PDF: The Concept of Barzakh in Islam
Death is the end of our limited time in the Dunya, and the beginning of our eternal life in the hereafter. However, before the Day of Judgement, the accounting, and the final settlement in either Hellfire or Paradise, exists a transition period which every soul will go through. This period is known in Islam as Al-Barzakh.
Surely, the One who has the power to create a barrier between two types of water has the power and ability to create a barrier between the deceased human and his life on earth, and finally resurrect him once again for an everlasting abode. Allah refers to this meaning of Barzakh in [23:99-100]:
We learn from this verse and many other Hadiths that this interval is either a place of regret or happiness, punishment or reward, grief or bliss, depending on the status and righteousness of the person. And this affects both the soul and body.
After the Prophet informed us of the various stages that take place during Al-Barzakh, such as the travelling of the soul to the heavens, the squeezing of the grave, the questioning in the grave, He mentioned the state of both the evil doer and the believer after that:
"...Then a voice calls out from heaven, ‘Prepare for him a bed from Hell and clothe him from Hell, and open for him a gate to Hell.’
The Prophet also informed us of the various punishments in the grave, and would seek refuge in it after the Tashahud in prayer.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of
Allaah ﷺ passed by two graves and said, “They are being punished, but they are not being punished for something that was difficult to avoid. One of them used to walk about spreading Nameemah (malicious gossip) and the other used not to take care to avoid getting urine on himself.” [Agreed upon]
“O Allah I seek refuge in you from the punishment of the grave,
the punishment of Hellfire, the trial of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the Dajjal”
The state of Barzakh is something affirmed in both sources of Islam – the Qur’an and Sunnah – and falls under Belief in the Last Day; one of the Articles of Faith. Belief in it is thus obligatory, and one is not considered a Muslim if he denies it. Allah said regarding Pharoah and his people in [40:46]:
Death is the end of our limited time in the Dunya, and the beginning of our eternal life in the hereafter. However, before the Day of Judgement, the accounting, and the final settlement in either Hellfire or Paradise, exists a transition period which every soul will go through. This period is known in Islam as Al-Barzakh.
Linguistically, Barzakh refers to “a barrier between two things”,
and this meaning has been made apparent in two verses in the Qur’an. Allah says
in [55:19-20]:
“He has let loosed the two seas (the
salt water and the sweet) meeting together”
“Between
them is a barrier which none of them can transgress.”
And in [25:53]:
“And it is He Who has let free the two
seas (kinds of water), one palatable and sweet, and the other salt and bitter, and
He has set a barrier and a complete partition between them”
Surely, the One who has the power to create a barrier between two types of water has the power and ability to create a barrier between the deceased human and his life on earth, and finally resurrect him once again for an everlasting abode. Allah refers to this meaning of Barzakh in [23:99-100]:
“Until, when death comes to one of them
(those who join partners with Allah), he says: “My Lord! Send me back,”
"So
that I may do good in that which I have left behind!" No! It is but a word
that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they
will be resurrected.”
We learn from this verse and many other Hadiths that this interval is either a place of regret or happiness, punishment or reward, grief or bliss, depending on the status and righteousness of the person. And this affects both the soul and body.
Ibn al-Qayyim
said: Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah) was asked about this matter, and we
will quote his reply in full: “Indeed, the torment and blessing happen to
both the soul and the body, according to the consensus of the Ahl al-Sunnah
wa’l-Jamaa’ah. The soul is blessed or tormented separately from the body, and
it is blessed or tormented in connection with the body. The body is connected
to it, so in this case the blessing or torment happens to them both, and it may
happen to the soul separately from the body.
The view of the
salaf and imams of this ummah is that when a person dies, he will be in a state
of blessing or torment, and that happens to his soul and his body. After the
soul has departed from the body, it remains in a state of blessing or torment,
and that is sometimes connected to the body and the blessing or torment happens
to them both. Then when the Day of Resurrection comes, the souls will be
returned to their bodies and they will rise from their graves to meet the Lord
of the Worlds. The physical resurrection is a matter upon which the Muslims,
Jews and Christians are agreed.” (al-Rooh,
p. 51, 52)
If we delve into the Hadiths regarding the events that will take
place in Al-Barzakh, we find that the Prophet went into great detail regarding
them, and the number of Ahadith are too numerous to list here. But to mention a
few which prove the blessing and torment of the grave:
Narrated by Abu Saeed Al-Khudri, The Prophet said:
"إذا وضعت
الجنازة، فاحتملها الرجال علي أعناقهم، فإن كانت صالحة، قال: قدموني، وإن كانت غير
صالحة، قالت لأهلها: يا ويلها أين تذهبون بها؟ يسمع صوتها كل شيء إلا الأنسان، ولو
سمع الأنسان لصعق”
"When
a dead body is placed on a bier and men carry it on their shoulders, if he was
a pious man, it (the corpse) says: "Take me in haste!"
But if he was not
righteous, it says to its bearers: "Woe to it. Where are you taking it?"
Everything except man
hears its voice. Had a human being heard its voice, he would have surely fallen
into swoon."
After the Prophet informed us of the various stages that take place during Al-Barzakh, such as the travelling of the soul to the heavens, the squeezing of the grave, the questioning in the grave, He mentioned the state of both the evil doer and the believer after that:
" ...فينادي مناد من السماء أن صدق عبدي فأفرشوه من الجنة
وألبسوه من الجنة وافتحوا له بابا إلى الجنة فيأتيه من طيبها وروحها ويفسح له في
قبره مد بصره..."
"...Then a voice
calls out from heaven, ‘My slave has spoken the truth, so prepare for him a bed
from Paradise and clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a gate to
Paradise.’
Then there comes to
him some of its fragrance, and his grave is made wide, as far as he can
see..."
"...ويأتيه رجل
حسن الوجه حسن الثياب طيب الريح فيقول : أبشر بالذي يسرك هذا يومك الذي كنت توعد ،
فيقول : ومن أنت ؟ فوجهك الوجه الذي يجيء بالخير فيقول : أنا عملك الصالح ، فيقول:
رب أقم الساعة حتى أرجع إلى أهلي ومالي..."
"...Then there
comes to him a man with a handsome face and handsome clothes, and a good
fragrance, who says, ‘Receive the glad tidings that will bring you joy this
day.’
He says, ‘Who are you?
Your face is a face which brings glad tidings.’
He says, ‘I am your
righteous deeds.’
He says, ‘O Lord,
hasten the Hour so that I may return to my family and my wealth'..."
Or in the case of the disbeliever:
"...فينادي مناد
من السماء أفرشوا له من النار وألبسوه من النار وافتحوا له بابا إلى النار . قال :
فيأتيه من حرها وسمومها ويضيق عليه قبره حتى تختلف عليه أضلاعه..."
"...Then a voice calls out from heaven, ‘Prepare for him a bed from Hell and clothe him from Hell, and open for him a gate to Hell.’
Then there comes to
him some of its heat and hot winds, and his grave is constricted and compresses
him until his ribs interlock..."
"... ويأتيه رجل قبيح
الوجه قبيح الثياب منتن الريح فيقول : أبشر بالذي يسوؤك هذا يومك الذي كنت توعد ،
فيقول : من أنت ؟ فوجهك الوجه الذي يجيء بالشر ، فيقول : أنا عملك الخبيث ، فيقول
: رب لا تقم الساعة رب لا تقم الساعة..."
"...Then there
comes to him a man with an ugly face and ugly clothes, and a foul stench, who
says, ‘Receive the bad news, this is the day that you were promised.’
He says, ‘Who are you?
Your face is a face which forebodes evil.’
He says, ‘I am your
evil deeds.’ He says, ‘O Lord, do not let the Hour come, do not let the Hour
come'..."
The Prophet also informed us of the various punishments in the grave, and would seek refuge in it after the Tashahud in prayer.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of
Allaah ﷺ passed by two graves and said, “They are being punished, but they are not being punished for something that was difficult to avoid. One of them used to walk about spreading Nameemah (malicious gossip) and the other used not to take care to avoid getting urine on himself.” [Agreed upon]
He used to say:
“O Allah I seek refuge in you from the punishment of the grave,
the punishment of Hellfire, the trial of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the Dajjal”
The state of Barzakh is something affirmed in both sources of Islam – the Qur’an and Sunnah – and falls under Belief in the Last Day; one of the Articles of Faith. Belief in it is thus obligatory, and one is not considered a Muslim if he denies it. Allah said regarding Pharoah and his people in [40:46]:
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