Mentioning the types of life and explaining the ways the soul is connected to the body
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The Shaykh : We say that life is of four types: the life of this world, the life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection), the life of the Hereafter, and the life of the human being in the womb of his mother.
Life is of four types: the life of the human being in the womb of his mother, his life in this world, his life in the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection), and his life in the Hereafter. His life in the womb of his mother is a weak life; he does not hear, see, eat, drink, wear clothes, or take pleasure. Food reaches him only through the navel cord, which is intertwined with the womb, and he is nourished from his mother’s blood. For this reason, we find that a pregnant woman becomes weak, to the extent that it is permissible for her to break her fast in Ramadan if she fears for the child.
This life is incomplete. The life of this world is more complete; in it, a person eats, drinks, wears clothes, marries, takes pleasure, hears, sees, and knows. Is that not so?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : And this life differs from the first life. The life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) is more complete than the life of this world for one who is a believer. We ask Allah to make us and you among them.
The audience: Amen.
The Shaykh : The life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) is more complete than the life of this world for one who is a believer. Why? Because when the person is in his grave and is asked, “Who is your Lord? What is your religion? And who is your Prophet?” and he says, “My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam, and my Prophet is Muhammad,” a caller from the heavens calls out, “Your servant has spoken the truth, so spread for him from Paradise and dress him from Paradise, and open for him a door to Paradise.” Then he will receive from its spirit and its bliss, and his grave will be extended for him to the extent of his sight, and his grave will be spacious for him to the extent of his sight.
Therefore, when the deceased leaves his home and he is a believer, and he has been given glad tidings of Paradise at the time of death, his soul says, “Bring me forward, bring me forward.” Why? Because what is ahead of it is better than the entire world. If it is not so, it says, “Oh, woe to it,” and the soul says, “Oh, woe to it, where are you taking her? Oh, woe to it, where are you taking her?” because she was given glad tidings of the Fire and the anger of the Majestic One at the time of death. We seek refuge in Allah from that.
And there is a difference between the life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) and the life of this world, but the bliss of the barzakh is more complete than the bliss of this world, although it is less than the bliss of the Hereafter. This is because the bliss is for the soul alone, and it may sometimes be connected to the body. But the bliss of the Hereafter, when people are gathered[Al-Anbya 21:103], and when they enter Paradise, they will see of the bliss what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what has not occurred to the heart of any human being. Death will be slaughtered between Paradise and the Fire, and it will be said: “O people of Paradise, you will abide forever and there is no death, and O people of the Fire, you will abide forever and there is no death.”
The connection of the soul to the body in the life of the Hereafter is more complete than its connection to the body in the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection), and its connection to the body in this world, and its connection to the body in the womb of the mother.
So the types of life are four. The life of the martyrs is not the life of this world. For this reason, we bury the martyr. If he were alive with the life of this world, would it be permissible to bury him? who is buried while she is alive [At-Takwir 81:8-9], and is it possible for a person to bury his father while he is alive with the life of this world? Is it possible for a person to bury his father while he is alive with the life of this world? No, it is a life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection).
Now, if it is a life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection), then the person in it does not need to eat or drink from this world, nor clothes, nor a wife, nor does he work. He does not work. What is the evidence that he does not work in the grave? meaning: death. After death, there is no worship, Riyad as-Salihin 949.
It becomes clear by this that the life of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in his grave is not like his life in this world. He is not able to make du'a' (supplication) for you or seek forgiveness from Allah for you until you come and say, “Seek forgiveness for me, O Messenger of Allah,” or “Make du'a' (supplication) to Allah for me.”
Life is of four types: the life of the human being in the womb of his mother, his life in this world, his life in the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection), and his life in the Hereafter. His life in the womb of his mother is a weak life; he does not hear, see, eat, drink, wear clothes, or take pleasure. Food reaches him only through the navel cord, which is intertwined with the womb, and he is nourished from his mother’s blood. For this reason, we find that a pregnant woman becomes weak, to the extent that it is permissible for her to break her fast in Ramadan if she fears for the child.
This life is incomplete. The life of this world is more complete; in it, a person eats, drinks, wears clothes, marries, takes pleasure, hears, sees, and knows. Is that not so?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : And this life differs from the first life. The life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) is more complete than the life of this world for one who is a believer. We ask Allah to make us and you among them.
The audience: Amen.
The Shaykh : The life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) is more complete than the life of this world for one who is a believer. Why? Because when the person is in his grave and is asked, “Who is your Lord? What is your religion? And who is your Prophet?” and he says, “My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam, and my Prophet is Muhammad,” a caller from the heavens calls out, “Your servant has spoken the truth, so spread for him from Paradise and dress him from Paradise, and open for him a door to Paradise.” Then he will receive from its spirit and its bliss, and his grave will be extended for him to the extent of his sight, and his grave will be spacious for him to the extent of his sight.
Therefore, when the deceased leaves his home and he is a believer, and he has been given glad tidings of Paradise at the time of death, his soul says, “Bring me forward, bring me forward.” Why? Because what is ahead of it is better than the entire world. If it is not so, it says, “Oh, woe to it,” and the soul says, “Oh, woe to it, where are you taking her? Oh, woe to it, where are you taking her?” because she was given glad tidings of the Fire and the anger of the Majestic One at the time of death. We seek refuge in Allah from that.
And there is a difference between the life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) and the life of this world, but the bliss of the barzakh is more complete than the bliss of this world, although it is less than the bliss of the Hereafter. This is because the bliss is for the soul alone, and it may sometimes be connected to the body. But the bliss of the Hereafter, when people are gathered
They will not be grieved by the greatest terror, and the angels will meet them, [saying], "This is your Day which you have been promised" -
لا يحزنهم الفزع الأكبر وتتلقّاهم الملائكة هذا يومكم الذي كنتم توعدونThe connection of the soul to the body in the life of the Hereafter is more complete than its connection to the body in the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection), and its connection to the body in this world, and its connection to the body in the womb of the mother.
So the types of life are four. The life of the martyrs is not the life of this world. For this reason, we bury the martyr. If he were alive with the life of this world, would it be permissible to bury him?
And when the female infant is buried
وإذا الموؤودة(8) And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked (9) For what sin she was killed
وإذا الموؤودة سئلت بأي ذنب قتلتNow, if it is a life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection), then the person in it does not need to eat or drink from this world, nor clothes, nor a wife, nor does he work. He does not work. What is the evidence that he does not work in the grave?
And worship your Lord until death comes to you.
واعبد ربك حتى يأتيك اليقينWhen a man dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: A continuous charity, knowledge by which people derive benefit, pious son who prays for him.
إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاث: صدقة جارية، علم ينتفع به، ولد صالح يدعو لهIt becomes clear by this that the life of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in his grave is not like his life in this world. He is not able to make du'a' (supplication) for you or seek forgiveness from Allah for you until you come and say, “Seek forgiveness for me, O Messenger of Allah,” or “Make du'a' (supplication) to Allah for me.”