What Has Allah Told Us About the Soul in the Quran?
ماذا أخبرنا الله تعالى عن الروح في القرآن الكريم؟
Allah Almighty has informed us that the soul never dies with the body upon the death of man. Other than this, Allah has not mentioned anything else. Only Allah knows the details about the soul.
(They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about the spirit. Say, “Its nature is known only to my Lord, and you ˹O humanity˺ have been given but little knowledge.”) [Al-Isra 17:85]
أخبرنا الله تعالى أن الروح لا تموت مع الجسد عندما يموت الإنسان. ولم يخبرنا أي شيء آخر. فالعلم عند الله تعالى.
(وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ ۖ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا) [الإسراء 17: 85]
1. The Spirit Is by the Command of My Lord | قل الروح من أمر ربي
Ibn Mas’ud said: While I was with the Prophet in a field, and he was leaning on a palm stalk, some Jews passed by. Some of them said to others: Ask him about the spirit. One said: What makes you want to ask him? Others said: Do not ask, lest he meet you with something you dislike. They said: Ask him. So they asked him about the spirit. The Prophet held back and gave them no reply, and I knew that revelation was coming to him, so I stood where I was. When the revelation came, he said: They ask you about the spirit. Say, Its nature is known only to my Lord, and you have been given but little knowledge (17:85) (Sahih al-Bukhari 4721). The questions Quraysh were reportedly told to put to him in Makkah, from the Sira, are explained in the reported three questions Quraysh were told to ask the Prophet.
وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ ۖ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا (سورة الإسراء: 85)
قال عبد الله بن مسعود: بينا أنا مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في حرث وهو متكئ على عسيب إذ مر اليهود، فقال بعضهم لبعض: سلوه عن الروح، فقال: ما رابكم إليه، وقال بعضهم: لا يستقبلكم بشيء تكرهونه، فقالوا: سلوه، فسألوه عن الروح، فأمسك النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فلم يرد عليهم شيئا، فعلمت أنه يوحى إليه، فقمت مقامي، فلما نزل الوحي قال: (ويسألونك عن الروح قل الروح من أمر ربي وما أوتيتم من العلم إلا قليلا) (الإسراء 17: 85) (صحيح البخاري 4721).
2. Allah Takes the Souls at Death and in Sleep | الله يتوفى الأنفس حين موتها
It is Allah Who calls back the souls of people upon their death as well as the souls of the living during their sleep. Then He keeps those for whom He has ordained death, and releases the others until their appointed time (39:42). Ibn Kathir explains that Allah, telling of Himself that He disposes of all existence as He wills, takes the souls in the major death, through the angels He sends who take them from the bodies, and in the minor death at sleep. The Prophet taught us to say at bedtime: In Your name, my Lord, I lay my side down, and by You I raise it. If You keep my soul, have mercy on it, and if You release it, protect it with what You protect Your righteous servants (Sahih al-Bukhari 6320). The two deaths are compared in the minor death and the major death, and death itself in what death is.
اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا ۖ فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِي قَضَىٰ عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ الْأُخْرَىٰ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى (سورة الزمر: 42)
قال تعالى: (الله يتوفى الأنفس حين موتها والتي لم تمت في منامها فيمسك التي قضى عليها الموت ويرسل الأخرى إلى أجل مسمى) (الزمر 39: 42)، قال ابن كثير: ثم قال تعالى مخبرا عن نفسه الكريمة بأنه المتصرف في الوجود بما يشاء، وأنه يتوفى الأنفس الوفاة الكبرى، بما يرسل من الحفظة الذين يقبضونها من الأبدان، والوفاة الصغرى عند المنام. وقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في دعاء النوم: "باسمك رب وضعت جنبي، وبك أرفعه، إن أمسكت نفسي فارحمها، وإن أرسلتها فاحفظها بما تحفظ به عبادك الصالحين" (صحيح البخاري 6320).
3. When the Soul Is Taken, the Sight Follows It | إن الروح إذا قبض تبعه البصر
The soul leaves the body; it does not end with it. The Prophet closed the eyes of Abu Salamah after his death and said: When the soul is taken, the sight follows it (Sahih Muslim 920). The righteous soul is addressed at death and on the Day of Resurrection: O tranquil soul! Return to your Lord, well pleased with Him and well pleasing to Him (89:27-28). Ibn Kathir explains: return to His nearness, His reward and what He has prepared for His servants in His Paradise.
ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً (سورة الفجر: 28)
الروح تفارق الجسد ولا تفنى بفنائه؛ فقد أغمض النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أبا سلمة بعد موته ثم قال: "إن الروح إذا قبض تبعه البصر" (صحيح مسلم 920)، وتُخاطَب النفس الصالحة عند الاحتضار وفي يوم القيامة، قال تعالى: (يا أيتها النفس المطمئنة ارجعي إلى ربك راضية مرضية) (الفجر 89: 27-28)، قال ابن كثير: أي إلى جواره وثوابه وما أعد لعباده في جنته.
4. The Souls of the Martyrs Are Alive | بل أحياء عند ربهم يرزقون
Never think of those martyred in the cause of Allah as dead. In fact, they are alive with their Lord, well provided for (3:169). Ibn Kathir explains that though they were killed in this world, their souls are alive and provided for in the lasting abode. The Prophet said: Their souls are in the bodies of green birds, with lamps hung from the Throne; they roam freely in Paradise wherever they wish (Sahih Muslim 1887).
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ (سورة آل عمران: 169)
قال تعالى: (ولا تحسبن الذين قتلوا في سبيل الله أمواتا بل أحياء عند ربهم يرزقون) (آل عمران 3: 169)، قال ابن كثير: يخبر تعالى عن الشهداء بأنهم وإن قتلوا في هذه الدار فإن أرواحهم حية مرزوقة في دار القرار. وقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "أرواحهم في جوف طير خضر لها قناديل معلقة بالعرش، تسرح من الجنة حيث شاءت" (صحيح مسلم 1887).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What has Allah told us about the soul in the Quran?
That the soul does not die with the body, and nothing more of its nature: Say, Its nature is known only to my Lord, and you have been given but little knowledge (17:85).
Does the soul die with the body?
No. Allah has told us that the soul does not die with the body; the Prophet said: When the soul is taken, the sight follows it (Sahih Muslim 920).
Why was the verse about the spirit revealed?
Some Jews asked the Prophet about the spirit; he gave no answer until revelation came with 17:85 (Sahih al-Bukhari 4721).
Where are the souls of the martyrs?
Alive with their Lord, well provided for (3:169); the Prophet said their souls are in green birds that roam Paradise wherever they wish (Sahih Muslim 1887).