jinn).

Until when death approaches one of them (the polytheists), he says, "My Lord! Send me back, so that I may do good in that which I have left behind!" No! It is but just a word that he speaks; and behind them is a barrier (barzaq) until the Day when they will be Resurrected. (Quran 23:99-100)

The Angel of Death is sent to remove the soul from the dead body smoothly (whose soul smells like perfume) from a believer and violently (whose soul stinks) from the disbeliever.

"Verily when the believing slave (of Allah) is at the point of departure from the worldly life, and is about to enter the next life, Angels descend from Heaven. Their faces are white (and bright) like the sun. They carry with them a shroud from the clothes of Paradise, and embalmment from the fragrance of Paradise. They sit away from him at the limit of his eyesight. The Angel of Death then arrives, sits by his head and says, "O good and peaceful soul, depart to Allah's Forgiveness and Pleasure!" On hearing this, the soul leaves the body (as easily) as water pours out from the spout of a water-skin container; and he (the Angel of Death) takes it... there emanates from the soul the best smelling scent of musk perfume that ever existed on the surface of the Earth... And verily, when a disbelieving (or disobedient) slave (of Allah) is at the point of departure from the worldly life, and is about to enter the Hereafter, strong hulking Angels with dark faces descend to him from the Heavens. They bring with them course fabric from the Fire. They sit away from him at the limit of his eyesight. The Angel of Death arrives, sits by his head and says, "O malicious soul, depart to the Wrath and Anger of Allah!" On hearing this, it becomes terrified, and clings to the body; but he extracts it by force, like a thorny skewer is pulled from wet wool, causing the veins and nerves to burst... and from it emanates the most repugnant odour of a decaying cadaver that ever existed on the surface of the Earth." (Hadith)

The Angels ascend towards Heaven with the souls and a believer's record is written in a Book called Illiyun (signifying highness), whereas the disbeliever's record is written in a Book called Sijjeen (signifying constriction).

"The Angels then ascend with it (the believer's soul). As they pass by gatherings of Angels, they ask them, "What is this good soul? They (the Angels holding it) reply, "This is so and so, the son (or daughter) of so and so," using the best names with which he had been addressed in the first life. When they reach the lowest Heaven, they ask for permission to enter; and the gates open for them. The most elite (Angels) of each Heaven escort him to the next one, until the soul reaches the Seventh Heaven. Allah then says, "Write My servants records in Illiyun. And what will make you know what Illiyun is? A Register inscribed. To which bear witness those who are nearest (to Allah, i.e. the Angels) (Quran 83:19-21). Thus, the souls records are inscribed in Illiyun; and the Angels are told, "Take him back to the Earth, because I promised them that; from it (Earth) I created them, into it I shall return them, and from it I shall Resurrect them once again." (Quran 20:55) He is returned to Earth; and his soul is returned to his body, so that he hears the thumping of his companion's shoes as they walk away from his grave... The Angels then ascend with it (the disbeliever's soul) As they pass by gatherings of Angels, they ask them, "What is this malicious soul? They (the Angels holding it) reply, "This is so and so, the son (or daughter) of so and so," using the worst names with which he had been addressed in the first life. When they reach the lowest Heaven, they ask for permission to enter; and the gates are not opened for him. "For them (the disbelievers), the gates of Heaven will not be opened; and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of a needle!" (Quran 7:40). Allah then says, "Write his records in Sijjeen in the lowest Earth." And the Angels are told, "Take him back to the Earth, because I promised them that; from it (Earth) I created them, into it I shall return them, and from it I shall Resurrect them once again." (Quran 20:55) His soul is cast down to Earth without regard; and his soul falls into his body. "As for the one who joins partners with Allah, it is as if he plunges down from the skies, whereupon birds snatch him off, or the wind casts him away to a remote place (away from Allah's Mercy)." (Quran 22:31) His soul is restored to his body, so that he hears the thumping of his companion's shoes as they walk away from his grave..." (Hadith)

All people are questioned by two Angels called Munkar and Nakeer in their graves, God helps the believers succeed unlike the disbelievers.

"When a dead person is buried, two black and blue Angels come to him. One of them is called Munkar and the other Nakeer..." (Hadith)

"Two Angels of severe reprimand then come to him, and shake him. They make him sit up, and ask him, 'Who is your Lord? What is your religion (Deen)? Who is that man (the Prophet Muhammad) who was sent to you?' And this is the last trial (fitnah) to which a believer is subjected. In this regard Allah says, 'Allah keeps the believers firm with firm words in the first life, and in the last one...'" (Quran 14:27) (Hadith)

There is pleasure and vision of Paradise for the believer who looks forward to Resurrection, and punishment and vision of Hell for the disbeliever in the grave who fears Resurrection.

"He, (the believer) repeats, "My Lord is Allah, my Religion is Islam, and my Prophet is Muhammad." A caller then calls from the Heavens, "My servant has spoken the truth; so provide him with furnishings from Paradise; clothe him from Paradise; and open for him a door to Paradise." Thus he receives provision and perfume form it; and his grave becomes spacious to the extent of his eyesight... When he sees what is awaiting him in Paradise (of pleasures), he says, "O my Lord! Speed up the arrival of the Hour (of Resurrection), so that I may rejoin my family and my property!"... (As for the disbeliever) A caller calls from Heaven, "He lies! So spread for him furnishings from the Fire; and open for him a door to the Fire." Thus its heat and fierce hot wind reach him; and his grave is tightened around him, causing his ribs to break... He then says, "O my Lord! Do not establish the Hour!" (Hadith)

"Verily, the dead are punished in their graves, and even the animals hear their screaming." (Hadith)

The believer has spaciousness and is accompanied by his good deeds comfortably in the grave, whereas the disbeliever is crushed in and accompanied by his bad deeds.

"Before him appears a man with a pleasant face, nice garments and a good smell. He says to him, "I am to give you glad tidings that will please you; tidings of Allah's acceptance, and of gardens of everlasting bliss. This is the day that you have been promised!" He responds, "Glad tidings from Allah be upon you too! Who are you? Your face is one that brings goodness." He says, "I am your good deeds. By Allah, I only knew you quick in obeying Allah, and slow in disobeying Him. May Allah reward you with good... (As for the disbeliever) Before him appears a man with an ugly face, repulsive clothes, and a foul smell; he says, "I am to give you evil tidings that will displease you; this is the day that you have been promised!" He responds, "Evil tidings from Allah be upon you too! Who are you? Your face is one that brings evil." He says, "I am your malicious deeds. By Allah, I only knew you slow in obeying Allah, and quick in disobeying Him. May Allah repay you with evil..." (Hadith)

"(The believers) grave is expanded for him to seventy cubits by seventy, it is illuminated for him and he is told to go to sleep. He says, "Let me return to my people to inform them (about my good condition). But they tell him, "Sleep as does the newly wed person, whom no one awakens except the most beloved member of his family who is nearest to him." (He sleeps like that) until Allah raises him from his resting place..." (Hadith)

"If anyone were to escape from the constriction of the grave, it would have been Saad b. Muadh رضي الله عنه; however he was squeezed once and then released." (Hadith)

There are some deeds which may benefit the dead believers in their graves.

"Among the good deeds that continue to benefit a believer after death are: a knowledge that he taught and disseminated, a righteous child who lived after him, a Quran book that he left as inheritance, a Mosque that he built, a house that he built for the wayfarers, a stream that he ran, or a charity that he gave from his wealth during his healthy lifetime, so that it would reach him (in rewards) after death." (Hadith)

Angel Israfeel is currently poised and will blow the Trumpet once for the annihilation of creation and a second time for the Resurrection and gathering for the Last Day.

And the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the Heavens and the Earth will swoon away, except him who Allah Wills. Then it will be blown a second time, and behold they will be standing, looking on (waiting). (Quran 39:68)

"Since the time when the one who will blow the Trumpet was appointed, his eyes are ever ready, looking towards the Throne, fearing lest the Command be issued before he blinks, as if his eyes are two brilliant stars." (Hadith)

People will be raised from their graves barefoot, naked, and in terror, fearing Allah on Judgment Day.

When the Prophet Muhammad's wfie, Aisha رضي الله عنها, heard him say, "Mankind will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection, barefoot, naked and uncircumcised," she said, "O Messenger of Allah, men and women together, looking at one another?" He said, "O Aisha, it will be too distressing for them to be looking at one another (on that Day)."