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B A R Z A K H
The literal meaning of Barzakh
is ‘a curtain which stands
between two things and does not
allow the two to meet’. Barzakh
is a realm kept by Almighty
between this world and hereafter
maintaining their individual
limits. After entering the world
of Barzakh, one does not feel
physical pains. In Barzakh
people will have Misali bodies
which appear as worldly material
bodies. The Misali body will be
finer than air. It can see
anything and every thing from
every where and every time. For
example, if one happens to see
his dead father in dream, one
will observe him in his worldly
material body while his body
(and matter) is in the grave. In
dreams we see Misali bodies.
Barzakhi body may be compared
with what we see in a mirror.
Misali body travels immeasurable
distances in split of a second.
Better taste, fragrance, and
good looking faces etc are
available to Misali body. In
Holy Qur’an, Allah says: “Do not
think of those slain for the
cause of Allah, they are alive
with their Lord and receive
sustenance from Him.” (3:169)
Also “…..After death they will
be behind a barrier until the
day of their Resurrection.”
(23:100)
In one of the Traditions, The
Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:
“In my dream, I saw my uncle
Hamza, after his martyrdom that
he was eating pomegranate. All
of a sudden, I saw that it
turned into dates. I asked him
as to what kind of deeds are
beneficial there. He replied 1)
giving water to thirsty, 2)
reciting Durood, 3) love of Imam
Ali (a.s.). Animals hear the
voice of the dead. I was grazing
sheep before I was made a
messenger. During those days I
observed that goats and sheep
while grazing suddenly became
still. After I began getting
revelations, I asked Jibreel
about it and he told me that in
the realm of Barzakh, sinners
get Divine punishments. Their
cries are heard by all except
men and jinn. Such voices shock
the animals and they stop taking
their food.”
Every son and daughter of Hazrat
Adam has to die. Barzakh is the
period from the moment our Rooh
leaves our bodies (death) to the
Day of Resurrection (Qiyamat).
This last journey of human
beings can be divided into
different segments. The Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and his Pure
Progeny are the personalities
who are most familiar with the
life hereafter, hence we shall
enumerate their directives to
follow for each segments.
First Segment is
the time when one experiences
the pangs of death. This is an
extremely hard time. On one side
is the crying of family members,
thoughts of separation from
children, spouse, wealth and
comforts of life and on the
other side is the pain and
sickness and also numbness of
body which refuses to respond. Imam
Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) said:
“If any one wishes to make the
pangs of death easy and light,
he should maintain good
relations with his relatives and
should be kind and gentle with
his parents. The Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) had recommended us to
recite Surah al-Yaseen, Surah
al-Safaat, and also recite in
daily prayers the following
Dua’a in “Qunoot”: “La Ilaha
Illalah Al-Hamidul Karim”
meaning “There is no power
except Allah, the Forbearing and
Gracious.”
Second Segment is
Satanic Thoughts in death. It is
the turning away from Truth to
the Falsehood. As Shaitaan is
the sworn enemy of the human
beings and continues to distract
Mumineen from the right path. He
tries utmost to distract his
victims at the last moments of
life by creating doubts in their
minds so that he may die an
infidel. There are Traditions
which encourages Momineen to
remember “Usool-e-Deen” with
proofs during the life time so
that at the time of “Talqeen”,
reminded at the time of death
brings certainty to his faith.
Dua’a-e-Adeela should be read at
the death bed. The other
beneficial things which are
practiced during life-time are:
(a) Reciting Tasbeeh-e-Fatima
Zehra (s.a.), (b) wearing Aqeeq
(Carnelian) ring, and reciting
Surah al-Mu’minun on Fridays,
reading “Bismillahi La Hawla Wa
La Quwwatah Illah Billah” after
Fajr and Maghrib prayers.
Third Segment is the Wahshat al
Qabr or Fear and Horror of the
Grave: This
is more severe and fearful than
the previous stages. Since this
is a very fearful time hence the
dead body should not be taken
directly to the grave but give
three breaks (Manzil) so as to
prepare the dead for the grave.
The soul of the deceased still
remains near the body as it has
interest in the body. The
Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:
“The most fearful time for the
dead is their first night in the
grave. Help your dead in this
time of need by giving charity
on their behalf and by praying
for them (Salaat al-Wahshat). In
this prayer, in the first
rakaat, after Surah al-Hamd
recite “Ayatul Kursi” and in the
second rakaat, after Surah
al-Hamd recite Surah al-Qadr ten
times.
Fourth Segment is the
Constriction in the grave. This
is also a difficult time. The
graves calls out every day: “I
am the rest-house of the
travelers. I am a house of
Horror and also of Respect. For
some, the grave will be a garden
amongst the gardens of Heaven
and for others it will be a pit
from the pits of the Hell. Imam
Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.)said
that no body can escape this
constriction, but there are
practices which can prove
helpful in this regard. E.g. 1) Imam
Ali (a.s.) has
said that reading of Surah
al-Nisa every Friday will save
one from the constriction. 2)
One who makes a habit of reading
Surah al-Zukhruf will remain
safe from constriction and
beasts in the grave. 3) Imam
Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) has
said that whoever dies between
Thursday noon and
Friday noon will
be spared constriction. 4) Imam
Ali al-Riza (a.s.) has
said that the habit of night
prayers keeps one safe from the
constriction. 5) The
Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has
said that reciting of Surah
al-Takasur before sleeping helps
to ward-off the constriction. 6)
People buried in the sacred land of Najaf are
also spared the constriction.
Fifth Segment is the Questioning
by Munkir and Nakir: Imam
Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) said that
one who does not believe that
questioning will not take place
in the grave is not a true
faithful. Reading Taqleen twice
before the burial is completed
is very beneficial
especially if the person has
these beliefs in his life time.
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