Day: October 12, 2024

■ The Soul of the Believer and the Disbeliever

The soul of a believer rises to Sidrat al-Muntaha (the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary, which is in the 7th heaven), while the soul of a disbeliever is in Sijjin (a place beneath the 7th earth).

When the angels take the believer’s soul up to the heavens, the angels in the seven heavens rejoice and pray for mercy for it. Allah ﷻ commands that the soul be temporarily brought to Sidrat al-Muntaha until the Day of Judgment.

In contrast, when the angels try to take the disbeliever’s soul up, the doors of the heavens do not open. Curses echo from all directions, and a foul smell spreads. Allah ﷻ commands that it be thrown down into the lowest pit of the earth.

As narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه), he describes that when the soul of the believer leaves the body, two angels receive it and take it up. The inhabitants of the heavens say, “This is a pure soul that has come from the earth,” and they mention its sweet fragrance, comparing it to musk. They say, “May Allah ﷻ send His mercy upon you and upon the body you used to inhabit.” After this, it is taken before Allah ﷻ, who says, “Bring it to Sidrat al-Muntaha for a final resting place…”