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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Manazel Al-akherah Chapter -iii- Intermediate Period (barzakh) The state of the body in Barzakh One of the dreaded stages of the Hereafter is ‘Barzakh’. ‘Barzakh’ literally means a curtain or a separator which lies between two things and does not allow them to meet each other. For example, sweet water and bitter water both flow side by side, but Almighty Allah has set between them a barrier so they do not intermingle.

As Allah says in the Qur'an, “He has made the two seas to flow freely (so that) they meet together, Between them is a barrier which they cannot pass”. (Surah-ar-Rahmah : 19-20). But Barzakh in this context means that Allah has placed a curtain between this world and the hereafter. Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) says, “By Allah! I fear a lot for your state in Barzakh”. The narrator asked Imam (A.S.) as to what was Barzakh?

Imam Sadiq (A.S.) replied that, It is a period starting from death till Qayamat. (Biharul Anwar) “And before them is a barrier (Barzakh) until the day they are raised”. (Surah-al-Mo'menoon : 100) The period of Barzakh and the body Barzakh is also called a corporeal or a non-material world (Alame Misali) because some what it seems like this world, but it's nature and matter is totally different.

After we die the other world seems quite vast when compared to this world, seems quite vast when compared to this world, and this world can be compared to the womb of the mother. In the same manner the body of a human in Barzakh will be the likeness of the one in this world. It means that in Barzakh the physical components of a man will be the same as in this world, but will be independent of matter. In fact it will be more pleasant and lighter (Lateef) than air, and will be transparent.

Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) says, “If you look at the corpareal / imaginal body (Badane Misali, in Barzakh), you will say that it the same one (as in this world). If one looks at one's dead father in a dream, he will surely say that his appearence and bodily components were the same as when he was alive. But the reality is that his body and matter lie buried in the grave. The eyes remain the same but devoid of the shortage of sight which may necessitate the wearing of spectacles.

The other bodily parts also do not become exhausted or weak, the teeth do not fall off, and a believer rejoices in eternal youth, while a non-believer suffers the impediments of old age, which act as Allah's chatisement.