❖ The Islamic Ruling on the Return of Souls to the World on Friday Night ❖
📚 Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 134
❖ Question
Is it correct to believe that souls return to the world on Friday night or during the day of Jumuʿah?
❖ Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
➊ Clarification from the Noble Qur’an
The Qur’an clearly denies the return of souls to the world after death.
📖 Allah says:
﴿قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ ﴾ … ﴿وَمِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ﴾
“He will say, ‘My Lord! Send me back so that I may do righteous deeds.’ No! It is but a word he speaks. And behind them is a barrier (Barzakh) until the Day they are resurrected.”
(Sūrah al-Muʾminūn: 99–100)
Explanation:
This verse clearly establishes that after death, the soul enters Barzakh, and cannot return to the world until the Day of Resurrection.
➋ Clarification from Authentic Hadith
(1) The Believer’s Soul Resides in Paradise
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The soul of the believer is like a bird in the trees of Paradise until Allah returns it to its body on the Day of Judgment.”
(Sunan al-Nasā’ī, ḥadīth: 2076 – Authentic)
(2) Souls Will Request to Return Before the Hour but Will Be Denied
Narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Our souls will request to return to our bodies, but Allah will not allow them.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth: 2872)
Explanation:
These narrations confirm that souls remain in Barzakh and do not return to earth, regardless of whether it is Friday or any other day.
➌ The Fate of Disbelievers’ Souls
The souls of disbelievers are imprisoned in Sijjīn, as mentioned in the Qur’an:
📖 ﴿كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الْفُجَّارِ لَفِي سِجِّينٍ﴾
“Indeed, the record of the wicked is in Sijjīn.”
(Sūrah al-Muṭaffifīn: 7–8)
🛑 How can a soul that is imprisoned in Sijjīn return to the world?
This belief is in clear contradiction to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
➍ False Cultural Practices and Ignorant Beliefs
The notion that souls return to visit their homes on Friday nights is rooted in ignorant traditions and baseless myths.
➤ Practices such as:
- Placing food in graveyards on Friday nights
- Preparing meals in homes for visiting souls
…are superstitious customs with no basis in Islam and should be avoided completely.
➎ Conclusion
✔ According to Qur’anic and Prophetic teachings, souls do not return to the world after death, whether on Friday or any other day.
✔ The soul enters Barzakh, where it remains until the Day of Resurrection.
✔ The belief that souls return to their homes on Friday nights is a baseless claim and part of ignorant customs that must be shunned.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
