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Q: Why did God create Death?
A: Blessed be Him in Whose hand is the dominance (of the universe) and He is Capable of everything; Who created death
and life to test which one of you has better work and He is the Almighty and the Most-Forgiving.
Translation of: Ayat 1 - 2, Surat AlMulk.
Words: Tabaraka = Blessed be, Allathi = Who, AlMulk = The dominance, Kuli = Everything,
Shaye' = Thing, Kadeer = Capable, Khalaka = Created, AlMout = The Death, AlHayat =
The Life, Ahsan = Better, Amal = Work, AlAzeez = The Almighty, AlGhafoor = Much-Forgiving.
Q: Who comes to take the soul away at the time of the death?
A: And He is the dominant over His people. And He sends down over you guardians until the time of death
comes upon any of you, Our messengers (angels) will take his soul away and they do not neglect.
Translation of: Ayah 61, Surat AlAn'am.
Words: Howa = He, AlQa'hir = The Dominant, Fawka = Over, Ibadah = His people, Hafathah =
Guardians, Ahadukum = Any of you, Rusuluna = Our messengers, Hum = They, La = no, not,
Yufaritoun = They neglect.
Q: Is the time of death for each one of us already fixed?
A: And a person can not die but with the permission of Allah according to a fixed-time book. And who wants the
reward of this life We will give him from it and who wants the reward of the after-life We will give him from it and
We will reward the grateful.
Translation of: Ayah 145, Surat A'l Imran.
Words: Nafs = Person, Tamoot = Dies, Bi'thin = With permission, Kitab = Book, Moaj'al =
Fixed-time, Yureed = Wants, Thawab = reward, AlDunya = This Life, AlAkhirah = The Other Life, Najzi =
Reward, AlShakir = The Grateful.
Q: Is there an immediate punishment at the time of death (before The Day of Judgment)?
A: And only if you could see at the time of the death of those who disbelieved, the angels smacking their faces and
their bottoms and (they'll say) taste the punishment of The Fire. That is because of what their hands
had prepared, and Allah is never unjust to his servants. Just like the persistent work of the People of
Pharaoh (Phiroun) and those before them: They disbelieved in the signs of Allah, so Allah destroyed them for their sins. Indeed Allah
is All-Mighty;
Relentless in the punishment.
Translation of: Ayat 50 - 52, Surat AlAnfa'l..
Words: Tara = You see, Yadhrib = Smacks - Hits, Wujouh = Faces, Adbar =
Bottoms - Backs, Dhouqou = Taste (plural), Adhab = Punishment, AlHareeq = The Fire, Kaddama = Prepared,
Aydi = Hands, Da'b = Persistent work, Kabl = Before, Thanb = Sin.
Q: After the person dies and during the burial of the dead body is there a quick questioning of the dead person?
A: And who can be more transgressor (unjust) than the one who lied upon Allah or rejected His lines; Those
a portion of the book (what is pre written for them: Good or bad) will reach them; Until our messengers (angels) have come
to them to take their souls away they (angels) would say: Where are those whom you were calling upon other than Allah?
They
will say: They got lost, and they witnessed upon themselves that they were disbelievers. He (Allah on Day of
Judgment) will say: Enter into nations who had passed away before you from the jinn and humans in the Fire! Everytime a nation
is entered it, it will curse its sister until when they caught up with each other in it, the last of them said to the first:
Our God those had misled us so give them a double of the Fire. He said: For every one a double but you don't know! And
the first of them said to the last: But you didn't have any advantage over us so taste the punishment for what you
were earning! Indeed those who have rejected Our (Allah's) lines and have turned arrogantly away from them, the gates of
the Heaven will not be open for them; And they will not enter The Paradise until the camel thrusts (passes) through the
eye of the needle; And that is how we pay the criminals; For them from Hell beds and above them bedcovers; And that is
how We pay the unjust. And those who had faith and did the righteous deeds; We do not overburden a self but with what
is in its capacity; Those are the people of the Paradise; They in it are eternal. And We have pulled out what is
in their chests of bitterness (for other believers); Flowing underneath them the rivers; And they said: Thanks to Allah Who had guided us to this;
And we were not to be guided had it not been for Allah to guide us. Our prophets had reached us with The Truth; And
they were called that is The Paradise; You have inherited it with what you were doing.
Translation of: Ayat 37 - 43, Surat AlA'raf.
Words: Ja'at = Came, Tatawaffa = To take the soul away, Tad'ou = Call, Min Doun Allah = Other than
Allah, Dhal'la = Was lost, Udkhul = Enter, Umem = Nations, La'nat = Cursed, Ukht = Sister,
Ed'darakou = Caught up (plural), Ukhra = Last one, U'la = First, Dhe'f = Double, Taksib = Earn,
Abwab = Gates, Yalij = Thrusts - Pushes with force, Jamal = Camel, Sem = Eye, Khiyat = Needle; Mihad = Beds,
Ghawash = Bedcovers, Nukal'lif = Overburden, Wose' = Capacity, Khalid = Eternal, Naza' = Pulled
out, Ghil = Hatred, Hada = Guided, Awrith'tomouha = You inherited it (plural).
Q: Does death has its own agony (pain)? (The Prophet Muhammad had the agony of death as a severe headache for three days before
his death).
A: And the intoxication of death (like drunk from agony) has come with the truth (of death); That is what you were turning
away from. And it was blown in the Trumpet that is the Day of the Warning (Judgment). And every soul came with
it a driver (angel drives each) and a witness (of his work). You were in carelessness from this so We (Allah)
have removed your veil (cover) so your sight today is iron. And his companion (Satan who accompanies the wrongdoer in life)
said: This one with me is next (prepared). Throw (order to the two angels) in Hell every faith rejecter, stubborn,
forbidding the good, aggressive, suspicious, who made with Allah another god; So throw him
in the severe punishment. His companion (Satan) said: Our God I did not make him tyrannical but he was
in a faraway stray (from the Truth). He (Allah) said: Do not dispute in front of Me and I had sent you in advance
(prophets) with the warning. The word (Allah's word) is not changed with Me and I am not at all unjust to my servants.
The Day (Judgment) when We say to Hell: Have you become full and it will say: Is there more? And the Paradise will be
brought for the righteous not at a distance. This is what you were promised for every one returning to Allah with
repentance, observant (of Allah's orders), who was afraid of The Merciful secretly and he came with a repenting heart.
Enter into it (Paradise) with peace
and that is the Day of the Eternal Life; For them is what they desire and We have more. And how many generations did
We destroy before them: They were more in violent attacks than them (later wrongdoers) and they wandered in the land
so was there an escape (from Allah)?
Translation of: Ayat 19 - 36, Surat Qaf.
Words: Sakrah = Intoxication, Tuheed = Turning away from, Waeed = Warning, Sa'iq =
Driver, Shaheed = Witness, Fi Ghaflah = In carelessness (foolishness), Kashafa = Revealed, Ghita' = Veil - Cover,
Basar = Eyesight, Hadeed = Iron, Qareen = Companion, Ateed = Forthcoming - Next, Alqiya = Throw
(order to two), Aneed = Stubborn, Man'na' = Forbidding, Mu'tad = Aggressive, Mureeb = Suspicious,
Atghayt = Made him tyrannical, Baeed = Faraway, Yubad'dal = Is changed, Imtalati = Are you full,
Mazeed = More, Aw'wab = Returning to Allah with repentance, Hafeedh = observant - mindful, Qarn =
Generation, Batsh = Violent Attack, Mahees = Escape.
Q: Is there punishment in the grave? The answer is highlighted.
Note: After every prayer, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to call upon Allah seeking refuge from the
punishment of the grave.
Note: The grave of a person is wherever his body lies be it land, air or water.
The Barrier (= AlBarzakh) is where the dead person goes. It is a life
between this Life and the Other Life. In an excerpt of a
saying of the Prophet Muhammad: A window opens in the grave so that the dead has a taste of Paradise or a
taste of Hell according to his deeds.
A: And We had sent Moses with Our lines and a clear authority (miracles). To Pharaoh (Phiroun) and Haman and
Qarun so they said: A magician, a liar. So when he came to them with the Truth from us they said: Kill the sons of those
who believed with him and bring shame to their women and the plotting of the disbelievers is not but in a loss. And
Pharaoh said: Leave me to kill Moses and let him call His God; Indeed I'm afraid that he will change your religion or
he will cause corruption to appear in the land. And Moses said: I seek refuge with my God and your God from every
arrogant who does not believe in the Day of Judgment. And a faithful man from the people of Pharaoh concealing his faith
said: Are you killing a man who says my god is Allah and he has brought you the clear signs from your God; And if he is
a liar so his (sin of) lying will be upon him. And if he is truthful, some of what he promises you will befall upon you;
Indeed Allah does not guide who is a transgressor, a liar. O my people: Yours is the kingdom today, having the upper
hand in the land but who is going
to help us from the violent attack of Allah when it comes to us? Pharaoh said: I do not give you an opinion except
what I see (to kill Moses) and I do not guide you but to the path of the Reason. And the one who believed said: O my
people: I am afraid for you from the like of the Day of the Parties: Like the persistent behaviour of the nation of
Noah and Aad and Thamud and those after them and Allah does not want injustice to the servants. And O my people:
I am afraid for you from The Day of the Calling (Disputing and wailing): The Day when you will turn your back
running away: You do not have from Allah any protector; And whoever Allah leaves to stray will have no guide. And
Joseph (Yusuf)* came to you before with the clear signs and you continued in a doubt from what he brought you until
when he died you said: Allah will not send after him a prophet; That is how Allah leaves to stray who is a transgressor,
a doubtful. Those who dispute in the lines of Allah without an authority that reached them are too great of a hatred
in the sight of Allah and in the sight of those who believed; And that is how Allah stamps on the heart of every
arrogant, tyrannical.
And Pharaoh said: O Haman! Construct for me a structure in order for me to reach the ways: The ways of the Heavens so
that I can see the God of Moses; And I think he is a liar; And that is how it was made to look nice for Pharaoh the
evil of his work and he was prevented from The Way (of Allah); and the plotting of Pharaoh is not but in utter
destruction. And the one who had faith said: O my people follow me! I will guide you to the Way of the Reason. O my
people: This Life is but temporary enjoyment and the Other Life is the Staying Place. Whoever does a bad deed he will
not be paid but similar to it; And who did good from a male or a female while being faithful, so those are who will
enter the Paradise: Being provided in it without any limit. And my people: Why do I call you to the salvation and
you call me to Hell. You call me to disbelieve in Allah and partner with him with what I do not have knowledge of, and
I call you towards the All-Mighty, The Much-Forgiver. No doubt what you are calling me towards it has no true call in
Life neither in the Other Life and indeed our return is to Allah and indeed the transgressors are the companions of Hell.
And you will remember what I am telling you and I do commit myself to Allah; Indeed Allah is All-Aware of His servants.
So Allah saved him from the evil deeds of what they had plotted
and the worst of the punishment was inflicted on the people of
Pharaoh; The Fire (Hell)! They are brought in front of it in the
morning and at night (in their graves). And on The Day of Judgment: Admit the people
of Pharaoh into the worst of the punishment.
Translation of: Ayat 23 - 46, Surat Ghafir.
* Joseph son of Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham.
Words: Sa'hir = Magician, Kath'thab = Liar, Kayd = Plotting, Tharouni = Leave me, Aqtul =
Kill, Fas'sad = Corruption, Mutakab'bir = Arrognat, Yu'min = Believes, Yaktum = Conceals, Ya'id
= Promises, Musrif = Transgressor, Mulk = Kingdom, Dha'hir = Having the upper hand, Ba's = Violent attack, Rashad = Reason - Right,
Ahzab = Parties, Tanad = Calling, Tawal'la Mudbiran = Turned his back running away, Halaka = Died,
Yab'as(th) = Sends, Murtab = Doubtful, Yujaadil = Disputes, Kabura = Too much of, Maqt =
Hatred, Yatba' = Stamps, Qalb = Heart, Sarh = Structure, Asbab = Ways and means, Sud'da =
Was prevented, Tabab = Destruction, It'tabi' = Follow me, Dar AlQarar = Staying Place, Najat =
Salvation, Da'wah = True call, Marad = Return, Ufawidh = Commit, Yu'radh = Brought in front of,
Ghudou = Morning, Ashey = At night, Ashad AlAthab = Worst of punishment.
Q: Is there an immediate questioning from the angels when the dead body is lied down to rest?
A: Allah makes firm those who have faith with the firm word in Life and in the end (grave); And Allah leaves to
stray the transgressors (unjust); And Allah does what He wills. Haven't you thought about those who had changed the favour of
Allah into disbelief and they caused their people to take the dwelling of the uselessness: Hell they burn
in it and what a miserable staying place. And they made with Allah equals in order to misguide from His way; Say (order
to Muhammad): Enjoy and your ending is to Hell. Say to My people who have faith to perform the prayer and to
spend from what We provided
them secretly and in public before a Day comes when there is no selling in it neither is friendship.
Translation of: Ayat 27 - 31, Surat Ibraheem.
Words: Qawl = Word - Talk, Yus(th)abit = Makes firm, Yudhil = Leaves to stray, Tara = Have thought -
Have seen, Ni'mat = Favour, Dar AlBawar
= Dwelling of uselessness, Bi'sa = What a miserable, Qarar = Staying place, Sir = Secretly, Alaniyah
= In public, Yawm = Day, Baye' = Selling, Khilal = Friendship.
Q: Does the dying person see death when it comes to him?
Note: In an excerpt of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad peace be
upon him that a dead person's eyes become wide open when he dies because that is when his eyes follow his soul.
A: No! But you love the instant Life and you leave behind the Other Life: Faces that Day will be beaming,
towards their God looking; And faces that Day will be frowning thinking a backbone-breaking calamity will be inflicted on
them; No! When it (soul) reaches the collar-bones; And it was said: Is there someone who can treat (the dying person) with
prayer? And he
(the dying person) assumed it was the parting; And the leg joined the leg (hardened from fear); Towards Your God that
day is the drive (by angels); And he did not make freewill charity (Sadaqah) and he did not pray; But he rejected and
turned away; And then
he went to his family swaggering (walking proudly). It (coming punishment) is more appropriate for you because you are
more deserving. Then
again it is more appropriate for you because you are more deserving. Does man think he will be left without purpose?
Wasn't he a drop of sperm that
was ejaculated; Then he was a leach-like clot so He (Allah) created and shaped; And He made from it the two mates
the male and the female; Isn't He capable of bringing the dead to life?!
Translation of: Ayat 20 - 40, Surat AlQiyamah.
Listen!
Words: Tuhib = You love, AlAjilah = The Instant Life, AlAkhirah
= The Other Life, Nadhirah = Beaming - Beautiful, Na'thirah = Looking, Ba'sirah = Frowing,
Fa'qirah = Backbone-breaking calamity, Tara'qi =
Collar-bones, Ra'qi = who is going to treat with prayers, Fira'q = Parting, Sa'q = Leg, Masa'q = The
drive, Sad'daqa = Made freewill charity (zakat = Fixed amount charity in Islam), Yatamat'ta = Swaggering -
Walking proudly, Awla = More appropriate - More deserving, Yahsab = Thinks, Yutrak = Will be left,
Suda = Without purpose, Nutfah = Drop, Meni = Sperm, Yumna = (verb) Enjaculated, Thakar = Male,
Uns(th)a = Female, Yuhye = Bringing to life - Giving life.
Q: What happens to the soul of the unfaithful after the soul leaves the body?
A: Believing in One God, not making partners with Him; And who makes partner with Allah it is as if he falls from
the Heaven and the birds will snatch him or the wind drops him in a bottomless place.
Translation of: Ayah 31, Surat AlHaj.
Note: The following is a summary of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad peace be
upon him that after the soul becomes in the hands of the Angel of death (Azrael - Izraeel), the other present angels
take the soul and prepare it in a coffin with good odor of musk or the worst odor and take it up in a trip across the
seven heavens. In the case of a faithful
person's soul the angels in each heaven welcome it and know it is a good soul because of its beautiful smell that has
come from towards earth. But in the
case of an unfaithful soul, the gates of heaven
will not open for ite and the angels will point to its bad smell. Until the soul reaches the Seventh Heaven.
and Allah will say: Take it back to earth.
So the angels take back the faithful person's soul to his body. As for
the unfaithful person's soul, the angels throw it from the Heaven to go back to its body.
Then the questioning begins
and that is the beginning of the Life of the Barrier 'AlBarzakh' = The Partition or the Interval between This Life and The Other
Life.
Words: Hunafa' = Believing in One God, Ghayr = Not, Mushrik = Making partner, Khar'ra = Fell down,
Takhat'tafuhu = Snatched him, Tayr = Birds, Tahwi = Drops, Reeh = Wind, Saheeq =
Bottomless - Very deep, Makan = Place.
Q: After the death, when the angels take the soul on a trip across the seven heavens, why does Allah ask them to
take the soul back to earth? The answer is highlighted.
A: He (Allah) Who made for you the earth flattened (leveled) and he clarified for you in it ways and He
sent down from the sky water so We brought out with it pairs of various plants. Eat and pasture your cattle; Indeed in
that is signs for those who have brains. From it We created you, and in it We return you, and from it We take you
out once again.
Translation of: Ayat 53 - 55, Surat Taha.
Words: Ja'la = Made, Ardh = Earth, Mahdan = Flattened, Salaka = Clarified, Subul = Ways, Nabat
= Plants, Shat'ta = Various, Ir'ou = Pasture, An'am = Cattle, Uli Alnuha = Those who have brains,
Khalaqa = Created, Nueed = We will return, Nukhrij = We will take out, Tar'rah = Once, Ukhra =
Again.
Q: When the angels take the soul on a trip, of course there is a big purpose behind that. When the soul reaches
the Seventh Heaven Allah , before ordering to send the soul back to earth, orders to write its book in one of the two
Reference Books: Iliyeen or Sijeen. What are these books?
A: No! The book of the sinners is in Sijeen, and what do you know about Sijeen? A numbered book. Woe that Day
for the rejecters; Who reject The Day of The Religion (Judgment); And no one rejects it except every transgressor
beyond bounds, sinner. When Our lines were recited upon him he said: Mythologies of the Ancients; No! But what
they were earning has prevailed (like a shadow) on their hearts; No! From their God that Day they are covered; Then they
are entering Hell; Then it will be said: This is what you were about it lying; No! The Book of the Righteous is in
Iliyeen; And what do you know about Iliyeen. A numbered book; Witnessed by the intimate (prophets...etc); Indeed the
righteous are in affluence; On raised couches they are looking; You see in their faces the freshness of the affluence;
They are given to drink from stamped (for purity) nectar (wine); Its ending is of musk (nice smell) and for that let
the contestants (rivals) contend; And its mixture is of Tasneem (Spring in Paradise): A spring from it the intimate (to
Allah) drink.
Translation of: Ayat 7 - 28, Surat AlMutaf'fifeen.
Words: Kitab = Book, Fuj'jar = Sinners, Sijeen = Reference Book with levels of imprisonment (punishment)
in Hell, Marqoom = Numbered, Wayl = Woe - Destruction, Mu'tad = Transgressor beyond bounds, As(th)eem =
Sinner, Asateer = Mythologies, Awaleen = Ancients, Rana = Prevailed, Quloub = Hearts, Yaksib =
Earning, Mahjouboun = Covered, Sa'lou = Entering, Abrar = Righteous, Iliyeen = Reference Book with
levels of high places, Muqaraboun = Intimite, Nadhrah = Freshness - Beaming, Na'eem = Affluence, Raheeq
= Nectar, Makhtoum = Stamped, Khitam = Ending, Misk = Musk,
Yatana'fas = Contend, Mutanafis = Contestant, Mizaj = Mixture, Tasneem = Spring in Paradise.
Q: At the time of the death of faithful persons what do the angels tell them?
A: Indeed those who said Our God is Allah then they became righteous, the angels repeatedly come down upon
them (saying): Do not fear! and do not grieve! And be delighted with the good news of The Paradise that you were
being promised; We are your supporters in Life and in the Other Life and for you in it is what yourselves
desire and for you in it what you demand: Hospitable reception from a Most-Forgiving, a Most-Merciful.
Translation of: Ayat 30 - 32, Surat Fusilat.
Words: Istaqamou = Became righteous, Tatanaz'zal = Repeatedly come down, Al'la Takhafou = Do not fear
(plural), Tahzan = Do not grieve, Abshir = Be delighted with the good news, Awliya' = Supporters,
Tashtahi = Desire, Tad'doun = You Demand (plural), Nuzul: Hospitable reception.
Q: Again, is the punishment of grave (no matter how a person dies) a reality?
A: And around you from the Normads (people living in the desert) hypocrites, and (also) from the people of the
Madinah ( people living in the city);
They are used to hypocrisy; You (Muhammad) do not know them; We (Allah) know them; We will punish them twice* then they will be returned for a severe punishment (the Other Life).
Translation of: Ayah 101, Surat AlTawbah.
* First punishment in This Life. Second punishment in the grave.
Words: Hawl = Around, A'rab = Normads - Bedouins, Ahl = People, AlMadeenah = City in Saudi Arabia It was
called Ya(s)thrib before the Prophet's immigration to it, Nifaq = Hypocrisy, Maratain = Twice, Yurad = Will
be returned, Adhab = Punishment, Adheem = Severe.
Q: Does it help to call on Allah to postpone the death of someone? And why not?
A: And do spend from what We (Allah) have provided you before death comes to any of you then he says: O my
God! If only you delay me to a near fixed time so that I make charity and I become from the righteous. And Allah will
not delay a soul when its time of death comes; And Allah is Expert with what you are doing.
Translation of: Ayat 10 - 11, Surat AlMunafiquoun.
Note: Pray to grant the person health instead of praying to delay the person's death.
Words: Anfiq = Spend, Ya'ti = Comes, Akh'khar = Delayed, Ajal = Fixed time, Qareeb = Near, As'sadiq =
I make charity, Salih = Righteous, Khabeer = Expert.
Q: What is the Surah (chapter) in the Qur'an that told the Prophet Muhammad about the nearing of his death?
A: When the support of Allah and the victory (conquest of Mecca) have come; And when you see people entering into the
Religion of Allah in crowds then glorify the praise of your God and ask for His forgiveness for He is the
Most-Pardoning.
Translation of: Ayat 1 - 3, Surat AlNasr.
Note: Mecca was conquered without fighting or blood shedding and was cleared from the idols worshipping in 630 C.E. The Prophet died in 632 C. E.
Note: According to Aisha, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad: After this Surah of the Qur'an was revealed, the prophet
after every prayer used to say: I ask Allah for forgiveness and I repent to Him (astaghfir Allah wa atoubu
Ilayhi).
Words: Ja' = Has come, Fath = Victory, Deen = Religion, Afwaj = Crowds, Estaghfir = Ask for
forgiveness. Tawwab = Most-Pardoning - Most-Frogiving.
Q: Why should the faithful concentrate on the lessons that Allah's miracles contain and not the details of the
miracles themselves?
Note: Reference is to Allah's miracle that happened to a group of some faithful in Tarsus (Asia Minor - Turkey).
Note: According to Hassanain Mohammad Makhlouf, ex Mufti (scholar) of Egypt, the young men referred to
in the Qur'an were on the Religion of Jesus
(Eissa) and they took shelter in a cave running away with their religion from a tyrant idol worshipping
king named in Arabic Deqyanous in Asia Minor (Turkey nowadays).
Note: Some People of the Book questioned the Prophet about the story of the Companions of the
Cave. Then the Angel Gabriel came down with Allah's lines about them.
A: Or did you (Muhammad) think that the companions of the Cave* and (owners of) AlRaqeem* were a wonder from
Our (Allah's) Signs?! When the young men took shelter in the cave and they said: Our God! Grant us from You mercy and
prepare for us guidance to our ordeal. So We made them sleep deep (like dead) in the Cave for a number of years. Then We awakened
them
up to make known which of the two parties counted the period of their staying. We (Allah) narrate upon you
(Muhammad) their story as it really was: They were young men who believed in their God and We increased Guidance for
them. And We made their hearts firm when they stood up and they said: Our God is the
God of the Heavens and the earth! We will not pray to any god other than Him otherwise we have said infringement (upon
Allah). These our people have taken other than Him (Allah) gods, if only they (gods) can bring them a clear authority so
who can be more transgressing (unjust) than the one who fabricates lies against Allah. And since you withdrew from them
and what they worship instead of Allah so have shelter in the Cave: Your God may shower His mercy upon you and He
may make an easy way out of your ordeal. And you see the sun when it rises it bends away from
their Cave to the right and when it sets it avoids them to the left and they were in an opening of it: That is from the
Signs (miracles) of Allah and whoever Allah guides is the guided and whom He leaves to stray he will not find a guiding
protector other than Him. And you think that they were awake and they were (really) asleep; And We turned them to the
right and to the left and their dog was stretching forth his forelegs on the threshold (dead): If you (Muhammad) had looked at
them you would have run away from them and you would have been filled with terror. And that is how We awakened them so
that they question each other. One of them said that how long you had stayed. They said: We stayed one day or
part of a day. They said: Your God knows best how long you stayed so send someone with your paper money - these to the
town so as to see which food is more delicious and let him bring you some sustenance from it and let him be alert and not
to let anyone be aware of you; For if they find out about you they will stone you or they will return you to their
religion and then you will never succeed. And thus We (Allah) did allow them (town people) to find them.** so that they
realize that the Promise of Allah (raising the dead) is true and that there is no doubt in the Hour (Day of
Judgment). And then they
(the people) disputed among themselves their (young men's) matter. So they said build a structure over them (for) their
God knows best about them. Those who won in their matter said we are going to make a place of worship over them. They
are going to say: Three and their dog was the fourth and they say five their dog is their sixth - stoning (guessing) at the
Unknown and they say seven and their dog was their eighth***. Say (Order to Muhammad): My God knows best about their
number; Only few knew about them (their number) so do not dispute about them except what is clear dispute and do not
consult about them anyone (who disputed with the Prophet). --- And they stayed in their cave three hundred
years and they went beyond that by nine . Say (order to Muhammad): Allah knows best how long they stayed; To Him
belongs the Unseen of the Heavens and the earth: What (Glory to) an All-Seeing, All-Hearing! They do not have other
than Him (Allah) any protector and He does not share His Ruling with anyone.
Translation of: Ayat 9-22, 25-26, Surat AlKahf.
* Most probably the name of their dog. Some commentators also say it may refer to the mountain's name or the tablet that
listed their names.
** Everything had changed. The money of the young man and his clothes were old. The people of the town had become on the religion of the youth.
They went with the young man to the cave. The young man re-entered the cave and did not come out. They all were found
dead inside.
*** According to Hassanain Mohammad Makhlouf, ex Mufti (scholar) of Egypt: This is the true number because it came after
the guessing line.
Words: Hasbta = You thought, As'hab = Companions, Kahf = Cave, A'ti = Grant, Haye' =
Prepare, Rashada = Guidance, Sineen = Years, Adad = Number, Ba's(th)a = Awakened, Hizb = Party,
Ahsa = Counted, Amad = Duration, Naqus = We narrate, Naba' = News, BilHaq = As it really was -
With truth, Fityah = Young men, Rabata = Made firm, Qalb = Heart, Shatata = Infringement, E'tazala =
Isolated, Mirfaq = Easy way, Tuzawir = bends away, Taqrudh = Avoids, Fajwah = Opening, Ayqaadh =
Awake (plural), Roqoud = Asleep, Nuqallib = We turn them, Yameen = Right, Shimal = Left, Kalb = Dog,
Basit = Stretching, Thira' = Foreleg, Ru'b = Fear, Bas(th)a = Awakened, Yawm = Day, Azka = More
delicious, Waraq = Paper money, Walla Firaran = Ran away, Ru'b = Terror, Waraq = Paper money, Azka =
More delicious, Yatalattaf = Be alert, Yush'ir = Make aware, Yadhhar = Finds, Yarjum = Stones,
Yueed = Returns, A's(th)ara = Allowed to find, Yatanaze' = Disputes, Ghalaba = Won, S(th)als(th)a
= Three, Ra'bie' = Fourth, Khamsah = Five, Sadis = Sixth, Sab'ah = Seven, S(th)amin = Eighth,
Tumari = Dispute, Dhahir = Clear, Tastafti = You consult, Tisah.= Nine, Absir wa Asmie' = What an
All-Seeing, All-Hearing, Wali = Protector, Yushrik = Shares, Hukm = Ruling.
Q: What is very hard for the disbelievers to believe in?
A: And those who disbelieved said: Shall we show you a man (Muhammad) who can give you the news that when you are
ripped apart - a complete ripping apart (after death) you are indeed going to be in a new creation (raised up for
Judgment). Did he
(Muhammad) lie upon Allah*?! Or is he possessed (mad)?! But (Allah says) those who do not believe in the
Other Life are in the Punishment (in the Other Life) and they are in a far away error (in this Life). So Haven't they looked into what is in front of them and behind them of
the sky and the earth?! If We please We can make the earth sink down with them or drop down upon them pieces (of
punishment) from the sky: For in that is a Sign for every repentant servant.
Translation of: Ayat 7 - 9, Surat Saba'.
* The Arab disbelievers in Mecca knew about Allah even before the Prophet Muhammad was born but they partnered idols with Allah and they did not believe in the Other Life.
Words: Nadul = We show, Yunabe' = Gives the news, Muzziqa = Was ripped apart, Khalq = Creation,
Bihi Jinnah = He is possessed, Adab = Punishment, Nasha' = We please, Nakhsif = We make sink down,
Nusqit = Drop down, Kisaf = Pieces, Dhalal = Error - Straying away, Baeed = Far away.
Q: What action will raise up the dead on the Day of Judgment?
A: Then it is only one scolding shout (trumpet blowing by the Angel Israphil) and suddenly they are looking. And they said: Woe (destruction) to us! This is the Day of The Religion. (Allah says) This is the Day of
Judgment that you (disbelievers) were rejecting as lies. Gather those who transgressed and their mates and what they
were worshipping other than Allah so guide them to the Way of Hell. And do restrain them! They are going to be
questioned! What is wrong with you that you do not support one another! Yet today they are surrendering!
Translation of: Ayat 19 - 26, Surat AlSaffat.
Words: Zajrah = Scolding shout, Wahidah = One, Yanthur = Is looking, Wayl = Woe, Ehshur =
Gather, Ehdi = Guide, Sirat = Way, Qif = Restrain - Stop, Tunasiroun = Support one another,
Mustaslim = Surrendering.
Q: Why shouldn't we try to run away from death?
A: Wherever you are (plural) death will reach you even if you are in high-rise towers.
Translation of: Ayah 78, Surat AlNisa'.
Words: Aynama = Wherever, Yudrik = Reaches - Catches up with, Burouj = Towers, Mushayyedah =
High rise- Lofty.
Q: Should the faithful regret the time or the location where a dear person died?
A: O people who have faith do not be like those who disbelieved and they said to
their brothers (comrades) when they were traveling in the land or they were on a military expedition: If
they
were with us they would not have died neither would they have been killed - so that Allah makes that a
regret in their hearts, and Allah is Who gives life (to the embryo) and Who makes dead and Allah of
what you do is Watchful.
Translation of: Ayah 156, Surat AlImran.
Words: Ikhwan = brothers - of the same tribe, Dharbou Fi AlArdh = Were traveling in the landh, Kanou Ghuzat = Were on a military
expedition - Were engaged in fighting, Qutila = Was killed, Yaj'al = Makes, Hasrah = A regret, Quloub = Hearts, Yuhye =
Gives life - Brings to life, Yumeet = Makes dead, Baseer = Watchful.
Q: Just like humans do communities also have a fixed death time?
A: And We (Allah) never destroyed a population except there is for it s a fixed written time;
No community can bring its death time forward neither they can delay it.
Translation of: Ayat 4 - 5, Surat AlHijr.
Words: Ma = Not - Never, Ahlaka = Destroyed, Qaryah = Population - Town, Kitab =
Fixed written time - Tasbiq = Brings forward, Ummah = Community - Nation, Ajal = Death
time - Fixed time, Yasta'khir = Delay.
Q: Why do not Muslims believe in the incarnation of the soul after death?
A: Until when death comes to one of them (disbelievers) he says: My God! Send me back; So that
I do good in what I left - Never! For it is a Word (death time) He (Allah) is its
Speaker and behind them is a Barrier (Barzakh)* until the Day (of Judgment) they are
raised up.
Translation of: Ayat 99 - 100, Surat AlMo'minoun.
* The Barrier (= AlBarzakh) is the state of the dead person until the Day of Judgment. It is the Interval Life
between this Life and the Other Life. In a brief summary of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad: After
one's death the person's soul is carried up across the seven Heavens. The righteous person's
soul is welcomed by angels in each Heaven. The unrighteous person's soul is rejected and the
angels in each Heaven do not open the gates for it. When it reaches the Seventh Heaven Allah
orders the name of the person to be written in the Record of the righteous people or the other
Record. Then the righteous soul is brought back to the body while the unrighteous soul is
hurled down to its body. The person stays in the state of "AlBarzakh" (like sleeping and seeing
dreams) until the Day of Judgment.
Note: Examples of the images of Life in the Barrier: In an excerpt of a
saying of the Prophet Muhammad: A window opens in the grave so that the dead has a taste of Paradise or a
taste of Hell according to his deeds. Also in a summary of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad: Weren't it for the fear that
you do not bury your dead, I would have prayed to Allah to let you hear the sounds of the dead persons
(when being punished in the grave).
Also the Prophet Muhammad called the death of a person the short form of the Day of Judgment (Qamat
Qiyamatuhu AlSughra).
Words: Hatta = When, Ja' = Comes, Ahad = One, Erjaouni = Send me
back, Salihan = Good, Taraktu = I left, Kalla Salihan = Good, Never, Kalimah = A Word -
A saying, Min wara' = Behind, Barzakh = Barrier - Dividing Life - Interval Life, Yubasth =
Is raised up.
Q: Who and when will someone live a life of great hardship before the Day of Judgment?
A: And whoever turned away from My (Allah's) Message so for him is a life of great hardship
(in death called 'AlBarzakh') and on the
Day of Judgment We (Allah) will raise him up blind. He says (on Day of Judgment): My God! Why did you raise me
up blind and I was sighted before; He said: In that manner Our lines (Qur'an) reached you and you ignored
them and in the same manner today you are ignored. And this is how We repay who transgressed and
did not believe in the lines of his God and the punishment of the Other World is more severe and everlasting.
Translation of: Ayah 124 - 127, Surat Taha.
* Life of "AlBarzakh" (The Barrier).
Note: In a summary of a speech of the Prophet Muhammad narrated by Abi Hurairah:
The believer in
his grave is in a green garden and his grave is enlarged for him seventy arm-length (= thira'). And his
grave is lightened for him like the light of the full moon. The Prophet asked: Do you know the meaning of "for him
is a life of great hardship"? That is the punishment of the disbeliever in his grave. The Prophet then swore an
oath: By the One in Whose Hand my soul is ninety nine dragons (tinneen) are set upon him. Do you
know what is a tinneen? (the Prophet said) Ninety nine snakes - every snake has seven heads - they breathe in
his body (= yanfakh) and they cause him a sharp burning pain (= yalse') him and scratch (= yakhdesh)
him to the Day they are raised up. Source: Mukhtasar Tafseer Ibn Kastheer, the Imam who died 774 Hijri, volume 2, page 497.
Note: Note how a dragon, a creature known in human mythology is a reality. Humans across ages
heard from Allah's prophets about creatures from the World of the Unseen and then they used their own imagination
to make stories of them. And Allah knows best.
Words: A'radha = Turned away, Thikr = Message - Remembrance of Allah, Ma'eeshah =
Life, Dhanka = Of great hardship, Nahshur = We will raise up, A'ma = Blind, Lima = Why,
Baseera = Sighted - With vision, Kathalika = In that manner, Naseeta = You ignored, Asrafa =
Transgressed - Was ungrateful, Ashad = More severe, Abqa = Everlasting.
Q: What do the disbelievers say about why they die?
A: And they (disbelievers) say: It is only our life in this world: We die and we live (only here) and
nothing but the course of time can destroy us - (Allah says) and they have about that (course of Time) no
knowledge for they are only guessing.
Translation of: Ayah 24, Surat AlJasthiyah.
Note: In a summary of a Holy Saying (= Hadeeth Qudsi) brought down by the Angel Gabriel
narrated by the Prophet
Muhammad: (Allah says) The son of Adam insults (= yu'theeni) Me (Allah) - he swears at time (= AlDahr) and I (Allah)
am the Time: In My hand is the matter (of everything) - I alter its night and day. In a summary of another saying of the
Prophet Muhammad: Do not swear at Time for Allah is The Time. Source: Mukhtasar Tafseer Ibn Kastheer, volume
3, page. 311.
Words: AlHayat AlDunya = The life of this world, Namout = We die, Nahya =
We live, Yuhlik = Destroys, Dahr = Course of time - Time, Yathunn = Guesses.
Q: Why should humans not die while being disbelievers in Allah?
A: For those who disbelieved and died being disbelievers - upon those is the curse of Allah and the
angels and all humans*; Remaining for eternity in it (Hell) - Punishment will not be eased for them neither
will they be given respite (temporary relief); And your God is One God there is no
god but He**, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Translation of: Ayat 161 - 163, Surat AlBaqarah.
* All humans agreed to a covenant with Allah.
** In a summary of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad: Those who are considered the people of "La ilaha
illa Allah = There is no god but Allah" there is no loneliness (and melancholy = Wahshah) in
their graves. The Prophet
continued: As if I see the people of 'La ilaha illa Allah' raising up from their graves shaking off
the dust from their heads saying: La ilaha illa Allah = There is no god but Allah. Source: Mukhtasar Tafseer Ibn Kastheer, volume
2, page. 382.
Words: Kafarou = they disbelieved, Matou = They died, La'nat =
Curse, Malaikah = Angels, Nas = People, Ajma'een = All, Khalid = Remaining for
eternity, Yukhafaf = Is eased, Yunthar = Is given respite, Ilah = God, Rahman =
Most Gracious, Raheem = Most Merciful.
Q: What makes man stop thinking about wealth in this life?
A: You are distracted by striving for more (of good things); Until you visit the
graves.
Translation of: Ayat 1 - 2, Surat AlTakasthur.
Note: In a summary of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad: The Prophet Muhammad with some of his friends passed some Muslim graves. So he said:
Peace be upon you the dwelling places of Muslim people. We wish if we could see our brothers. The friends
asked the Prophet: Aren't we your brothers? The Prophet said: No, you are my companions. The Muslims who will
come after (all later Muslims) are our brothers. Source: The Hereafter (in English) cassette no 11 by Sheikh Anwar AlAwalki.
Note: In a summary of a saying by the Prophet Muhammad as narrated originally by Abdullah Bin
Masoud: We visited some graves. Then the Prophet Muhammad came to a grave and talked secretly there for a while
then he cried. Umar Bin AlKhattab approached the Prophet and the Prophet asked
him why they cried. The companion Umar said: We cried for your crying. The Prophet said: The grave I sat near is
the grave of "Amna" the Prophet's mother*. The Prophet said: I asked my God for permission to visit her so He
gave me the permission. Then I asked Him to pray (ask forgiveness) for her but Allah did not give me permission
so I was overwhelmed with what overwhelms a son for his mother. And I prevented you in the past against visiting the
graves but now visit them for they remind you about the Other Life. Source: Mukhtasar Tafseer Ibn Kastheer,
volume 2, page 171.
* The Prophet's mother "Amna Bint Wabab" died when the Prophet Muhammad was only six years old. The Prophet
Muhammad became a prophet at the age of 40. The Prophet's mother was a polytheist like most of her clan.
Note: Prophets were not allowed to ask Allah for forgiveness for the disbelievers.
Words: Takasthur = Striving for more, Zurtum = You (plural) visit,
Maqabir = Graves.
Q: Why is it hard for the disbelievers to believe in the resurrection after death?
A: And they said: When we have disappeared (after death) into the earth are we going to be
in a new creation?! Rather (more correctly) of the meeting with their God they are disbelievers.
Translation of: Ayah 10, Surat AlSijdah.
Words: Dhallalna = We have disappeared, Khalq = Creation, Jadeed = New, Bel =
Rather - More correctly, BiLiqa' = Of the meeting, Kafiroun = Disbelievers.
Q: Why does Islam deny the reincarnation (transmigration of the souls) of the dead?
Note: Allah's Name is also "The Just" and all of His creation is based on Justice. Is it just (fair) then to be
rewarded or punished by returning to this life that we sacrifice a lot in it for the sake of acquiring good deeds?
A: And when Our lines (Qur'an) are recited to them as evidences (of Allah) their argument is not but
that they say: Bring back our forefathers if you are telling the truth; Say (command to Prophet Muhammad)
Allah gives you life* then he makes you dead then He gathers you to the Day of Judgment -
there is no doubt in it but most of humans do not know (this).
* When the embryo is created he is lifeless. Only after the soul is injected in it the embryo becomes alive.
Translation of: Ayat 25 - 26, Surat AlJasthiyah.
Words: Tutla = Recited, Hujatahum = Their argument, E'tou = Bring back, Yuhyeekum =
Brings to life, Yumeetukum = Makes you dead, La Rayba Feehi = No doubt in it.
Q: What is the Inevitable Truth that will eventually reach each one?
A: And worship your God (Allah) until The Inevitable Truth (of death) reaches you.
Translation of: Ayah 99, Surat AlHijr.
Words: U'bud = Worship, Yatiyaka = Reaches you, AlYaqeen = The Inevitable Truth -
The Certainty.
Q: Why does the dead person's body become very heavy?
A: He (Allah) is Who created you from clay then He decreed an appointed time (of death)
and an appointed time (of Day of Judgment) known to Him (alone) then still you remain in doubt.
Translation of: Ayah 2, Surat AlAn'am.
Note: The steps involved in the creation of man.
Words: Tteen = Clay, Qadha = Decreed, Ajal = An appointed time - A fixed time,
Musamma Indahu = Known to Him, Sthumma = Then still, Tamtaroun = You remain in doubt.
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