✿ The Reality of the Soul and the Stages of Life and Death ✿
Allah ﷻ is the Creator of all things, and the soul (Rūḥ) is also one of His creations. Its exact nature and details are known only to Allah ﷻ. As mentioned in the Hadith:
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (RA) narrates that the Jews once asked the Prophet ﷺ about the soul. At the time, he was standing with the support of a date-palm stick. He remained silent, and then revelation was sent down, after which he said:
"And they ask you concerning the soul. Say, ‘The soul is of the command of my Lord, and of knowledge, you have been given only a little.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
The Qur’an and Sunnah describe several attributes of the soul, including the following:
➊ Seizing and Departure of the Soul
The soul is seized, wrapped in a shroud, and taken upwards.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When the soul is taken, the eyes follow it."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1528)
➋ Creation and Blowing of the Soul
After creating Ādam (AS), Allah ﷻ blew the soul into him.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When the soul was breathed into Ādam (AS), he sneezed and said, ‘Alḥamdulillāh’.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3290)
➌ The Soul and the Creation of a Child
Allah ﷻ sends an angel into the womb, who then breathes the soul into the child.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"A person remains as a drop of fluid in the womb for 40 days, then becomes a clot of blood for another 40 days, and then a lump of flesh for another 40 days. After that, the angel comes and breathes the soul into him."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 4781)
➊ The State of a Believer’s Soul
The Prophet ﷺ said that when the soul of a believer is taken, angels arrive with fragrance and shrouds from Paradise.
The soul is taken with honor and dignity toward the heavens, and it is announced:
"A pure soul has come from the earth."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 5119)
➋ The State of a Disbeliever’s Soul
When the soul of a disbeliever is taken, it is treated harshly. Angels come with a foul stench, and the soul is wrenched out in the most painful manner.
However, the gates of the heavens do not open for it.
Allah ﷻ says:
"Write his record in Sijjīn (a register of Hell)."
(Musnad Aḥmad, 17803)
Sleep is referred to as a “minor death” (mawt aṣ-ṣughrā) because the soul is seized, though not completely. Allah ﷻ states:
"Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die, during their sleep..."
(Surah al-Zumar: 42)
The Prophet ﷺ recommended the following supplication before sleep:
"بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي..."
“In Your name, O my Lord, I place my side...”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3323)
Before the Day of Judgment, Allah ﷻ will send a gentle wind that will seize the souls of all believers. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"This wind will reach beneath the armpits of the believers and take their souls."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 5228)
The reality of the soul and its stages are known to Allah ﷻ alone. However, the Qur’an and Sunnah offer us clear descriptions that help us understand that the soul is a creation of Allah, and its every condition and transition—from life to death to resurrection—is governed by His Divine Command.
❖ The Reality of the Soul
Allah ﷻ is the Creator of all things, and the soul (Rūḥ) is also one of His creations. Its exact nature and details are known only to Allah ﷻ. As mentioned in the Hadith:
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (RA) narrates that the Jews once asked the Prophet ﷺ about the soul. At the time, he was standing with the support of a date-palm stick. He remained silent, and then revelation was sent down, after which he said:
"And they ask you concerning the soul. Say, ‘The soul is of the command of my Lord, and of knowledge, you have been given only a little.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
❖ Attributes of the Soul
The Qur’an and Sunnah describe several attributes of the soul, including the following:
➊ Seizing and Departure of the Soul
The soul is seized, wrapped in a shroud, and taken upwards.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When the soul is taken, the eyes follow it."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1528)
➋ Creation and Blowing of the Soul
After creating Ādam (AS), Allah ﷻ blew the soul into him.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When the soul was breathed into Ādam (AS), he sneezed and said, ‘Alḥamdulillāh’.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3290)
➌ The Soul and the Creation of a Child
Allah ﷻ sends an angel into the womb, who then breathes the soul into the child.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"A person remains as a drop of fluid in the womb for 40 days, then becomes a clot of blood for another 40 days, and then a lump of flesh for another 40 days. After that, the angel comes and breathes the soul into him."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 4781)
❖ The Journey of the Soul at the Time of Death
➊ The State of a Believer’s Soul
The Prophet ﷺ said that when the soul of a believer is taken, angels arrive with fragrance and shrouds from Paradise.
The soul is taken with honor and dignity toward the heavens, and it is announced:
"A pure soul has come from the earth."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 5119)
➋ The State of a Disbeliever’s Soul
When the soul of a disbeliever is taken, it is treated harshly. Angels come with a foul stench, and the soul is wrenched out in the most painful manner.
However, the gates of the heavens do not open for it.
Allah ﷻ says:
"Write his record in Sijjīn (a register of Hell)."
(Musnad Aḥmad, 17803)
❖ Connection Between Sleep and the Soul
Sleep is referred to as a “minor death” (mawt aṣ-ṣughrā) because the soul is seized, though not completely. Allah ﷻ states:
"Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die, during their sleep..."
(Surah al-Zumar: 42)
The Prophet ﷺ recommended the following supplication before sleep:
"بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي..."
“In Your name, O my Lord, I place my side...”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3323)
❖ Seizing of Souls Before the Day of Judgment
Before the Day of Judgment, Allah ﷻ will send a gentle wind that will seize the souls of all believers. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"This wind will reach beneath the armpits of the believers and take their souls."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 5228)
❖ Conclusion
The reality of the soul and its stages are known to Allah ﷻ alone. However, the Qur’an and Sunnah offer us clear descriptions that help us understand that the soul is a creation of Allah, and its every condition and transition—from life to death to resurrection—is governed by His Divine Command.
