Journey of the spirit, Lesson 7, Stupors of death World behind barrier (BARZAKH)

Painful process وَجَاءتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ [50.19] And the stupor of death will come in truth; that is what you were trying to escape. When ever transferring from one system to another happens, it happens with pain, especially if a person comes out from a narrow system to a wider, when the child comes in this world, he goes through pain, and when he leave this world he goes through pain. Separation of two associated things for long period of time is basically painful by default, such as two close friends, of the child and his mother who carried him for nine months. This naturally painful process is eased by the will of Allah for the people who use to ease other people pains, and brought happiness to them.

Was the Prophet (S) afraid of death? Since entering into the realm where there are no barriers between the servant and his master, the world of reality, the Prophet (S) used to feel that how will he meet God and he has not done worship which God is really worth's. The Infallibles (AS) we believe that they have were never short in their duties towards Allah, but they felt that they were always short, so that is why they used to fear being away from the pleasure of God. The Prophet (S) feared what will happen to his household after his death, he was told. It is a metaphorical phrase that to you I address and to your surroundings I aim. The Prophet (S) in his last days used to dip his hand in the water and wipe it on his forehead and say: There is no God but Allah, the death has stupors.

Imam Ali (AS) If you could experience the thing which has been experienced by those who have died amongst you, you would be terrified and puzzled, Then you would have listened and obeyed, but what they have experienced is hidden from you, but shortly the veils will be removed. In another narration he mentions that the pain of stupors can not be described in the words of the world. SAKARAAT is from the state of confusion SOKR, or violent, especially when the soul reaches the shoulder or the throat, where he starts to see a different dimension, and he experiences different type of pain, even though we cannot observe it.

Two types of the extraction: وَالنَّازِعَاتِ غَرْقًا [79.1] I swear by the angels who violently pull out the souls (of the wicked), وَالنَّاشِطَاتِ نَشْطًا [79.2] And by those who gently draw out the souls (of the blessed), The story of Prophet Ebraheem (AS) and the angel of death. The story of a boy who insulted his mother. The story of Salmaan Mohamadi, and the Prophet (S) mentioning that more painful than 100 or 1000 strikes of sword.

The soul reaches the throat كَلَّا إِذَا بَلَغَتْ التَّرَاقِيَ [75.26] Nay! When it comes up to the throat, وَقِيلَ مَنْ رَاقٍ [75.27] And it is said: Who will be a magician? (to cure him, because they know that this is the state where no medicine can cure.) وَظَنَّ أَنَّهُ الْفِرَاقُ [75.28] And he concludes that it is the (hour of) parting وَالْتَفَّتِ السَّاقُ بِالسَّاقِ [75.29] And affliction is combined with affliction; (leg with leg) إِلَى رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْمَسَاقُ [75.30] To your Lord on that day shall be the driving.

The sight of the reality فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ [56.83] Why is it not then that when it (soul) comes up to the throat, وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ [56.84] And you at that time look on-- وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ [56.85] And We are nearer to it than you, but you do not see-- The soul departs the body gradually that is why it is very painful process, for the believers and the pious the process is expedited. لَقَدْ كُنتَ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَاءكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ [50.22] Certainly you were heedless of it, but now We have removed from you your veil, so your sight today is sharp. He remembers reality and the covenant.

No going back, the time is over حَتَّى إِذَا جَاء أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ 23.99] Until when death overtakes one of them, he says: Send me back, my Lord, send me back; لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا وَمِن وَرَائِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ [23.100] Haply I may do good in that which I have left. By no means! it is a (mere) word that he speaks; and behind them is a barrier until the day they are raised. There is a barrier behind him he cannot go back, the soul can only come back and pass the barrier if a miracle happens either by God or by one of those who posses the power of AMR given by God, such as the Infallibles (AS), Prophet Esa (AS) and Mosa (AS). Or in the dream where our soul visits their realm, because it is a free floating intellectual energy, yet connected to the physical body. People feel that they have been visited by the deceased one, but they can not cross the barrier, unless if they were pious or people of AMR who can easily cross the barrier.

Wealth and Children are distraction يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ 63.9] O you who believe! let not your wealth, or your children, divert you from the remembrance of Allah; and whoever does that, these are the losers. وَأَنفِقُوا مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَى أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ [63.10] And spend out of what We have given you before death comes to one of you, so that he should say: My Lord! why didst Thou not respite me to a near term, so that I should have given alms and been of the doers of good deeds? وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَاء أَجَلُهَا وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ [63.11] And Allah does not respite a soul when its appointed term has come, and Allah is Aware of what you do. BALANCE IN EVERY THING

Philosophy of the pain of separation Some scholars say one of the reasons for that pain of leaving this world is for the wicked person, because when he looks at the reality he sees there is nothing for him except severe punishment and chastisement, so he is terrified from that scene and feels great pain of leaving his palaces and luxuries. But for the believer it is opposite, he looks at his paradise and the bounties, and he wants to be there soon, so he does not feel the pain of leaving this world. Imam Hassan (AS) was asked about the reason behind fear of death, he said: You have destroyed your hereafter, and build your world, therefore you hate moving from a build place to a destroyed one. In another narration one of the Imam (AS) adds that we have done the opposite, there fore we do not fear death.

The Prophet (S) is surprised By the heedless and some one is watching him. By the seeker of the world and the death seeks him. By the one who laughs with full mouth and does not know that whether Allah is pleased with him or displeased. The life is good as long as it is in the pleasure of Allah, and is bad if it is in the disobedient of Allah (swt), dua MAKARIM ALAKHLAAQ and Tuesday’s dua. Imam Hussain (AS) the death is nothing but a bridge which will take you from the world of suffering and miseries to the world blessings and bounties, and it is opposite for your enemies.

Long Travel and less food Imam Ali (AS) mentioned that the we are in the process of traveling, this is not our destination, we have come from some where and going to our final destination, the journey is very long, the road is very rough, and the supply is less, the best supply for this travel is the piety or TAQWA. Salmaan the Mahammadi has very less things in his house, he learned that from Imam Ali (AS) who when he got married owned very few things. The more things a person owns in this world, the more he will be standing on the land of resurrection for accounting.