In
the words of a man who put it to me. He said, “No one has
provided us with evidence as to what really happens after you pass
away. No one has returned to tell us.” I replied
that this is true. We have watched videos on YouTube concerning
people experiencing death but no one has died and returned to tell us
about what took place.
Well,
I know some individuals who were pronounced dead and came back to
life. One such case involved a gentleman who used to work for the
late Salim Chisty. He was about to be buried when he came back to
life. When asked about it, he did not explain what transpired.
According
to Hafiz Chisti, Salam’s son, his father was in a coma for a month.
On recovering and asked about his experienced, he mentioned that he
was up in a mountain and he did not want to return, but was told that
he had to do so because his time had not arrived.
Frankly
speaking, I believe that we all are concerned about death. What
really takes place after death. If you listen to an ustad, you will
be terrified over what takes place based on Ahadith.
TRANSITION IN ISLAM
In
Islam, the transition from this life to the next involves a series of
deeply significant physical and spiritual steps. It is viewed not as
an end, but as a journey of the soul from the physical world (Dunya)
to the eternal afterlife (Akhirah). While the body is laid to
rest, the soul (Ruh) begins its journey into the realm known
as the Barzakh—a barrier or intermediate state between the
physical world and the Day of Resurrection. Shortly after the burial
is complete and the mourners depart, the soul is reunited with its
earthly body in the grave to be questioned by two angels, Munkar
and Nakir.
ALAM BARZAKH
It
is important to note that the soul remains in this intermediate
Barzakh state for a long duration. It does not immediately
enter the final Paradise or Hell. Instead, it waits there until the
trumpet sounds, signaling the end of the universe and the arrival of
the Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyamah), when all of humanity
will be resurrected and judged fully for their deeds. In Islamic
theology, the afterlife belongs to a realm called Al-Ghaib—the
Unseen.
If
the afterlife were visible, measurable, and scientifically provable
by a returnee, belief would no longer require faith. It would just be
a medical fact, like gravity. The purpose of this life as a testing
ground relies on the choice to believe in the Unseen based on the
guidance of the Prophets.
DEATH EXPERIENCES
The
experiences shared above according to science are referred to as
Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) or clinical resuscitation. From an
Islamic spiritual perspective, these individuals never actually
crossed the final border of death. Islam makes a very clear
distinction between two types of "death":
1.
The Minor Death (Al-Mawt al-Sughra):
This includes sleep and deep comas. The Quran says in Surah Az-Zumar
(39:42):
"Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and sends the others back for a specified term."
2.
The Major Death (Al-Mawt al-Kubra):
This is the permanent separation of the soul from the body. Once the
Angel of Death (Malak al-Mawt) takes the soul permanently, the
book of this world is closed. No one returns from this.
When
you view the Qur’anic verse: "Woe to us! Who has
raised us up from our sleeping place (marqadina)?" – you
are in fact viewing the “real awakening” from death. The
one in the grave and the continuation in Barzakh are all
intermediate. When the ‘trumpet’ (blast) is sounded, everyone is
raised to face final judgement.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Ultimately,
it life after death is a matter of faith and belief. The issue
that arises here actually is: The fear of being taken to account. The
fear of death is rarely just about the unknown; it is almost
always about accountability.
When
we are young, the horizon feels endless. But as we age, that horizon
draws closer, and our focus naturally shifts backward, cataloging our
mistakes, our missteps, and the things we wish we had done
differently. It takes immense self-awareness and humility to admit
that you feel this concern too, even after reforming your life to a
great extent.
FEAR REGRET and HOPE
In
Islam, the interplay between fear, regret, and hope is handled with
incredible psychological and spiritual depth. The Balance of Fear
and Hope (Khawf and Raja) mentioned in
Hadith plays a significant role. Feeling a sense of concern over your
past is not a sign of weak faith; it is actually a sign of a living,
conscious heart. It is the wing of fear keeping you grounded. But
Islam strictly forbids letting that fear turn into hopelessness. The
Quran makes an extraordinary promise for those who reform:
"Except for those who repent, believe, and do righteous work. For them, Allah will replace their evil deeds with good deeds. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful." (Surah Al-Furqan, 25:70)
The ledger doesn't just go back to zero; the sincere regret and the subsequent good choices actually transform those old dark spots into points of light.
FORGIVENESS
We
all possess a degree of fear over our past and hope to be forgiven.
However, what is important here is: Did you admit your sins to Allah?
Did you seek forgiveness from those you cheated, offended or sinned
against? Be mindful, that everyone on the Day of Judgement has
the right to demand justice from Allah. That person my not forgive
you, but Allah can if you sincerely repent and never undertake such
again.
If
a person experiences transformation through self-awareness, it is
evidence that Allah’s mercy is upon him. The past
is outside of our control, but the trajectory of your heart today is
what matters. When accountability feels heavy, remember that the
Judge standing before us is Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
Trust in the changes you have made, and let the wing of hope carry
you forward. Allah created us, and like Adam (a.s.) ordained, that he
should eat of the forbidden fruit, likewise, also showed him the path
to forgiveness. [Mokhtar
Stork 11 July 2026]
