Do Souls of the Dead Return Back to this World? part IIIWritten by Dr zakir naik
The Supernatural is thus not World of Spirits and Lost Souls, but World of Jinn SPIRIT POSSESSION Another widespread fallacy is concept of spirit-possession, during which a supposed spirit (of a dead person) occupies human body and individual experiences fits and epilepsy. The Shaytaan has used this false belief so strongly to corrupt people's Aqeedah that some of those who believe in spirit possession even commit acts of Shirk, like performing un-Islamic rituals and offerings at tombs, hanging amulets containing words of disbelief, etc. to protect themselves from possession and to seek treatment. It should be made known that most of these cases are due to psychological illness, mistakenly understood to be spirit-possession. The reason behind prevalence of this misconception, to some extent, is practice of some exorcists, who have made exorcism a way of obtaining money from common masses. They convince people into believing that they have been possessed by spirits and earn money in name of treatment. However, real cases of possession are very few and they are due to Jinn, who occupy human body and not spirits. And Al-hamdulillah, Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) have rightly guided us in this regard; anybody possessed by Jinn can be cured by prescribed treatment mentioned in Sunnah of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam), Insha'Allah. The Reality : In light of what has preceded (about soul and its journey after death in previous article), it can be undoubtedly said that spirits of dead do not return back to world after death. Thus, it is not possible that spirits can possess human body. The only possible source, which could be involved in possessing human body, is Jinn. Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) states in Majmoo al-Fatawa, "The existence of Jinn is an established fact, according to Book, Sunnah and agreement of early scholars. Likewise, penetration of a Jinni into a human body is also an established fact, according to consensus of leading Sunni scholars. It is also a fact witnessed and experienced by anyone who reflects on it. The Jinni enters one seized by fits and causes him to speak incomprehensible words, unknown to himself; if one seized by fits is struck a blow sufficient to kill a camel, he does not feel it."Evidence for Jinn Possession Allah says: "Those who eat Riba (interest) will not stand (on Day of Judgment) except like standing of a person beaten by Shaytaan leading him to insanity ('mass')." [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 275] In this verse, Allah compares state of those who eat Riba, on Day of Judgment, with one beaten by Shaytan leading him to insanity. The word used in this verse for insanity is 'mass', which also means devil possession. Since Allah has made Qur'aan, most truthful book, it can never contain a false comparison. Therefore, this verse proves truthfulness of Jinn-possession. Al-Qurtubee writes in his Tafseer of this verse: "This verse contains proof against those who deny possession by way of Jinn, claiming that it is a result of natural causes, as well as those who claim that Shaytaan does not enter humans nor does he touch them." Clear Evidence of Jinn possession from Sunnah are in a number of authentic tradition, one of which is related by, Ya'la Ibn Murah (radhiallahu anhu), who says: "I saw Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) do three things which no one before or after me saw. I went with him on a trip. On way, we passed by a woman sitting at roadside with a young boy. She called out, 'O Messenger of Allah, this boy is afflicted with a trial, and from him we have also been afflicted with a trial. I don't know how many times per day he is seized by fits.' He (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: 'Give him to me.' So she lifted him up to Prophet. He (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) then placed boy between himself and middle of saddle, opened boy's mouth and blew in it three times, saying, 'In name of Allah, I am slave of Allah, get out, enemy of Allah!' Then he gave boy back to her and said: 'Meet us on our return at this same place and inform us how he has fared.' We then went. On our return, we found her in same place with three sheep. When he said to her, 'How has your son fared?' She replied: 'By One who sent you with truth, we have not detected anything (unusual) in his behavior up to this time…" [Musnad Ahmad (vol: 4, p. 170), and al-Haakim, who declared it Saheeh] This authentic narration describes how Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) commanded Jinn possessing boy, to leave. Also, Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) is reported to have said: "Verily, Shaytaan flows in blood-streams of Adam's descendants." [Saheeh Muslim (vol: 3, no: 5404)] Causes of Possession There could be three main reasons for possession, as suggested by Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah):
| | Do Souls of the Dead Return Back to this World? part IIWritten by Dr zakir naik
Barzakh forbids any Return Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) have clearly defined to us journey of soul after death and abode of both, disbelieving souls and righteous souls. This period between death and Hereafter is known as 'Barzakh'. Linguistically, 'Barzakh' means a veil, barrier or partition between two things. Ibn Abbas (radhiallahu anhu) defines Barzakh as a Hijab (a partition of veil). Al-Qurtubi, in his exposition states: 'The Barzakh is a barrier between two things. It is stage between this world and other world - from time of death until time Resurrection. Thus, whoever dies enters Barzakh" [See al-Qurtubi's Tafseer, vol.12, p.150] Once soul enters realm of Barzakh, there is no return for it back into world as is clearly known from Qur'aan and Ahaadeeth of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam). Allah says regarding evil soul: "…when death comes to one of them (who joins partners with Allah), he says: "O My Lord! Send me back to life. In order that I may do good deeds in things that I neglected. By no means! It is but a word he says. And before him is a Barzakh until day they are raised up." [Soorah al-Mu'minoon (23): 99-100] This verse reveals condition of disbeliever upon death; when he faces realities of Hereafter, he wishes to return back to world and mend his mistakes, in order to avert punishment. But he is plainly refused and confined in grave and punished for his sinful actions because he has entered Barzakh. It is impossible for him to escape strong Guardian Angels of Allah and return back to this world. The abode of righteous soul is Paradise, Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "The soul of a believer is a bird eating from trees of Paradise until Allah restores it to its body on Day of Resurrection." [An-Nasa'ee, Ibn Majah and others. Authenticated by Shaikh al-Albanee Sharh al-Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah (p. 455, footnote: 1)] It is unlikely that righteous soul, who is surrounded by bounties of Allah, would leave blessings of Allah and come to world. Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "No servant who has good in store for him with Allah and dies ever wants to return to Earth - even if he were to have whole world and everything that is in it - except for martyr. That is due to what he sees in nobility of martyrdom. Verily, he would like to return back to Earth, in order to be martyred another time." [(Saheeh) Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhee (1341)] But as Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) informed, even martyr is refused permission to return, he (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "The souls of martyrs live in bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung from throne of Almighty. They eat fruits of Paradise wherever they like and then nestle in these chandeliers. Once, their Lord cast a glance at them and said: "Do you want anything?" They said: "What more can we desire? We eat fruit of Paradise wherever we like." Their Lord asked them same question thrice. When they saw that they would be continued to be asked and not left (without answering question), they said: "O Lord, we wish that You may return our souls to our bodies so that we may be slain in Your cause once again. When He (Allah) saw that they had no need, they were left (to their joy in Heaven)." [Saheeh Muslim (4651)]These and many other proofs from Qur'aan and Sunnah deny concept of soul's return, and thus there remains no doubt that souls of dead do not return back to world. Observed Phenomenon If spirits do not return back to this world, then what is explanation for Observed Phenomenon, like physical appearance of dead, speaking of souls through medium, and leaving messages for living using Ouija boards? And how do these spirits answer every question correctly about life and character of dead? Appearing of Spirits: The alleged appearing of spirits is an ancient claim. Many a time, it is fabrication simply through deception, trickery, and psychological influence. In other cases, it is done through use of Jinn. Deception is an old and well-known trick that Jinn use to mislead mankind; they play with minds of humans in order to ruin their religion and cause them to commit Shirk. A clear understanding of topic should help Muslims not to be deceived by spiritualists. The spiritualists, who claim to have contacts with spirits of dead from an Islamic point of view, are in fact un-religious and liars. They make contacts with Jinn through evil incantations and demonic rituals and perform extraordinary feats with ease through them. Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) said: "Many of those people (the so called spiritualists) write Words of Allah in blood or other impure substances. They write or make other statements that are pleasing to Shaytaan." [See Majmoo al-Fatawa, v.19, p.35] The Jinn (sing. Jinni): The Jinn are a living creation of Allah, created from smokeless flame of fire. They share material world with humans. Though they are invisible to us, they eat and drink with us, and also have ability to inhabit human body and influence our thoughts. They are stronger than humans and can take different forms and shapes. Amongst them are Muslims and Kafirs; Kafir Jinn help their counterpart among humans in evil acts.
|
