Journey of the soul

According to Islamic traditions, our souls go through several stages before finally meeting God. The first realm of life is in alam-e-arwah (world of souls), as they existed on the day of Misaq, the primordial covenant. In the second stage, the soul descends from divine presence into duniya, the lowest world in the hierarchy of the universe. According to Islam, the soul enters the womb of its mother 120 days after conception, which is when the individuation of a soul takes place.

The third realm of existence is in the barzakh, an inter space between this world and the next, where people lie in their graves. The fourth is the place of gathering on the Day of Judgment and fifth, the final abode, which is either closeness or alienation from God. The Islamic perspective divides life in this world into seven stages, beginning with infancy. When a child is born to Muslim parents, the azaan (call to prayer) is whispered in the right ear and the takbeer (call to rise) for prayer recited in the left ear.

The words are meant to remind the soul of its pre-worldly contract with Allah. The child is in the state of waad (divine promise), which is that all of humanity will return to God. The child remains in this realm of promise till s/he reaches puberty.

Dominant Muslim opinion believes that if someone dies before puberty, s/he shall surely enter paradise.

With puberty begins the second stage of waid (warning), which means that if one does not fulfil obligations to God, there is punishment.

However, Allah says, “My mercy precedes my wrath.”

The fourth stage arrives at the age of 40, when one reaches the age of maturity.

Life after 40 is the age for reflection and perceived as a bounty from God. At the fifth stage of 50 years, men and women are required to compassionate, help and guide young people.

At the sixth stage of 70 and beyond, it is time to move inwards into deep meditative states.

Death is the final stage, after which each soul will answer for itself.