The phases through which a person passes and the abodes in which he is lodged during his journey to meet his Lord are also mentioned in the Quran. Slowly but surely, he is moving to encounter his Lord. The first phase of this journey is death. After a short stay in this world, every single person passes through this phase. There is no escape from it. The Almighty has said: كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ المَوْت (3: 185) (every person shall taste death, (3:185)). It can come in the morning and it can come in the evening; one may taste it even before one’s birth or right after birth. It can come in childhood, in youth or in old age at any time and every person has to submit to it whether he likes it or not. According to the Quran, at death, the real personality of a person which is called the soul by the Quran and which is independent of his body is separated from his mortal being. The Almighty has told us that initially also it was given to man at the culmination of his mortal being which took place after passing through various phases and today also it is given to it once about 120 days elapse on the embryo. [1] Death is the name of separating this personality of a person from his body. A specific angel – who has a whole staff of angels – is deputed for this task. [2] He formally comes and claims a person’s soul just as a government official entrusted for collecting something discharges his responsibility:

قُلْ يَتَوَفَّاكُم مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ(11:32)

Tell them: “The angel of death deputed over you shall claim your souls. Then to your Lord shall you be returned.” (32:11)

At this instance, what happens to a person is also depicted in the Quran. The souls of people who have deliberately rejected their prophets even after being convinced of their veracity are claimed by the angels whilst they hit and strike these disbelievers and at this very juncture of death they inform them that a terrible torment awaits them because of their evil deeds:

وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ الْمَلآئِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ وَذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ ذَلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَأَنَّ اللّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلاَّمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ (8: 50-51)

And if you could see the angels when they take away the souls of these disbelievers whilst striking them on their faces and their backs and [say:] “Taste now the torment of the fire! This is the punishment for the deeds you committed with your own hands and [you should know that] God does not do the slightest of injustice to His servants.” (8:50-51)

On the other hand, people who profess faith in their prophets and are absolutely without any stain of disbelief or polytheism and have also not infringed upon the rights of others or been oppressive in any manner are presented with salutations from the angels and given glad tidings of Paradise:

الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلآئِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ يَقُولُونَ سَلامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ (32:16)

To those whose souls the angels claim such that they are virtuous, they say: “Peace be on you. Enter [this] Paradise as a reward of your deeds.” (16:32)

After this, are the abodes which are called Barzakh, Mahshar, Hell and Paradise. The various details about these places which are mentioned in the Quran are outlined below:

a) Barzakh:

Discussion 34711

b) Mahshar:

Discussion 34714

c) Hell:

Discussion 34718

d) Paradise:

Discussion 34720

(Javed Ahmed Ghamidi)

(Translated by Dr. Shehzad Saleem)

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[1]. The Quran, 32:6-9; 23:12-14; Al-Bukhari, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 1284-1285, (no. 7454); Muslim, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 1151, (no. 6723).

[2]. The Quran, 4:97; 6:93; 16:28.