Every human being who is born must die sooner or later. There
is a barrier between life and death; that barrier is called Barzakh. It is the
imaginal world and after a man is dead, he is transferred in an imaginal body.
It is as light as a dream or thought. The soul becomes freer and more active. The
body is the carrier of the soul.
What is soul? It is a part of us that makes decisions of
love and hate. Often, we think our mind or brain makes decisions, but they are
just cells, these tissues are not aware of each other, in the sense that a
group of cells cannot decide a thing but in fact they can concert to create
effects that are perceived by the soul. Through the body the human soul can
know the world and undergo countless experiences. If the body was not available,
the soul could not become familiar with this material world. As soon as the
soul decouples the material body it needs a marginal body to interact with the
imaginal world. The imaginal body resembles the material body in color, size
and features but does not have substance. In fact, our true dreams are during a
type of imaginal world. As we grow our imaginal bodies are formed and shaped.
In this world we live
in material bodies and imaginal bodies, both are coincident and synchronized
with each other. Since the imaginal body exists in hidden dimensions which most
human beings are not aware of. At the time of death soul leaves the material
body and enters the realm of Barzakh by entering the imaginal body.
The experience of death will depend on the type of life we
have lived. Everyone will die in the same manner as he lived. Angel of death is
the first mirror of his true nature. Depending on the individual’s personality,
the angel of death can be beautiful or ugly, kind, or cruel. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “One day when
Ibrahim (a.s.) returned to his home, he saw an individual whose beauty he had
never seen before. He asked, “Who are you?” “I am angel of death”, he replied.
He said,” Glory be to Allah! How can someone who sees you dislike you when you
are so beautiful. The angel replied, “O Friend of all-Merciful! When Allah
desires goodness for an individual He sends me in this form to him. But when He
desires to punish him, He sends me in a different form. “Those whom
angels of death cause to die while they led pure life, they say to them, “Peace
be upon you. Enter Paradise because of what you used to do.” (6:32)
The
People of the Middle State: This group encompasses most human
beings. The angels remove the veils from their eyes and ears and reveal some information
vital for the new environment. Angels are the manifestation of love and care of
Allah. The human soul is a manifestation of his likes and dislikes.
Pure
Individuals: Since conceits and self-love are roots of all vices, by
controlling themselves these individuals manage to cleanse their hearts of all
impurities and adorn their souls with purity out of their love of Allah. Their
imaginal bodies are half awake at the time of death with the help of angels they
are fully alert to ascend to the proximity of Allah.
Corrupt
individuals: These are the people who did not follow Allah’s
commands but followed the Shaitan. For them the sight of angels is painful. For
them every moment of dying is like the stroke of a sword. “If you could only
see when the angels of death take away the souls of disbelievers; they smite their
faces and their backs.” (8:50) “repentance is not accepted from those who
continue their evil conduct until, when death comes to one of them, he says,
“Now I repent; nor for those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We
have prepared a painful torment.” (4:18)
Sources: Towards Eternal Life by Muhammad Saeed Bahmanpour
The Hereafter (Ma’ad) by Sayyid Abdul Hussain
Dasteghaib Shirazi
The Last Journey by Shaykh Abbas Qummi
