PREFACE
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
SOME CONVINCING THINGS ABOUT THE HEREAFTER
Many things have been written and said about death. But I could not find anything more effective and convincing than what the Martyr of the Prayer niche, the God-loving hero, Ayatullah Syed Abdul Husain Dastghaib (q.s.) had once said 25 years ago
1 and it is well known that he had full knowledge of Quranic verses, traditions and religious books. Once during the month of Ramadhan, he delivered a speech in which he had said that death was the door of life and the first step in attainment of God's Mercy. He described Barzakh (Purgatory) and its comforts in such a way that the audience became captivated by it. Thereafter he also described the tortures of Barzakh in such a manner that people began to tremble due to fear. Consequently after hearing the quotations from Quran and Tradition many people gave up sins and turned towards good deeds and righteousness.
HIS BLOOD PROVED MORE EFFECTIVE THAN HIS SPEECH
May your soul remain ever-happy 0' teacher of morality and 0' leader and teacher of the faithful! You guided people towards the truth during your lifetime. You became the means of taking people away from falsehood. But much more than that, you fulfilled your duty of propagating the truth through your martyrdom. As this dear friend has written, the blood of Ayatullah Dastghaib has proved
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1 This preface was written on 04/02/1981.
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more effective than this sermons.
He constantly said in his speeches and also wrote and published that "Death is not Extinction; rather it is the beginning of an everlasting life." He repeatedly gave good tidings to the family members of martyrs that the Holy Quran has adjudged that your (martyred) relatives are alive.
And do not speak of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead; nay, (they are) alive, but you do not perceive. (2:154)
Certainly we are the dead in comparison with them because (this our life is perishable and) they have attained the everlasting life after which there is no death.
THE PRECIOUS PEARL WHICH COULD NOT BE APPRECIATED
O Martyr of the Prayer niche! May your soul remain ever happy. You have made this matter clear through your martyrdom. Even two months have not yet passed since you have left us. But so many of your miracles have been seen and heard that many people are feeling sorry and restless because they could not know you as you should have been known. They feel strongly and ask themselves why they did not take proper benefit of your graceful life among them?
Here, regarding the discussion about this book and about Hereafter as well as with reference to your oft-repeated statement that "The martyrs are forever immortal" we'd like to mention an event which took place on the seventh day of your martyrdom which has become known to most of the residents of Shiraz to such an extent-that it has also been reported in the press.
A STRANGE REQUEST
On the day after the 40th day of martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.) of the year 1402 H. in the morning when I went, according of the routine, to my father's house, the office secretary came to me and, after Salaam and inquiries about health etc, began to talk about the dream of a Syed lady as follows:
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"A respectable Syed lady who I know very well and who lives in our neighbourhood, says, "Last night I saw the late Martyr of the Prayer niche (q.s.) in my dream. He told me, 'Some pieces of my flesh are stuck between bricks in the wall in this street (where the late Ayatullah was shot). Please recollect those pieces and join them with my body."'
At first I did not give importance to this news. I heard the discussions of people in the office and this continued for about two hours. Thereafter I stepped out along with some of them with the intention of participating in a programme of 'Fatihakhaani' (recitation of Quran for gifting the divine rewards to the departed soul). Per chance, we had to pass through the aforesaid street where my father was martyred. So when we reached that fateful spot, I suddenly remembered the aforesaid dream and I told about it to my companions as it was related to me that morning and said that there was nothing wrong if we walked looking around. Then suddenly our eyes fell for the first time on that wall and all of us saw that some pieces of flesh were stuck in the gaps between bricks at a spot on that wall.
DOUBLE BURIAL
Two of our companions went forward to collect those pieces of the body of the Martyr of the Prayer Niche (so they collected them and placed in a plastic bag safely). The news of this event spread in the city like wild fire especially due to fact that the 40th day of Imam Husain's martyrdom had just passed and there was a total holiday in Shiraz.
During Friday eve, in the Jame Masjid of Shiraz, as usual, and as per the tradition of the Martyr of the Prayer niche for the last several years, a Dua Kumail prayer meeting was held and a huge gathering of mourners heard the event. Then and there it was announced that: This night at ten o'clock the remaining parts of the martyred Ayatullah will be buried. So it was done and several groups of mourners continued their mourning rituals till late night in the courtyard of the shrine of Ahmed bin Musa Kazim. Finally, on the
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day of Arbaeen, with the fresh remembrance of the burial of the remaining part of the Holy body of Imam Husain (a.s.) the aforesaid two plastic bags containing the remaining parts of the Ayatullah's body were brought and the contents were placed in the foot side hole dug in the grave of the great martyr.
TWO OTHER PERSONS ALSO HAD THAT DREAM
In fact, this event was very wonderful and strange. I forgot to mention that on that very day when the scattered pieces of the Holy body were retrieved from the bricks of the said wall, a gentleman, who is one of the sincere persons belonging to the clergy and commands respect and reliability, told me that last night two other persons including a relative of the martyr had also seen the same dream. After hearing this narration, this event assumed much importance in my opinion. So finally I sent a messenger to the aforesaid Syed lady and requested her to write back to us her full description of the said dream and also to mention her full name and address along with the names of her husband and other family members. So the lady conceded to my request and sent me the accurate and detailed account, which is presently before me. I seek the consent of the honourable readers to quote a few parts of the said report so that it may be preserved as a part of history and be a mean of admonition and guidance for future generations.
The lady writes, "Some particles of my flesh have been left stuck up in the wall."
The vision (dream) was, "I was in a big garden. Suddenly I saw Ayatullah Dastghaib walking ahead of me. I was walking behind him. This was the middle part of the garden and the Ayatullah had put on a coffee coloured cloak. He asked me, "Please go and tell the people that some particles of my flesh have been left in that wall. He repeated these words several times. So I was extremely astonished when I woke up."
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A STORY MORE REVEALING THAN A BOOK
You yourself may decide what truth this true dream tells. Talking testimony of a truth, which is more convincing than a whole book of admonition. The Martyr of the Prayer Niche had mentioned, "Death is not destruction; rather it is the door for attainment of Divine Mercy." 'The martyrs in the path of God are alive and they are getting provision from their Lord. This learned Scholar has, in this book, given detailed description of events in the world of Barzakh (Purgatory between Death and Resurrection). Then he has turned towards the return of the soul to body. All these things are true. The martyr has personally proved this and announced thus.
OCEAN IN A NUTSHELL
Despite the limitations of this book, looking towards the contents, we conclude how nicely the author has encompassed all the conditions of death and Hereafter. The martyr (r.a.) has, in a very attractive style, in very appealing and effective words, described the journey to the Hereafter, which begins, from the moment of death. Then he describes the kind of death for the righteous and the offender. He has described the last moments on deathbed in such a way that the reader feels he himself is on the deathbed.
Thereafter he describes the conditions in Barzakh and quotes at length verses picturing the pleasing comforts of Paradise in the grave and thereafter a number of verses and traditions throw ample light on what happens during the torturous punishments in the grave (Barzakh period). He also narrates many true events and visions in support of this and shows what the reader has to pass through.
Thereafter he has presented arguments, verses and traditions concerning the events preceding Resurrection and the Day of Judgement and has discussed all this in a very simple style. He has also talked at length about the bridge (Sirat) and the Balance (Mizan) and the Paradise (Behisht) and the Hell (Dozakh) and Reward (Sawaab) and Punishment (Azaab) through several sources. In short, it can very well be claimed that hundreds of thought provoking and eye-catching events have been covered like an ocean
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in a nutshell in this brief book.
May your soul remain ever happy and pleased, O Ayatullah Martyr of the Prayer Niche! SO also the souls of your eighteen-year-old grandson, Syed Muhammad Taqi Dastghaib and all of your faithful companions may remain in peace and comfort forever.
Syed Muhammad Hashim Dastghaib
Shiraz
4th February 1981
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Chapter One
DEATH
No OTHER SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE EXCEPT REVELATION
The root of 'Maad' (Hereafter) is 'Aud' which means to return or to come back. As on the Day of Resurrection souls will be made to return to their bodies, it is called Maad.
'Maad' is one of the principles of the Holy religion of Islam and to have faith in it is absolutely essential or obligatory and it is that everyone will, after his death, become alive again and would be rewarded or punished according to ones belief and deeds.
'Maad' which begins with death and then passes through grave and then Barzakh and then Qiyamat-e-Kubra (the great resurrection) and ends with either Paradise or Hell cannot be comprehended by the apparent senses and even though the occurring of the original 'Maad' or Resurrection is proved by logic or brain (the details of which will be discussed later on), it is impossible for one to ponder in solitude over it and to understand what will happen after death, and through which stages one will have to pass. For understanding this, there is no way except to rely on and take help from divine revelation because man wherever he is, his power of understanding cannot cross the limits of his world. For example, it is impossible for a baby in the womb to get the idea of the outside world and to fathom its vastness. Similarly it is also beyond his powers to understand the endlessness of the space and to know about the things therein. Likewise, the man who lives in this world like a captive of matter and nature cannot have the ability to understand the world of
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angels and spirits, which is hidden from him. To reach that state will be possible only after getting freedom from this material world. In short, a man who is living in this material world, can never be able to know the details of the world after death, unless he puts faith and trusts in the truths made known by the Creator of this Universe.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HEREAFTER HAVE NOTHING
TO DO WITH INTELLECT
So if anyone says, "It is far from my brain that such and such thing will happen after death," then his saying so is absolutely unacceptable because the conditions and events after death have no relation with the bodily brain. Even if all the thinkers and philosophers join together and make collective efforts to understand the conditions beyond death (in the other world) through the materials available to them in this earthly life they can never succeed in their manoeuvrings. So if we do have any source, it is only those things and those words, which the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.s.) and His Holy Progeny have shown to us. Hence we also confirm them, as all of those great persons who are Infallible are those to whom God Almighty, the Lord of the Universe sends Revelation.
DOES A DEAD BODY TALK?
This discussion will prove that the doubts and distrusts expressed by some senseless people are totally baseless. For example, they say that the body of a man who has died is just like dust and stone or like dry wood and so how can it be questioned in a grave? In other words, can stones talk? If we fill up the mouth of a dead body with something and, on the next day, open his grave and see we will find that nothing has gone out of that mouth. (The answer to this question will be given soon).
TALKING IS NOT LIMITED TO THE TONGUE
Possibilities and probabilities are essential to intellect. An intelligent man (having brain) hears a thing and if it is impossible according to intelligence, he doubts it's being either true or untrue. But if the one from whom he heard that thing is an infallible person then the
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former will at once say that whatever he has said is true. But if the hearer is unwise and ignorant he would exclaim, "What kind of talks are these, which we fail to understand!" So not to accept the words of the infallible would be based on senselessness and foolishness. Such a fellow is like a quadruped but has two feet whose senses are limited only to eating, sleeping and intercourse with the opposite sex. Obviously if it is told to an ox or an ass that an angel appears before our eyes at the time of death or that there will be a questioning in our graves, they will not be able to agree because their intelligence is limited and cannot go far from their bellies and genitals. Only a higher level of soul can accept such news and matters.
There is no scope here to deal at length and with full details. Therefore, we mention briefly what has been narrated by Ahle Bayt regarding what happens right from the first stage (death) up to the last one (Resurrection).
DEATH: THE FIRST STATION
Truth About Death: The dislocation or the breaking of the relationship between body and soul is called death. Several examples have been quoted to explain this connection. Some say it is like the relation between a ship and its captain wherein death snatches away the ship from the control and authority of the captain. You say: My hand, my leg and my eye. This means 'I' (my) is something other than the said hand, leg and eye. When you say: I walked, it is true that you moved but you walked through your legs. This shows that 'You' are something other than the limb called leg. Likewise, you say: I saw, I heard, I said. In all these three sentences the word 'I' (my) refers to a person and this person is the same as your soul which becomes manifest through the said scenes and which has been expressed through the above sentences. It is the soul that sees and hears but through the eyeballs in the eyes and the holes in the ears respectively. These eyes and ears are, of course, the means of seeing and hearing. Soul is a lamp lighted by God's Might in the dark house of body, which shows its light through eyes, ears and other organs.
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WHAT IS DEATH?
Shifting of the lamp from one place to another place. For instance, suppose there is a hut having many holes. If a lamp is placed in it, its light would be emitted through those holes. But as soon as that lamp is moved out of that hut it will make the hut dark. Similarly, so long as the lamp of soul remains in the body it manifests its existence known through the light, which comes out from limbs like eyes and ears etc. But as soon as this lamp of soul is removed from the body, all its manifestations also cease and the body becomes dark. This is Death. This was just and explanatory example. Otherwise ...
THE SOUL NEITHER ENTERS THE BODY NOR
GETS OUT OF IT
It must be understood that the relation between the soul and the body is not by way of Hulool (penetrative migration). It is not like the entrance of water in a utensil or of air in vacuum. It also cannot be said that it remains out of body or it goes out of it at the time of death because soul is essence, not matter. There is no question of its entering or vacating. The only thing is that its relation with body is such that it remains fully attentive to the body. Death disconnects this relation.
It is also obligatory for us to believe that death occurs by the command of God. The same Power, which had, established this relation in the womb, at the last moment of the worldly life, disconnects this relation between the body and soul. Only He is the bestower of life and death. The Holy Quran says,
God gives life and only God causes death also. (39:42)
Some common people are very angry with Izra'eel (The angel of death). They do not even like to hear his name. They even condemn him though they know that these angels do not do anything of their own wish or authority. They have been employed by the Lord of the Universe and hence do everything by His order or command.
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HOW THE SOUL IS TAKEN
How soul is retrieved from body has been narrated in the traditions about the Me'raj (ascension) of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). In short, there is a board in front of Izra'eel, which contains names of all the people. The name of the person whose time for death arrives is removed from that board and Israel at once takes possession of his or her soul. It is also possible that names of thousands of people may be wiped out at one moment whereupon Israel takes the souls of all of them instantly. This is not astonishing. It is just like a gust of breeze blowing off thousands of lamps in a split second. All of it is by the power of the Almighty. Doubtlessly it is Israel who snatches souls but, as a matter of fact, it is only God Who causes it because it is only His command and Will.
WHO CAUSES DEATH? GOD, IZRA'EEL OR THE ANGELS?
Here comes up a question: Who takes away the soul? It is God or Izra'eel or the angels? There are three verses about this in the Holy Quran. At one place it says: God causes Death. At another place it is mentioned that: The angel of death takes away the soul. (Surah Sajdah 32:11)
1. On yet another occasion it is mentioned: Angels collect the souls. (Surah Nisa 4:97)
2. The fact is that all these statements are true because, the angel of death and his subordinate angels collect souls as commanded by God Almighty. Doubtlessly it is just like this: A king, through his army and its chiefs, conquers a country. It is correct to say that such and such army won such and such territory. Similarly, it is also correct to mention that such and such commander captured such and such country. But in both the statements the fact remains that the country has been conquered by
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1 Say: The angel of death who is given charge of you shall cause you to die, then to your Lord you shall be brought back.
2 Surely (as for) those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to their souls, they shall say: In what state were you? They shall say: We were weak in the earth. They shall say: Was not Allah's earth spacious, so that you should have migrated therein? So these it is whose abode is hell, and it is an evil resort.
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the king who owns, manages and directs the affairs of his state through officers and personnel under his command. This example also is only for making the matter understandable. Otherwise such examples cannot fully describe and explain the power of the Almighty.
THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE HAS FIXED SOME
CAUSES FOR DEATH
It is agreed that it is only God who takes away life at the time of death. But you should also remember that God has made this world a world of causes. He has created causes for death also like falling from roof, becoming ill or being murdered etc. Surely all these events become causes of death but the same is not absolutely essential because it can be also be seen that some people were seriously ill but they did not die of that illness. Of course when their lifespan comes to end even a light and ordinary thing can also become the reason of death and the Lord of the universe takes away his life. It is also seen that some people die without even the slightest illness.
APPEARANCE OF IZRA'EEL ACCORDING TO THE DEEDS
OF THE DYING PERSON
A matter pertaining to the angel of death is that when he comes to take the soul of any person he assumes a face according to the deeds of the dying person. It is mentioned in narrations that once Ibrahim (a.s.) asked the angel of death, "What shape do you assume while fetching the soul of unbeliever?" The angel replied, "You will not be able to look at that frightening shape." The Friend of God repeated, "I intend to see it." He saw the angel in the form of a black man. His hair was standing on its end all over his body. A foul stench emanated from that frightening figure. His clothes were dark and flames and smoke leapt out from his mouth and nose. Ibrahim (a.s.) became unconscious. When he came to sense he said, "Even if the unbeliever is not given any other punishment, seeing you in this form is torture enough for him."
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On the other hand the shape in which the angel of death appears before a believer has been mentioned in a number of traditions.
1
ARRIVAL OF ANGELS AND SATANS AT THE TIME OF DEATH
During the last moments of man's life, angles arrive and stand on his right side. Likewise the Satans (devils) also approach him and stand on the left side of the deathbed
2. The job of Satans is to deceive and betray, particularly at the time of death so that, if that person has any faith, it could be destroyed. The scale of man's luck or misfortune is his last word and deed. The way in which he passes his life is the same manner and the state in which he has died, will be his state when he will be made to rise in Qiyamat. His wish at the time of his death will be what it was during his life and so he will die with the same ambitions. If in your heart there was an aspiration to see the charm of Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) you will be able to observe that beauty at the last moment. But if, God forbid your wish throughout your life was only the fulfilment of desire and passion then that lust of yours will become more intense at the time of death. But the one who had perfect faith is promised by God that He will protect him and Satan will not be able to gain control over him.
Allah confirms those who believe with the sure word in this world's life and in the hereafter ... (14:27)
When Abu Zakaria Razi was about to die, those sitting around him asked him to recite, Laa Ilaaha Illallaah (There is no God except Allah). He replied, "I will not recite it." Then he became unconscious. When he gained sense he said, "Just now a man had come to me who said, 'If you wish to be lucky and fortunate then say: Isa is the son of God. I said, 'I will not say.' After a number of requests and denials that fellow said, 'Okay then say: There is no God but Allah.' Yet I said, 'Since you are asking me to say so I will not.' Suddenly there appeared a weapon, which killed that fellow. Now I am conscious and am reciting the Kalimah (formula of
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1 Biharul Anwar, Vol: 3, Chapter on Angel of death.
2 Biharul Anwar, Vol: 3, Chapter on Angel of death.
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faith)." Then he recited the two formulae (Shahaadatain) and passed away from this world.
Verily, how Satan can subdue a man who had the belief that there is only one God at the time of his death? Of course the man who had been the follower of devil throughout his life will be a companion of devil on his deathbed also.
COMFORT AND DISCOMFORT AT THE TIME OF DEATH
Much has been mentioned in narrations about comfort and discomfort at the time of death. In some, it (the trouble or pain) has been compared with the pain experienced when one's skin is peeled. In some it is said that the pain of death is much less compared to the revolving of a large stony door of a castle having nails, in one's eyes. In yet another narration it is said that the pain of death is like that experienced when one's body is cut into pieces by scissors or torn with a saw. So it has come to notice that some dying persons have suffered pains beyond description, which make the observers tremble.
But, on the other hand, for some persons death has been as pleasing as smelling a fragrant flower.
Those whom the angels cause to die in a good state, saying: Peace be on you: enter the garden for what you did. (16:32)
In some traditions it is mentioned by the infallibles, that for some people, death is like taking off dirty clothes and putting on a clean dress. In some other narrations it is compared with liberating the body from chains and yokes, as if death is like being freed from the imprisonment of this material world.
SOMETIMES DISCOMFORT AT THE TIME OF DEATH
REDEEMS SINS
Discomforts or comforts at the time of death mentioned above do not represent a hard and fast rule. It is not that a righteous person never experiences death time trouble. There are many a faithful whose souls depart easily. Also there are some good and faithful people who get God's mercy whereby their sins are wiped out through the
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death pains and discomforts. This is because though one is faithful, he must also leave the world in a clean state (after removal of the blemishes of sins) so that he may be clean in the Hereafter also and may become eligible for divine grace right from the first stage of grave. In the case of infidels the death time pain is the starting point of his post-mortem punishments and tortures.
But how will it be when the angels cause them to die smiting their backs. (47:27)
