ON THE FREQUENCY AND PURPOSE OF THE RETURN OF THE DEARLY DEPARTED MUSLIM SOULS TO THEIR LATE RESIDENCE

(An English Translation of the Mas'alah number 204 from Fatawa Razvia, Vol. 4, page 231)

QUESTION:

What guidance do the Ulema-e-Deen and those pious people who adhere steadfastly on the Divine Laws of Islam have to offer in the following matter regarding death and departure of the soul:

1. Does the soul of a Muslim return to visit his late residence?

2. Does his soul request or desire Sawaab (Esaale Sawaab) in the form of tilawat of the Quran in his memory by his relatives; or the giving of alms/charity in his name or memory by relatives; or the feeding or the monetary assistance of the needy in his memory by relatives?

3. On which specific days does the soul of the deceased Muslim visit his late residence?

ANSWER/AL JAWAAB:

It has been established by Imam Ajal Abdullah bin Mubarak and Abu Bakr, and Abi Shaibah; and by the Ustad of Bukhari and Muslim, Hazrat Abdullah bin Amru bin Aas (ridwaanullahi Ta'ala anhum ajma'in); and Imam Ahmed in his Musnad; and Tibrani in his Muajjam Kabeer; and Hakim in his Sahih Mustadrak; and Abu Naeem in Haliya, on truly certified authority, that the exalted narration by Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) states that: "Verily the world is a paradise for the Kaafir and a prison for the Mu'min (believer). When the soul of the Mu'min leaves his body (i.e. when he dies), his soul can be likened to a person who has just been released from prison and who strolls about visiting places at leisure on the earth."

Abu Bakr in his narration states that: "When a Muslim dies, the way is cleared for him to go wherever he pleases."

Ibn Abi Dunya, Baihaqi and Saeed bin Musaib (ridwaanullahi Ta'ala anhum ajma'in) have narrated that Hazrat Salman Farsi (radi Allahu anhu) and Hazrat Abdullah bin Salaam (radi Allahu anhu) once met and while talking to one another, one said to the other, "If you die before I do, then please ... let me know what befell you in the Hereafter?"

Hearing this the other asked, "Do the living and the dead ever meet?"

To this, the one replied, "O yes! The souls of the Muslims abide in Jannah! They may visit whichever place they choose to visit."

Ibn-e-Mubarak in Kitaab us Zohd, and Abu Bakr, Ibn-e-Abi Dunya and Ibn-e-Mundah (ridwaanullahi Ta'ala anhum ajma'in) state that, "Verily the souls of the Muslims are in the state of suspension between the heaven and the earth. They may visit whichever place they wish to. And the souls of the Kuffar are confined to a valley of Hell."

Ibn-e-Dunya stated that Imam Maalik (rahmatullahi alaih) narrated that, "I have received a Hadith saying that the souls of the Muslims are free to visit whichever place they desire."

Imam Abu Omar has stated, according to Imam Jalaluddeen Sayuti in Sharha Sadoor, that: "It is superior that the souls of the martyrs are stationed in Jannah, whereas the souls of the Muslims are confined to their place of abode after death. They go wherever they please to."

Allama Munadi states that the third commentary of Jaame Sagheer that, "Without doubt, when the soul departs from the framework of the body, and is freed from imprisonment after death, it wanders about to visit whichever place it wishes to."

It is stated in Khazaanat-ul-Riwaayat, some Ulema and researchers have narrated that, "When the souls (of the departed Muslims) are freed on the night of Jumma (at nightfall on Thursday), they spread out (on the earth). First they come to their place of burial (their grave) and then they visit their residences (their homes)."

It is stated in the Kitab, Dasturool Qaza, by Imam Nasafi that "Verily the souls of the departed Muslims visit their homes every Friday (Thursday nightfall), and whilst standing at the doorside they call out in a pitiful voice, "O! people of my household! O! My children! O! My respected ones! Do give charity on my behalf. Remember me! Forget me not! Do have mercy on me over my poor state."

It is also stated in Khazaanat-ul-Riwaayat that Hazrat Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that, "When the days of Eid, Jumma and Shab-e-Baraat appear, the departed souls (of Muslims) come and stand at the doors of their homesteads and cry out, 'Is there anyone here that thinks of me? Is there anyone here that will have mercy on me? Is there anyone here that thinks of my poor state (in the Hereafter)?'"

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