Death

Death is the permanent cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include aging, predation, malnutrition, disease, suicide, homicide, starvation, dehydration, and accidents or major trauma resulting in terminal injury. In most cases, bodies of living organisms begin to decompose shortly after death.

99745

Surat al-Fatihah . Death

Is it permissible to recite Sura Fatiha for the deceased? Does it help them in any way?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, it is not only permissible but highly recommended to recite Sura Fatiha or any Quranic verse or verses and gift the reward to a deceased. Many authentic Hadeeths stated that. It helps the deceased very much.

'Wassalam.

97217

Death . Prophet Jesus

If Jesus Christ did not die on the cross then who was crucified instead? Were there no witnesses or disciples at the time who could recognise that the person they were crucifying was not Jesus?

There is no doubt at all that Jesus Christ was not killed nor crucified but his enemy caught another person who was looking like him. The Quranic verse is very clear ( They never killed him nor crucified him but they did that on another person whom they thought him Easa) (4;157).

This fact is mentioned also many old Christian texts like Luke 4: 29-30 and John 8: 59 and 10: 93 and Acts 1:11 and Matthew 4:6.

An old Jude bible found in Egypt in Coptic language and translated to English, it states that Jesus told his near disciples: for you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.

Wassalam.

72945

Body . Soul . Human . Death

Is it correct to say that the body, soul and spirit are 3 components of a human being and that on death the spirit, and not the soul, leaves the body?

Rebecca Masterton, Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature; an MA in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in Islamic literature of West Africa. She has been... Answered 1 month ago

Scholars have not agreed upon how the body, soul and spirit are interconnected. Due to the Neoplatonic influences upon the Islamic tradition, some have come to believe that the body is like a shell consisting purely of matter, and that the soul yearns to be free of it to return back to its Creator (a whole stream of thought and practice in the mystical tradition has arisen based upon this idea, e.g. see the work of Shihabuddin Suhrawardi). Others, such as Mulla Sadra, say the body is a manifestation of the soul. However, still influenced by Neoplatonism, Mulla Sadra holds that, as the 'person' progresses through stages of purification, they move away from this material manifestation towards immateriality. Generally, among Muslim thinkers, the soul could be likened to the psyche. It is the part of ourselves that consists of desires, fears, and the characteristics that make up our personality. The Qur'an says that 'every soul (nafs) will taste death' (3:185). The Quran also talks about the experiences that we will have in the next world. The spirit is that which animates the body and gives it life. The spirit is also that which gives the soul life. Therefore, both will leave the body upon death, but it is the soul that experiences the trials and rewards of the next stage of existence.

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Evil . Death . Evil eye

Can the evil eye cause death?

Yes as the Hadeeth narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah Al-Ansari says: Evil eye can send the man to the grave العين تُدخل الرجلَ القبر.

Protection from evil eye is very easy as we read in the Hadeeths. Simply to recite Sura Al-Falaq and Sura Annaas and Ayatul Kursi.

'Wassalam.

96638

Food . Death . Du'a (Supplication) . Nazr

In the Indian subcontinent people do Nazar for deceased souls by saying Dua on food and sweets to gain Allah's favour and then consume them. Is this allowed in Islam?

Yes it is not only allowed but also recommended to feed people and gift the reward to the soul of the deceased. The Prophet (SAWA) himself used to feed on behalf on deceased Muslims as you can find it is Sunni and Shia books.

'Reciting Du;a is always recommended as well.

Wassalam.

93813

Soul . Death

What is the evidence from our sources that supports the idea of Esaal-e-Sawab of actions done for benefit of the souls of the deceased?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 3 months ago

Here are a few narrations on this topic:

Imam al-Sadiq (A) said, “The things which enter a person’s grave are ritual prayer, fasting, hajj, charity, good deeds, supplication, and its reward is written for those who do them and for the deceased.” (Man la yahduruhu al-faqih)

Imam al-Sadiq (A) said, “Whoever of the Muslims does a good deed for a deceased person, God will double his reward and benefit through it the deceased” (Bihar al-Anwar citing Uddat al-Da’i)

It is related that a man came to the Prophet (S) and asked, “My mother has died. Will it benefit her if I give charity on her behalf?” He said, “Yes.” (Musnad Ahmad)

Apart from Wahhabis who object to this because they see everything as bid'ah, it is hard to see the objection to this since if one is doing something good in the hopes that it would benefit the deceased, at least one is doing something good and beneficial.

Maybe some people might object because some things are done for esaal-e-sawab which are not overly beneficial in the present time, for instance, printing Qur'ans and distributing them in an area where Qur'ans are easily accessible. This would have been very beneficial in earlier centuries but today because printing is cheap, it often is not the most beneficial thing to do even if it is meaningful, or sometimes things could even be wasteful. So it is good to think about what is most beneficial, and I am sure the deceased appreciate being remembered in a good way!

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Death

How did Prophet Musa (as) die?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 3 months ago

Bismihi ta'ala

According to our traditions, there are different views as to how long Prophet Musa (a.s.) lived for. The ages mentioned have been 120, 126, 240, 250 years. Regarding where he is buried, there is no precise information that we have. One view says he is buried close to Bayt al-Maqdas. One view also mentions that his burial site is on Mount Nebo, in Jordan.

As for how he departed this world, it was generally of natural causes, but the story of how he passed is also interesting.

It is said that the Angel of death, 'Isra'il had a conversation with Prophet Moses (a.s.), asking him permission to take his soul, and the Prophet entered into a dialogue with the Angel, and his soul was not taken.

A while later, Prophet Moses (a.s.) was walking in the desert, and he saw a person digging a grave, and offered to help. After helping, the person asked Prophet Moses (a.s.) to lie in the grave to see if it fits, and he did so. When Prophet Moses (a.s.) lied in the grave, he was granted a vision of seeing his place in heaven, and then realised this person was 'Isra'il, and it was now time for him to depart this world, in the very grave that he dug for himself.

This is how the story goes, as one narration says, and for the details please refer to this site:

https://www.imamreza.net/old/eng/imamreza.php?id=10038

With prayers for your success.

91432

Death . Poison . Prophet Muhammad

Did Prophet Muhammad (saw) die a natural death or was he poisoned? If the latter, who gave him the poison?

The authentic evidence proves that Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him and his Holy Progeny) did not die a natural death but he was killed by poison. The evidence is in Sunni and Shia books. In the Sunni books there is an authentic narration from Abdullah ibn Mas'ood.

This narration is mentioned in the Musnad of Ahmad bin Hanbal in which Abdullah ibn Mas'ood said that I don't mind or in fact I am ready to take oath and repeat it nine times that the prophet was killed rather than taking oath one time that he was not killed.

Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal volume 1 page 408

Our prominent Ulamah have mentioned many authentic hadith that the Prophet was poisoned. Among them is:

· Sheikh Al Mufid in his book Al-Muqni'ah page 456

· Sheikh Al Toosi in his book Al Tahdhib vol 2 page 6

· Al Fattal Al Nisaburi in his book Al Rawdat page 71

· Al Allamah Al Hilli in his book Al Tahrir vol 2 page 118

· Al Shahid Al Awal in his book Al-Durus vol 2 page 6

· Allamah Al Majlisi in his book Mir'at Al Uqol vol 5 page 174

Ibne-Abil Hadeed Al Moathazalee a well known non-Shia scholar mentioned in his book Sharh Nahj Al-Balagha that the Prophet was poisoned and that he passed away as a Shahid (martyr) vol 10 page 221.

There is a narration from Imam Jaffer as Sadiq (as) that Imam Hassan (as) told his family members "I will die by poison as the Prophet Mohammad (saw) was poisoned."

Al-Khara'ij wal-Jara'ih vol 1 page 241

Among the Sunni scholars Al Hakim Al Nishapuri is very well known who compiled the famous book Al-Mustadrak alaa al-Sahihain he narrated from Al Sha'bi "by Allah the Prophet was poisoned."

It is not the death but it is the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him and his Holy Progeny).

Wassalam.

90888

Parents . Salah (Prayers) . Death

Can I pray Salatul Walidain for my parents who are alive or is it to be prayed only for deceased parents?

Yes, you can pray Salatul Walidain (Prayers for the Parents) and gift the reward of it to your living parents. Gifting the reward can be to the living as well as to the dead.

Wassalam.

90797

Death . Sunni-Shi'a . Mourning

Why do the Shia not mourn the death of Imam Ali (as) or the Prophet (s) to the extent that they do for Imam Hussain (as)?

Shia Muslims mourn the tragedies of the Prophet (SAWA) and his Ahlul Bayt (AS) more than any other Muslim sect. No doubt, the tragedy of Imam Husain (AS) in Karbala is the greatest tragedy in the history of human kind looking at the details of it and the way it happened and the victims from infant child to women to the Imam himself and the inhuman acts by the enemies even by preventing Imam Husain and his family from drinking water despite being on the bank of the river, and other details of the tragedy which was declared by Imam Hasan before Karbala (No tragedy will be like your tragedy O Aba Abdillah (Husain)).

Our mourning on the tragedies of Imam Husain (AS) is according to greatness the deepest extent of the tragedies.

No other Muslim sect mourn the tragedies of the Prophet (SAWA) and his Progeny like the Shia Muslims.

Wassalam.

89864

Salah (Prayers) . Death

I have a Shia friend from work who privately told me he doesn't pray Salah due to laziness. He said he has left enough money in his will to pay someone after he dies to pray it all back for him. How should I respond to him?

Seyed Ali Shobayri, Seyed Ali Shobayri is of mixed Iranian and Scottish descent who found the path of the Ahlul Bayt (a) by his own research. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University through the... Answered 4 months ago

Bismillah,

Asalamu Alaykom,

What he is doing is a very big sin and he cannot miss salah on purpose. He may have someone to do the missed salahs after his death however he won't be free of the punishment which he will brings upon himself for each intentional missed Salah.

Share him the following hadith:

Imam Ali [as] said: Verily, some people worshipped Allah being desirous (Of His reward) – so this is the worship of traders; and some people worshipped Allah fearing (His punishment) – so it is the worship of slaves, and a group worshipped Allah in gratitude (to Him) so this is the worship of the free. (Nahju ‘I-balaghah)

try to remind him of the benefits of the salah and help him in a way to beat his laziness. Tell him to try and count the endless amount of blessings he has and how rationally one must thank the one who blesses him. How is salah a burden compared to the life and sustenance that Allah has given us?!

May Allah grant you success

89942

Murder . God (Allah) . Death

If Allah SWT knows when we die how come he does not stop things like murder?

Allah (SW) guided all His creatures to the Right Path and warned the human beings from wrong deeds. He also helps those who want to do good. Allah does not force people to do good nor does He force them to avoid bad. Human beings are granted intellect and free will and been asked to do good and avoid bad. If Allah forces people, then the whole matter of good and bad in our life will go away and differentiation will be impossible between good people and bad people. That is the Justice and Wisdom of Allah (SWT).

Wassalam.