Soul After Death
What is the 'world of barzakh'?
The intermediate realm between death and resurrection.
Who questions the soul in the grave?
Munkar and Nakir, the two angels.
What will happen to the earth on the Day of Resurrection?
It will be changed to another earth and so will the heavens.
Which hadith describes the soul being questioned in the grave?
The hadith of al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib.
What is the meaning of 'nafs'?
It means the self or soul, depending on context.
According to Kitab al-Ruh, what happens to the soul during sleep?
It partially leaves the body and travels, similar to its experience after death.
What is the first question asked in the grave?
Who is your Lord?
Who will intercede for the people on the Day of Judgment?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will be granted the major intercession.
Which verse mentions the return of the soul to Allah during sleep and death?
اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا
What is the purpose of remembering death in spiritual practice?
To instill humility, deter sin, and prepare the soul for the afterlife.
What evidence does Ibn al-Qayyim use to support that the soul experiences bliss or torment before resurrection?
He uses hadith such as the Hadith of al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib and the continuation of consciousness after death.
What protects a believer from the punishment of the grave?
Righteous deeds and consistent remembrance of death.
What will happen to the earth on the Day of Resurrection?
It will be changed to another earth and so will the heavens.
What verse confirms that martyrs are alive with their Lord?
بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
What is meant by the term fitrah in relation to the soul?
Fitrah refers to the natural, pure state of the soul, inclined toward belief in Allah and righteousness.
What did Ibn al-Qayyim say about the soul being punished or rewarded?
He said the soul can be punished or rewarded in the grave independently of the body.
Mention 3 types of people who Ibn al-Qayyim said are spared questioning in the grave?
A martyr – someone who dies fighting for the sake of Allah.
A person who dies while guarding the borders of a Muslim land.
Anyone who dies on a Friday (day or night).
What will testify for or against people on that day?
Their limbs, deeds, and even the earth they walked on.
Which verse describes the peaceful return of the believing soul at death?
... يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ
What is the Islamic belief about where the soul was before entering the body?
The soul existed in the realm of souls (ʿālam al-arwāḥ)
How does the location of the soul vary according to its righteousness?
The righteous souls dwell in ‘Illiyyīn, while wicked souls are cast into Sijjīn.
What kind of experience does the soul have in the grave, even after the body has decayed?
According to Ibn al-Qayyim, the soul still experiences reward or punishment in the grave through a spiritual connection, even if the body has decayed. The soul perceives these experiences in a real but non-physical way.
What does the Qur’an say about the denial of resurrection by disbelievers?
They question how bones will be reassembled, to which Allah responds that re-creation is easier than creation.
How does Qur’anic use of nafs and rūḥ differ across contexts?
Nafs often means the entire self or soul-in-body, while rūḥ refers to the pure spiritual essence.
Why does Ibn al-Qayyim argue that the soul is not destroyed at death?
Because the soul is created to continue existing beyond death, experiencing the barzakh and resurrection, as proven by revelation.