Two Lives and Two Deaths

Two Lives and Two Deaths​

Written by: Dr. Abu Jaber Abdullah Damnawi

Allah ﷻ states in the Quran:

کَیۡفَ تَکۡفُرُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ کُنۡتُمۡ اَمۡوَاتًا فَاَحۡیَاکُمۡ ۚ ثُمَّ یُمِیۡتُکُمۡ ثُمَّ یُحۡیِیۡکُمۡ ثُمَّ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ۲۸​

"How can you disbelieve in Allah when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die and again bring you to life, and then you will be returned to Him?"

(Al-Baqarah: 28)

In another verse, He says:

ثُمَّ اِنَّکُمۡ بَعۡدَ ذٰلِکَ لَمَیِّتُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۱۵﴾ ﴿ ثُمَّ اِنَّکُمۡ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ تُبۡعَثُوۡنَ ۱۶​

"Then indeed, after that you are to die. Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected."

(Al-Mu'minun: 15-16)

On the Day of Resurrection, disbelievers will say:

قَالُوۡا رَبَّنَاۤ اَمَتَّنَا اثۡنَتَیۡنِ وَ اَحۡیَیۡتَنَا اثۡنَتَیۡنِ فَاعۡتَرَفۡنَا بِذُنُوۡبِنَا فَہَلۡ اِلٰی خُرُوۡجٍ مِّنۡ سَبِیۡلٍ ۱۱​

"They will say, 'Our Lord, You made us lifeless twice and gave us life twice, and we have confessed our sins. So is there to an exit any way?'"

(Al-Mu’min: 11)

It is thus established that every human being has been granted two lives and two deaths. Dr. Usmani (Karachi) has also mentioned this and has strongly refuted those who believe in a third life after two lives, branding them with the label of disbelief. Yet, surprisingly, despite acknowledging this truth, he himself believes in a third life. He argues that if the third life is accepted as being with a barzakh (intermediate) body after death, it is entirely correct and in accordance with the Quran and Hadith.

Did Dr. Usmani Believe in the Third Life?​

Dr. Usmani has labeled those who believe in the punishment of the grave as deniers of two lives and two deaths. However, it may surprise you to learn that he himself essentially denied two lives and two deaths and believed in three lives and three deaths. In his writings, he states:

"It is understood from Allah’s command that every deceased gets a grave, whether their body is burned to ashes or becomes food for wild animals and fish. This is the real grave where the soul is placed into another (barzakh) body and remains until the Day of Judgment. This is where the period of comfort or punishment will pass. This matter is not exclusive to believers but applies to disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, and hypocrites alike. This is what the Quran and Hadith state."

Further explaining, Dr. Usmani writes:

"From this verse, it is understood that every deceased will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment. How then does the deceased become alive in the grave before the Day of Judgment? And after becoming alive in the grave, when does it die again? There is silence on the proof of these three lives. The Quran and Hadith clarify that the body decays, and it is only the tailbone that remains, which will be reconstructed on the Day of Judgment for the reckoning."

It is clear from his explanation that after death, every person is given a new body, which he terms as the barzakh body, and the soul is placed in this body. This complete human being then undergoes comfort or punishment until the Day of Judgment. According to him, the body may be torn apart by punishment, but it is reconstructed, and the soul is returned to it, repeatedly, until the Day of Judgment. The key point is that whether the body is new or old, barzakh or elemental, if the soul is placed in it, it becomes a living human. Therefore, according to him, the deceased has a complete and full life after death.

Further, he argues:

"According to these narrations, it is clear that the souls are given a body (barzakh) and comfort and punishment pass over this combination of soul and body until the Day of Judgment. This is a body that, even if damaged, regenerates. In the world, the graves of adulterers are scattered in different places, but in the barzakh, they are gathered in a single oven, naked, and subjected to fire punishment until the Day of Judgment. The righteous deceased also receive bodies. The martyrs are given green, flying bodies according to Muslim’s Hadith."

Dr. Usmani's Contradiction​

Dr. Usmani has heavily criticized those who believe in the punishment of the grave, labeling them as deniers of two lives and two deaths and believers in three lives and three deaths. Yet, his own writings reveal that he believed in a third life. He argued that after death, a person is given a new body (barzakh body) in which the soul resides and undergoes the stages of comfort or punishment until the Day of Judgment. This belief in a third life and multiple occurrences of the soul entering a new body closely aligns with the Hindu concept of reincarnation.

Conclusion:
  1. Dr. Usmani believed in a third life.
  2. He believed in the repeated return of the soul.
  3. His beliefs were akin to the Hindu concept of reincarnation.
  4. Contrary to the punishment of the deceased, he believed in the punishment of the living, thus rejecting the concept of the punishment of the grave.
His interpretation of the Hadith about the bodies of the deceased and the punishment in the barzakh contradicts the mainstream understanding of Islamic teachings. According to Islamic tradition, the soul faces questioning and experiences comfort or punishment in the grave until the Day of Judgment. This view is supported by numerous Hadiths and the consensus of Islamic scholars throughout history.

Similarities Between Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani and Dr. Usmani's Beliefs​

Dr. Usmani's belief in the soul entering a new body after death resembles the teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad stated:

"From all these arguments, it is proved that according to Islamic principles, the soul's association with the body remains permanent. Although the mortal body separates from the soul after death, in the barzakh, each soul is temporarily given a body to taste the consequences of its actions."

The Reality of the Punishment of the Grave​

At the time of death, the Angel of Death seizes the soul, separating it from the body until the Day of Judgment. The soul is placed in either paradise or hell, while the body remains in the grave. The soul's punishment is called the punishment of hell, and the body's punishment in the grave is called the punishment of the grave. The Prophet ﷺ has clearly differentiated between these two forms of punishment and has instructed the Ummah to seek refuge from them in their prayers.

Dr. Usmani's Misinterpretation​

Dr. Usmani has confused the concept of the punishment of the grave with the punishment of hell, misinterpreting the relevant Hadiths and rejecting the traditional understanding of Islamic scholars. He considers the barzakh as a separate realm and denies the punishment of the grave as described in authentic Islamic texts.
In conclusion, Dr. Usmani's interpretation deviates significantly from traditional Islamic teachings. His views on the soul and the afterlife introduce concepts that align more closely with non-Islamic beliefs, such as reincarnation, rather than the established doctrines of Islam.

Important Points:​

  1. Dr. Usmani denies the traditional understanding of two lives and two deaths.
  2. He believes in multiple occurrences of the soul entering new bodies.
  3. His views are influenced by the concept of reincarnation found in other religions.
  4. He rejects the punishment of the grave and introduces the idea of a barzakh body.

A Request to the Readers​

Please share this article with others to raise awareness of these misconceptions. The issue is becoming widespread, and it is the responsibility of every Muslim to counter this fitnah. Distribute this article widely, whether by printing, photocopying, or sharing online. For further reading, refer to our book "The Reality of the Punishment of the Grave."

May Allah guide us all to the truth.
 
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