In fact...

In fact, a man’s personality belongs to his or her soul and not to the body, which ends with death. (Every movement comes to end and body turns into a heap of dust). Following the disintegration of its parts, the body becomes dust.

Man’s reality and personality or individuality is his spirit, which survives even after man’s death and lives either in permanent happiness or eternal trouble depending on his pre-death intentions and performance, having nothing to do with the condition of his or her earthly (worldly) body. This is a universal truth.

Islamic scholars have, in order to prove that soul is something different from body and that it does not vanish due to death and that the rules governing it are different, put forth many arguments and logical evidences. But, after the presentation of the Word of God and the traditions and statements of the holy Prophet and pious Imams (a.s.) there is no need of reiterating the said scholarly statements. This issue is now brighter than sun for us.

Paradise in Barzakh for the Content Soul One of the Barzakh-related verses in the Holy Quran are the last verses of Surah Fajr: “O soul that art at rest! Return to your Lord, well-pleased (with him), well-pleasing (Him), So enter among My servants, And enter into My garden.” (Surah Fajr: 89:27-29) In these verses, the satisfied soul is being addressed at the moment of death: “Enter My Paradise.” It has been explained as the Paradise in Barzakh.

Similarly it is said, “Join and enter the group of My servant” (meaning: Muhammad and his Progeny). There are other verses also hinting at Paradise and Hell in Barzakh, but what we have said is enough.[^2] Rewards and Punishments of Barzakh as Mentioned in Reports and Traditions Many traditions discuss reward and punishment in Barzakh. Here we suffice with a few. In Biharul Anwar, Vol.

3 there is a quotation from the Tafsir of Ali bin Ibrahim Qummi (who has quoted Imam Ali.) according to which the Holy Prophet said, “When the offspring of Adam (man) enters the last day of this worldly life and the first one of the Hereafter, his wealth and children and his deeds appear before him. He turns towards his wealth and says, ‘By God! I had too must lust and greed for you and was also very stingy.

Now, how much of portion of mine is with you?’ The wealth responds, ‘Take only that much, which can suffice for your shroud.’ Then he looks at his children and says, ‘By God. I loved you very much and was always protecting and defending you.