THE RESURRECTION, PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL

[Taqavi]

Is the resurrection physical or spiritual?

 

The issue of resurrection is one of the complex and important topics in Islamic philosophy, theology, and mysticism; there are four viewpoints regarding resurrection:

Does life after death have only a "spiritual" aspect? That is, after death, man is forever separated from this body, the body decays and disintegrates, and the eternal life of the hereafter is only related to the soul?

Or does life after death take place in both aspects, both this material body returns and the soul, and once again unite with each other? Or does it only have a physical aspect, meaning that only the body returns and the soul is nothing but the effects and properties of this body?

Or that: Resurrection has a "spiritual" and "semi-physical" aspect, meaning that both soul and body return and unite, but not this material element, but a subtle body that is superior to this body and its essence?

Each of the four theories above has supporters, but what is clearly used from the Holy Quran and the verses indicate is the spiritual and physical resurrection (with this same material body), and since the return of the soul is certain among scientists and philosophers, it is described as "physical resurrection" while the meaning is "spiritual and physical resurrection".[1]

The famous philosopher, Mulla Sadra, also made this claim in the book "Asfar" as follows: Many of the great scholars and mystics and a group of theologians such as Ghazali, Ka'bi, Hilimi, Raqib Isfahani, and many of our companions from the Imamiyyah, such as Sheikh Mufid, Abu Ja'far Tusi, Sayyid Murtada, Allama Hilli, and Muhaqqiq Tusi (may God's mercy be upon them all) believed in physical and spiritual resurrection, [2] and this is the right opinion. [3]

Taftazani, who was a jurist, literateur, theologian, and logician in the eighth century AH, also stated in this matter: Many scholars of Islam, including Imam Ghazali, Ka'bi, Hilimi, Raqib, and Qadi Abu Zayd Dabusi believe in both spiritual and physical resurrection. [4]

Physical and spiritual resurrection from the viewpoint of the Holy Quran:

A study of the verses of the Quran clearly shows that resurrection has both physical and spiritual dimensions; this means that on the Day of Judgment, both souls will be revived and bodies will return to their original state and receive souls.

It has been said that physical resurrection is essential to the religion of Islam, and many verses indicate the possibility and occurrence of physical resurrection. [5] Some scholars[6] have classified the verses indicating bodily resurrection, due to their abundance, into nine groups:

1. Verses that respond to deniers by explaining how decayed bones are revived. [7]

2. Verses that say humans will rise from their graves on the Day of Judgment. [8]

3. Verses that indicate that humans are created from dust, return to dust, and then are resurrected from dust. [9]

4. Verses that liken the return of humans to renewed life to the life of the earth after death. [10]

5. Verses that show that deniers of resurrection ridiculed the claim of being revived after death. [11]

6. Verses that refer to the material blessings of paradise. [12]

7. Verses that speak of physical punishments and tortures. [13]

8. Verses that speak of human body parts such as hands, feet, eyes, and ears on the Day of Judgment. [14]

9. Verses that refer to examples of resurrection in this world, such as the story of Abraham and the four birds, [15] the revival of Uzair or Jeremiah the prophet, [16] the story of the people of the cave, [17] and the revival of a person from the Children of Israel. [18]

 

Conclusion

Given the points mentioned, there remains no doubt that the issue of bodily resurrection is among the certain and established matters. Given the clarity and extent of the verses, it must be said: that bodily resurrection is a necessity of the Glorious Quran.  Islamic theologians and philosophers also considered resurrection to be both bodily and spiritual, and believe that in the hereafter, the soul will return to the body, and will either benefit from pleasures or be subjected to divine punishment.

 

 

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[1] . Payām-e Qur'ān: Makārem Shirāzī, Nāser, vol. 5, p. 244.  / Ma'ād az Dīdgāh-e Qur'ān va Revāyāt: a group of writers, p. 88.

[2] . Al-Ḥikmat al-Muta'āliyah fī al-Asfār al-'Aqliyyah al-Arba'ah: Mullā Ṣadrā, vol. 9, p. 165.

[3] . Ibid.: vol. 9, p. 166.

[4] . Sharḥ al-Maqāṣid: al-Taftāzānī, Sa'd al-Dīn, vol. 5, p. 90.

[5] . Kashf al-Murād fī Sharḥ Tajrīd al-I'tiqād, Qism al-Ilāhiyyāt: al-'Allāmah al-Ḥillī, Taqrīr al-Shaykh Ja'far al-Subḥānī, vol. 1, p. 258.

[6] . Payām-e Qur'ān: Makārem Shirāzī, Nāser, vol. 5, pp. 244-266.

[7] . For example: Ya-seen: 78-79 «وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلًا وَنَسِيَ خَلْقَهُ قَالَ مَنْ يُحْيِي الْعِظَامَ وَهِيَ رَمِيمٌ * قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِي أَنْشَأَهَا أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ»/ Qayamat: 3-4 «أَيَحْسَبُ الْإِنْسَانُ أَلَّنْ نَجْمَعَ عِظَامَهُ * بَلَى قَادِرِينَ عَلَى أَنْ نُسَوِّيَ بَنَانَهُ» / Mu’minun: 35-36 «أَيَعِدُكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ إِذَا مِتُّمْ وَكُنْتُمْ تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَنَّكُمْ مُخْرَجُونَ * هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ لِمَا تُوعَدُونَ».

[8] . For example: Al-Hajj: 7 «وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ آتِيَةٌ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ مَنْ فِي الْقُبُورِ» / Ya-Seen: 51-52«وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَإِذَا هُمْ مِنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَنْسِلُونَ * قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا مَنْ بَعَثَنَا مِنْ مَرْقَدِنَا هَذَا مَا وَعَدَ الرَّحْمَنُ وَصَدَقَ الْمُرْسَلُونَ»

[9] . For example: Ta-Ha: 55 «مِنْهَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمْ وَمِنْهَا نُخْرِجُكُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَى» / Nuh: 17-18 «وَاللَّهُ أَنْبَتَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ نَبَاتًا * ثُمَّ يُعِيدُكُمْ فِيهَا وَيُخْرِجُكُمْ إِخْرَاجًا» / A’raf: 25 «قَالَ فِيهَا تَحْيَوْنَ وَفِيهَا تَمُوتُونَ وَمِنْهَا تُخْرَجُونَ»/ Qaf: 11«رِزْقًا لِلْعِبَادِ وَأَحْيَيْنَا بِهِ بَلْدَةً مَيْتًا كَذَلِكَ الْخُرُوجُ»

[10] . For example: Fatir: 9 «وَاللَّهُ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ الرِّيَاحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًا فَسُقْنَاهُ إِلَى بَلَدٍ مَيِّتٍ فَأَحْيَيْنَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا كَذَلِكَ النُّشُورُ»

[11] . For example: Saba’: 7-8 «وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا هَلْ نَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى رَجُلٍ يُنَبِّئُكُمْ إِذَا مُزِّقْتُمْ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ إِنَّكُمْ لَفِي خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ * أَفْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَمْ بِهِ جِنَّةٌ بَلِ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ فِي الْعَذَابِ وَالضَّلَالِ الْبَعِيدِ» / Al-Mu’minun: 38 «إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا وَمَا نَحْنُ لَهُ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ»

[12] . For example: Ar-Rahman: 46-76 «وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ * فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ * ذَوَاتَا أَفْنَانٍ * فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ * فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ تَجْرِيَانِ * فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ * فِيهِمَا مِنْ كُلِّ فَاكِهَةٍ زَوْجَانِ* فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ * مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَى فُرُشٍ بَطَائِنُهَا مِنْ إِسْتَبْرَقٍ وَجَنَى الْجَنَّتَيْنِ دَانٍ * فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ * فِيهِنَّ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنْسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ ...»/ Al-Ghashiya: 8-16 «وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَاعِمَةٌ * لِسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌ * فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ * لَا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَاغِيَةً * فِيهَا عَيْنٌ جَارِيَةٌ * فِيهَا سُرُرٌ مَرْفُوعَةٌ * وَأَكْوَابٌ مَوْضُوعَةٌ * وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌ * وَزَرَابِيُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ»

[13] . For example: Waqi’ah: 41-44 «وَأَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ * فِي سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ * وَظِلٍّ مِنْ يَحْمُومٍ * لَا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ»/ At-Tawbah: 35 «يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ۖ هَٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ» / Ghashiyah: 4-7 «تَصْلَى نَارًا حَامِيَةً * تُسْقَى مِنْ عَيْنٍ آنِيَةٍ * لَيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِنْ ضَرِيعٍ * لَا يُسْمِنُ وَلَا يُغْنِي مِنْ جُوعٍ»/ Ad-Dukhan: 43-46 «إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ الزَّقُّومِ * طَعَامُ الْأَثِيمِ * كَالْمُهْلِ يَغْلِي فِي الْبُطُونِ * كَغَلْيِ الْحَمِيمِ»

[14] . For example: Ya-Seen: 65 «الْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَى أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَا أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ» / Fussilat: 20-21 «حَتَّى إِذَا مَا جَاءُوهَا شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَأَبْصَارُهُمْ وَجُلُودُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ * وَقَالُوا لِجُلُودِهِمْ لِمَ شَهِدْتُمْ عَلَيْنَا قَالُوا أَنْطَقَنَا اللَّهُ الَّذِي أَنْطَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ» / Abasa: 38-41 «وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُسْفِرَةٌ * ضَاحِكَةٌ مُسْتَبْشِرَةٌ * وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَيْهَا غَبَرَةٌ * تَرْهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ»

[15] . Al-Baqarah: 260 «وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِي كَيْفَ تُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِنْ قَالَ بَلَى وَلَكِنْ لِيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِي قَالَ فَخُذْ أَرْبَعَةً مِنَ الطَّيْرِ فَصُرْهُنَّ إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ اجْعَلْ عَلَى كُلِّ جَبَلٍ مِنْهُنَّ جُزْءًا ثُمَّ ادْعُهُنَّ يَأْتِينَكَ سَعْيًا وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ »

[16] . Al-Baqarah: 259 «أَوْ كَالَّذِي مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ يُحْيِي هَٰذِهِ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا فَأَمَاتَهُ اللَّهُ مِائَةَ عَامٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُ ۖ قَالَ كَمْ لَبِثْتَ قَالَ لَبِثْتُ يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۖ قَالَ بَلْ لَبِثْتَ مِائَةَ عَامٍ فَانْظُرْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمْ يَتَسَنَّهْ وَانْظُرْ إِلَىٰ حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجْعَلَكَ آيَةً لِلنَّاسِ ۖ وَانْظُرْ إِلَى الْعِظَامِ كَيْفَ نُنْشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكْسُوهَا لَحْمًا ۚ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ قَالَ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ»

[17] . Al-Kahf: 9-22 «أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا * إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا * فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَى آذَانِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا ......وَكَذَلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا»

[18] . Al-Baqarah: 72-73 «وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَادَّارَأْتُمْ فِيهَا وَاللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ * فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا كَذَلِكَ يُحْيِي اللَّهُ الْمَوْتَى وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ