❖ Where Does the Soul Go After Leaving the Body, and Where Does It Remain Until the Day of Judgment?
Derived from: Fatawa Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
Where does the soul go after leaving the body, and where does it remain until the Day of Judgment?
The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah is that when the soul exits the body, it is recorded in either ‘Illiyyīn (for the righteous) or Sijjīn (for the wicked). Then, at the time of questioning in the grave, the soul is returned to the body. However, this reconnection between body and soul is not like the worldly connection; its exact nature is known only to Allah. Afterward, the soul returns to its place:
“There is consensus among Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah that the punishment and blessings of the grave occur to both the body and the soul.”
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa: 4/282)
We went out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for the funeral of an Ansari man. We reached his grave, but it had not yet been dug. The Prophet ﷺ sat down. He began to look at the sky and the earth alternately and began to whisper something to himself. Then he said several times:
“Seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the grave.”
He then described the process of death in detail:
When a believer is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, angels descend from the heavens. Their faces shine like the sun, and they sit before him as far as the eye can see. They bring with them a shroud and fragrance from Paradise. The Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says:
ايتها النفس المطمئنة اخرجي الى مغفرة من الله ورضوان
O tranquil soul! Come out to the forgiveness and pleasure of Allah.
The soul then departs as smoothly as a drop of water flowing from a waterskin. The Angel of Death takes the soul, and the angels rush to take it from him. They don’t leave it in his hand even for a blink of an eye.
The soul gives off a scent more fragrant than the best musk on earth. The angels ascend with the soul. Wherever they pass by angels, they ask:
"Whose pure soul is this?"
They reply:
"It is the soul of so-and-so (mentioning the best of his names)."
The gates of heaven are opened for him, and angels accompany him to the seventh heaven. Then it is said:
"Record this soul in ‘Illiyyīn."
So it is recorded.
Then it is said:
"Return it to the earth. From it We created them, into it We shall return them, and from it We shall resurrect them once again."
The soul is then returned to the body. Two angels come to him and say:
A voice from the heavens declares:
"He has spoken the truth."
Then it is commanded:
"Spread a bed for him from Paradise, dress him in garments from Paradise, and show him his place in Paradise."
He is blessed with the fragrance and breeze of Paradise, and his grave is expanded as far as the eye can see.
A handsome man dressed in beautiful clothes and emitting a delightful fragrance comes to him and says:
"Rejoice in that which pleases you. This is the day you were promised."
The believer asks:
"Who are you? Your face shows you bring good news."
He replies:
"I am your righteous deeds."
When a disbeliever is about to depart this world, dark-faced angels descend. They carry coarse cloth and sit before him as far as the eye can see. The Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says:
ايتها النفس الخبيثة اخرجي الى سخط من الله وغضب
O wicked soul! Come out to the wrath and anger of Allah.
The soul is violently torn out, as wet wool is pulled through a thorny bush, tearing veins and muscles. The angels immediately take it and wrap it in a coarse shroud, which emits a stench more foul than the worst decaying corpse on earth.
As they ascend, angels ask:
"Whose evil soul is this?"
They reply:
"This is the soul of so-and-so" (using the worst names he was known by).
The heavens are closed against it, and it is said:
"Return it to the earth. From it We created them, into it We shall return them, and from it We shall resurrect them once again."
The soul is returned to the body. Two angels come and say:
A voice from the heavens declares:
"He has lied."
Then it is commanded:
"Spread a bed for him from Hell, dress him in garments from Hell, and show him his place in the Fire."
He sees his place in Hell, feels its heat and stench, and his grave is compressed until his ribs are crushed together.
Then a man appears before him with a horrible face, ugly clothes, and a disgusting smell, and says:
"Rejoice in what will displease you. This is the day you were promised."
The disbeliever asks:
"Woe to you! Who are you? By Allah, your face brings nothing but evil."
He replies:
"I am your evil deeds."
Then the disbeliever repeatedly cries out:
رب لا تقم الساعة
O my Lord! Do not establish the Hour. O my Lord! Do not establish the Hour.
References:
Derived from: Fatawa Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
❀ Question:
Where does the soul go after leaving the body, and where does it remain until the Day of Judgment?
❖ Answer:
The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah is that when the soul exits the body, it is recorded in either ‘Illiyyīn (for the righteous) or Sijjīn (for the wicked). Then, at the time of questioning in the grave, the soul is returned to the body. However, this reconnection between body and soul is not like the worldly connection; its exact nature is known only to Allah. Afterward, the soul returns to its place:
- The righteous soul enters Paradise
- The wicked soul enters Hellfire
Both the body and soul experience punishment or reward.
❖ Statement of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله (d. 728 AH):
“There is consensus among Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah that the punishment and blessings of the grave occur to both the body and the soul.”
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa: 4/282)
❖ Hadith of Sayyiduna Bara’ ibn ‘Azib رضي الله عنه:
We went out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for the funeral of an Ansari man. We reached his grave, but it had not yet been dug. The Prophet ﷺ sat down. He began to look at the sky and the earth alternately and began to whisper something to himself. Then he said several times:
“Seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the grave.”
He then described the process of death in detail:
✿ Statement of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله (d. 728 AH):
When a believer is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, angels descend from the heavens. Their faces shine like the sun, and they sit before him as far as the eye can see. They bring with them a shroud and fragrance from Paradise. The Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says:
ايتها النفس المطمئنة اخرجي الى مغفرة من الله ورضوان
O tranquil soul! Come out to the forgiveness and pleasure of Allah.
The soul then departs as smoothly as a drop of water flowing from a waterskin. The Angel of Death takes the soul, and the angels rush to take it from him. They don’t leave it in his hand even for a blink of an eye.
The soul gives off a scent more fragrant than the best musk on earth. The angels ascend with the soul. Wherever they pass by angels, they ask:
"Whose pure soul is this?"
They reply:
"It is the soul of so-and-so (mentioning the best of his names)."
The gates of heaven are opened for him, and angels accompany him to the seventh heaven. Then it is said:
"Record this soul in ‘Illiyyīn."
So it is recorded.
Then it is said:
"Return it to the earth. From it We created them, into it We shall return them, and from it We shall resurrect them once again."
✿ Hadith of Sayyiduna Bara’ ibn ‘Azib رضي الله عنه:
The soul is then returned to the body. Two angels come to him and say:
- Who is your Lord?
He replies: My Lord is Allah. - What is your religion?
He replies: My religion is Islam. - What do you say about the man who was sent to you?
He replies: He is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. - How did you know?
He says: I read the Qur’an and Hadith, believed in it, and affirmed it.
A voice from the heavens declares:
"He has spoken the truth."
Then it is commanded:
"Spread a bed for him from Paradise, dress him in garments from Paradise, and show him his place in Paradise."
He is blessed with the fragrance and breeze of Paradise, and his grave is expanded as far as the eye can see.
A handsome man dressed in beautiful clothes and emitting a delightful fragrance comes to him and says:
"Rejoice in that which pleases you. This is the day you were promised."
The believer asks:
"Who are you? Your face shows you bring good news."
He replies:
"I am your righteous deeds."
✿ Departure of the Believer’s Soul:
When a disbeliever is about to depart this world, dark-faced angels descend. They carry coarse cloth and sit before him as far as the eye can see. The Angel of Death comes and sits by his head and says:
ايتها النفس الخبيثة اخرجي الى سخط من الله وغضب
O wicked soul! Come out to the wrath and anger of Allah.
The soul is violently torn out, as wet wool is pulled through a thorny bush, tearing veins and muscles. The angels immediately take it and wrap it in a coarse shroud, which emits a stench more foul than the worst decaying corpse on earth.
As they ascend, angels ask:
"Whose evil soul is this?"
They reply:
"This is the soul of so-and-so" (using the worst names he was known by).
The heavens are closed against it, and it is said:
"Return it to the earth. From it We created them, into it We shall return them, and from it We shall resurrect them once again."
✿ The Soul Returns to the Body:
The soul is returned to the body. Two angels come and say:
- Who is your Lord?
He replies: Alas, I don’t know. - What is your religion?
He replies: Alas, I don’t know. I heard people say something, so I said the same. - Who was the man sent to you?
He replies: I don’t know. I just followed what people said.
A voice from the heavens declares:
"He has lied."
Then it is commanded:
"Spread a bed for him from Hell, dress him in garments from Hell, and show him his place in the Fire."
He sees his place in Hell, feels its heat and stench, and his grave is compressed until his ribs are crushed together.
Then a man appears before him with a horrible face, ugly clothes, and a disgusting smell, and says:
"Rejoice in what will displease you. This is the day you were promised."
The disbeliever asks:
"Woe to you! Who are you? By Allah, your face brings nothing but evil."
He replies:
"I am your evil deeds."
Then the disbeliever repeatedly cries out:
رب لا تقم الساعة
O my Lord! Do not establish the Hour. O my Lord! Do not establish the Hour.
References:
- Al-Aḥādīth al-Ṭiwāl by al-Ṭabarānī: 25
- Al-Mustadrak by al-Ḥākim: 117 – Authentic chain
- Musnad Aḥmad: 4/287
- Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 4753, 4754 – Authentic chains
